Milan Fashion Week – established in 1958 and partially organised by non-profit association Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana – is back with a bang for Spring Summer 2024 with a packed schedule of runway shows, including a number of powerhouse luxury fashion brands, keeping the fashion editors and connoisseurs riveted. Here are a few of our top picks.

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani Spring Summer 2024- held at Armani Teatro- was about energy.. as vibrations ran through his signature louche, languid silhouettes.. expanding the chromatic palate to bronze and silver, green and purple, and finally arriving at a white that’s perfect for Spring evenings. “Shapes follow the body and its movement: liquid jackets, crisp coats, soft trousers. Heels are always low, while large bags feature their own undulations”- per show notes on Giorgio Armani’s Instagram account. It was a mood perhaps best encapsulated by the closing looks, where sheer layered organza skirts and dresses were enhanced with delicate sequins, crystals and shimmering paillettes – and accessorised with headscarves and stacks of cuffs and jewellery. As ever, the show ended with a rapturous reception for the designer, who despite turning 89 earlier this year, shows no sign of slowing down.

Prada

At Prada Spring Summer 2024 presented by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons at Fondazione Prada Deposito.. “formal silhouettes, borrowed from menswear, are reimagined in architectural forms that reconsider the archetypal contours of formal rigor.” Per Vogue: ”Two techniques, in particular, got special mention from Simons. The first was the printed fringe they used on floral shirts that gave the individual blooms a shifting depth. And the second was the long skeins of metal fringe used for skirts ‘built like jewelry.’ They’re conversation starters, for sure.”

Tom Ford

Peter Hawkings’ much anticipated debut as creative director of Tom Ford SS24 didn’t disappoint as he revisited the luxury fashion brand’s iconic velvet pantsuits, updating the look with short-shorts, as well as slinky jersey dresses with keyhole cutouts, open backs and gold buckles. “I am done with oversize, I don’t think it looks beautiful or shows off the elegance of the body. That’s key as you can see in the fit. And I’m detail-obsessed with everything from bags to hardware. The shoes, I did a complete overhaul, the manufacturing, the comfort, design and everything,“ he told WWD.

Gucci

“My first collection is a map. It’s personal, it is about my designs, my sensibilities, my passions. These are the items I want to explore further at Gucci.” – Sabato De Sarno on Gucci’s Instagram account. His debut as Creative Director at Gucci was one of the hot tickets of Milan Fashion Week. The SS24 collection was grounded in the brand heritage while keeping things fun and ready to party. Mining the archives of the 50s and 60s, crystal dresses were inspired by embroideries he found on clutch bags, the iconic Jackie and Bamboo bags came compact, while the loafer now has a three-inch platform!

Dolce Gabbana

At Dolce Gabbana SS24, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana played with textures and black and white hues inspired by the ‘Sixties, showcasing the multi-faceted essence of feminine strength and sensuality. The luxury fashion brand’s original codes like the leopard-print, corsetry and tuxedo-suits drew new and diverse facets of the female form. Celebrating the confident, empowered woman, exuding extreme sensuality, were tulle dresses, sheer corsets and tonal lingerie beneath. Alongside the iconic Dolce Jacket, presented in three different versions, stood the masculine jacket with pronounced shoulders, at times with large lapels. Supermodel Naomi Campbell stole the show in a sculpted- to- the- body sheer slip dress, stockings and suspenders, with a black rose corsage around her neck.

Backstage at Dolce Gabbana SS24. Image Source: Facebook account of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana