MILAN — The Milan Fashion Week schedule was light on shows and shoe presentations alike. Yet there were three pit stops the fashion pack didn’t miss, finding options for fun, for work and for sport. Here’s a quick look.
Giuseppe Zanotti
After 30-plus years in business, Giuseppe Zanotti is still daydreaming about footwear and continues to be in learning mode, committed to grasping the zeitgeist. The designer and entrepreneur said that the past few years have been challenging against a market dominated by volatility, which triggered him to retool his offering, first in the women’s category and now in men’s.
Without suppressing his rock ‘n’ roll edge and out-there design ethos, the spring collection skewed slightly more conservative. “We have taken little steps back, with a collection that is less fashion-driven and redundant. We’re doing frill-free products hinged on quality and shoemaking know-how,” he said. Cue a summer bootie in spazzolato leather with a squarish toe and heel, or penny loafers in croc-embossed leather and ‘70s-nodding sandals with oversized leather bands, halfway between grandpa chic and poolside cool.
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Embracing the super-flat shoe trend, unlined driving slip-ons or almost sole-less lace-ups and lightweight sneakers mingled with bedroom slippers in supple leather, the latter unveiled as part of the men’s collection but also catering to the brand’s female clients, too, Zanotti said. Ditto for the version dotted in micro round studs, which looked like pinheads.
Church’s
In the intimate and evocative hall of the historic Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato theater in Milan, Church’s had its signature Shanghai loafer style take center stage.
Dating back to 1929 and first released with unique broguing, fringing and mix of materials, its design has been reimagined for a contemporary audience, including brand ambassador Theo James and French actor William Abadie, who were among the guests in attendance at the presentation.
For example, the new Shanghai Laser iteration reinterpreted the buckled style with a sleek whole cut design, crafted from a single piece of leather using laser technology. It was a modern update to the original’s intricate blend of materials, with its flexible Blake soft construction ensuring comfort at every step.
The star model was flanked by casual Derby styles of the British Spring line and classic designs in the Crown collection rooted in Church’s heritage and British craftsmanship.
Enterprise Japan
Enterprise Japan waved the sneaker flag high in Milan with its latest releases.
The brand tapped into the tennis craze with two versions of its EJ Egg Rocket style paying tribute to the Wimbledon and Roland Garros tournaments. The former version came with a white calfskin upper with green detailing in a nod to the British grass courts, while the latter had a burnt sienna finish and splashes of bright red to evoke the effect after a match on the Parisian clay court.
Elsewhere, retro-tinged sneaker styles were flanked by summer-ready options, including the EJ Isla hybrid between a sporty shoe and an espadrille, whose woven cord sole and raw-cut details oozed a Mediterranean, relaxed vibe.
