Fashion continues to defy expectations and challenge conventional ideas of clothes, style, and design as fashion month continues in Milan. This year, many brands are celebrating different anniversaries while others are stirring up uncertainty as the rumors of many departures and changes loom amongst them.
Some major changes to come include Gucci’s creative director, Sabato De Sarno, who recently took the role during Milan Fashion Week S/S 2024, departing from the house. Just 2 years after becoming the creative director, his journey with Gucci is unfortunately coming to an end. On another note, Bottega Veneta is not showing as their new creative director, Louise Trotter, will be debuting later this year in September.
Versace
Versace is no stranger to the many rumors surrounding this year’s Milan Ready-To-Wear shows. Many sources report a potential sale of the company, leaving many uncertain of the future of the house. The news of Donatella Versace’s potential departure from the brand shook the entire fashion community as her legacy remains one that is unmatched.
The brand was first founded in 1978 by Donatella’s brother Gianni Versace, while Donatella resided as vice president at the time. However, after Gianni’s murder in 1997, Donatella soon took over the brand. For the past 28 years, Donatella has been the creative mastermind behind Versace. During her time, she created some of the most well-known designs to ever hit the runway. One of her most notable designs includes the green jungle dress worn by J-Lo at the 47th Grammy Awards in 2000. The dress was so popular it was the reason that Google Image Search was created.
Unfortunately, this latest collection is both loved and hated by the public. However, the meaning behind the collection fails to reach some of the minds of critics. Various silhouettes of baroque prints including billowing layers and peeking linings march down the catwalk, reinforcing the house’s most notable code. The baroque print has defined the atelier as it empowers not only the brand, but also its wearers as it provides strength and confidence.
Fall-Winter 2025
Donatella’s use of Baroque is telling of her ideal to hold on to one’s identities. For Versace, and many luxury brands, these identities became the DNA that makes up the brand. For this show, Donatella takes that DNA and continues the brand’s legacy as she affirms how she does not follow rules, as her collection is built on what she wants to do. It is unobtainable, unachievable, and nonimitative by anyone or any other brand. The three opening looks include flowing baroque fabric that floats down the runway, setting the mood of the show. The fabric lays gently as it marches down the catwalk, reinstating the brand’s identity.
Bold patterns including the Baroque, but also leopard and bold colors against solid black create a balance. A striking hue contrasts with the dark black as it expresses the brand’s bold legacy. The classic oroton fabric flows like liquid and shines as it lights up the collection. The striking silver texture of the metal mixes with the suppleness of the silk, creating an unreal textile.
Donatella nods to the brand’s roots as V-shaped collars and pockets were taken from Versace’s Fall-Winter 1991 collection. Notably, the gold and silver oroton dresses were reminiscent of Gianni Versace’s Atelier Fall-Winter 1998 Haute Couture collection.
Dolce & Gabbana – Milan Fashion Week
Dolce & Gabanna’s Fall-Winter ’25 Ready-To-Wear collection is all about cool girls. To the brand, the Dolce & Gabbana cool girl has effortless attitude, a bold stride, and cosmopolitan allure. She plays around with fashion as she curates different looks with a thoughtful eye. She plays a game as she mixes and matches, creating her own personal style that is uniquely hers.
Just as many are doing today, the Dolce & Gabbana cool girl draws inspiration from previous decades. Notably, the ’80s and ’50s become her playground as she creates her own interpretations. This season’s collection includes technical prints, maxi dresses, soft lines, and knitwear that the Dolce & Gabbana cool girl embodies year round.
Through this collection, Dolce & Gabbana pay tribute to the cool girl as she lives in the shadows of the hot girl. Hot girls have taken over as the cool girls, such as Carolyn Basset-Kennedy and Paris Hilton, have faded from our minds. The days of a nonchalant attitude and smudged eyeliner are gone. Seeing as so, Dolce & Gabbana revived the beloved cool girl with their latest collection.
#DGFW25 “Cool Girls”
The first section of the collection included grunge-wear pieces featuring parachute trousers, classic khaki parkas, the classic grungy beanies, and casual sheer lace dresses. We all remember the days of beanies and khakis and they are here to stay as Dolce & Gabbana brings us back to our childhood. Bulky coats with voluminous fur lining contrast with delicate lace lingerie, mixing masculine and feminine. Soon enough, denim takes over with lavish trimming and the brand’s signature captivating gilded heart embellishments.
