Valentino Returns to Milan Fashion Week With Flowery Menswear Show

 A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
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Valentino Returns to Milan Fashion Week With Flowery Menswear Show

 A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Italian luxury house Valentino kicked off Milan Fashion Week's menswear shows on Friday with a lineup combining blazers and coats with shorts, as creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli sought to redefine the meaning of the masculine identity, Reuters reported.

The collection used embroidered flowers to add a note of delicacy to classic workwear pieces, with subversive elements such as tissue flowers in lieu of ties.

Valentino presented its menswear collection for spring and summer 2024 in the arched courtyard of Milan's state university.

Valentino ditched the co-ed show model - the mixing of men's and women's shows - which it had adopted for the last three years and returned to Milan, where founder Valentino Garavani staged the first Valentino menswear show in 1985.

Milan Fashion Week includes 72 events and presentations of menswear collections. It runs until June 20 and will feature shows from high-end labels including Giorgio Armani, Prada (1913.F), Dolce & Gabbana and Ermenegildo Zegna (JN0.F).



Gucci Dreams of Magical Sunsets at Milan Fashion Week

 A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)
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Gucci Dreams of Magical Sunsets at Milan Fashion Week

 A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)

Gucci sought to recreate the magic of summer sunsets at Milan Fashion Week on Friday with a colorful line that at times nodded to the 1960s.

Creative director Sabato De Sarno began the show for his spring/summer 2025 collection, called “Casual grandeur”, with a tailored zipped jacket and floor-length trousers slit at the front bottom, opening up over sneakers.

Models wore draped or sleeveless dresses in various colors adorned with golden buckles as well as see-through lace frocks.

There were looks that mirrored 1960s styles with short A-line skirts, structured jackets and shorts. Long coats were worn over tank tops and long denim trousers. Some coats were adorned with sparkling fringes.

Models walked down a red catwalk with lighting ranging from white to warmer shades, nodding to the "moment the sun dives into the sea at the end of an August day", De Sarno said in show notes.

“It’s the moment we find ourselves. This collection is a tribute to those moments, and an invitation to stop, seek your own moment," he said, as the show drew Oscar winner Jessica Chastain and Italian tennis star and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner among celebrity guests.

Accessories included large summer hats, an array of handbags and footwear that varied from loafers and boots to platforms with transparent heels.

De Sarno's color palette included grey, brown, different shades of green, white, orange and red.

De Sarno, who presented his first Gucci show a year ago, has been resetting the Italian luxury brand with his sleek, pared-back creations since taking over from former designer Alessandro Michele, known for his eclectic styles.

“A year later, this collection shows an accomplished journey of construction,” De Sarno said.

Gucci is the largest brand at Kering where it accounts for half of the French luxury group’s sales.

In July, Kering reported a bigger-than-expected drop in second-quarter sales and forecast a weak second half, as the group works to re-energize Gucci while facing subdued demand from Chinese shoppers.