They’re playful and they’re chic, they’re workers, sailors and Tudors—a round up of the looks that shook at Milan SS16.

Emporio Armani

Grey, pink and ready to play.
The diffusion line from Armani is all about sleek separates and cheeky smileys. Grey trousers, shiny trenches, and a bit of slouchy youthfulness elsewhere, there were also softer prints and sweet little neckties. Smart casual for the office set.

 

Moschino

Coco Chanel famously borrowed workers’ clothing—the Bretons striped pullover worn by sailors and made it so French and so chic. She was unapologetic about her choices even when faced with criticism for her sartorial choices. Moschino has borrowed that other workers’s wear, spotted in many an airport in Western Australia as miners do the infamous Fly-in/Fly-out. That orange high vis that is usually encasing a man on a road leaning on a shovel… one thing is for sure, it is definitely eye catching on a female on a runway. Watch out.

 

Fendi

Marking its 50-year relationship with Karl Lagerfeld this year, the catwalk lit up with bright red flashes of Tudor-style skirts and shorts. Lagerfeld who refuses to take part in retrospectives, opted to add soft feminine touches to the austere strip of grey concrete runway. Fendi noted the historical roots of the collection, choosing “Victorian, medieval and Tudor silhouettes” because they are “all times when women were strong and tough”.

 

MaxMara

Another label taking its cue from the working class this year at Milan is MaxMara. To the tune of a sea shanty, models were sent down the runway is sailor stripes, pullovers, navigational stripes and nautical rope details. Coats were double breasted and came in lighter fabrics like cashmere and canvas.