Stella Jean used her runway to tell a deeper story than just a collection of beautiful clothes. We were transported to the Republic of Benin, not only the home of organic cotton trade that supplies to so much of the fashion industry, but also one of the historical homes of slavery. Stella has partnered with the people of Benin to create one-of-a-kind patters and designs that played out across the runway; bold colours, exuberant Azulene patterns, intricate embroidery and exotic animals were key.

Stella also proved the skirt will be key for SS19; flared, full and rich in handpainted patterns, and the perfect piece to pair with a crisp cotton shirt.

Known for his ultra-glamorous take on footwear, Giuseppe Zanotti paid homage to today’s modern, cosmopolitan woman with an ‘everyday red carpet’ collection that had a wearable edge. Adding lower heel heights was a clear step in this direction, however Zanotti’s trademark crystal embellishments and animal prints ensured that the sophisticated signatures of the house remain.

Elisabetta Franchi took us to her own dreamlike dimension. Maxi sequins were amongst voluminous silhouettes crafted from tulle, whilst super tactile fabrics from plastics to leather and a colour palette of candy shades interspersed with bold reds and almost fluorescent shades played out the fashion fantasies of the designer.

Taking a lead from London, eye-catching animal prints, utility-inspired styling and heritage prints were the hottest looks on the street; the checked blazer was the piece to be seen in. Discover all the best looks from Milan Fashion Week in our street style trend report.

From the collections themselves to the FROW, Milan wasn’t afraid to push boundaries for SS19 – we spotted everyone from fashion legends Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful to music’s Nicki Minaj and Rita Ora.

Our MFW correspondent, Giulia Valentina had exclusive backstage access to get all the inside scoop from some of the most talked about designers and faces. 

Ciao, Milano…