Milan’s spring 2020 shows were jampacked with both heritage houses and fresh fashion brands presenting their wares. I was on hand (@johannahmasters) to take in both the traditional shows and unscripted showstopping moments — from power-house J.Lo remaking a moment in fashion history on the Versace runway to Peter Pilotto and Boss presenting their shows in Milan for the first time. Here are a few of the bold Italian trends that everyone will be wearing come spring.
Tropic thunder
Designers were clearly dreaming of sultry escapes with this botanical trend. Dolce & Gabbana held a “Sicilian Jungle”-themed show, with wild palm prints and animal details. Fendi displayed a lush collection ideal for any vacation-goer, and Peter Pilotto’s first Milan-based show wrapped models like birds of paradise.
Citrus scene
Sure there were plenty of pastels on offer, but it was the juicy flash of orange that kept the catwalks zesty. Alberta Ferretti went for peachy-keen casual with a peasant top and tie-dye jeans, while Bottega Veneta and Prada both made an appealing statement with leather outerwear.
Blaze a trail
Blazers appeared on countless runways, buttoning up their claim as the official jacket of the season. Jil Sander paired a solid neutral number over swirling separates, while No.21 stuck with matching print on print. Max Mara doubled down on trends by styling a mint blazer with long shorts for a monochromatic look, and Emporio Armani followed suit with a velvet topper. Gucci showed a tamer collection than usual, but still struck gold (trim) with this blush tuxedo jacket.
Neat knits
Knits got witty for spring — and Missoni led the way with gorgeous floral looks, like this flowy skirt and ruffle bra top. Marco de Vincenzo’s show featured 47 models in looks of every hue — this gilded number was the gold at rainbow’s end. Meanwhile, Salvatore Ferragamo’s long sleeves and hot pants set a chic nautical tone. Ahoy!
Art class
Fashion is often compared to wearable art, but Milan designers took the adage literally. Moschino’s spring show celebrated Picasso in every way, paying homage to the abstract icon with bold, dimensional dresses. Marni also painted with broad (and colorful) brush strokes, while MSGM’s portrait dress gave the illusion of textured paint.
J.Lo steals the show
The biggest moment of Milan came down to one little green dress. Ageless A-lister Jennifer Lopez closed the Versace show in an even more revealing version of the famous jungle-print number she wore to the Grammys in 2000 (which caused such a sensation that it sparked the invention of Google Images). When J.Lo took her skin-baring surprise turn on this year’s catwalk, there wasn’t a soul in the audience without a phone in hand to capture the explosive moment.
Throwing shade
Everyone’s favorite out-on-the-town label Attico debuted its Linda Farrow sunnies collab. Available in February, the 21-piece collection is just as attention-getting as the brand itself, via golden logos, oversized styles — like these “Marfa” shades ($250) — and intense colorways. Go ahead and wear your sunglasses at night.
Step up
As of this spring, Sara Battaglia will be dressing her stylish fans from head to toe — adding shoes to her bold handbag and clothing offerings. The playful kicks range from plissé-adorned slides to polka-dotted platforms, not to mention these eye-popping “Apollonia 90” mules ($590).