highlights

Kim Kardashian at Dolce & Gabbana
Milan Fashion Week Spring 2023 was punctuated by a number of buzzworthy moments—from surprise appearances by celebrities to rainfall. Read on for all the highlights from the shows that got people around the world talking.

Gucci’s Twinsburg

There were twice as many Spring 2023 looks on the runway at Gucci, as creative director Alessandro Michele decided to enlist 68 pairs of twins for the show. With each pair walking hand in hand, the casting was Michele’s homage to his mother, who turns out, is a twin. “I am the son of two mothers,” read the show notes. They “shared a genetic solidarity but, above all, they shared an intimacy which was inaccessible to others.” What’s more, the designer had the audience separated via a floor-to-ceiling partition with simultaneous shows taking place in each section. It was only when the wall—featuring portraits of twins and look-alikes by Mark Peckmezian—lifted before the finale, that the guests were able to grasp the entire concept of the show.
Arab models ruled the runways

Representing the region’s fashion industry, Arab models once again took the runways by storm this season. At Moschino, Moroccan-Egyptian model Imaan Hammam served up a viral moment and a dose of joy-inducing fashion in one, when she stepped out wearing pool floaties sticking out of a colorful dress. The former Vogue Arabia cover star embraced a completely contrasting persona for Versace next, where she wore a fierce head-to-toe black ensemble complete with a smokey eye.

Saudi model Amira Al Zuhair, who is fast becoming a fashion week regular, was spotted strutting at the front of the Dolce & Gabbana squad, wearing a bold look curated by Kim Kardashian.
Zainab Al-Eqabi
Iraqi para-athlete Zainab Al-Eqabi, who is an above-the-leg amputee was tapped by Boss to walk the ramp for the fashion house’s Fall 2022 collection in Milan. The TV presenter and disability activist was part of a diverse and inclusive cast that also included hijabi Somali model Ugbad Abdi.

Part-Palestinian models Bella and Gigi Hadid have long been familiar faces at fashion weeks, as pictures and videos of their walk are quick to make rounds on the internet after the show. This time around, their goth-inspired looks for Versace received just as much attention as Bella Hadid‘s walk for Jil Sander, where she closed the rained-on show dressed in neutrals except for a bright red bag in one hand, and an umbrella in the other.
Nora Attal
Moroccan-British model Nora Attal and Algerian-French model Loli Bahia were also part of the Versace cast. While Attal walked down the runway in a fitted purple mini dress with fringe details, Bahia wore a hot pink corseted dress with a bridal veil.
Paris Hilton at Versace

It’s not a Versace show if there are no unforgettable moments. Donatella Versace proved this to be true by having Paris Hilton close the show, dressed in a pink Swarovski crystal-encrusted mini, no less. Wearing her long blonde hair in a sleek side-part, Hilton channeled Barbie in pink gloves, pointed-toe pumps, and a matching veil.
Kim Kardashian at Dolce & Gabbana

What started when Dolce & Gabbana dressed the bride’s family for Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s Portofino wedding, led to a special collaboration with Kim Kardashian, which unfolded at Milan Fashion Week. Kardashian’s partnership with the Italian fashion house saw the entrepreneur reinforce her high-fashion credentials by curating pieces from past collections (from 1987 to 2007) which the designers reworked. As models took to the runway in corsets, lingerie-heavy looks, and plenty of denim and animal print, who other than Kim Kardashian herself to close the show? For the finale, the 41-year-old walked out in her signature bodycon, made sparkly by Dolce and Gabbana, who also stepped out to applause.
Kate Moss at Bottega Veneta 
Photo: Gorunway.com
In an unexpected moment, Kate Moss walked the runway at Bottega Veneta, modeling a checked shirt, white tank top, and oversized jeans from creative director Matthieu Blazy‘s second collection for the house. It only makes sense then to find out that the supermodel’s rare runway outing—following the glamorous appearance at Fendace last year—wasn’t only for a seemingly casual outfit, but the technical expertise behind it. The flannel shirt worn by Moss was in fact, leather, and required 12 layers of prints to achieve the depth of color Blazy wanted.
Rain at Jil Sander
Photo: Gorunway.com
Umbrellas may never originally be part of any designer’s presentation but the weather had other plans for Jil Sander’s show, which also seemed to work in the brand’s favor. For its Spring 2023 collection, Jil Sander set the stage in a field on the outskirts of Milan, where showgoers were met with a sense of calm and stillness among the wildflower-lined gravel runway, and unexpectedly, rain. And so, all models were required to walk out holding umbrellas which not only made for Instagram-worthy moments but also paired well with Jil Sander’s relaxed tailoring, knits, and lightweight pieces replete with soothing neutral hues.
Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo

Literally painting the town red, 27-year-old Maximilian Davis presented his debut collection for Ferragamo (the ‘Salvatore’ has been dropped) in a crimson-hued courtyard. The specific color—which was painted on the flooring and boards between the arches of the 17th-century venue—not only signified the new house color but was also a nod to Davis’ own namesake brand, where it represented the Trinidad and Tobago flag and his heritage.
Read Next: Phil Oh’s Best Street Style Photos From the New York Fashion Week Spring 2023 Shows

Photo: Courtesy of Valentino
Valentino’s Fall/Winter 2022 haute couture show titled ‘The Beginning’ presented a collection that was radical, yet familiar. Read on for five things to know about the spectacle.

