Milan Fashion Week
Image courtesy: Strike FSU
Milano, oh if only there were words to describe the elegance of the fashion capital of Italy. There is a type of glamor and class found there and nowhere else in the world. Milan Fashion Week took place from February 19th to the 25th showcasing Italy’s most prestigious designers Fall/ Winter collections. But what made this fashion week stand out from all the others? Was it the models, the couture or the unparalleled sets? Find out for yourself.
Versace
Donatella Versace created a dark and moody atmosphere during her Milan Fashion Week show. The entrance of the runway was a colossal gold safety pin with Versace’s signature medusa head on it. The models then emerged through the emblem, barely lit by yellow light, and snaked through the runway. The looks didn’t stray far from the designer’s usual, but they did lean more grunge this season. There were strappy leather bustiers, ripped hems, and pops of color giving a fresh edge to the designers typical black and gold elegance.
Bottega Veneta
Known for their exceptionally crafted high quality leather, this brand broke into a whole new creative phase. Bottega Veneta hosted its first show under the creative direction of Daniel Lee: former ready-to-wear director for Celine. The scene was a glass house erected from the ground up, set in front one of Milan’s historic city gates, Arco Della Pace. The runway’s floor reflected that of the stone found in old Milanese palaces, giving the show an indoor-outdoor feel. Bottega Veneta’s collection brought to us oversized weaved leather coats, thick yet slick clunky leather boots and shirts with sculptural cut outs.
Prada
We love a classic Prada. Thank you, Prada, for giving us the most exquisite runway show we could have ever asked for. Not many designers can stick to the same classic look season after season and still have the same shocking effect. The scene was a sprawling hall deeply lined with flickering light bulbs that lit the models and the audience. The “Anatomy of Romance” was the theme and who knew that clothing itself could be so romantic? Miuccia Prada knew. The collection, through its clothing and beauty choices, explores the contradictions of love: the perfect and the real. The dresses were synched exquisitely to the models’ waists and the coats swayed gracefully with every step. Yet, the women with their slicked back hair and closely cropped buzzcuts were a bit masculine. Their bare faces only strengthened the idea that personal romance from with yourself.
Moncler
Presented to us by Moncler during their Milan Fashion Week show was a not so ready-to-wear collection. There was nothing traditional about the presentation this year as they asked various designers to create drastically diverse collections. Pierpaolo Piccioli, Simone Rocha, Craig Green, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Richard Quinn, 1952, Grenoble, 1017 Alyx 9SM, and Palm Angels were each given full creative freedom to create a collection of their dreams. At the height of hype was Pierpaolo Piccioli and Simone Rocha. For Piccioli’s collection, he designed Victorian style puffer dresses. The dresses were over the top, to say the least and no one in their right mind would be wearing these out on the streets… except maybe to the MET Gala. Simona Rocha’s collection was more about nature and how Moncler’s couture blends in and interacts with its surroundings. The runway was as unconventional as it comes. The models were rolling around in the snow on their backs and others were climbing around in trees. Take a look at a few of the looks backstage.
Strike Out,
Writer and Graphic Designer: Alessandra Cruz
Editor: Savannah Tindall
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