#MFW: Bottega Veneta, Jil Sander and Philosophy

 BOTTEGA VENETA

Today marked the 50th birthday of Venetian brand Bottega Veneta, with the help of Irina Shayk, Eva Herzigova, Gigi Hadid and Joan Smalls. Such was the occasion that Lauren Hutton closed the show arm in arm with model of the moment Gigi Hadid, in a lovely beige and pink outfit. Thomas Maier, the creative director of Bottega since which seems like forever, delivered another show packed full of lady like silhouettes, strong colours, cinched in at the waist with silver belts. I loved all the burgundy colours paired with black and grey, plus all the brogues perfect for office wear.

PHILOSOPHY BY LORENZO SERAFINI

 Another great collection from one of my favourite Italian brands, Philosophy. Pretty, sweet, and full of plenty of romantic frills, this collection was as light as a frothy cup of coffee. White was a key colour layered with cardigans, dresses and skirts, with denim added into the occasion too. There was a real Boho feel to the show mixed with a kind of romantic, peasant look which I personally find really beautiful. Bella Hadid closed the show in a pink, spaghetti strap dress with ruffles along the bottom. Another great show. 

 JIL SANDER

 I have never been a fan of Jil Sander. When Raf Simmons was at the brand I hated it and now I'm still not the greatest fan. This collection however was very structured and cool. From the pinstripe suits which opened the show to the black head to toe looks, this show was perfect for the working woman. Next season, Jil Sander urged you to adopt a brown knit paired with a matching skirt or a billowing top and trouser combo. Keep it minimal though in true Sander style.

Ermanno Scervino

 I don't usually pay much attention to Ermanno Scervino and don't really know that much about the brand or their design history. But this show was really lovely, but strong. The military jacket with gold brocade were stylish and cool paired with mini feathered dresses, the sheer shirts worn underneath dresses were fresh while the hair and make up was relaxed and light. There wasn't much print in the collection, but I did liked the stripes towards the end of the show. One of my favourite collections so far at Milan Fashion Week.

 BLUMARINE

 For me, Blumarine is one of the cutest shows at MFW. This season there were sweet little baskets full of flowers spilling out of them, straw hats in conical shapes, white peasant dresses and lots of pretty dresses to choose from.

Milan Fashion Week: Day 4 and 5 Highlights

Dsquared2
Dean and Dan Caten, the charismatic twins behind Dsquared2, are known for their outlandish sense of style, love of all things tribal and never disappoint to put on a good show. However, for fall 2016 I was a little disappointed with their collection, in that it just wasn't wow enough. There were still some beautiful fur coats which looked very Navajo, skinny combat trousers paired with feathered heels and clever use of layering, but there was no stand out moments. The end of the show saw lots of dark pieces presented on the catwalk, with black and navy taking center stage. But unfortunately there was no big finale. 

Missoni
The Missoni girl this season was not one to get cold, not with the amount of knitwear and layers she was wearing. Angela Missoni did what she does best: knits. Scarfs hung loosely around the neck almost touching the ground or draped around the shoulders, tunic jumpers were thick and comfy while the use of stripes were evident on leggings, shift dresses and basically just about everything else. All the pieces looked so luxe and comfortable that this collection really did bring a sense of comfort to Milan Fashion Week.

Salvatore Ferragamo
Geometric stripes, colour blocking, over sized buttons and zig zag patterns; this Salvatore Ferragamo show was just packed with bold brightness. Models looked slick with hair pulled over to one side and minimal make up leaving the clothes to show off even more. Knitted crop tops were paired with pleated midi skirts, black and white check patterns came on blouses while yet again, stripes had their moment, with even the catwalk decorated in pastel coloured stripes. Not one of the best shows I've seen from Ferragamo, but still very sophisticated and wearable.

Marni
Marni are known for their loose silhouettes, tailored white pieces and use of heavy jewellery. This show had all of that in bucket loads. From the apple green oversized knits at the beginning of the show to the patterned trousers suits accessorised with across the body bags, there was really something for everyone, all stamped with the classic Marni mark. I especially liked the simple white shifts with a splash of scally colours across the middle.

Jil Sander
I cannot express how amazed/pleasantly surprised I was with this Jil Sander collection. Usually I don't take a second glance at Jil Sander, who I find to be very dull and too minimal. This show was minimal but so beautiful at the same time. The opening looks of the double breasted coats in white and black as well as the overall tailoring were sublime. What followed were Celine-esque sunglasses paired with tight fitting knit dresses, long sleeved blazers in grey wool and even a couple of metallic strappy dresses at the end of the show. Jil Sander are known for their effortless tailoring, and this fall 2016 winter collection was a perfect example to other designers on how to do tailored with style.

Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini
I feel as though Lorenzo Serafini sometimes go by unnoticed at Milan Fashion Week, even though what he has done for Philosophy has been immense. His sexy, refined designs for fall 2016 were polished and effortless with lots of leather pieces. I liked the pussy-bow blouses, paired with lace panelled skirts and black kitten heels as well as the mix of shearling coats with tailored white trousers. There was lots to wear within this collection which was nice as sometimes at Milan there are many designers who really aren't practical for everyday wear, ahem Versace.

