When I think of Italy, and of Milan, I think of leather goods. Even though the most legendary handful of bag brands—Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton—are French, basically all designers worth their salt use Italian leather, and the country boasts an impressive slate of accessories designers in its own right, as you’re all well aware. Without Italy, there are no handbags, even if the relative quality of Italian designers’ seasonal offerings varies just like any other fashion capital’s. In Milan for Fall 2018, it wasn’t the strongest handbag showing we’ve ever seen, but there were still significant bright spots.
Italy’s big three—Gucci, Prada and Fendi—all had solid seasons, and they were in keeping with the moodier feel for fall that began at NYFW. Bottega Veneta, another Italian heavyweight, showed its collection in New York in order to celebrate its new Manhattan mega-boutique. For the relatively newcomers, Sara Battaglia (sister of fashion editor and street style legend Giovanna) continues building her upstart brand in a way that feels uncontrived yet responsive to current trends. Check out our favorites below; next, we’re on to Paris.
[Photos via Vogue Runway]
Armani
Bally
Dolce & Gabbana
Etro
Fendi
Fendi
Ferragamo
Gucci
Gucci
Marni
Prada
Prada
Tod’s
Versace