The show took place on Rome’s Spanish Steps
Spanish Steps, Rome Photo: Courtesy of Valentino
Titled ‘The Beginning’, the couture show manifested itself at the 18th-century Spanish Steps in the city of Rome, where Valentino Garavani first started the maison in 1959. “Roma is the place where everything starts, the life, the people, our stories, and identities are here,” said creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. “We belong to this place as much as this place belongs to the world and to Valentino.” As a conversation across the past, present, and future, the collection depicts “the idea of beauty heralded, supported, and fostered” by Piccioli, here and now.
A star-studded front row

The event saw a number of renowned names and friends of the house come together. In attendance were Anne Hathaway—dressed in head-to-toe pink—Naomi Campbell, Kate Hudson, Balqees Fathi, Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, and many others, who shed happy tears as the models walked down the runway.
The show featured a diverse casting
Photo: Gorunway.com
‘The Beginning’ had an inclusive cast of models and showcased a ramp full of different sizes, ages, and ethnicities. Championing the idea that beauty and fashion do not confine to a particular shape or size, the showcase displayed sheer diversity wrapped in hand sequined suits, and floral dresses. “Beauty comes from harmony. It is not an aesthetic imposition, it does not obey rigid canons, nor fixed rules,” said Piccioli. “Beauty is a manner, and it is pivotal to the way Maison Valentino operates since its foundation.”
The collection’s theme was a nod to Valentino Garavani himself
Photo: Gorunway.com
Dubbed a “conversation with Valentino”, the collection championed the designer’s legacy alongside Piccioli’s own contributions to the fashion house. Pieces featured sumptuous volumes in saturated colors, while dramatic plume headpieces shared the spotlight. A sense of romance—often seen in Garavani’s designs—was also felt in the rose-adorned dresses and bow details.
The signature Valentino pink was more than present
Balqees Fathi
After taking the world by storm with the Fall/Winter 2022 ready-to-wear collection, Valentino’s now-signature shade of hot pink was worn by many stars in attendance, including Anne Hathaway and Florence Pugh. The season’s much-loved color is also celebrated in Vogue Arabia’s July/August 2022 issue with a cover shot in Jaipur, commonly known as the Pink City. A bold piece in the same hue was also worn by Emirati singer Balqees Fathi, who represented the Middle East at the show, and also teamed up with Vogue Arabia for an exclusive takeover on Instagram.
Read Next: Anne Hathaway Brings The Sunshine In a Yellow Valentino Oversized Shirt + Skirt Set

Alaïa. Photo: Courtesy of Alaïa
Yesterday marked the return of couture week and it opened with the debut show of Alaïa’s new creative director, Pieter Mulier. Faithful to Azzedine Alaïa’s style, Mulier celebrated the female beauty adding to the DNA of the brand a pinch of modernity. The perfectly balanced silhouettes formed an Alaïa army to kick off the week.
Read on for more highlights from day one of haute couture week and check back for more updates.

Georges Hobeika

Georges Hobeika‘s emblematic signature is back. Mixing feathers and sparkling crystals, mystery, and sobriety, Hobeika’s fall 21/22 is a comeback of his minimal extravagance and joyful romanticism of the 1960s.
Rami Al Ali

In an unashamed ode to opulence, Rami Al Ali takes creative cues from the photography series “Seduction” by Cyril Porchet. In a full white and gold collection, with intricate handwork, the designer also explored the curiosity around architecture.
Schiaparelli

Undoubtedly, Schiaparelli is one of the most awaited shows of the season. Entitled “the matador,” the fall/winter 21-22 couture collection by creative director Daniel Roseberry is not from Spanish influence, but a homage to a coat that Elsa Schiaparelli designed with her friend, poet, and artist Jean Cocteau. Bold, extravagant, and unbelievably new, the Schiaparelli collection is a bouquet of craft and creation.
Dior

After presenting her collections for Dior through films during the lockdown, Maria Grazia Chiuri emphasized, more than ever, the importance of fabric and the language of embroideries in her comeback physical show during Paris fashion week. Recalling the “salle aux broderies” in the Colonna Palace in Rome, the work titled Chambre de Soie and created by French artist Eva Jospin, serves as an impressive backdrop for the presentation of Chiuri’s magnificent pleated dresses, trains, and hand-woven chains that compose patterns on the body. The show was a mix of art and extraordinary savoir-faire.
Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli’s fall 2021 couture collection was filled with vibrant, youthful, and bold pieces. The color palette ranged from chic black to pastel lights, with a touch of red. He also brought cloud-like whimsical tulle dresses, draped chiffon gowns and capes, and elegant sequin dresses along with bright feathered gowns. Including men’s couture is a first for Valli, as cool, nonchalant, and sharp capes and shirts brought a whole new vibe to the brand.
Azzaro Couture

Honoring the late Loris Azzaro’s previous daring disco designs, current creative director Olivier Theyskens, incorporated shimmering silver sequins, power-shoulders, and waist-snatching skirts to bring back the vision of previous collections. This year’s collection opened with a bedazzled silver sequin-covered suit like a disco ball followed by liquid platinum suits, slinky, sparkling dresses, and jumpsuits.
Read Next: “To Have and to Hold” Dior Fall 2021 Couture Beckons to Be Touched