Sportmax, Max Mara's more youthful line, was in full effect. They showed tailoring mixed with sportswear, hoodies and performance sunglasses. Grey suiting took the form of a dress made of a deconstructed jacket or a mis-buttoned skirt paired with a bikini top and the incongruousness of the combinations was a fresh take. There was much shine in the form of sequinned dresses and bikinis and the rope trope showed up wrapped around ankles or on sandals. And forget about the lack of heels on the runway this the season. Sportmax went one step further (pun intended) by sending their models out barefoot. 

Simple tailoring was at the heart of Piazza Sempione for Spring with mismatched stripes of different widths, shift and shirt dresses as well as shorts suits that looked like they were dipped in colour.

Muted shades of taupe, blue and pale yellow were the centrepiece of this collection from Cividini. Men wore textured shawl collared sweaters and polka dotted shorts as well as a lot of camouflage. Woman wore shirt-like coat dresses and sheer polka dotted tops over which cross body bags with striped straps were slung.

We're going to power through Milan and make a quick swing by Paris to wrap up Fashion Month that ended earlier this week.

Next up: Stella Jean who has put the brakes on her excessively themed collections. This one for Spring 2019 sees the designer hewing more closely to her roots of simple, yet colourful styles with nipped in waists and voluminous skirts. Tropical touches are still evident but not overwhelming or costume-like. Beaded wire art spelling out her name on chain belts were sweet touches. There were some and Ankara prints (which are her staple) on tiered skirts but the more notable pieces were the off-the-shoulder day dresses and sleeveless trench coats. We also loved the flat ballet slippers with tassel. The jewel-toned shoes were the perfect punctuation mark to her clothes. The collection still very much evoked a tropical paradise, but Stella Jean has found a formula that works for her and we can't complain. There was nothing groundbreaking about the cuts or styles, but overall it added up to a very covetable collection.

Not many shows have held our interest these last few weeks, but we immediately perked up when the first look was sent down Genny’s runway. This probably had something to do with the gorgeous cerulean colour and impeccable tailoring of the pleated dress and bolero jacket that was smartened up by white topstitching. The stunning opener was followed by separates and asymmetrical dresses in gorgeous hues and tropical-print fabrics. We loved the frilled and fluted top with keyhole opening that she used on dresses and blouses. The middle section of the collection was devoid of colour and the angelic feel of the pale clothes was heightened by the halo style logo behind and above the models’ heads. The script logo could also be found as a print on the dresses and skirts. Asymmetrical jumpsuits, kimono sleeves and obi-like belts gave the clothes an oriental flavour.

A hyper-feminine prairie aesthetic was very popular in the New York shows, but we didn’t see much of it in London or Milan until Louisa Beccaria. Her pretty, frilled and sprigged patchwork tea dresses resembled an English garden. The dress heavy collection featured delicate lace inserts, frills, ruffles, and huge bows at the waist all topped off with crocheted hats and artfully backcombed hair.

Cage-like, repeating elements and grommet linked, flower mesh effect all combine to create a standout collection from Kei Ninomiya for Moncler.

Spring is kite season in Bermuda (and presumably many other places around the world) and Craig Green’s collection very cleverly refers to this fact. He neatly conceptualised the idea of kites, windsurfing and flags to produce these highly sculptural hooded jackets and coats.

Moncler’s collaborations with various designers last season must have been successful because here they are again reprising the collaborations for Spring 2019. Is it fair to admit that we actually prefer this collection to the one Simone Rocha showed in London last Sunday? The capsule collection of 20 pieces was covered in three-dimensional effects which were created by the use of floral appliqués.