On a plane & dreaming of Milan
If New York sets the tone and London experiments, Milan is where fashion reminds us of its roots in pure glamour. The streets become their own runway, the front rows buzz with editors and icons, and the collections balance heritage with reinvention in only the way Milan can.
This season, Milan delivered moment after moment:
Prada focused on juxtaposition in unexpected ways. Miuccia herself described it as “trying to build a new kind of elegance.” Skirts were suspended from the shoulder, angular brassieres held shape without becoming rigid, and bloomers and bubble hems balanced sharp tailoring. As one critic perfectly put it, these were “uniforms that blur the line between galas and guard shift.” Prada at once questioned and redefined what elegance could mean.
Versace arrived, as critic Dario Vitale described, with “urgency and secrecy” — a collection that embraced the house’s heritage while daring to let “the symmetry crack.” Gianni’s hand was everywhere, from Baroque scrolls to Warhol-esque prints and Western motifs. The cocktail dresses leaned slinky yet strong-shouldered, unapologetically glamorous in a way only Versace can be.
Fendi began with flower power and bloomed into something extraordinary. The collection celebrated color — every shade of the rainbow — with a gentle, kind, and soft touch. An ode to lightness and quilting, it felt like watching femininity reimagined for today. I couldn’t help but highlight the amazing bags. The Peekaboo bag got an amazing upgrade featuring bead and sequin embellishments throughout the lining that highlighted the bags “peek” effect. The Peekaboo bag was first introduced in 2008 and had become one of Fendi’s most iconic designs. This season’s new take reinforces its status as a timeless class that continues to evolve for us all to love.
Bottega Veneta took its mastery of leather and craftsmanship and gave us a modern Milanese uniform — sculptural bags, clean lines, and textures that were both tactile and engaging. British Designer, Louise Trotter, is one of the few Females in the luxury fashion space. This was her first collection and it did not disappoint. Trotter’s impact on Bottega Veneta is yet to be seen, but her influence is evident as we are seeing more BV on stylish men and women. Personally, I am looking forward to it.
And then came the moment that broke the internet: at Dolce & Gabbana, the cast of The Devil Wears Prada reunited. Watching Miranda Priestly herself — Meryl Streep — embrace Anna Wintour in the front row was a scene none of us could have scripted. It was fashion folding back on itself, the line between pop culture and industry history blurring into something truly iconic.
For me, Milan always feels like a dreamer’s city. Even while I was in Seattle, cheering on the Huskies with my family, I found myself glued to the runways, scrolling every look, catching the highlights as if I were there. That’s what fashion weeks are about — not just the clothes, but the culture, the energy, the way they inspire us to reimagine our own closets and our own stories.
One day soon, I’ll be there in person, sitting in the shows, experiencing that magic firsthand. For now, I’ll keep taking notes, mood-boarding the trends, and manifesting my front-row seat.
Which show resignated most with you?
Ciao,
Missy
Above - Stanley Tucci and Metyl streep at the S/S2026 Dolce & Gabbana Fashion Show, Below- looks from Prada, Versace, Fendi and Bottega Veneta S/S 2026 Fashion shows. Images from IG.
