Fall 2012 Milan

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The Best Handbags of Fall 2012

While shoes got a bit tamer for Fall 2012, handbags have only gotten more wild. Fur and faux furs bags were all the rage at Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Dries van Noten, and Michael Kors, and while the perspex bags at 3.1 Phillip Lim and the cute minauderies from Diane von Furstenberg may not be totally useful, they sure are cute. Or course if you need a bag that will actually fit your things inside it, the giant leather carryalls at Alexander Wang might just do the trick.

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The Best Shoes of the Fall 2012 Season

We've scoured the Fall 2012 collections for the most amazing shoes, and it was easy, because there were plenty. The best part? Footwear options for Fall 2012 are a lot more reasonable than their Spring 2012 counterparts. (Remember those 6 inch Versace lucite wedges?) Fall 2012 saw lots of wide heels and mary-janes on the runway, and sometimes both simultaneously--like at Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Marni. Knee-high black boots ruled at Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Givenchy, and Rick Owens, and ladylike pumps could be found at Lanvin, Nina Ricci, and Jil Sander. Of course, if you're looking for something crazy, look no further than Alexander McQueen's heel-less fur shoes. Impractical, but so lovely. Take a look at all the amazing shoes from Fall 2012 and just try to pick a favorite. It's near impossible.

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Giorgio Armani Fall 2012: Menswear Staples and Mob Hats

For my first-ever Giorgio Armani show I have to admit I was expecting something a little more red-carpet-worthy glam. Maybe it was just the post-Oscars buzz, or maybe it's the fact that Armani has built a name for itself on gorgeous, couture-like gowns--but in any case, the designer had something else in store for Fall 2012, namely a collection rooted in menswear and far more appropriate for the daytime than any red carpet. Coco Rocha opened the show in a tweed grey suit, huge flower lapel pin, and cocked fedora, which totally reminded us of something Nucky Thompson might wear on Boardwalk Empire.

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Milan Fashion Week: Fashionista's Top 10 Collections

Three down and only one more to go! Yep, another fashion week has come to a close and what a week it was. From metal corsetry at Versace to bejeweled blazers at Prada, we saw everything from the gothic to the playful--and every style in between. Read on to find out which collections made our list of top ten favorites from Milan fashion week.

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Versus Fall 2012: A Happy Marriage

Donatella Versace and Christopher Kane are two very different designers--with generations between them--but the duo's fall 2012 collection for Versus, was truly a marriage, of the best kind, of their two aesthetics. Kane, a 29-year-old cool kid from London, clearly has an eye for what his peers want, and we can imagine he had young 20-something, club-goers in mind when he designed the dip-dyed, body-con, lace-up frocks. On the other hand, Donatella, a 55-year-old, glamorous Italian woman who's been around the block a few times, probably had a hand in the collection's more sophisticated and well-tailored pieces.

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Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2012: The Soldier and The Gypsy

There were two distinct themes at work at Ferragamo's Fall 2012: the soldier and the gypsy. Designer Massimiliano Giornetti opened the show with a black military inspired dress coat, with gold buttons and belted at the waist. All sorts of variations of military coats and jackets followed one after another: velvet, wool, fur, brocade, double breasted , some with leather lapels, ranging in color from black, brown and dark green. Most of them were buckled at the waist; some were paired with fitted pencil skirts while others were paired with trousers. In both cases models wore knee-high leather boots-- and the pants were tucked into the boots, adding to the military effect. But then there were the gypsy looks:

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Missoni Fall 2012: A New, Earthier Direction

The fashion world--and everyone with two eyes--has already seen that Angela Missoni is an expert at reinterpreting the brand's classic striped patterns with stylish--and commercial--results. But for fall 2012, the designer seemed intent on proving that her talents can be applied to more than just space-dyed knits. Fall 2012's palette was more subdued than past collections: There were browns, camels, greys, and while there were also hints of purple, blue and green mixed into the collection, they were subtle and toned down. The brand's signature knit patterns were still there, but they weren't necessarily the focus. Many of them were styled wrapped at the chest, and belted, and in many cases they were embellished with fur trim or panels of leather--one of our favorite looks was a scarf/shrug wrapped at the chest, and with a fluffy fur collar.

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Marni Fall 2012: Streamlined and Graphic

While everyone has been busy drooling over Marni for H&M's quirky prints, designer Marni Consuelo Castiglioni had a more streamlined and graphic vibe in mind for her Fall 2012 collection. The first look to come out--a bright red cape coat, paired with pale blue trousers and a blouse with a black collar--set the tone for the sharp-lined and boldly colorful show. Next came a series of dresses and coats, which followed the same aesthetic: Dresses were colorblocked and graphic, and the outerwear was belted at the waist and neck, and all were adorned with ample square pockets. One of our favorite looks was a skirt and shirt combo, which had a modern, geometric print in an intrinsically Marni palette of blush, black and brown.

