Fashion month continues, and this time we’re off to Italy. In Milan, fashion is often glittery, flamboyant, and detailed. Thankfully, this year proved to be no different. For Fashion Week 2023 many designers embraced heavy maximalism that can easily be worn off the runway. At least for the most part…

Along with the excitement of new trends, many eyes were focused on Gucci as this was the first collection without Alessandro Michele at the helm as creative director. Instead of the normal eccentric runway there proved to be a slight ‘70s influence on the collection showing a less logo-centric form of Gucci we might see in the future. Over at Fendi, Kim Jones continued to embrace a few pieces reminiscent of Y2K along the runway and Prada created a dream fall wardrobe with plenty of warm essentials. 

From smaller designers to cult-classic brands, much of Milan came alive with bright patterns, rich fabrics, and flirtation details. If you’re interested in the major trends that existed across all of the Italian city, keep scrolling to find the top five trends that you’ll be sure to find on the streets and social media this fall and winter.

Velveteen Rabbit

 Like sheer fabrics for spring and crochet details for summer, velvet has always held a special place in most designers’ hearts when it comes to the Winter months. Italian designers, in particular, gravitate towards this rich and sensual fabric. From Sportmax’s knotted dresses to Gucci bringing back the return of velvet pants, there are a lot of ways to wear this fabric in the coming season. 

Tights are pants 

Blair Waldorf won’t be happy, but it seems that designers have negated her popular 2007 phrase of ‘tights aren’t pants!’ In New York, we saw no leggings at all. For Milan, there was a new creative twist where tights and leggings took the place of pants. Consider MSGM and Blumarine’s opaque black tights that pranced down the runway if you need a bit of inspiration.  

Animal Sprints 

Animal print always remains somewhat popular when it comes to Italian runways. There was a slight break in this when people began to consider too much animal print to be trashy, but designers have now thrown this reputation to the wind and pounced on these prints like a pack of wild cats. Jil Sander embraced zebra-print bags and over at Sportmax pants were printed in a snakeskin pattern. 

Suit up!

This season will be legendary when it comes to suits. Instead of the simplistic suits or structured tailoring that were spotted in Copenhagen and London, Italian designers broke down the concept of the suit. Ferragamo created an asymmetrical suit that contained slashes that revealed a second layer beneath. Gucci turned blazers into tube tops, and over at Prada, suede blazers and skirts were decorated with small floral details. 

Coming in clutch 

Not to say that oversized totes won’t be popular come Fall, but it seems that for this European capital, it was all about the clutch. Simple, delicate, and perfect for a night out designers from Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and N21 all created different versions of this staple bag. So hang it from your shoulder, tie it around your wrist, or clutch it in your palm, whatever way you choose to wear it the thin clutch purse has Milan’s stamp approval.