And just like that, the fashion set are packing up from London and continuing their global tour. The next location? Why it’s Milan, of course.
Home to some of the most revered legacy labels in the industry, Milan Fashion Week will look a little different for the Fall/Winter 2022-2023 season, and no, it’s not because we’re looking at things more critically after watching House Of Gucci.
For the first time since the pandemic, both Gucci and Bottega Veneta will return to the fashion capital after hosting shows abroad in the United States in Los Angeles and Detroit respectively.
Like the Spring/Summer 2022 season, many brands will continue to present their collections physically.
Given that last season we were surprised with the collaboration of the century—Fendace, a Y2K resurgence courtesy of Blumarine and a dual runway show, hosted in both Milan and Shanghai for Prada— we’re sure that Italy’s finest designers will be pulling out all the stops to exceed our expectations.
With a big week of fashion ahead, we’ve rounded up below all the designers to keep an eye out for during Milan Fashion Week.
Fendi
It’s been over 365 days, three haute couture collections and three ready-to-wear shows since Kim Jones joined Fendi, yet it feels like the British mastermind has been there a lifetime.
In the short period, Jones has collaborated with Versace, Kim Kardashian West’s Skims, revived some of Karl Lagerfeld’s most memorable silhouettes and brought a new found sense of joy to the brand.
Considering Jones’ playful and Studio 54 inspired Spring/Summer 2022 collection is one of the most coveted of the season, we’re sure that he will continue his fashion reign well into 2022.
Max Mara
For their Spring/Summer 2022 collection, Max Mara explored philosophical themes and inner freedoms against a backdrop of nostalgic Summer idyll. Part “bourgeois rebel”, part conceptual dressing, the collection did not disappoint.
Given that Max Mara’s Creative Director Ian Griffith himself is a nonconformist, we’re sure we’re going to see the label continue to disregard conventions and deliver a fresh approach to Milanese attire.
Prada
For us, it’s Prada or nada. Thankfully for us, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons are the creative dream team that the fashion world needs right now.
For their first runway show together, Prada delivered a ‘phygital’ show—two simulations presentations hosted in Milan and Shanghai—breaking borders and inviting us into their classic cut yet slightly sensual world.
The silhouettes were refined elegance, with injections of citrus hues and sorbet pinks hitting all the right notes. An intentionally backless dress, razor sharp pointed pump and perfectly punk armband took Prada into a new realm. We’re ready to dive deep into their world again.
Gucci
After a theatrical Spring/Summer 2022 presentation—you know, the A-list FROW filled extravaganza that took over Los Angeles Hollywood Boulevard and saw Macaulay Culkin and Phoebe Bridgers make their runway debuts—Alessandro Michele and his Gucci gang will return to Milan.
Of course, there’s almost no better show than a Gucci show. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Michele doesn’t stray away from the opulence, frivolity or drama that comes with fashion. Since this will be the first show of 2022, we’re positive that Gucci will be kicking things off with a bang.
Bottega Veneta
Since Daniel Lee’s shock departure from Bottega Veneta in November 2021 the world has been waiting with baited breath to see the direction Creative Director Matthieu Blazy will take the brand.
Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Following the brand’s successful Salon 03 show in Detroit, we’re excited to see the legacy label return to its Italian roots for the Fall season.
Coinciding with the debut of Blazy’s foundation collection, the brand has launched “an open door to creativity”. This app allows fashion fans to experience Bottega Veneta wherever they are, thanks to augmented reality, along with exclusive content and of course, the highly-anticipated collection.
For a brand without a social media presence, this doorway to creativity is extremely high-tech.
But what does Bottega and Blazy have in store for us? Only time will tell.