Shifting to evening wear, mini-dresses take on the catwalk with the gilded heart embellishments catching everyone’s attention. To pull together the looks, various pairs of embellished biker boots made their way down the runway. Notably, the brand brought us back to the 1920s as a few flapper dress-inspired designs stole the spotlight.
Giorgio Armani
Roots is a recurring theme this season as Giorgio Armani’s latest collection is all about roots. Giorgio Armani’s company, Armani, was founded 50 years ago in 1975, and this season, the house is celebrating 50 years of classic and chic silhouettes. Throughout the collection, each design is quiet as it saunters down the runway, leaving a lasting impression. With each step, viewers soak in the precision and mastery of Armani’s 50-year legacy.
Armani stays true to the house’s skills as they continue to focus on precision and masterful craftsmanship. Each look is meticulously designed to exude a calm, sophisticated, and confident demeanor.
The show opens with various shades of gold, sand, beige, and gray hues setting a chic and sophisticated mood. The collection connects to ancestral purity as the golden beige and deep browns fade into green, quartz blue, and endless mirages of greige. As the darker hues take over, sleek coats and simplistic, yet dazzling gowns flow down the catwalk.
The collection blends various diverse cultural influences as the simple forms echo Asia-Pacific themes with timeless elegance. Throughout the collection, various oriental patterns adorn trousers, structured tops, flowing skirts, and classically tailored trousers. The brand creates a chic balance as faux fur frames the face and silk skirts and trousers flow down the catwalk.
Various jackets made of jacquard and colorful quilting soften the collection. As evening wear takes over, we see a mirage of sheer fabrics combine with delicate beading. This collection is all about authenticity and Armani’s classic silhouettes and timeless crafting shine throughout the entire show.
DSQUARED2 – Milan Fashion Week
30 years in the industry and Dsquared2 knows how to pull off a banger to celebrate! Twin designers, Dan and Dean Caten, founded the house, Dsquared2, in 1995, where they continuously blend sporty and glamorous, nonchalant and extravagant, and masculine and feminine. For the latest collection, the show was more than just clothes, it was a bridge between individuality, creativity, and expression. The two revisit the brand’s heart and personality that expresses its unique qualities of limitless possibilities and its rebellious nature.
The scene: outside a lively nightclub, as the fiercely unique individuals arrive to take over the night. The first guest, none other than artist Doechii, stumbles out of a tank full of dollar bills to make a fierce run down the runway. Doechii struts in denim booty shorts with a gem encrusted statement belt, a grey T-shirt that flows into a long train, and a corset puffer jacket with a fur trimmed hood.
Other guests came out wearing oversized shorts over baggy denim, bejeweled jeans, and belted corsets. One of the most popular models today, Alex Consani, struts the stage in low-rise black leather pants, a black fur stole, and a black cowboy hat that screams camp. Alongside Doechii, NLE Choppa took on the runway, showcasing his tatted torso wearing contrasting denim and cargo mixed pants and a thick fur-trimmed jacket.
#OBSESSED2
Various models made their way to the club in decadent limousines, sleek pickup trucks, and yellow taxi cabs. Each representing eccentric club guests ranging from cowboys, showgirls, bikers, and various sexy and rebellious individuals. Amelia Grey, embodying Cher in her iconic Bob Mackie dress, came out wearing a sheer nipple bearing jumpsuit adorned with beading and feathers.
Notably, Naomi Campbell made an appearance wearing a sexy leather dominatrix one-piece corseted leather bodysuit. Finishing off the look, Naomi wore a pair of thigh-high leather boots pulling the sexy, rebellious, and confident look together. One or two surprises are never enough for Dsquared2 as everyone was left shocked when they revealed their collaboration with rock band Kiss. The band itself was always about pushing boundaries and the brand embodied the same ideal through its collection. Dsquared2 took that and ran as they perfectly matched the band’s ideals with their own to create some unforgettable looks.
To end the show, actress and singer, Brigitte Nielson embodies a sexy police officer wearing a leather police jumpsuit. Appearing from a cop car, Nielson arrests the designers, Dan and Dean, who suddenly break free and escape, closing the show. The title of the show, “Obsessed,” is an understatement to how this show impacted us. It was a revolution of creativity, mastery, and the ultimate provocateur experience from the Caten brothers.
This year, Italy’s greatest minds in fashion brought back their roots and celebrated decades of mastery, artistry, and classic prêt-à-porter.
