Recap DuJour : The Best of Milan Fashion Week

With all of the slushy sleet and snow that fell down on Milan in the past six days, it was appropriate that many of the clothes shown during fashion week had a moody, broody sort of feel. That’s not to say they weren’t beautiful, however – several Italian powerhouses went back to their roots with strong, confident collections for fall. Prada was a prime example, with Miuccia’s reinterpretation of her classic, oversized coats and thick-soled heels, created using dark, rich fabrics seemingly inspired by Italian film noir. Similarly, Donatella Versace returned to punk-rock chic; her fall 2013 pieces mixed leather with spikes and fur with vinyl. The overall look was both a little bit Cher Horowitz and inspired by Elizabeth Hurley in that iconic safety pin dress. And while Donatella’s was, perhaps, the brightest show of the Milan bunch, Dolce & Gabbana balanced their classic lace dresses with Italian renaissance prints in bold reds and deep burgundy hues. They even topped some of their models in embellished crowns – fit for a punk-rock queen, of course.