PapierblogDigital.Fashion

The Italians sure know how to put on a show. Milan fashion week designs are coming back to the states at a furious pace and I am in love. Feminity is on display. Lots of it. In heaping spoonfuls.

Armani
No more androgenous models that kept you guessing as to their sex. Armani went pure feminine. The outlandish head attire, the fugly make-up, all went out the window. Armani turned up the notch by going elaborate but sexy, while accentuating a lighter spring. A mix of colors were on display. You had the saccharin pastels, classic blacks and a variety of florals sauntering down the runway. The waif thin models wore rounded jackets that fit snuggly, stacked peep-toe heels, white-stripped blazers. There was a good amount of satin on display. I’m in love.

Ferragamo
Somebody must have given Mr. Black the memo. The house of Ferragamo woke up and gave us a glimpse of their interpretation of spring. It’s about looking professional while maintaining femininity. There were no trends at the show. It was about fashion that could withstand decades. Really. The real standout was a full length knit gown. There were others like the open-work camisole all dressed up in lace, a knit dress and several flowing skirts. Solids were definitely on display, deep reds, bright whites and not very many spring pastels.

D&G
This show took place in a warehouse near the airport. It was as if the designers were seeking to make up lost time in terms of white. The show had very little color and was a veritable winter wonderland. That is definitely not a bad thing. Especially taking into account the designs at play. It made the focus more on the design and less on the usage of colors. Sure, pastels showed up, but it was mainly about white. White with lace, white with cotton, and white with chiffon all wrapped up in a neat package. There was something Victorian about the show.

The 3 shows demonstrated that the Italians were in a different place when compared to their American and English counterparts.