Milan SS16 fashion trends

Frills and pleats

For his first season at Roberto Cavalli, Peter Dundas said he wanted to give the Cavalli girl a fresh look. This came in the form of billowing bohemian taffeta dresses with tie-dye prints, as well as sheer chiffon dresses with voluminous layers and pleats – an altogether more sophisticated version of the Cavalli girl. Over at Gucci, the 70s were still very evident with frilled pussy-bow shirts.

Re-imagined animal print

Roberto Cavalli’s new creative director Peter Dundas added his signature rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic to the brand in the form of re-imagined animal print. Versace gave an updated take on animal print with acid green and yellow leopard print dresses.

New romance

Hues of apricot and peach as well as ruffles, bows and floor-length dresses pointed to a new mood of femininity and romance for the SS16 collections. Armani packed its new offering with a selection of blush, rose and coral shades that contrasted well with its dark accessories. Etro offered one of the prettiest collections of Milan Fashion Week, displaying long, floating dresses with delicate prints, as well as satin-silk gowns and pyjama-like trousers. Dolce & Gabbana continued its love affair with Italy with ‘Italia is love’ as the motif for its SS16

Urban warrior

Bottega Veneta and Versace shunned the romantic theme that featured so heavily in Milan this season in favour of the great outdoors. Versace created a model army complete with utility jackets in khaki and sand, chunky black platform heels and belts. Bottega Veneta also opted for a practical approach to fashion, with track pants, knitted gilets and zip-up vests.

Go big or go home

Go big or go home seemed to be the motto in Milan when it came to accessories. Big bangles and heavy, oversized earrings featured in numerous collections. Marni harked back to the graphic designs of the 60s, with giant acrylic earrings, while Emporio Armani presented a series of huge jewellery, as did Dsquared2 with its vibrant array of neon necklaces and earrings.

Earn your stripes

Missoni returned to its signature prints this season, showing a particular penchant for vertical stripes in rich Milanese colours. Floor-length sheer knit dresses elongated the models’ bodies and presented a tempting choice for inclusion in next summer’s wardrobe. Salvatore Ferragamo also offered floor-length dresses, and these had a focus on austere stripes. Dolce & Gabbana added new bold striped pyjama-like wear to its collection.

Rock ‘n’ roll

Tod’s injected some rock ‘n’ roll into its SS16 collection, with luxury leatherwear, pinstriped trousers and off-the-shoulder tops. Brooches and neck scarves completed the rock-chic aesthetic. Over at Max Mara stars were the main motif appearing on knitwear, trousers and dresses. The models’ mohawk-inspired hairstyles and graphic eye liner also paid homage to the grunge aesthetic.