Milan Fashion Week A/W 2008-9: Burberry Prorsum

Every time I think of Christopher Bailey's name, all I can think of is the slogan t-shirt House of Holland dedicated to him - 'Do me daily Christopher Bailey'. I suppose it doesn't help that CQ's editor-in-chief Gemma (a big Bailey fan) also happens to own this particular t-shirt. Anyway, I'm sure if I was at the Burberry Prorsum show in Milan overnight, I might have been tempted to scream this out from the bleachers. But thankfully I wasn't and so on with the show...

It was hats away at the Burberry Prorsum show with wool beanies traipsing down the catwalk. As well as oversized men's jackets, cocoon coats and short dresses with voluminous sleeves.

Detailing using feathers and fringed leather leaves were also featured in a collection inspired by L.S. Lowry, famous for his paintings of industrial northern England and the matchstick people. I loved the bags especially - in toffee, caramel and cappuccino - it's enough to make you wish for another autumn season... well almost!

[via CatwalkQueen]

Milan Fashion Week A/W 2008-9: Missoni, Just Cavalli and Emporio Armani

This weekend belonged to Milan Fashion Week where some of world's leading designers took to the catwalk to present their autumn/winter 2008-9 collections. Missoni layered things up with flower prints, ponchos, petal-like collars and of course knitwear. While the Just Cavalli show livened up Milan with a time warp back to the '70s, featuring short boho dresses, wide-brimmed floppy hats, ruffled shirts and peach-coloured suits. There was also a dash of check, flamingo print and of course Cavalli's always-present animal print. At Emporio Armani, wide legged trousers stormed up the runway below nipped-in jackets trimmed with fur. Flashes of fuchsia, purple and blue added interest as well as his use of velvet.

[Source, Images: Catwalking.com via Getty]

Milan Menswear A/W '08-'09: Round up report

The menswear shows in Milan are storming on with back-fastening shirts and ra-ra skirts (yep, skirts!) at Prada, debonair knitwear at Missoni and sophisticated rock 'n' roll at Moschino.

For a closer look at all these shows, make sure to check out our superb menswear blog, Brandish.

[Image: Catwalking.com via Getty]

Milan Menswear A/W '08-'09: Day four report

Aside from the Spice Girls hitting the catwalk in Milan yesterday, a host of designers including Moschino and Gucci made their runway presentations for autumn/winter '08-'09. Gucci's silk shirts and Russian folklore jackets were inspired by the Gypsy style of Eugene Hutz, the Ukrainian lead singer of Gogol Bordello, a New York band. Meanwhile a day earlier, Alexander McQueen's (pictured, click image to enlarge) strong tailoring had a slightly Andes feel about it. Click here to read our catwalk report from Brandish.

[Image: Catwalking.com via Getty]

Milan Menswear A/W '08-'09: Day three report

Our fantastic menswear blog Brandish has got the lowdown on all that's been happening with the menswear shows in Milan, which began over the weekend. The Bottega Veneta autumn/winter '08-'09 show (pictured above) yesterday gave Brandish's own Tim Hunter something to drool over thanks to designer Tomas Maier's high-shouldered formal wear. Click here to read his report.

Allegra and Daniel Versace join R&B stars front row at Milan shows

The fashion set flocked to Milan at the weekend to check out the menswear we'll be seeing this autumn and winter. And looking on as Donatella Versace brought back the double-breasted jacket and low-waisted trousers in a collection dominated by navy, burgundy and brown were her children Allegra, 21 and 18-year-old Daniel.

The siblings joined R&B stars Jay Z, Kelly Rowland and Beyonce - the face of Armani's Diamonds fragrance – in the front row at the presentation. Next stop for the music trio was the alpine-inspired Emporio Armani show, which featured monochrome ski wear embellished with a flurry of snow-like sparkles and Scandinavian-style sweaters.

At Alexander McQueen enormous fluffy sheepskins, Russian-style fur stoles and over-size jerseys were teamed with boho headscarfs to ensure the McQueen man stays toasty even in the most Arctic conditions.

Also presenting her vision of next winter at the shows, which were packed into four days to fit around Paris menswear and couture, was Vivienne Westwood. The flame-haired designer delivered sports chic interpreted through baggy patterned trousers and t-shirts in bold hues of purple, aqua marine and orange.

Source: HelloMagzine

Milan looks back at the genius called Versace

Milan is celebrating the genius of a man called Gianni Versace. Ten years after he was murdered, the iconic designer is being remembered in Milan for his contribution to the world of fashion.

The man who gave the world, or at least a few very rich people, extraordinary metallic garments and breathtaking stage costumes, Vesace is remembered by a ballet in his honour titled Thank You, Gianni, With Love.

Other events include an exhibit of Versace's sketches of theatre costumes on Milan streets, and the establishment of a scholarship in his honour at the European Institute of Design in Milan.

