Before we wrap up Milan Fashion Week, let's take a closer look at all of the amazing bags that were sent down the runway. There's a modern turquoise clutch from Jil Sander for the minimal gal, and fuzzy Mongolian bags from Emporio Armani for the downtown stylefiles. Also included in the mix are keyboard clutches from Dolce & Gabbana, tweed bags from Moschino, coin-embellished purses from Iceberg, and more in the slideshow!
With each Fashion Week around the globe comes a newly inspired set of street style. This week, we're eying the fashion crowd that gathered in Milan to take in another round of Fall '11 collections. So, as the shows come to a close — and the fashionable following heads onward to Paris — we're breaking down 15 of the week's standout looks. Click through for looks we love and how to emulate the style!
Photos courtesy of Greg Kessler
Boy meets girl at an '80s party, and by the end of the night they're sharing clothes. That seemed to be the idea at Dolce & Gabbana, who sent out a whopping 81 looks that alternated between oversized menswear and sexy dresses, a look that also carried over into the makeup. The menswear, wrought of either wool or jacquard, had a boxy silhouette a la David Byrne in his Talking Heads days. The dresses were classic Dolce sexy, many with lace, star prints, or both. At first the gender distinction was strong, but at the end of the show, sequin leggings began popping up under blazers and dresses were paired with men's oxfords. The bold colors and patterns gave the whole show an '80s pop princess vibe with a big dose of dandy.
Source: Catwalking
Fans of Jil Sander's light and colour-filled Spring collection might have freaked out a little over the all-black beginning to Fall. Thankfully, it was temporary, before designer Raf Simons introduced a nod to '60s ski motifs with his aviator-capped models in bright, slim knits. Minimalist silhouettes that define the Jil Sander brand got a fresh look through the maximalist lens of last season; shift dresses and boxy tops were blown up, and some fabrics had the thickness of sleeping bags in an interesting but not-so-figure-flattering way. Florals returned, this time smaller and darker, but, thankfully, the bold colour stayed on.
Source: Catwalking
At the Dolce & Gabbana show in Milan yesterday, the talented Pat McGrath drew her inspiration for the look by combining masculine definition and soft, glowy feminine beauty. The models were divided into two groups and showcased this "sense of contradiction between light, minimal taupe tones and deep berry stains on the lips" using Dolce & Gabanna makeup.
Pat began by applying The Foundation all over and blended Perfect Finish Concealer underneath the eyes. To achieve the feminine look, she used all of the colours in The Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Femme Fatale on the lid. Next, The Eyeliner Crayon Intense in Black was used on the top lid, and The Eyeliner Crayon Intense in Nude was used in the waterline. Pat then applied a small amount of The Eyeliner Crayon Intense in Shimmer to corner of the eye, followed by The Mascara Volumized Lashes, The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour in Warm on the cheeks, The Illuminator in Eva on the high points of the face and The Classic Cream Lipsticks in Glam and Dramatic on the lips.
For the masculine look, Pat squared the taupe eyeshadow from The Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Femme Fatale all around the eye. Lashes were curled and brows were filled in the same shade as the hair. Then, The Luminous Cheek Colour in Tan was used to add structure and contour on the face along with a sweep of The Illuminator in Eva along the brow bone and cheekbones. Lastly, lip balm to an otherwise natural lip!
Fendi brought colour and a sportswear-inspired zippiness to a collection that was loosely rooted in ladylike themes. There were boxy coats with colourful trims, knit sweatpants, and minimalist wool shells, all of it looking like it could be thrown on for a casual lunch. Fendi luxury came via multitoned and textured fur, suggesting a younger clientele might be donning these. Colour played a major role, with yellow, orange, and burgundy emboldening many of the earth-toned ensembles and giving the collection a hint of '60s pop. For evening, sheer textures enlivened wool dresses and pants. The focus on fabrics — wool, fur, sheer silk, leather — and color made for a fun collection that didn't present any huge ideas, but will make wonderful additions to the closet next Fall.
Hello, colour! Frida Giannini kicked off Milan Fashion Week with a luxurious take on the '70s and delivered it in eye-popping technicolour. Teal, emerald green, sapphire blue, red, and chartreuse brought new life to furs, suede, and snakeskin. The ladylike silhouettes — skirtsuits, wide-leg trousers with sweaters, tie-neck blouses, halter dresses — were immensely wearable, yet the color combos, like olive green with cerulean blue and purple with teal, gave everything a cheeky sense of indulgence. The Gucci woman does not hide from color, even in a season that calls for blacks and grays. In a total repudiation of Fall and Winter's organic darkness, the finale dresses were frothy, sheer, and wrought with a dense floral applique that made models like Joan Smalls and Abbey Lee Kershaw look like they were in full springtime bloom. Magazines will have a field day shooting this collection.
Sadly, I wasn't able to fly the coup and attend Milan Fashion Week in person, but my little Italian elves (and by elves, I mean the folks over at Pantene), kept their eyes and ears open for me. On Saturday, they were able to pull out all the stops at the Moschino Cheap & Chic show and report back on the fresh and fabulous hair that perfectly suited the clothing. The leader of the hairstyling pack, Sam McKnight said,
"The Moschino Cheap & Chic girl has this crazy, young, colourful vibe. She just loves to have fun and is fresh and energetic, which comes through in the Moschino Cheap & Chic hair look for SS11. The style is loose buns all tied and twisted up with beautiful bright silk scarves."
To find out which Pantene products were used and how you can re-create this look at home, just read more
This season, the signature psychedelic Pucci print is reworked for something equally fabulous. For Spring '11, the feel is feminised, softer in silhouettes, and has a muted palette. Fabrics float in dreamy, watercolor-inspired prints that feel more serene than in-your-face. Blue hues spotlight on peasant-style blouses, ruffled dresses, and a standout knit, embellished mini sheath, but designer Peter Dundas gives every color a moment — tan suede coats, brown and red prints, orange-toned separates, even black in sheer blouses and cutout maxis. We get a taste of the '70s, then something romantic and sultry emerges: crochet, cutouts, and lace-up tops and dresses dominate. Feminine but not girlie, bohemian and whimsically wearable — that's how Pucci played it.
To see all of the pics from the Emilio Pucci show, read more
Milan Fashion Week continued to draw famous faces to the front row yesterday, following star sightings over weekend. Rachel Bilson honoured designer Matthew Williamson at a party on Sunday in cute lipstick. She then joined Taylor Swift and Heidi Klum at the Roberto Cavalli show yesterday morning, where they were decked out in his designs. George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis, meanwhile, broke from their Sardinian getaway to show some affection on their way into Giorgio Armani, where the brand's model Megan Fox was back out with Brian Austin Green. There's even more to come from Italy, so stay tuned for more coverage!
To see more from Milan Fashion Week, just read more
