The Armani Teatro was Stella Jean s launching pad last season. That collection generated enough buzz to ensure that there was a decent crowd at her Fall show today despite the tough end-of-Milan fashion week time slot. Those who stayed in town to catch it were rewarded with a charming presentation, one that solidified Jean s whimsical, more-is-better aesthetic and delivered one of the season s surprising trends: animals.
If anything, this collection felt even more multilayered than her last. It being Fall, there were floor-scraping cardigan coats in bucolic intarsias and printed tights that matched the patterns on crinoline-lined skirts—along with natty tailoring in colorful tweeds and plaids that added an element of newness to a mix that leaned heavily on Jean s African wax prints. That said, the wax prints are her unique selling point. They were vibrant and gorgeous.
As for the animals? They officially became a thing yesterday when Dolce Gabbana put embroideries of squirrels, foxes, and owls on their runway. Jean s weren t just woodland creatures. She had impressively plumed roosters, what looked like an egret, and giant koi. We re on the fence about animals on clothing, but a quick post-show survey revealed that key retailers are sold on it.
