Fashion is often seen as a mirror, reflective of the wider world. Right now, as many markets plunge ever-nearer to a recession, the world’s climate continues its peril, and wars linger across the globe; it seems designers are reading the room. 

As such, now’s a critical moment in fashion history. If Milan is anything to go by, we may be about to witness a minimalist flux on the trend cycle, an aesthetic that gained momentum throughout the 2008 recession. Miuccia Prada certainly agrees: “In serious moments, one has to work seriously and responsibly. There can be no room for useless creativity,” she stated in Prada’s show notes. 

Prada wasn’t the only brand presenting a more practical outlook. A subdued outing at Gucci echoed the absence of Alessandro Michele and delivered a clean slate for the Gucci man. With the world as it is, frivolity, it seems, is momentarily off the cards. 

Elsewhere, a nod to the need for comfort. Domestic nuances and cozy silhouettes popped up throughout collections. At Zegna, an elegant ode to their signature Oasi Cashmere; at Fendi, cocooning silhouettes and blanket dressing. Elsewhere - literal cushions - from Prada’s pillow invitations to JW Anderson’s cushion-clad models. Home comforts in perilous times. 

Lefty x Karla Otto dive into the key data and trends you need to know from Milan Menswear.