FASHION MONTH LOWDOWN: MFW

Known for its great food and its even greater fashion the next stop is Italy. Following rainy London is sunny Milan and kicking off MFW is…

G U C C I

From luxe silks and ruffles to sequined trimmed jackets and seventies style platforms the Gucci show was definitely a journey through time.

Backstage Alessandro Michele said the show represented his story and how he doesn’t ‘like to take one idea as inspiration…the collection is like a song…’ which certainly ran true on the catwalk.

Featuring models wearing sleeves and trousers covered in ruffles in grand fabrics alongside ballgowns, sequined hoodies and floral leggings they all had one thing in common – dripping with piles of accessories.

From pearl encrusted sunglasses to clutch bags shaped as vanity mirrors to slogan belts, there were accessories to suit everyone.

The collection also featured a series of prints designed by artist Jayde Fish who reinterpreted some classic Gucci images e.g. the snake and the monkey which added a personal touch to the over the top collection featured on the Milan runway.

Gucci SS17 looks

B O T T E G A  V E N E T A 

Bottega Veneta celebrated their 50^th anniversary by using models from the past and present in their show. Models of all ages including Adriana Lima, Irina Shayk, Joan Smalls, Karen Elson, Eva Herzigrova, Lauren Hutton as well as models of the moment sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid all took to the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week.

Both Gigi Hadid (21) and Lauren Hutton (72) walked arm in arm to close the show.

Featuring feminine, classic designs in items such as wrap dresses, pleated skirts, silk shirts and fitted suits as well as maxi cocktail dresses and utilitarian jumpsuits there was certainly a timeless element to the collection.

With a rainbow palette ranging from soft pinks and beige's to strong blacks and burgundy’s injected with brighter spots of oranges, yellows and reds the show represented diversity and aimed to appeal to women of all ages and figures.

 Bottega Veneta SS17 catwalk looks (neutral palette) 

                                             Bottega Veneta SS17 backstage

Gigi Hadid and Lauren Hutton closing the Bottega Veneta SS17 show

F E N D I

Surprisingly the SS17 Fendi show was more casual than previous years and featured almost no fur (almost).

This seasons collection seemed lighter with feminine, girly vibes at play. The main colour infused within the show was sugary pink being featured as hair, clothes, shoes, accessories, bags and lipstick.

Another major trend in the show was stripes. Horizontal, vertical, thick or pinstripe; stripes came in all different shapes and sizes. Featured on shirt dresses, jackets, bags, crop tops and even sewn on knitted sock boots (slight Yeezy vibes).

The models also rocked the current on-trend glitter lip look adding to the youthful, modern feel of the Fendi show. 

Fendi SS17 catwalk looks at Milan Fashion Week

Sisters Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid backstage at the Fendi show

M O S C H I N O

Paper dolls were the vision of the SS17 Moschino show. Paper clothes with folding taps were what models wore on the runway (sounds confusing I know – refer to pictures to make sense of it all.)
The point of this image was to confuse the audience with what was real and what was fake, portraying the fake illusion in today’s culture and modern day consumerism.
The official theme of the show was ‘Valley of the Dolls’ which featured pill prints, pill bottle clothes which has slogans ‘Dr Moschino’ and ‘Just Say Mochi – NO’ on them.
Adding a lot of gold accessories and jewellery to the mix the message of Moschino was heard loud and clear.

 Moschino SS17 catwalk looks

Moschino SS17 backstage

Moschino Valley of the Dolls

 

D O L C E  &  G A B B A N A

The theme for the show was ‘Tropico Italiano,’ and this was represented in the tropic printed clothes featured on the runway.

As well as the tropical prints there was a nod to tropical food with spaghetti prints, dresses printed as a pomodori sauce tin and fish prints representing Italy’s finest cuisine.
The show further featured light up heels , mini skirts accessorised with a bow and tshirts printed with ‘D&G SS17 – I was there’ with the slogan translated in many different language to mimic the fake market stall tshirts.

However the main stand out accessories in the Dolce and Gabbana show were the diversity of head accessories on show. Ranging from alice band headdresses to piles of fruit, turbans to light up tiaras, D&G had it all.

 Dolce & Gabbana SS17 catwalk looks

                                                 Dolce & Gabbana finale

And on that note its a wrap from Milan Fashion Week and onto the final week of Fashion Month... Paris.

By Nandini Shukla