The decision to break tradition and to present the Spring / Summer 16 collection at a concrete warehouse styled location on the outskirts of the city of Milan, replacing the usual venue, set the appropriate tone of surprise in the audience for the following show. To me Versace always has a predictability about it, mostly so in their Spring / Summer collections, following the same simple silhouettes just with varying prints and occasionally fabric and conforming to the same brash Versace logo displayed at least once in the backdrop. Despite this however, the surprise not only came from the new location but also to the rehashing of military styled clothing and the tailoring. One piece in particular stood out to me, a khaki green oversized blazer, worn as a dress with a belt used to define the shape, transforming this otherwise masculine piece into one that evokes femininity. This represents what Donatella Versace advocates, that a woman should always have the right to feel feminine.
Versace SS16
The military theme appears to have reappeared for Versace as the look was consistent throughout the collection, this includes a new interpretation of camouflage, one that does is creative and original. For this look Versace used sheer fabric as a foundation to build upon a trend that is still very much present to create an ingenious fabric that subtly evokes the military.
Versace SS 16, Matteo Bazzi
In addition to camouflage the infamous cheetah print is also reinvented, presented on a cut dress that is reminiscent of rainforest tribal attire, it is not only the shape of the dress which does this but also the collection of greens and contrasting patterns. Although not revolutionary, the ensemble adds to the essence of the collection mixing military shaped garments and exotic animal prints to provoke a sense of colonial times, commenting on the migration of western society into its surroundings.
Versace SS 16
