ARMOURED outerwear and sharp tailoring dominated the AW19 runway at Creative Director Daniel Lee’s first show for Bottega Veneta.
The show took place in a specially erected glass pavilion on Piazza Sempione in Milan. Elegantly decorated with benches covered in the signature woven leather of the house (in brown and pale blue), the set made for a wonderful contrast for the new collection.
Disappointingly for many who hoped Lee would follow his mentor, Phoebe Philo of Céline fame, and her sophisticated, clean style, the collection was moody and modern. Chemical hues vied for control with natural tones. Leather, a speciality of the house, was manipulated into chunky worker boots and one piece looked like a biker suit.
The aim? To evoke pleasure, joy, desire and beauty, while reinvigorating the classic Italian brand with a powerful contemporary energy. This could be seen in the energetic silhouette’s on display – as if the models were striding into battle.
Bigger, braver, but still Bottega, Lee proved that the fashion house is ready and relevant for our modern times.
by Alicia Pountney