Trend Report: crazy coats, purple pieces, and more straight from Milan’s latest FW23 menswear

Header image: Seems like Etro checked all the items on the list in this season’s menswear trend report, with purple pieces, gray suits, and crazy coats. Image Source – Etro

It seems like there was one thing in common amongst the menswear collections of top designer labels in this season’s Milan Fashion Week (MFW): they all brought their A-game when it came to outerwear. From coats, jackets, suits, knits, and more, each fashion house brought its own spin on the Fall/Winter (FW) staple. They’ve proudly announced that we can all be comfortable and chic in the cold at the same time. 

Here are more trends we saw on the runway in MFW Mens FW23:

Purple: Color of the Season

We know Pantone’s color of the year is viva magenta but for some reason, designers probably didn’t get that memo as all shades of purple were walking the runway this season. (L-R: Etro, Gucci, Dhruv Kapoor) Image Source: (L-R) Etro, Gucci, Dhruv Kapoor 

This solidifies our theory that there’s a secret group chat for all the designers that show their collections during fashion week. Almost every designer seemed to dip their pieces in various shades and prints of purple for this season’s collection. Seeing the textural play on a purple gradient from Etro, oversized tailoring from Gucci, and edgy prints from Dhruv Kapoor, purple is astoundingly a versatile color we never expected. While this may not be the first shade that comes to mind when creating an outfit, especially in menswear, it definitely shows its potential as one of the trendiest colors for fall and winter–a refreshing take from all the earth tones and dark neutrals we always see. 

Big Bags for the Big Boys

All for the boys carrying their own bags. MFW brought out the big guns for this season from totes to duffels that carry everything from water bottles to baguettes. (L-R: Fendi, Prada, Gucci). Image Source: (L-R) Fendi, Prada, Gucci

The talk of the town is undoubtedly the literal baguette Fendi made, named after their signature Baguette bags, for their menswear collection showcased in Milan. It seems like trends for bags are going through various sizes throughout the years. We have a strong feeling that the micro mini bags were left in 2022 and instead, we’re ringing in the new year with the big boys. Fendi showcases their signature logo print all over a knitted tote, Prada is ever so sophisticated in a vertical leather bag that seems specifically made for water bottles in mind, and last but not least, Gucci’s take without Alessandro Michele’s maximalist antes is a duffel beside the hip with a pop of color.

Grey is the New Black in Suits

There’s probably nothing more Italian than a well-tailored suit, and gray ones are popping up everywhere in Milan. (L-R: Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani). Image Source: (L-R) Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani

Italians love a good suit, but a gray one doesn’t always get the best rep in the world of fashion. It’s literally a gray area; not quite debonair, not quite fun and captivating. But if there’s one thing fashion always does is prove us wrong. Zegna displays a masterful gray creation that drapes down in a timeless silhouette and versatile technicality. Fendi also stands to prove that a classic suit will be a man’s best friend if and only if it’s tailored to a tee. On the other hand, Giorgio Armani gets playful with a gray tweed suit jacket paired with a matching skinny scarf (also, one of our trend predictions in accessories this year).

One Outrageous Outwear

Nothing in the rulebook says we can’t be cute while in the cold. These labels definitely got the message and dreamed up the most unique outerwear pieces we’re gonna see this season. (L-R: JW Anderson, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared2). Image Source: (L-R) JW Anderson, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared2

Fashion only gets wilder and wilder as the years go by and these out-of-this-world pieces are going to be the talk of the town. JW Anderson yet again impresses us with somewhat outrageously wearable pieces with a full fur trench coat in a straight jacket style, definitely a showstopping genius. Dolce & Gabbana sizzles in a two-piece baby blue feather ensemble that can definitely pass as a chic cosplay of Sulley from Monster’s Inc. Lastly, the most searched collection in Milan’s menswear fashion week this FW23 season, Dsquared2 takes the cake with Y2K inspired pieces and having the most fun we can get from a runway show, bravely playing with textures, styles, and colors in this fringe leather-cum-varsity jacket.

Back to Basics

Now that we’ve gone through the outrageous, we can also go back to basics. Minimalist looks surge the runway in Milan for fall and winter staples. (L-R: Gucci, Prada, Martine Rose). Image Source: (L-R) Gucci, Prada, Martine Rose

Fashion is always a polarizing and confusing thing. One day the tiniest bags could trend and it’s the biggest ones the next. Besides outrageous outerwear, designers are also taking a liking to the basic and classic pieces– take the white tee perhaps, seen in all three looks above. Debuting its first non-Alessandro Michele collection, Gucci shows an obvious difference to its maximalist aesthetic over the few years: there’s no glitter or sequins in this look. Miuccia Prada (together with Raf Simmons) is the queen of bringing basics back, from the logo tank tops to the reedition hobo bags in the past seasons. Now, she creates a classic color trio of tan, white, and black in this season’s look. While Martine Rose debuts her very British collection in Italy, giving us unconventional takes on basic pieces. The beauty of fashion and style is its distinct and unique take on a single piece and Milan gave us all they got.

Crop Tops are for Everyone

We’re tired of always seeing the ladies’ midriffs, it’s time for the men to take their turn at it. Various types of tops are cropped in menswear for MFW. (L-R: Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared2, Prada). Image Source: (L-R) Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared2, Prada

Who said the guys can’t get their tops cropped too? They’re rocking it all over Milan in this season’s fashion week. Dolce & Gabbana showed off multiple cropped looks in their collection, such as this 3-piece tailored coat and trousers, paired with an unconventionally cropped vest top, while it’s no surprise that Dsquared2 made a bubblegum pink cropped statement tee featuring a scoop hem to create a unique silhouette. Prada’s take on the cropped trend lies more on the conservative side with a pillow-puff bomber jacket. This is one of the things that’s long been making waves in female fashion, now it’s time for the men to get into it too.