At the recent Milan Fashion Week, two iconic Italian fashion houses, Prada and Emporio Armani, unveiled their Spring-Summer 2025 collections, showcasing innovative designs and creative visions that captivated the audience.
Prada, founded in 1913, presented its "Infinite Present" collection, a bold exploration of distortion and unconventional aesthetics. Co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, who joined the company in 2020, opened the show with a floral strappy frock, setting the tone for a series of avant-garde designs.
The collection featured suspended skirts attached to belts, a unique concept that challenged traditional silhouettes. Accessories played a significant role, with oversized sunglasses and topless bucket hats covering models' faces, adding an element of mystery and intrigue to the overall presentation.
Prada's color palette was diverse, incorporating metallic elements and vibrant hues. The designers showcased a mix of fitted tops, hot pants, and knotted blouses, alongside outerwear pieces in bright colors. One standout ensemble paired a dark feathered dress with an orange rain jacket, exemplifying the collection's playful approach to contrasts.
Footwear options ranged from sandals to cowboy boots, with colorful heels featuring distinctive flaps. This variety in shoe designs complemented the collection's overall theme of distortion and experimentation.
Meanwhile, Emporio Armani, Giorgio Armani's second line established in 1981, presented its "Future Perfect" collection. The 90-year-old designer, who founded his company in 1975, opened the show with models in suits and ties, setting a tone of refined elegance with a modern twist.
The Emporio Armani collection emphasized soft, fluid looks, featuring a balance of masculine and feminine elements. Loose trousers, wide-leg pants, and long skirts were paired with soft jackets and light dresses. The collection also included a variety of outerwear options, such as trench coats and parkas, suitable for diverse occasions.
For evening wear, Emporio Armani showcased shimmering gowns and crisp white shirts paired with shiny trousers and loose black ties. The color palette primarily consisted of beige, grey, sage, and pink, with occasional bursts of blue and fuchsia, creating a harmonious and sophisticated aesthetic.
"The entire collection invites dressing with freedom and irony, quintessentially Armanian in its approach. As always, the narrative is driven by the balance of masculine and feminine."
At the conclusion of the Emporio Armani show, Giorgio Armani took to the stage alongside four design collaborators, including his niece Silvana Armani, demonstrating the collaborative nature of the brand's creative process.
Both Prada and Emporio Armani's presentations at Milan Fashion Week, one of the "Big Four" fashion events alongside Paris, London, and New York, showcased the continued innovation and creativity of these established Italian fashion houses. As the fashion world looks ahead, Giorgio Armani is set to present his main eponymous line collection in New York next month, further cementing his influence in the global fashion landscape.