Backstage Diaries: Milan Menswear S/S 10 Day 2 Part 1 - Kelly Visits; Joker Invades

by Lexposure Backstage posted on June 22, 2009

10 a.m. Frankie Morello
Beyond the riding crops and other unique accessories that Frankie Morello is known for, the highlight of the show actually showed up early in a bright green getup: Kelly Osborne came to visit her beau, model Luke Worrall, and the couple hung around with model friends in the courtyard for most of the pre-show period. When asked to pose for photographs, the young woman was quite gracious – perhaps more accustomed to more polite requests via backstage photographers than the typical paparazzi that hound her elsewhere in the world. Either way, surely the house of Frankie Morello did not mind her presence, as it brought additional publicity to yet another eccentric collection. It was more than sportswear – it was sports-inspired wear, with baseball bats, helmets, and jockey uniforms galore. But with the “FM” emblem present, every look is injected with a brand-new spirit.

Seen & Heard: Cole Mohr wearing a sweater with “YEAH RIGHT PLEASE WHUTEVA” written in permanent marker (By himself, of course); Lots of Red Bull…lots and lots of Red Bull; Cole and Luke making many attempts to reenact their famous Arena Homme+ cover; Several of the guys trading places riding on a skateboard around the courtyard, impressing the show’s incoming guests.

12 p.m. Gucci
Even in this kind of economic climate, Gucci remained a more private house when it comes to press, maintaining the same procedure of shooting the models in their first looks backstage (Lookbook, white background style). But of course, with a name like Gucci, the name alone would be enough to garner attention for the new collection. The clothes themselves are pristine as usual, with generous prints given to just the right pieces. Moreover, Pat McGrath’s refreshing makeup gave all the models the best possible appearances for spring. When the music began blasting, it was a row of confident young men lining up for the catwalk – the ultimate high-fashion army, no doubt.

Seen & Heard: Swedes Mathias Bergh and Jonatan Frenk requesting a picture together to demonstrate their Swedish patriotism; Pat McGrath exclaiming that she would look horrible next to “such a handsome young man” when asked to pose for a picture with a model – we think you are just perfect, Pat!; Rene Rodriguez sitting quietly and watching the atmosphere, giving a humble smile every once in a while when something amusing occurs; Sartorialist Scott Schumann and companion Garance Dore staking out stylish show attendees together outside the venue.

2 p.m. Vivienne Westwood
One thing was most prevalent at Dame Vivienne’s energetic show: Joker-inspired makeup. Even though at first glance, one might mistake the powdered faces as intentional facials and the extra lines along the models’ mouths as pieces of string they had to bite on, it became obvious up-close that indeed, it was all a direct homage to Heath Ledger and The Dark Knight. Backstage was certainly a “crrrraaazzzzyyy” wild ride, with mills of reporters surrounding the Dame as models changed just inches from the crowd. As the completed looks themselves manifested upon the men, colorful shirts were juxtaposed with uniquely-patterned ones, allowing for an almost unstable feel throughout the collection. If the intention was to convey a wonderful chaos of creativity, the brand has no doubt accomplished that once again, but successfully initiating social chaos a la the Joker? That may have to wait another day!

(To be continued in Part 2)