Blumarine
Colourful, abundant and fur-tastic. I always put this designer in the same boat as Blugirl (for obvious reasons) and Moschino, just because I don't take them as seriously as the other Milanese fashion houses. Nevertheless, this show was very glamorous and sophisticated with lots of fur gilets, huge pastel blue shearling coats and cute little jumpsuits to counter such appeal.

Bottega Veneta
I have always been a fan of Thomas Maier. HIs ladylike shapes and 1950s references are always given a modern twist with the variety of shapes and fabrics he uses. For autumn/winter 2016, there was a real mix-match of colours and prints. A leopard print jacket there, a plaid wool skirt there and beautiful wool sweaters cinched in at the waist - this was really the return of the lady like silhouette. Adriana Lima, Irina Shayk and Kendall Jenner were just some of the big names walking in this show, all wearing a splattering of dark burgundy lipstick with their hair pulled back into a severe middle parting. Uniformal and driven.

Milan Fashion Week: Day 3 Highlights

Versace
Yes, this was Donatella at her finest. From the first looks worn by supermodel Raquel Zimmermann to the last, closed by Russian model Natasha Poly, this was a show which was classic Versace in every possible way. All short, mini dresses, hot mini skirts and plenty of leopard print. I loved everything about this show, which featured some of my favourite models such as Anna Ewers, Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls and Hanne Gaby Odiele. From the military inspired khaki looks at the beginning of the show to the swirly, 80's style dresses at the end.

I loved the big belts which cinched in already tiny waists and the strappy sandals, which some models wore with socks, and came creepy up past the ankle in neon yellow, orange and green as well as the bomber jackets in shiny metallic. It was so glossy, even though some may have the cheek to call it tacky. The mini dresses at the end of the show were extremely short and were covered in over-sized, green and yellow leopard and peacock prints. There was just a lot of leg on show, but then what's Versace without a bit of sexy sass? It was one of the best Versace collections I have seen for a while, with plenty of attitude and sexy, structured pieces. A clear highlight from Milan Fashion Week from an absolutely legendary designer: the incredible Donatella Versace.

Emporio Armani
Soft summer sunsets and dusky walks along a deserted beach sprang to mind while watching the Emporio Armani spring/summer 2016 show. All the beautiful colours (mainly pink) romantically merged in together while the sweeping shapes and elegant lines were classic Armani tailoring. It was slouchy, but never loosing the quintessential style the Milanese are known for, with simple t-shirts paired with smart blazers and organza skirts came layered bold necklaces. It was sublime and seamlessly constructed, with stripes again playing a part in the collection. At least we know that stripes will be a thing for next season now. A wonderful show for a man celebrating 40 years in the business.

Etro
I absolutely love this brand, in what seems to be a love affair which grows stronger and stronger each season. Today, Etro was romantic, soft and a little boho in what was a collection which consisted of only the most beautiful, delicate and pretty pieces. I loved the long, flowing floral maxi dresses with 70's gypsy style detailing as well as the lovely colour scheme of purple, burgundy, blue and beige. These shades were muted and elegant; I can imagine the perfect Etro customer wearing such pieces while holidaying in the French Riviera, lounging on their yacht anchored out at sea. Definitely one of my favourite shows, just because if I was rich enough I would snap everything up straight away!

  
Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini 
Reminiscent of the peasant girl beauty of Alberta Ferreti and Valentino, this show by Lorenzo Serafini was lovely and pretty. The clothes which consisted of silk white shirts, sheer layers of black lace gowns, ruffled gowns which bared the legs, white shorts and plenty of blue paired with less bold colours. I loved the dungarees and the white midi dresses which came in small, intricate patterns and cinched in waists. And with supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio closing the show wearing a black, strapped silk dress and a pair of black patent boots, this collection was a huge success.

  
Blumarine
I always feel that Blumarine and their sister label, Bluegirl tend to go quite unnoticed on the international fashion scene, even though they are a respected brand which have been going for quite a while. I enjoyed their show today, which was soft in the use of pastel colours but also harsh in their dramatic black capes, sheer dresses and coats. I loved the floral embellishment on dresses as well as the prints on skirts and tops, which featured soft stripes and graphic roses in an array of bright colours. The transparent chiffon skirts which were covered in clever embroidery were so pretty as were the minimally constructed jackets with two large pockets on the front. A lovely show.

  
Sportmax
Punchy, bold, bright, on point... I could go on forever with complimentary words, but this collection from Sportmax was so sleek and sharp that it was quite impossible to ignore. Black and white were paired with bold blues, yellows and oranges, with soft patent leather playing a big part on coats, shirts and skirts.  It was graphic in that not a spot was out of place and everything was cut to such a precise angle that it did make quite a statement, reminding me a little of the sharpness of Fendi. I loved the sleekness of the show, it was rich and luxurious and reminded me a little bit of a paint palette in how organised and neat the colours and over-sized shapes were. The only thing I wasn't too keen on was the shoes which were so clunky and big that they didn't go with the whole look of the clothes. But nevertheless, I actually preferred this show to MaxMara yesterday - but don't tell anyone!