Madonna Headlines Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Milan Fashion Week’s last day saw celebrity-studded front rows and striking collections from top designers. Madonna stole the spotlight at Dolce & Gabbana, while Diesel made a bold statement with sustainability. Bottega Veneta’s playful exploration of reality and fantasy, along with Ferragamo’s ballet-inspired designs, wrapped up a week of creativity and innovation for Spring/Summer 2024.
Milan Fashion Week 2023 Grand Finale Quick Looks
- Madonna and Dolce & Gabbana Tribute: Madonna headlined Dolce & Gabbana’s show, celebrating her 1990s influence with corsets, cone bras, and oversized cross earrings in a collection that exuded feminine power.
- Diesel’s Denim Innovation: Diesel transformed denim with sustainable pieces made from recycled materials, while models walked a runway filled with 33,000 pounds of denim scraps, emphasizing the beauty of waste.
- Bottega Veneta’s Fantasy Meets Reality: Bottega Veneta showcased playful, childlike designs that blurred the lines between fantasy and adulthood, with oversized accessories and whimsical details.
- Ferragamo’s Ballet-Inspired Movement: Ferragamo honored freedom of movement and grace with a collection inspired by ballet, featuring flowing parachute dresses and layered leotards in a nod to historic dance figures.
- Celebrity-Stuffed Front Rows: Stars like Naomi Campbell, Jacob Elordi, and Victoria De Angelis graced the front rows, adding star power to an already electric final day of Milan Fashion Week.
Deep Look
Milan Fashion Week ended on a high note, with the last day of runway shows pulling in an impressive roster of celebrities and showcasing breathtaking collections from iconic brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Bottega Veneta, and Ferragamo. Each collection told its own story, combining nostalgia with innovation to paint a bold picture of fashion for Spring/Summer 2024.
One of the biggest moments came at Dolce & Gabbana, where Madonna took her place in the front row, sitting alongside supermodel Naomi Campbell and Victoria De Angelis, bassist for the rock band Maneskin. Madonna, draped in a black lace veil and crowned with a gold and crystal headpiece, was the guest of honor for a collection that paid homage to her iconic 1990s era. Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana drew inspiration from Madonna’s “Erotica” album and her infamous cone bra, a look that has become synonymous with female empowerment and rebellion.
The runway was filled with models donning bleach-blonde wigs, showcasing signature Dolce & Gabbana pieces like corsets, fitted jackets, pencil skirts, and cone bras, all in a palette of black, red, nude, and white. The collection, dubbed “Italian Beauty,” featured intricate lace details, oversized cross earrings, and towering heels, perfectly capturing the essence of feminine strength and sensuality that Madonna has championed throughout her career. Though Madonna wasn’t mentioned by name, the designers made it clear in their show notes: “Madonna has always been our icon. It’s thanks to her that a lot of things in our lives changed.”
As the show came to a close, Dolce and Gabbana walked down the runway to personally greet Madonna, who stood and embraced them while still covered by her lace veil. The emotional moment highlighted the deep connection between the designers and the pop icon, whose relationship dates back to Madonna’s Girlie Show tour in 1993, when they designed her tour costumes.
Meanwhile, across town, Diesel was making waves with a runway covered in nearly 33,000 pounds of denim scraps, creating a visually striking, dystopian backdrop for the brand’s latest collection. Under the creative direction of Glenn Martens, Diesel has become a leader in textile innovation, and this season was no different. Martens explained that the show was designed to highlight “the beauty of waste,” with the denim scraps set to be repurposed after the event as part of Diesel’s commitment to sustainability and circular fashion.
Diesel’s collection elevated denim to new heights, with short-shorts embroidered with cascading fringe to give the appearance of a skirt and jeans that were lasered to look destroyed but were actually crafted with intricate jacquard techniques. Sweatshirts with seemingly distressed necklines were the result of cotton being burned away to reveal tulle underneath. Martens also introduced a coat made entirely from leftover denim threads, showcasing how the brand continues to push the boundaries of fashion and sustainability. The collection was not just about disruption in design but also in production, with many of the pieces crafted from recycled cotton, some of it sourced from Diesel’s own denim waste.
Over at Bottega Veneta, creative director Matthieu Blazy presented a whimsical, thought-provoking collection that played with proportions and challenged the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. Models wore skirts paired with trousers on only one leg, dresses with flat collars shaped like bunny ears, and oversized wigs made of colorful raffia. Blazy’s goal was simple: to inject joy into fashion. “We need beauty. We need joy. We need that experimental act. It is also an act of freedom,” Blazy said, summing up his collection’s playful spirit.
A recurring motif in the collection was the use of everyday items transformed into luxury pieces. Ordinary plastic grocery bags were reimagined in nylon and leather, blurring the line between high fashion and real life. The collection also featured crinkled clothing, symbolizing the carefree, imperfect nature of a child’s attempt to dress up — a nod to the innocence and fun of childhood. The show left audiences with a sense of wonder and excitement, as Blazy’s characters carried trademark woven bags designed to hold everything from violins to wine bottles.
At Ferragamo, creative director Maximilian Davis took a more elegant, movement-inspired approach with a collection that celebrated the grace and fluidity of ballet. Drawing inspiration from historic photos of brand founder Salvatore Ferragamo fitting shoes for African American ballet dancer Katherine Dunham, Davis infused his collection with references to both dance and freedom of movement. Parachute dresses in silk nylon, suede, and organza billowed as models walked the runway, evoking the airy grace of a ballet performance.
Davis also paid tribute to Russian ballet star Rudolf Nuryev, another famous Ferragamo customer, by incorporating oversized tailoring with strong shoulders, evoking the 1980s silhouette. Cashmere dancer wraps in bold color-blocks were layered over leotards, adding a contemporary twist to the classic dancewear. In a more subversive touch, Davis introduced frayed denim shorts with a tutu-like appearance, merging the world of ballet with street style.
As always, Milan Fashion Week attracted an impressive roster of celebrities, adding star power to the already exciting lineup of shows. Madonna’s presence at Dolce & Gabbana was one of the most talked-about moments of the week, but other celebrities made appearances as well. Jacob Elordi, star of Euphoria, sat front row at Bottega Veneta, lounging on a bunny-shaped beanbag chair while taking in Blazy’s whimsical designs. Damiano David, frontman for Maneskin, attended Diesel’s show, while his bandmate Victoria De Angelis joined Madonna at Dolce & Gabbana. The presence of these stars only added to the excitement and buzz surrounding the week’s final shows.
As the curtain falls on Milan Fashion Week, the Spring/Summer 2024 collections left a lasting impression, with designers showcasing a range of styles that were equal parts nostalgic, innovative, and forward-thinking. From Madonna’s tribute at Dolce & Gabbana to Diesel’s bold statement on sustainability, the final day was a testament to fashion’s ability to inspire, provoke, and push boundaries.
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