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Pucci Fall 2012: A Sleek Departure

Fall 2012 was a major departure from Peter Dundas' usual hippie style for Pucci. Gone were the gypsy tops, the flowy skirts, and the crochet and lace. In their stead were body-conscious dresses with sheer slits, tuxedo jackets, suiting, and other menswear staples. The first looks to walk the runway were sleek black dresses with sheer slits, which kind of reminded us of the 80s--or of Alexander Wang, circa 2009. Definitely not the kind of thing we were expecting to see at a Pucci show. However, as the show went on, Dundas developed the motif in buff and powder blue, which were totally original and oh-so-pretty.

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Moschino Fall 2012: '80s Matadors and Bringing Back the Fanny Pack

Moschino never strays far from their playful, somewhat gaudy style--and that's precisely why we love the brand. Last season, it was all about the matador and for Fall 2012, designer Rossella Jardini further developed the theme of the bullfighter--though this season it had more of a Western slant. Matador hats were replaced by black cowboy hats strapped tightly around the models' chins and worn low over the eyes, reminding us of the badass bad guy in a Western film. The clothes, however, remained truer to last season's matador: ornate blazers in black, red and gold--some with Spanish embroidery--and fitted trousers. The trousers--or leggings, really--were color-blocked in a way that recalled both Mondrian and, what we can only guess is Moschino's favorite decade, the 80s. Speaking of the 80s: Jardini is singlehandedly trying to bring back the fannypack, styling many of her looks with quilted coin purses and wallets worn on a chain at the waist. It's a chic take on the 80s staple but we're still not entirely sold on the idea.

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Fendi Fall 2012: Belly Belts and Bustles and So Much More

MILAN--If Silvia Venturini Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld's spring collection for Fendi was a crazy mix of mad-scientist-meets-Milanese-woman, then, well, we don't even know what to make of Fall 2012. One thing we are sure about though, is that whatever it was, it involved a lot of layers and contrasting textures. Skirts and dresses were cut through with panels of pleated fabric; in some cases there were two panels which overlapped on one another. Wool coats and dresses had fur sleeves, and much of the outerwear was cleverly crafted to look as if a shorter jacket was layered over top of a longer one. One of our favorite looks was one such coat, which despite having fuzzy fur pockets, was one of the more restrained looks of the collection. Though you can't see it in the photos, several of the looks had strange-looking bustles in the back, made out of pleated fabric and leather. It kind of looked like the model had tucked part of her shirt into her underpants, not to mention it added several bulky inches to her backside and hips--something we really can't imagine too many women would want.

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Prada Fall 2012: Of Geometry and Gems

MILAN--On my way to Prada, my first time ever seeing the show IRL, I was excited. Okay, maybe excited is an understatement. Not only do I love Miuccia Prada as a designer but I'd been told a Prada show was something extra special--so let's just say there was definitely an extra bounce in my step. Happily, I was not disappointed. Set in a large, industrial-looking space, guests sat around a vast square "catwalk" which was carpeted in purple with a geometric design--it was the same set for the men's show last month, only in violet (how girly). Even though everyone was seated and the lights dimmed in anticipation, the show started about 45 minutes late. That's okay though, because it was well worth the wait.

Business

Anna Dello Russo Doesn't Think Raf Simons Is Headed For Dior

MILAN--Here in Milan, the question on everyone's lips is, without a doubt, what is Raf Simons going to do next? While some are staying mum on the subject (Hamish Bowles told us he couldn't comment yet), Anna Dello Russo shared her insight on the matter with us. "It's really a shame for me [that Raf is leaving Jil Sander]," she told us. "He did an incredible job." It's true--ADR is not the only person who'll be mourning the loss of Raf at Jil. But what about Dior? Perhaps we'll get to see Simons' expert design skills put to good use at the storied French house?

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Max Mara Fall 2012: Minimalism Meets Workwear

When you think of Max Mara, you think of minimalism and camel coats. It's true the brand's signature clean lines were still there for fall, and yes, there were a number of camel coats, but the brand also exhibited a more playful and adorned aesthetic than seasons passed--a mix we'd call '60s swinger meets Oliver Twist. Mixed in among the minimalist staples were workwear-inspired pieces like an olive green jumpsuit or an overalls dress with leather straps. Newsboy caps topped many of the looks in matching colors and when paired with the more rugged outfits the effect was a sort of modern, feminine, Oliver Twist. However when the caps were matched with sleeker looks like a body fitting dress or a turtleneck sweater the aesthetic reminded us more of a 60s mod girl-- and a little bit of Victoria Beckham's spring collection for that matter.

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Alberta Ferretti Fall 2012: Powerfully Sexy Dresses Get Us Excited for Ferretti for Macy's

MILAN--Alberta Ferretti is surely best loved for her dresses. And it's easy to see why: The designer manages to make gowns that are both striking and subtle at the same time, which is certainly no easy feat. For Fall 2012, it was this expert dressmaking skill that the designer was clearly intent on showcasing. Gown after sumptuous gown walked the runway, all expertly crafted and ridiculously elegant but without being showy in the least. There were a number of gorgeous black frocks--some with swishy micro-pleats, others done up in leather and, still others embellished with black beads and sparkly fringe. Where there was color it was bold and rich (think: royal purple, bright red and sapphire) and the slinky gowns stood out all the more for it. Many of the dresses had panels in contrasting fabrics: