The Best of Milan Fashion Week

By Francesca Claybrook

As Milan Fashion Week wraps up to much critical acclaim, let’s take a look back at some of the shows.

Max Mara is one of my favorite lines, and this collection was stunning, with lots of nudes, whites, and bright oranges, yellows, and purples, shown in a lot of monochromatic looks. White is having a big moment though, from the LWD that was so prominent at New York Fashion Week to some all-white looks on the Milan runways. I love this look that Max Mara showed – simple, chic, with a pop of color – this is a look that anyone can pull off. (The full collection is here).

Giorgio Armani is an iconic designer whose clothes often become instant classics the moment they walk down the runway. He also showed a lot of monochromatic looks in blue – in fact, every look that came down the runway this year was blue, from head to toe. His models also wore matching blue chiffon-y turbans and dark blue smoky eyes, creating an exotic appearance. This dress, which closed the show, is amazing. It looks like a beautiful starry night and a gorgeous gown at the same time. Genius! (See his full collection here).

Dolce and Gabbana also kept their color scheme simple – classic black and white, with the occasional leopard print thrown in. There was lots of lace and embroidery, feminine details that kept the looks interesting even though they leaned towards monochromatic. Dolce and Gabbana’s old-school Sicilian vibe from their last collections can still be felt in this one. It was almost impossible to pick my favorite look, but I finally settled on this one: a simple silhouette, intricately detailed, entirely white, and very interesting. (View the full collection here).

Gianfranco Ferré also showed a lot of whites, blacks, and nudes, with some textured and embroidered fabrics thrown in that created a lot of interest. I also loved the hair and makeup on the models – the natural colors and loose waves didn’t distract from the clothes at all. I debated a lot over my favorite look from this runway as well, but I finally settled on this dress. The colors are stark and classic, but the fabric and design create a beautiful shape that would flatter any woman. (See the whole collection here).

Gucci pulled out some bright colors to open the show, but then slid right into nudes, tans, blacks, and navies for the bulk of it. While this is on-trend for spring, I had to get away from nothing but neutrals and show you guys some color from the shows, so to me the standout dress on this runway is not black, or tan, or navy, or white. It’s a beautiful shade of brilliant purple, with incredible detailing. It really stands out – just look at it: (and see the rest of the collection here).