LA BELLA VITA: MILAN SPRING 2022 SHOWS
A look from Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
Fashion month has been a whirlwind of excitement as Milan Fashion Week wraps up before it heads over to its final stretch in Paris. While New York and London had a good balance between live shows and digital presentations, the runways in Milan were almost back to pre-pandemic levels. MFW, which kicked off on September 24th and ended on the 27th, was a jam-packed calendar consisting 173 shows that were a combination of physical event presentations, parties and 42 that were IRL shows.
A look from Antonio Marras’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
Milan always delivers: craftsmanship, modern sophistication and polished elegance. Italian designers have a unique point of view and a refined hand that sets them apart from the rest.
A look from Fendi’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
THE BIG DESIGNER SWAP
The two most anticipated shows during Milan Fashion Week had to be Fendi and Prada. It was the first time a new project was unveiled: A Designer Swap!
Donatella Versace designed a Fendi collection and Kim Jones (Fendi’s artistic director) created a Versace collection. A PR stunt for sure, but one that worked!
At Prada, the brand presented two simultaneous shows, one at home in Milan and the other at Shanghai’s Bund One. At the Fondazione Prada in Milan, large LED screens surrounded the runway, and streamed the live feeds so guests could see different models marching by in the same looks.
A video of Prada’s Spring 2022 collection. Video courtesy of Prada on YouTube.
Rihanna also hosted her third volume for Savage x Fenty, her fierce lingerie line, and was one of the most hyped shows of the season. Fun fact: did you know Rihanna’s full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty?
Other noteworthy shows were TOD’S, Max Mara, Jil Sander, MM6 Maison Margiela and Versace. However, powerhouses Bottega Veneta and Gucci were notably missing. Gucci will head to Los Angeles to present its next collection on Nov. 2, coinciding with the LACMA Art+Film Gala taking place on Nov. 6, for which the fashion house is the founding and presenting sponsor.
In conjunction with the runway shows, the MFW calendar included a succession of not-to-be-missed events. For starters, “The Way We Are”, an exhibition devoted to Emporio Armani in celebration of brand’s 40-year anniversary. The exhibit opened on September 23rd at Armani/Silos, a fashion art space in Milan dedicated to Armani style. The jewelry brand Pomellato, held an exclusive cocktail party that kicked off Milan Fashion Week, and Versace closed out the week with a private dinner at Mysterious Baths to celebrate Italian designer Chiara Boni’s 50-year career, of course this was by invitation only. And there were plenty of festivities in between, case in point, Gucci’s day-long celebration (on September 25th) of its new Gucci Vault (online concept store featuring refurbished vintage Gucci pieces and collections by young designers), which was a far from a low-key return to MFW. Long envisioned by Alessandro Michele, Vault is the new online concept store created by Gucci, dedicated to the endless pursuit of wonders and beautiful things. Part time machine, part archive, part library, part laboratory – the identity of Vault is in continuous evolution.
Here is a link to the site: Edition 01 – VAULT Gucci
Milan Fashion Week also embraced emerging talent as the city hosted The World of Vogue Talents and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana’s CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards, both events celebrated promising, new designers and those who have taken extra steps to curb their impact on the planet.
A look from Del Core’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
Here are a few of the hottest trends to come out of Milan Fashion Week:
FRINGE BENEFITS
Life is full of many splendored ‘strings’ as the spring 2022 runways were filled with a myriad of fabulous fringe. From crafty crochet fringe tops to latter day flappers, one thing’s for sure, fringe is in!
A look from Fendi’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Alberta Ferretti’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from No. 21’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Etro’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway.)
A look from Tod’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Salvatore Ferragamo’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Versace’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
EASY STREET
Ciao, sculptured structure. Tailoring took a more relaxed turn, with a focus on effortless suits in an array of colors. Perfect transitional looks to go back to the office in.
A look from Jil Sander’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Fendi’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Antonio Marras’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Emporio Armani’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Etro’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Versace’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
OAT COUTURE
The world has been shut down for over 18 months now, and now that vaccinations are underway, it’s time to start your adventure. Designers are showing safari-inspired looks in neutral shades that would look just as good on a desert getaway as they would on city streets.
A look from Emporio Armani’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Blumarine’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Loro Piana’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Brunello Cucinelli’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Zanini’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
PALE FIRE
Will dainty hues ever go out of style for spring? Not this season, thanks to an Easter basket’s worth of pretty pastels.
A look from Prada’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Emporio Armani’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Max Mara’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Jil Sander’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Vivetta’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Sportmax’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
CALL OF THE WILD
Animal prints ruled the runways as Italian designers worked the mammal motif in everything from statement-making toppers to effortless maxi skirts.
A look from Roberto Cavalli’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Jil Sander’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Antonio Marras’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Salvatore Ferragamo’s Spring 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
TOUGH GIRL
Leather ruled the Italian runways as designers worked the material into everything from sexy dresses to cool outerwear and everything in between.
A look from Versace’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Prada’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Missoni’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Tod’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
GEOMETRY CLASS
Designers are getting graphic as geometric patterns and prints are making a splash this spring season.
A look from Missoni’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from MSGM’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Colville’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Charles Jeffrey Loverboy’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Tod’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
JEANOLOGY
Y2K fashion has made a major comeback thanks to TikTok. For spring 2022, Italian designers are keeping the trend alive with sexy, low-slung denim. It’s time to start working those abs again.
A look from Blumarine’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Etro’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from MSGM’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Missoni’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
GET SHORTY
Legs for days! Mini skirts and dresses have made a comeback as designers are baring it all on the runways for spring 2022.
A look from Prada’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Missoni’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Blumarine’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Versace’s Spring 2022 collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
So tell us, what trends are inspiring you? And if you didn’t know that Versace and Fendi swapped designers this season, would you have been able to see a difference?
Sign-up for our newsletter
Join our newsletter to receive updates on future blog posts, special deals, and new lessons. Also visit the main webpage to check out all of our video lessons.
