The Business of Fashion

Magnificent Milan

The semi-annual harvesting of the fruits of menswear designers from all over the world has just ended In Milan, and I have to say, it was a bumper crop.

I never planned use this blog as an editorial on fashion trends or styling, but the menswear looks that have come out of Milan this season are really strong, and give strong direction for mens fashion. For the first time in awhile, things look fresh, and that's got to be good for business.

I have selected a few of my favourite looks - these are the styles that I seriously dig - and I am no conceptualist. I think these are wearable commercial looks as well.

Best looks

From sharp tailoring  at Etro and Bottega Veneta, to long knits and layering at Burberry and Valentino, menswear was spot on this season, with a bit of colour or new silhouette to freshen the looks.

The ongoing trouser debate was truly challenged by J Lindeberg who went wide. I actually like the way this looks. Some disagreed though and the rock star skinny was still inny as we saw at Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana.

CK, J Lindeberg, Etro and Prada worked the knitwear long and fast, in both muted and colourful hues.

And to top it all off, the perfect trench from a triumphant Mr. Lindeberg, followed by the perfect high DB black tuxedo from Mr. Valentino

 

[photos: Marco Maceira from style.com]

Pinup Madonna

Speaking of the new trends I mentioned in a previous post, style.com just posted a summary of trends (well, its 221 photos, so not a summary in actuality) for women's S/S 07. My favourites, as I mentioned, were the eighties revival and futurism.

I couldn't help but take note of the pinup girls trend. It made me think right back to the launch of Madonna's Confessions on  Dancefloor album in the Autumn of 2005, where she pranced around in a purple leotard in Hung Up video. Some people (and countries) were scandalised by it at the time (see this article about her purple-leotarded performance being banned in Malaysia ). Let's just say not everyone could appreciate this latest Madonna avatar. But given the looks shown in this part of the trend watch on style.com, many designers loved  the look (maybe unconsciously?) and channeled it in their S/S 07 collections. Though they might not admit it, Madonna is their pinup girl. Now, too bad she couldn't get a royalty stream from that as well.

[photo from madonna.com, Confessions on a Dancefloor]