Arushi Sakhuja
With the ongoing Milan Fashion Week, fashion and creative boundaries have been pushed to new heights. While we decode the biggest fashion and beauty trends for the upcoming season, not only did the couture prove to be a delight but path-breaking concepts brought these shows into the limelight.
Creativity directors and show choreographers took centre-stage at the Milan Fashion Week, from Gucci’s finale that featured identical twins walking down to the runway to Avavav’s debut show with models tripping on the runway upon their entrance, and Moncler’s 70th-anniversary ballet performance. It was a spectacular affair at the Milan Fashion Week.
Gucci Twinsburg
View this post on Instagram
More often than not, one has associated fashion shows with models walking the ramp, the grand finale a celebrity-filled affair. But this year, Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele, envisioned the show a little differently. He brought to the runway, a new concept ā Gucci Twinsburg.
68 sets of twins and doppelgƤngers joined hands with their sibling for the Gucci Twinsburg finale after walking two separate runways divided by a wall of portraits.Ā āIt means we are all the same and yet we are different,ā stated the creative director of the show.Ā With a fascination for asymmetrical reciprocity, the show revealed the latest collection, Gucci Twinsburg across two runways, each a reflection of the other. With the rise of a dividing wall, Alessandro Michele revealed his game of illusion, demonstrating the impossibility of the perfectly identical. Looks seen first on individual models were remarkably different in a second viewing on a pair of seemingly identical models, forcing one to take a closer look. Mid-way through the showcase, walls ascended and allowed viewers to catch a glimpse of identical twins, but it was only for the finale that siblings merged to hold hands, and celebrate unity for one and all.
In his notes on the show, the Creative Director writes, āAs if by magic, clothes duplicate. They seem to lose their status of singularity. The effect is alienating and ambiguous. Almost a rift in the idea of identity, and then, the revelation: the same clothes emanate different qualities on seemingly identical bodies. Fashion, after all, lives on serial multiplications that donāt hamper the most genuine expression of every possible individuality.ā
From slim-cut blazers to leg garters, twill cardigans to slouchy leather bottoms, and cropped sequined blazers with floral embellishments in contrasting Royal Blue, the show was magnificent. Also spotted were leopard-printed tights,Ā snakeskin boots, ruffled ensembles, trench coats and chained jewellery reminiscent of tribal wear, decorating the face of every model.
AVAVAV show had models falling on the runway
View this post on Instagram
Another show with an outrageous concept included Beate Karlsson’s debut AVAVAV showcase at the Milan Fashion Week, with models purposefully falling on the runway.Ā The runway show presented a unique collection based on the theme of fashionās fixation on status.ā AVAVAV’s creative director Beate Karlsson has devoted herself to escapism, embracing a vulgar style with one core focus ā looking rich. āLike many others, Iāve craved money for the past year, everywhere I turn, its part of the discussion. As a result, I want to look rich and feel rich and I want to take it to an outrageous level. As silly as it may sound, Iāve enjoyed my fake wealth in this tough climate. I wanted to do a parody of a fashion show to go with the pathetic theme of this collection, and of fashionās extreme superficiality, at a time when so many fake richness but risk it all to fall down hardā shared the designer and creative director. ā
The final leg of her show had models falling on the runway quite literally, with a debut of ready-to-wear and accessory items that conceptualized the ideal of success and failure. With money (and the pursuit of it), as the collectionās inspiration, models sported blingy couture with dollar-sign embellishments, oversized hoodies and jackets, furry knee-high boots (known as monster boots) and a colour palette that ranged from mint green to lilac, pink, neutrals and grey.
Moncler 70th Anniversary show ballet performance
Luxury house Moncler is known for its ski staples and this year the brand is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a 70-day-long celebration. Held at Piazza del Duomo, the show featured a grand ballet performance opened by the prima ballerina of Teatro Alla Scala di Milano Virna Toppi and comprised 1,952 artists managed by French choreographer Sadeck Berrabah. The cast comprised 700 dancers, 200 musicians, 100 choir members and 952 models and the performance included a chorister. Exploring
repetition as a way to bring out individuality, the show was an ode to the reinvention of the iconic Maya jacket: a design that bridges
the brand’s origins with the brand’s future. As an ode to the founding year of Moncler, all the performers wore a white Moncler Maya 70 jacket.
This year the iconic Maya jacket has been created in 13 limited edition colours and each (except for a platinum version) is crafted in Monclerās new, lightweight, washed and lacquered nylon. With a boxier fit, the new iteration allows for easier movement and the enlarged hood and popper buttons replace the front zip. To celebrate the landmark, the Extraordinary Forever anniversary logo adorns the left sleeve pocket of every jacket and an infinity loop twins the original logo with the 70th-anniversary mountain emblem.
You may also like:
Celebrity front-row style at the New York Fashion Week SS 2023
Fendi celebrates 25 years of the Baguette
