Courtesy of @silviaventurinifendi
With New York Fashion Week’s shortened schedule and London’s introduction of public shows to make it less of an industry affair, the Italian fashion capital has reconfigured its schedule to be more inclusive and balanced, rather than having all of the high-profile designers show on the opening or closing day. With Prada opening, Versace right in the middle and Gucci closing on Sunday, there’s plenty of action taking place in between. And while some of the creatives behind the brands are household names just like the brands that they helm, some of them are a little less known but definitely worthy of hitting that “follow” button.
Versace—Donatella Versace
Even if you don’t know a thing about fashion, you’ve certainly heard of Donatella Versace. After taking the reins of the brand following the murder of her brother Gianni, Donatella has maintained the DNA of his original vision and infused it with her own vivacious personality, which shines through her Insta. Boasting 4.5 million followers, she’s a social media star in her own right (lets not forget her iconic Ice Bucket Challenge.) From her frequent forays with celebrities and supermodels to behind the scenes looks at the workings of Versace, her Instagram is just as glamorous and ostentatious as you’d expect, chock full of Baroque prints, golden Medusa heads, sculpted Adonis-like torsos and the occasional cameo from her dog, Audrey.
GCDS—Giuliano Calza
GCDS is one of Milan’s most hyped young brands. A favourite among streetwear enthusiasts with 1.690 € to spend on a Pikachu emblazoned jumper, it’s known for its bold graphics and statement accessories. An acronym for ‘God Can’t Destroy Streetwear,’ aptly named since it doesn’t seem like streetwear is going out of trend anytime soon, the brand was founded by brothers Giuliano and Giordano Calza. Giuliano heads up the creative side of things, and his Instagram is just as colourful and eccentric as the brand. Although judging by his feed it seems as though he’s perpetually on vacation with cool industry friends such as Gilda Ambrosio of The Attico and mega-influencer Chiara Ferragni, we’re sure it’s not all fun and games putting together some of the hottest campaigns and runways in the fashion industry.
Gucci—Alessandro Michele
Throughout Alessandro Michele’s tenure as the creative director of Gucci, he has turned the legendary Italian house into a fantastical realm, blurring the already thin line between fashion, art, and theatre. The world that Michele has created for Gucci is brimming with so many references, from the Ancient Romans to Medieval France to Harlem in the ‘80s; Michele must truly be a well of knowledge. His personal Instagram gives some insight into the idiosyncratic and boundless mind of the designer, essentially serving as a moodboard for Gucci. His fascination with classical portraiture and sculpture, religious paraphernalia, the macabre, and vintage furniture is offset by the occasional photos of his dogs, lo fi selfies, and glimpses into his bromance with Jared Leto.
MSGM—Massimo Girogettio
Somewhere down the line, Massimo Girogettio must have heard that all good things come in threes. The Italian founder and creative director of MSGM’s Instagram is a sea of near-identical triptychs; each vibrant image copied and pasted three times, akin to Jacquemus. The result is bold, uniform and unique— just like MSGM itself. He features everything from vintage photography, luxurious interiors, BTS looks at MSGM campaigns, and, you guessed it, his two Jack Russells. We could write a separate piece on the social media presence of designer dogs.
Brognano—Nicola Brognano
One of the youngest brands on the MFW roster, Brognano is the creation of 29-year-old Nicola Brognano. Following a 3-year stint at Giambattista Valli in Paris, it’s clear where his inspiration comes from. Launched in 2015, his collections are ultra feminine and romantic, injecting ruffled Cinderella-style dresses with California surfer girl-cool and Western influences. He’s a favourite of Dua Lipa, who frequently wears his designs on tour. His personal Instagram, while perhaps less curated and cultivated than the others on his list, gives a glimpse into the life of the beautiful man behind the brand (seriously, he’s gorgeous.) Although recently mostly selfies, a look into his archives betrays a love for vintage photography, and shots from the atelier from his Parisian days. Hailing from Calabria, his feed also features plenty of panoramic landscape shots that are definitely giving us wanderlust.
Fendi—Silvia Venturini Fendi
Silvia Venturini Fendi’s personal Instagram is a documentation of all things Fendi and family. It makes sense that family is of the utmost importance to the designer—she inherited the business from her mother and her four sisters “the Fendi sisters” who beforehand inherited it from her grandmother and the founder of the fabled Italian house. The life long collaborator and friend of Karl Lagerfeld’s is the architect behind the Baguette bag, the “it” bag of the early 2000s given cult status by Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex and the City. And there are plenty of Baguettes, beaches, and babies on her feed. A scroll through will familiarise you with her tight-knit brood, and will probably have you seeing double “F” from the overload of Zucca monogram. She seems to be particularly fond of Fendi-fied food shots, and we don’t know what we’re craving more: a Baguette or a Fendi pizza.