Italian style had a chance to shine as Milan Fashion Week wrapped up last week. A mixture of continued trends from fall and new trends from spring filled the runway. Milan is notably much more consistent on trends from year to year. It was a change of pace to see what new emerging designers had in store for their shows. Was there a trend overlap between NYFW and PFW? It’s time to find out. The trend highlights from MFW encapsulate fresh and old for a new perspective on old trends.
Tops
Gowns and Gloves
The silhouette of the dresses in this trend varied while the theme remained pretty fluid. Opera gloves and gowns appeared time and time again. Some options featured puffed sleeves, while others featured sleek body-hugging cowl neck gowns similar to a negligee or other nighttime dress.
Tame Boudoir
Corset-style pieces and lace details played peek-a-boo beneath sheer covered layers. A style for those that love to show a bit of skin combines lingerie and barely-there fabric for a result that is daring with tons of taste.
Layering Looks
Layering is a coveted technique used heavily in colder months but also in transitional months too. Looks with sweaters and tights and dresses or skirts over pants looked a little chaotic but in unpredictable temps, way.
Bottoms
Business Sets
A trend that reels in chaotic energy is that of tailored monochrome matching suiting sets. Think pants, skirts, and dress sets in neutral tones perfectly crafted to be both sharp and subdued simultaneously. The tailoring was intentionally oversized with a structure that wasn’t slouchy or too sharp.
Satin Cargos
The unexpected cargo trend for spring I didn’t know I needed: Cargo pants in satin/silky fabrics. It’s easy to associate satin with gowns and sleek silhouettes, but this combination joins luxury and utilitarian style for a fresh and fun spring style that is a slightly updated version from fall.
Relaxed Bottoms
Designers continued with the baggy and relaxed fit. Building from the relaxed fit of cargo, all bottoms strayed far from skinnies with a wide-leg and laid-back appearance. Both denim bottoms, suiting, and other lower-half pieces varied in fashion, but the fit remained similar.
Fabrics
Grunge Denim
From Paris to Milan, acid-washed, slashed, dashed, and faded denim stormed the runways. This trend stays true to the “teenage dirtbag” photo trend and goes a step further, including colored denim and studs to add some trendy details to this fabric.
Floral Appliques
Floral prints are a trend spilling over from NYFW. Milan specifically focused on 3D florals, which took the form of entire pieces in some cases and appeared dotted throughout other pieces in some cases. Both showcases added texture and dimension to garments for a more formal overall look.
Prints and Colors
Margarine
Three trend reports are in, and we’re finally stepping away from green tones with another citrus color: Yellow! This pale yellow is a very spring-appropriate tone and a continuation of the pastel trends we will be seeing from fall, so this will transition very well from cold to warmer weather.
Mix-Match
Designers threw caution to the wind with their anything-goes mentality. Plaid, animal, floral, retro, abstract prints, and more joined to create a union of perfect chaos. No pairing or color combination seemed off-limits, and the overall results actually looked pretty high-end and intentional.
Ombre
Ombre style typically means one color in several different hues, yet in Milan, the colors spewed without a lot of rhyme or reason. Tropical schemes of blue, green, yellow, and pink varied from other combinations but continued to appear in several different variations and styles of garments, from formal to more casual.
Designers ranged from elevating everyday pieces to playing with Avante outfits. Milan had a bit of overlap with the previous fashion weeks while still beating to its own drum. Next stop: Paris Fashion Week!
