Review by Lucas Pantoja
It’s now nearing the end of February and Milan Fashion Week is fully upon us. While the weather outside has been rather warm and does not reflect what’s typical for the current time of year in the Italian fashion capital, within Milan’s Navigli neighborhood Byblos transported their guests to the cold environment which houses the natural phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis or more commonly the northern lights — although it felt more like Krypton to me.
Upon entering the scene guests found themselves in a space engulfed by darkness, faintly lit by the dim lights of a prismatic glowing tunnel. As the show commenced and the lights switched on, an arctic white stage presented itself accompanied by a rainbow of colors which surged within the tunnel or rather the models’ entryway.
The first look to hit the center stage was composed of an electric orange hood and boots, snuggly wrapped in the ROYGBIV of a metallic coat. To follow were seemingly more and more looks which could’ve been pulled from a sci-fi flick or a DC comic book. The majority of the outerwear was eskimo-like, with continuous doses of faux-furs here and there on the gloves, boots, hoods, and heavy parkas.
But if dressing up in neon fur isn’t for you, there were other parts of the women’s wear and the majority of the menswear collection that were more tech oriented; influenced by hockey uniforms and with quieter embellishments. The majority of colors ranged from white, charcoal, and navy, to neons of violet, orange, pink, and aqua.
While the coats fit oversized, the silhouettes found in many of the ecstatic dresses and sleek pants was kept slim. In regards to notable materials, it turns out the sparkly pearls which added a fine effect to the parkas, hoodies, and bombers came from recycled plastic bottles, as well as the urban outerwear pieces built from recycled nylon.
As Byblos finished out the show and designer Manuel Facchini greeted his guests, accompanied by fan-favorite model Winnie Harlow, the fashion show felt more and more like one big concert; and the clothes reflected it as well.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the pop music divas sporting the collection come next winter, whether touring the globe or in an Ariana Grande video.
The Fashion Plate Magazine 