MILAN: Italian fashion house Prada sent models down the runway in military-inspired khaki dresses topped with bejewelled bras, while Roberto Cavalli showed a riot of neon and mismatched prints on Thursday during Milan’s biannual women’s fashion week.
Actors, models and designers flocked to a Milanese mansion filled with mannequins wearing ornate paper dresses, hosted by Vogue Italy and P&G Prestige to mark fashion week, which includes 74 official catwalks.
“The craft feels very ancient here,” said Australian actress Cate Blanchett, known for her roles in films including “The Lord of the Rings” and the latest Woody Allen movie “Blue Jasmine.”
“It’s amazing to see ... the older houses continually surprising.”
Models took to the catwalk for Italian fashion house Blugirl dressed in pastel-colored shift dresses inspired by British actress Julie Christie in the 1965 film “Darling.” The clothing was shown against a backdrop of a white sand beach scattered with umbrellas.
Prada’s show, in an auditorium covered with murals of women’s faces that were also emblazoned on coats and skirts, was partly intended to send a social message, designer Miuccia Prada told reporters.
“The intention was to set off this idea of women, of the strength of women,” said Prada, whose brand generated 308 million euros ($417.11 million) profit in the six months ending July 2013, according to results reported this week.
“They are kind of fighters. We like to make men afraid.”
Clothing, footwear and leather goods are a key driver of the Italian economy, and Milan-based trade body Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana forecasts the industry’s turnover to be $58.86 billion euros in 2013.
Milan fashion week wows enthusiasts
