4 Fall/Winter Trends from Milan Fashion Week

Embodying the essence and allure of Italian fashion, the looks at Milan Fashion Week personified understated chic. Instead of weighty wools and luxe furs, coats from the Prada and Bottega Veneta collections were dressed in gorgeous, buttery leather. The irresistibly classy coats, particularly the belted trenches, had an almost cinematic feel, evoking a sultry, elegant, old-world mystique that felt almost reminiscent of Film Noir. A classic leather coat, though seemingly formal, is a perfect way to add a touch of tailored yet sensual, street-style edge to your wardrobe.    

Pretty pastels for winter? Yes, please. Colour palettes are often evocative of a season so a good way to work pastels into a winter wardrobe is to go for cooler, icy, blue-toned hues. Brands did exactly that at Milan Fashion Week, with both Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo and Fendi sending some stunning, cool-toned pastel shoes and accessories down the runway. From ice blues to cool-toned lavender and bright pastel periwinkle, slate grey and pastel mint, these must-haves for the season are sure to add a touch of whimsically frosty charm to your looks.   

Another Fall/Winter trend that was seen in both the Max Mara and Bottega Veneta collections was the pairing of shorter hemlines with high boots. Depending on the type of boots and what it is paired with, this is one trend that can create vastly different aesthetics. From sporty to casual-chic or sexy and feminine. It all depends on how you style it.

If you've been meaning to get with the athleisure trend but are looking for something a little chicer that eliminates the usual sportswear codes of stripes, joggers and sneakers, Max Mara presented some rather sophisticated, monochromatic athleisure-esque looks for the Fall-Winter season. A sporty-chic hooded, burnt toffee brown ensemble and a striking, coral red, oversized sweater were seen teamed with matching, over-the-knee sock boots. The sock boots amped up the athleisure feel without being too literal, perfectly encapsulating the casually cool, slightly street style feel associated with the aesthetic. 

For something sleeker and more classic-contemporary, another one of the looks from the Max Mara show displayed an ultra-chic combination of black, keen-high sock boots teamed with a trendy, oversized, argyle knit sweater in neutral tones of black, creamy white and taupe.

To create a sexier, more feminine look, take cues from Bottega Veneta. The looks from their Winter 2022 show featured statement-making, thigh-high boots, some of which were dressed in the house's classic, signature Intrecciato weave. The stunning boots were paired with sensually alluring silhouettes like body-skimming dresses and an oversized, menswear-inspired shirt, which, when teamed with higher cut boots, created an equally sexy, minimalist-street-chic aesthetic. 

The '90s mini skirt may have been a hot trend the past year but for this season, why not opt for a longer hem that's still sexy yet oh-so classy and chic. Skirts cut slightly above the keen, believe it or not, can make a powerful statement.

What we now know as the midi skirt was a cut that first arose during the 1920s. The '20s was a pivotal period in the history of female empowerment. The war was over and with it, the Victorian-era modesty was ushered out. Coco Chanel was dropping waists and rising hemlines and women were becoming increasingly empowered through their fashion choices, as they began showing a little more skin above the ankle. It marked the first time in centuries that hemlines in women's fashion were on the rise from the traditional floor-length hems.  

Channel the inspiring women of the Roaring Twenties by taking cues from Fendi, Gucci and Bottega Veneta, all of who sent some gorgeous, midi-length skirts down the runway. If you feel a midi length is a little too demure for your liking, fret not, the silhouettes displayed featured edgy-chic leather as well as slinky, figure-flattering fits that oozed all the sensuality of Italian glamour.