From fringing to power glamour and gowns good enough to eat, here are the biggest show-off moments from Milan Fashion Week AW20
VERSACE
It’s difficult to top the moment Jennifer Lopez stormed down the catwalk in that green tropical dress, but Kendall Jenner in a crystal embellished lampshade silhouette does comes close. For AW20, Donatella Versace revealed a series of ultra-mini dresses that were heavily adorned in garish prints, luxe leather and plenty of sparkle. Flash, feminine and perfect for the party, Donatella knows how to create a spotlight-worthy dress.
DOLCE & GABBANA
Artisan crochet tops, hand-knitted scarves and ultra-soft shearling coats provided chic comfort at Dolce & Gabbana, in an autumn/winter 2020 collection that celebrated the craftsmanship and tradition of Italy. The shining light of the collection, Dolce & Gabbana’s knitwear pieces demonstrated finesse and flawless execution which was favoured over statement jewels and show-off silhouettes and enhanced by a palette of neutral tones and matching soft focus accessories.
PRADA
At Milan Fashion Week AW20, Prada’s newsworthy moment occurred off the catwalk when it was announced that Belgian designer Raf Simons will join the house as co-creative director. On the runway, it was a story of power glamour with fringed skirts flowing beneath boardroom blazers, elegant silk separates and a new take on luxe sportswear, which Miuccia Prada described as the clichés of femininity.
FENDI
During Milan Fashion Week, Fendi took a step toward size inclusivity, with ‘plus-size’ models Jill Kortleve and Paloma Elsesser walking the runway for the house. A big moment for the brand and the industry, it was the first time ‘plus-size’ models had been cast for a Fendi show — but there’s still a long way to go before fashion becomes inclusive. When it came to the clothes, leather was the look to love with sculptured dresses and sharp shoulders in the luxuriously smooth fabric.
BOTTEGA VENETA
Want to know what the street style set will be wearing next season? Look to Daniel Lee’s kiwi green cardigans paired with Western-style boots and woven bags finished with elongated fringing. In fact, look to fringing full stop. Bottega Veneta’s AW20 collection saw a string of fabulously frayed hemlines, cut-up shearling coats and textured skirts that defined comfortable elegance.
MOSCHINO
Linking the global turmoil of today to the French Revolution of the 1780s, Jeremy Scott produced a chain of decadent Marie Antoinette-inspired showstoppers, with wide-hip silhouettes, Versailles-style corsets, gold brocade and hair as high as the ceiling. The icing on the runway, was a sequence of “let them eat cake” dresses, a slice of joy in an otherwise tumultuous time.
MAX MARA
Max Mara’s Milan Fashion Week AW20 show didn’t produce the kind of showstopping dresses spotted at Versace or Moschino, but it did reveal a covetable line of show-off coats, worthy of a stylish adventure-seeker. Inspired by wintery seascapes — spanning from Morocco to Murmansk — the runway show explored the romantic daydream of leaving the nine-to-five desk job and sailing away into the horizon. The power pieces of the collection included a fresh take on the poncho and a series of chic capes with duffle-style toggles and nautical rope.
GUCCI
Gucci’s wow-factor moment came from it’s revolving, shop-window like runway which offered a backstage glimpse into Gucci HQ. The AW20 collection, entitled ‘The Ritual,’ showcased extra-volume, tiered Edwardian gowns in pastel shades, school girl pinafore dresses and Pilgrim-inspired hats, in mash-up of motifs and eras.
Read Next: The Best Street Style from Milan
- Words by Jenna Calvert
- Images: GoRunway.com, supplied
