John Richmond returns to Milan with co ed collection

The designer said his exhortation to reuse, recycle and reduce is not a one-off for this season. “This is a theme forever,” he said. (File Photo: @officialjohnrichmond/Instagram)

MILAN — Nowhere is the transition in the fashion world more evident than during the menswear preview shows in Milan taking place on the second of three days Sunday.

Only in Milan does three days make for a Fashion Week; the Paris menswear calendar claims a full six days.

Designers cite a breakdown of fashion world rules. A strict four-week-a-year cycle once guided fashion capitals, covering menswear and womenswear and the spring/summer fall/winter calendars. Now, designers are deciding to invest elsewhere to grab consumer attention.

Gucci and Giorgio Armani are both skipping the menswear cycle for next winter in Milan and offering co-ed shows in February, while maintaining a presence this month with other events. Armani opened an exhibit at his Silos museum of portraits by French photographer Charles Freger. Gucci is hosting a performance on the closing day at its Gucci Hub.

Highlights from Sunday’s shows:

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RICHMOND RETURNS

British designer John Richmond marked his return to the Milan fashion calendar with a co-ed collection featuring dark military looks for men and elegant 1940’s starlet-inspired dresses for women.

“It is almost two collections. I am not trying to do one thing that works for men and for women,” Richmond said.

Richmond embroidered Japanese tableaus on recycled military garments and bags for men and decorated recycled Levi’s with sequined wings across the hips for women.

“We don’t have to make more jeans. There are already so many jeans in stock,” he said.

Women’s dresses were extremely elegant, with pointy shoulders, deep V-necks and asymmetrical mini-hemlines. Richmond designed wedge boots with fringe detailing for women.

For men, he stuck to the tried-and-true Doc Martens footwear.

The designer said his exhortation to reuse, recycle and reduce is not a one-off for this season. “This is a theme forever,” he said.

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SUNNEI GROW UP

Sunnei, the 4-year-old brand founded by Italian Simone Rizzo with French designer Loris Messina, is growing up.

The brand’s first fully co-ed collection featured an oversized wintery silhouette, with enveloping knitwear, sophisticated layering and entwining scarves, clashing at times with body-hugging dresses.

“Above all, we stopped being too nice,” Rizzo said backstage. “There was always this vein of sarcasm. We said enough.”

For women, a pretty sky-blue shirt cinched at the waist and featuring a sheepskin turtle neck was worn over a grey Bermuda-length skort. With cold weather in mind, the pair layered pants under skirts. One silver sequin skirt was worn over lightweight wide-legged trousers, with a lemon yellow Henley top.

Menswear included a dramatic, oversized white cable-knit tunic with leather sleeves and detailing, worn with trousers cinched at the ankle.

“There aren’t even slogans or mottos (on the garments) anymore. In fact, there is a beautiful plain white shirt that symbolizes the idea we have now, “ Rizzo said.

The collection also featured tailored outerwear for both genders. Looks were finished with double beanies with ear covers, leather and PVS bags and proprietary sunglasses.

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MSGM SPEEDS UP

Massimo Giorgetti dedicated his menswear collection to race car drivers, showing vivid prints of flames, driving gloves and jumpsuits.

Quoting former race car driver Mario Andretti, Giorgetti’s invitation advised: “If you have everything under control, you are not going fast enough.”

Flames licked at the ankles of jeans worn with a turbo-emblazoned white T-shirt, then exploded on to a shirt-cut jacket and trousers. A Fair Isle knit blurred from orderly zig-zags and diamond-shapes into speedy waves, tucked into red leather pants with black stripes.

Giorgetti’s double-breasted overcoats weren’t so stuffy they couldn’t be worn with a hoody and layered with a furry parka. Bombers and overcoats featured manga cartoon prints. Washed-out denim jackets came lined with lambskin and paired with matching jeans.

Giorgetti, who often takes inspiration from his native Italy, also celebrated Europe with the words Eur-Hope quilted into leather jackets or emblazoned on knitwear.