COMMENTARY | Milan Fashion Week 2012 is coming to an end, and while the European designers’ fashions are typically a little more “over-the-top” than those of American designers, the colors and trends of fall/winter 2012 are quite similar. Designs on Milan’s runways were a bit darker than most seen in this month’s New York Fashion Week shows, but the color scheme was basically the same – Earth tones, grey and black, and saturated brights. Metallic accents were also seen in various shows, but definitely the most in Dolce & Gabbana.
Dolce & Gabbana’s show included gorgeous looks created with exquisite fabrics including velvet, chiffon, and lace — all in black with gold accents. These golden accents came in the form of embroidery, buttons, and even headpieces. It gave the entire line a very elegant, aristocratic feel, sure to make any woman feel like a royal.
Marni focused more on color and the super-popular color-blocking trend. They used great neutrals, including the ever-popular camel, but they also included oranges and yellows. They also stayed more to the norm when it comes to fall/winter clothing — something a lot of designers failed to do in Milan this year. Many designers strayed away from coats, jackets, and other warm-weather essentials, but Marni showcased some great capes, and fur-embellished jackets.
Missoni was another designer that had a fabulous line, yet it was riddled with bare arms and legs. Black and grey was a staple in this line, as well as gold. They also had some great looks that featured patchwork done in brown, orange, and mustard — perfect for fall!
Lastly, the Armani collection left a lot of people feeling uncharacteristically under-whelmed. The collection was somewhat bland when it comes to color, and it was very masculine — something completely different from other designers’ collections.