"Truly, his enthusiasm, his spontaneity was something that would strike you and this thing so innate in him, even when he became famous, he never lost it. He was always the same. And this was a characteristic that I have never noticed in other designers in the fashion industry,” said Carla Fendi, Designer.

Gianni started his craft at the age of 22 and went on to build the Versace fashion empire from his studio in the centre of Milan.

His elaborate stage costumes for Elton John in the late '80s helped cement his reputation. He was gunned down outside his mansion in Miami Beach, Florida on July 15, 1997.

Armani plays safe as DG opt for rock chic at Milan show

Hot shades evoking the sunny south and rock/leather chic dominated Milan's fashion ramps Tuesday as Giorgio Armani and Dolce and Gabbana unveiled their men's lines for next summer.

Armani's silhouettes were sleek and classic: clothes gently draping the body and bottomed off by elegant mocassins or slip-ons styled like Turkish slippers.

Coats fell impeccably over retro-style shirts with deep necklines. And the humble T-shirt was a study in sophistication and crafted in the purest silk.

The colors of the collection Armani christened the "South" line were dominated by blues, off-whites and "greige," a color the Italian fashion designer claimed to have invented combining beige and grey.

A straw boater topping a Bermuda suit was as tongue in cheek as Armani would go, but not so Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who opted for shock value with trash, rock and leather chic on the penultimate day of the five-day run.

Black leather pants and Bermudas festooned with zips, peekaboo jeans torn fashionably just under the buttocks and strewn with nails for a suitable grunge effect, micro-mini swimming trunks in black and white and a Union Jack bandanna were some of the offerings.

Nicola Trussardi's collection was more neutral with pale pink shirts and neckties and a classic black pullover.

Marni on the other hand opted for the simplicity of form with conventional black suits accessorised by exquisite neckties and shirts in royal blue and other time-tested shades.

Five designers including French duo Marithe and Francois Girbaud will showcase their collections on Wednesday, the last day of the show in Italy's fashion capital.

Before the fashion world turned its attention this year to Milan, it was rocked by the sudden death of leading Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre.

Ferre, known as the architect of fashion, died on July 17 aged 62 after a brain hemorrhage and was buried in his birthplace of Legnano near Milan.

A week after his death, the fashion house that bears his name on Sunday presented its summer show for men to a tearful audience that gave him a posthumous ovation.

©AFP

Milan fashion week marries elegance and irreverence

Milan Fashion run of men's fashion shows for next summer displayed brazen irreverence Monday with Moschino's fluorescent tones, Gucci's slimline tweeds and John Richmond's gangster chic suits.

Franco Moschino's offerings were a riot of colour. Turning back to the 1980s, he showed off an orange trench coat teamed up with white pants, a yellow windbreaker and pink socks peeking out under short pants.

Even the belts and shoes screamed Florida. And the Peace and Love symbol of the fashion house were omnipresent, being either a discreet presence on the back of a coat or emblazoned across a T-shirt.

Gucci turned to classic tweed in black and white and pants tailored so close to the body that they veered between classic elegance and insolence.

But the trousers were in more adventurous colours: vermillion, bright yellow and green. For the evening, it was a classic black tuxedo enlivened by a cherry coloured belt.

British stylist John Richmond meanwhile showcased a collection that married an English dandy's wardrobe with that of a Sicilian bandit with dark suits, natty ties and eyeshades to match. And there were trousers in military fatigues.

Valentino, for his part, opted for classic and "still" elegance, showing his designs on mannequins against the backdrop of bare-breasted cabaret dancers covered in fuchsia plumes -- the theme being 'Paris Awakens.'

The mood before this year's Milan fashion week was sombre following the sudden death of leading Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre.

Ferre died on July 17 aged 62 after a brain haemorrhage and was buried in his birthplace of Legnano near Milan.

A week after his death, the fashion house that bears his name on Sunday presented its summer show for men to a tearful audience that gave him a posthumous ovation.

On Tuesday, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Etro, Marni and Trussardi will unveil their collections in Italy's fashion capital on the penultimate day of the current fashion run.

©AFP

Milan Fashion Invasion In Ferre's Honour

The Milan fashion spectacle in honour of the recently departed Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre begins today.

On this day, Milan has become the top fashion destination, where numerous fashion shows will take place over the next five days. The event was organized by some of the biggest names in the fashion industry to honour the recently deceased Italian designer, Gianfranco Ferre.

The event started this morning with a mass at St. Marco’s Church and continued with a fashion show of the following designers: Missoni, Burberry Prorsum, Dries Van Noten, and Gianni Versace.

On Sunday, the event continues with such great names as Bottega Veneta, Emporio Armani, Daks, Prada and Alexander McQueen. And, of course, with the most spectacular and most highly anticipated men’s high fashion show, designed by Ferre himself, who had conceived it in great detail, from the music to the choice of models, before his passing.