8 Trends from Milan Fashion Week to Put on your Shopping List

Date September 26, 2016

In Milan, fashion is as much a part of the culture as fantastic food and classic architecture. Shoe and handbag boutiques dot nearly every street corner, runway recaps make the nightly news and the women don’t think twice about walking in high heels on cobblestone streets (I wore flats all week for fear of twisting an ankle). It’s no wonder this is home to major design houses and showrooms that celebrate Italy’s brightest textile and accessory stars. This week in particular, Milan seemed to be having a fashion month moment. There was another knockout Gucci collection, an internet-breaking Gigi/Lauren Hutton finale walk to celebrate Bottega Veneta’s 50th birthday, a massive outdoor Dolce & Gabbana dinner (that shut down Via Monte Napoleone) and surprise celeb appearances from Ciara, Serena Williams, and Naomi Campbell. If the mobbed streets were any indication, people here care about what is happening on the runway.

Before your eyes turn to the Paris shows, here are 8 trends from Milan Fashion Week.

Photography via IMaxTree

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Kitchen Sink Dressing

Minimalism has disappeared completely, with the pendulum swinging towards tons of OTT decoration, off-the-wall colour combinations and adventurous print mixing. Maribou feathers were married to 70s geometrics at Prada. While DSquared dresses mashed up leopard print with crystals and ruffles. Wallflowers need not apply. Shown above Prada.

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Kitchen Sink Dressing

Gucci

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Kitchen Sink Dressing

DSquared

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Tropic Thunder

Designers are realizing they have to sell their customers not just on the clothes, but on a lifestyle too. What could be better than taking a holiday just by opening your closet doors? The idea of escape was top of mind with lots of collections riffing on the tropics with palm prints, raffia details and straw hats. Shown above, Max Mara

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Tropic Thunder

Dolce & Gabbana

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Tropic Thunder

Blumarine

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Antoinette 2.0

I was going to call this category ruffles, but I think it extends beyond frills alone. A few of the collections had a hint of Marie Antoinette with high ruffled collars, rows of pearl buttons, long, sweeping skirts and of course, ruffles. Shown above, Ermanno Scervino

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Antoinette 2.0

Gucci

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Antoinette 2.0

Fendi

10/24

Glow Getters

It seemed as though crystals, sequins or shine somehow made its way into every collection over the week. Coloured metallic leathers, sequined coats and crystals shed new light on this idea. Shown above, Giamba

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Glow Getters

Emilio Pucci

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Glow Getters

Aquilano Rimondi

13/24

Boho Rhapsody

The boho babe is back. Peter Dundas led the charge at Roberto Cavalli where his models donned skinny scarves, billowy dresses and skintight flares. The sheer fabrics and long hemlines are all you’ll want to wear in the heat. Shown above, Etro

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Boho Rhapsody

Roberto Cavalli

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Boho Rhapsody

Alberta Ferretti

16/24

Turn up the Volume

It’s been a while since the upper arm got this much attention. In Milan, we saw jet puffed sleeves, volume from micro-pleats and even a few (removable) shoulder pads at Jil Sander, shown above.

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Turn up the Volume

Marni

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Turn up the Volume

Gucci

19/24

In the Trenches

The trenchcoat is a springtime necessity, but designers reimagined the classic tan version in buttery leathers, dress versions and saturated brights. Shown above, Pucci.

Emilio Pucci

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In the Trenches

Marni

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In the Trenches

Jil Sander

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Stripe Spotting

There were all matter of stripes this season. Silky pajama-inspired, classic shirting, nautical and thick, fat bars all made it into the line up. Shown above, Fendi.

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