Milan Fashion Week (MFW) ended last week, marking a few significant moments in fashion history in multiple manners. And even though Milan was one of Europe’s 1st cities to see the COVID-19 outbreak, everyone was safe to enjoy the live events within close proximity to one another with extensive yet cost-effective precautions and even consisted more in-person runway shows than ever before in New York as well as in London.
There was at least 40 online showcases for the young and rising talents to break the stereotype that it is an event that only favours big and established brands. Whereas the bigshots like Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana were seen flaunting their ideas on stages all over Milan, the new ones like Tomo Koizumi’s capsule collection for Pucci brought forward vibrant and colourful outfits and A-Cold-Wall of Samuel Ross used a 4-minute film to show their collection of men’s utilitywear.
Even though most of Versace’s showcase was virtual, models Alva Claire, Jill Kortleve, and Precious Lee made history by being the 1st plus-size models to ever walk the runway for the mogul brand. They presented its “under the sea” themed collection at the event in bold blue, green, and yellow dresses. According to Donatella Versace, the collection was inspired by the beauty and vibrancy of nature, and the models represented modern mermaids with the help of striped tops and loose midi skirts as well as starfish and seashell-printed wardrobe.
Prada also gave a chance to new models to make their debut at the prestigious event who uplifted the brand’s innovative ideas in the best way possible. After the showcase, the designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons were seen to have answered questions that their fans from all around the globe had sent them. The dynamic duo teased the audience with what they have in store for the future.
Even Valentino, the maven that had never before showcased its womenswear in Milan, was celebrated with flair by inviting the British musician Labrinth to perform. Their theme was romanticism and floral, and greeted the comeback of Valentino’s signature Rockstuds that could be seen on all of their bags and shoes since the very beginning of their existence.
Instead of being a part of the new normal and going online, Moschino decided to have no human models but puppets with the help Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Shrunken accessories were created to fit the marionettes who walked the runway along with one that looked like Jeremy Scott, the creative director, that wore a Moschino T-shirt and a crown. The womenswear included inverted details and exaggerated collars, skirts, and bows. And after all the fun and games, Scott declared that this in fact shouldn’t be considered as the new normal and that he misses working with real models and displaying to real audience.
MFW wasn’t only about the 1sts, it was also about the lasts – or to be more specific, it displayed Silvia Venturini Fendi’s last solo collection as the British designer Kim Jones is set to become the artistic director of Fendi’s womenwear. Jones is said to present his 1st collection next year and the theme Silvia went with this year revolved around family. Fendi was yet again, of course, proud to flex its diverse and elegant casting, including the 70-year-old supermodel Penelope Tree and the plus-size model Ashmey Graham, who is also a new mother now.
