Milan Fashion Week offered clothing of comfort and a dash of surprise
Our correspondent Declan Chan tells you, this Milan Fashion Week has been strange in many ways but still managed to offer up some moments of happy surprise. From innovative show formats (Moschino) to beautiful, wearable clothes (Fendi), fashion reminds us that there will always be a place for fashion. Perhaps Valentino's show setting of a dilapidated warehouse decorated with naturally sprouting greenery sums it up best—even in times of gloom and doom, fashion can bring a moment of joy, hope and respite.
See also: London Fashion Week SS21 Highlights: The Good, The Bad, And The Apocalyptic
Raf Simons Partners with Miuccia Prada
The most highly-anticipated show this Milan Fashion Week was undoubtedly Prada, where Raf Simons debuted his creative director partnership with founder Miuccia. While some critics felt the resulting collection was a little too safe for its first, Simons and Prada explained in the live Q&A (where they answered questions submitted by fans around the world) that they fell into a natural step, and did not have a solid plan to merge their aesthetics. Perhaps the next one will see Simons' point of view take charge and another might lean more heavily into Prada's. Nevertheless, the punctured, layered knits in bright yellows and pinks were definitely reminiscent of Simons' tenure at Calvin Klein and the hooded nylon jackets over pleated skirts were, as Simons said, a nod to Prada's uniform. The elongated kitten heels with exposed tongues and shawls with attached pouches that models clutched closed at the chest will without a doubt be seen on the fashion set next season.