Written by Isabella Wood.
Milan Fashion Week once again gave the fashion industry many memorable moments, including collaborations, activism and more. Read on for some of this season’s highlights:
Gucci x Adidas
By far the biggest buzz surrounding Milan Fashion Week was the Gucci x Adidas collaboration, proving that the athleisure trend is here to stay. Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele was able to seamlessly blend the key elements of both brands into a cohesive collection of elevated sportswear. Adidas’s signature tracksuits, logo, and stripes were evident throughout the collection, paired with Gucci’s fine tailoring and nerdy-chic aesthetic. This show-stopping collaboration proves that the sportswear isn’t going anywhere this fall.
Be Moschino’s Guest
Jeremy Scott is never one to shy away from camp, and Moschino’s Fall 2022 collection further solidifies the brand’s number one spot. Scrolling through the runway images, you may find yourself humming “Be Our Guest” from the Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast,” as this collection’s looks appear straight out of the Beast’s castle. Dresses adorned with silverware, lampshades, candlestick headpieces and even harp motifs graced the runway. Rich velvets paired with beautiful golden brocade embroidery made this an Italian fashion highlight of this season.
Dolce & Gabbana in the Metaverse
What’s Fashion Week without a little futurism? While the rest of society remains wary of cryptocurrency and the Metaverse, fashion has dived in headfirst. The background and runway of Dolce & Gabbana’s show were lit up in neon violet and blue, depicting a virtual metaverse utopia. Avatar models appeared to strut towards the audience as human models took their place on the catwalk. The collection’s looks included statement sleeves and shoulders, edgy lingerie and face-shield sunglasses resembling the Oculus VR headset. The metaverse is a world of unknowns for many, but if it’s anything like Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall 2022 collection, at least we know we’ll look chic.
Giorgio Armani Stands with Ukraine
Just when we thought we could stop referring to this era as “unprecedented,” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shook the world in the middle of Milan Fashion Week. The contrast on social media of influencers and celebrities pledging their solidarity to the people of Ukraine while simultaneously showing off their own looks felt truly dystopian, to say the least. Although there is certainly no guidebook on how to conduct your fashion show in this situation, Giorgio Armani chose to play no music at his show, and opened it with a statement: “My decision not to use any music in the show was made as a sign of respect to the people affected by the evolving tragedy.” The global exposure of Fashion Week was viewed as a chance to speak out against the horror unfolding in Eastern Europe, and Giorgio Armani’s choice to be vocal about the issue spoke volumes as to who he is as a person.