Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 - Highlights Part 1

Fashion Month is coming to a close with Fashion Weeks in the two fashion capitals of the world - Milan and Paris. The first stop is Milan, with the first half of the week featuring shows from John Richmond, Ermanno Scervino, Roccobarocco, Ports 1961, Moschino, Just Cavalli, Iceberg and Versace.

My favourite collections from the first half of the week include:

Gucci Spring/Summer 2013

Frida Giannini for Gucci has presented a collection that may rival the overshadowing trend of oriental prints and Japanese garment construction, with exotic monochromatic Mediterranean dresses in a block of eye-blinding colours. To complete the collection, Frida has also designed a series of highly embellished jewellery, based on the intricacy of Mediterranean jewellery design, and thus fighting the current trend of delicate Japanese garments with full force.

Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2013

Alberta Ferretti's dresses are ethereal in look and delicate in nature, the calming colour palette adding to the angelic qualities of the collection

Emporio Armani Spring/Summer 2013

Emporio Armani brings dynamic cuts, displaced colour blocks and geometric prints into their latest collection

Prada Spring/Summer 2013

Miuccia Prada's latest collection channels traditional Japanese fashion design and approaches it with the contemporary market in mind. The collection is abundant in minimal floral motifs, architectural silhouettes and the quirky addition of Ninja-style shoes and Geisha platforms.... which is an acquired taste. On a sidenote, this collection is one that rivals Proenza Schouler's AW12 collection, with both collections encompassing oriental prints and Japanese garment construction. In comparison, Proenza Schouler's garments were maximalist whilst Prada's are minimal. I'm keen to see how Prada's collection will fare against Proenza Schouler's when it hits the market!

Etro Spring/Summer 2013

Etro's latest collection is a combination of both the Japanese and Mediterranean inspired garments which are currently on trend. Kimono shirts are juxtaposed against Mediterranean tunics, vivid colours are splashed onto dresses inspired by traditional Spanish dancers, and Japanese robes are given a Mediterranean element with off the shoulder cuts. Overall, this collection celebrates the fusion of different styles of fashion design which flows throughout most, if not all, fashion designers' collections nowadays.

Sportmax Spring/Summer 2013

Sportmax's collection is a harmonic representation of how a subtle colour palette  complements heavy and stiff garments, lessening its weight on the viewer and the wearer

Gabriele Colangelo Spring/Summer 2013

Gabriele has chosen the popular colour palette of orange, blue and white and has applied it to his minimalist designs, inspired by Japanese silhouettes, offering a unique option for women for Spring/Summer

All images courtesy of Fashionising

All runway shows can be viewed on FashionTV and FataleFashionII 's Youtube Channels

Day 3 - Milan Men's Fashion Week

It's close to the end of fashion week in Milan, and closer to Paris Men's Fashion Week!

The third day gave a chance for some lesser known labels to strut their creations on the runway, including Dirk Bikkembergs Sport Couture, Iceberg, John Richmond, Canali, Gazzarrini, Nicole Farhi and Z Zegna.

The stand out collections for me from the third day were Etro, Moschino, Versace and Gucci.

Etro FW12

Images courtesy of Fashionising

I can't say I've heard much about the designer label Etro, but with this collection I will definitely be keeping a close eye! The differentiating patterns and warm colour palette caught my attention, I would have loved to have seen the show streamed live. It is becoming clear that velvet, tartan, Aztec and historical European patterns will be a must-have in a man's wardrobe this coming Fall/Winter season.

Moschino FW12

Images courtesy of Rude Couture

I have always been a fan of Moschino's collections, and this is no exception! The use of bright colours such as lime green and carrot orange is questionable for a Fall/Winter collection, but to me it represents optimism, even rebellion. The stand out ensemble for me was the Graffiti suit - words cannot express how much I would love to have this suit in my wardrobe!

Versace FW12

Images courtesy of NYC-Fashion

There is so much I can say about the Versace Fall/Winter collection, both positive and negative. 

Ok first off with the positives - the collection perfectly presents both the rebellious man with the golden studded denim vests and jeans, and the glamorous gentlemen with the tailoring focused on embellishment, with the metallic blue suit and emblazonment, with the beautiful Swarovski crystal emblazoned blazers and jackets.

Now to the negatives - the prints. I did not particularly like the "floral camouflage" prints throughout the collection, especially the technicolor bomber ensemble worn by River Viiperi. The prints only worked for me to some extent in pure achromatic.

Nonetheless, the show itself was amazing, as I watched it live in the wee hours of the morning via facebook. The moment when the set went pitch-black and only showed the Versace logo for the second half of the collection intrigued me.

Gucci FW12

Images courtesy of Homotography

The Gucci show and collection was my favourite for Day 3 of Milan Men's Fashion Week, and it was wonderful that the live stream was smooth! 

The moment I saw the those embroidered and patterned trousers I knew Gucci had stepped their game up, and the colours go so well together, they made the outfit flawless, especially the dark mustard-purple combination. The second half of the collection showed a variety of velvet jackets and blazers with differentiating patterns and black based colours, which I loved. 

My two favourite velvet blazers of the collection are the blue-black (since I have an obsession with blue at the moment) and the warm brown-black, which I could definitely see myself wearing. The collection is textural and luxurious, but at the same time is wearable. I could see these pieces being worn at fancy parties and social events, time to save some money for the velvet blazer I want!