Milan Fashion Week AW23 | The Luxe Collective Highlights

Milan, Milan, Milan. If London has quirk and Paris has prestige; Milan delivers provocation. Don’t get us wrong NYFW and LFW gave us exciting moments, but Milan Fashion Week left us invigorated - some may say frothing - for the remainder of fashion month. From a cascading condom mountain at Diesel - more on that later- to muted practicality seen at Prada; take a look at our Luxe highlights of Milan Fashion Week. 

DIESEL

Kicking off the season the only way they know how - with literal sex appeal - Diesel left us gagging. A cherry-red condom mountain (sounds almost poetic) cascaded to create the backdrop of Diesel’s stimulating AW23 collection. Although controversial, the set and the orgasmic soundtrack were no gimmick for Diesel. Creative Director Glenn Martens’ noted after the show, “Sex positivity is something amazing. We like to play at Diesel, and we are serious about it. Have fun, respect each other, be safe.”

The 200K Durex condoms amassed on the runway, were only a tease for the 300K additional Durex condoms that will be handed out in Diesel stores from April 2023. Ringing a bell? Our Luxe Collective condoms came to mind too, but sorry lovers, they’re for Valentine’s Day only. 

We found Martens’ fabric innovation successfully aroused the senses. Denim devoré penetrated the runway, meticulously executed to reveal sensual flashes of the wearers’ skin. Skimpy sheaths of pearlescent satin formed crop tops and mini skirts, amplifying the collection’s suggestive nature, leaving little - or maybe too much - to the imagination. 

To quickly finish, we simply loved how the Diesel AW23 show made us feel. It was light-hearted and fun, juxtaposing the pragmatic - albeit - beautiful collections of the week and left us lusting for that big D… on the bags guys, c’mon. 

BOTTEGA VENETA 

Bottega Veneta AW23 collection concluded Matthieu Blazy's "Italia" trilogy. Moving from refined basics, AW23 signified a shift towards tailoring and an exaggeration of proportions, seen in the sheer variety of 'characters' that Blazy sent down the runway. These characters were inspired by global street style, which led Blazy to take an unedited approach - 81 looks in total - to showcase the individuality of fashion. 

Bottega Veneta AW23 delivered a fresh take on the brand's infamous interraccio leather, seen in thigh-high boots (we love) and oversized clutch bags (a key trend for the upcoming season). Bottega's innovative use of leather didn't stop there; tank tops and knit-like socks, mimicking cotton and wool, were expertly crafted in leather variations - it was truly mind-blowing and totally Bottega. 

GUCCI 

A headless house (figuratively speaking), Gucci entrusted its in-house design team with the AW23 collection. The interlude between Alessandro Michele’s departure and the debut of Sabato de Sarno, sparked a moment of reflection for the brand; as the team drew on the archival artistry of previous Creative Directors for inspiration.

Kudos to the Gucci atelier for delivering such a noteworthy collection; filled with so many ‘moments’ we lost count. Tom Ford’s signature tailoring was present, as too were the horse-bit bags; now enlarged into a lust-worthy oversized clutch shape. References to Frida Giananni’s Gucci could also be found in bold colour blocking - azure blue furs with scarlet skirts -  however, it was Michele’s sexy signature that was omnipresent throughout the collection. 

Acting as a love letter to their design head, Michele’s team kept his legacy alive with decadent lingerie-inspired details, swathes of sheer fabric and double-g monogramming, synonymous with the predecessor's tenure at Gucci. Overall, the Gucci AW23 collection provided a beautiful segue into a new, exciting chapter for the renowned Italian house - bring on September. 

PRADA 

Pairing with Raf Simons for the season, Prada’s “Taking Care” collection was lavish yet refreshingly wearable. The duo focused on the beauty of reality, which was aptly displayed in delicately appliqued wedding-esque skirts paired with cosy crew neck jumpers. These contrasting elements explored the possibilities of everyday dressing, with Miuccia Prada noting "Everyday life deserves beautiful things because every day of life counts." - Miuccia, we couldn't agree more.

This celebration of the ordinary rang true in the reimagined workers' uniforms that hit the runway. A nod to the current political climate and the strikes across Europe, Prada celebrated the unsung heroes amongst us, from nurses to military workers to reflect “real jobs, real people, real life”. As Simons' explained, “The act of caring is a beautiful thing. We wanted to transform these uniforms of caring into uniforms of beauty." And beautiful they were; starched white shirts and dresses elevated the humble nurse uniform alongside impeccably tailored capes and duffle coats.

The beauty of the Prada AW23 collection was the wearable elegance that can be achieved with any wardrobe. At Luxe Collective, we're channelling Prada's attitude - saying no to saving for 'best' and instead romanticising every day; after all, life is too short not to wear beautiful clothes.

Enjoy La Dolce Vita with pieces from your favourite Italian designers. Discover our collections from Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu, Fendi and more...