Colour and print are the surest ways to grab the paparazzi’s attention at fashion week, but this season, monochrome black is unexpectedly taking over the streets of Milan.
Street style from Milan Fashion Week Spring 2025
Christina Fragkow/WWD
This is in contrast to the spring 2025 runways, which were dominated by bright, pastel hues. The trend first emerged in New York, then spread to London, and is now sweeping Italian shows from No. 21 to Prada. It’s a sign of optimism from the designers, but those sitting in the front row seemed to lean towards a much darker mood.
In the past, attending a fashion show has been likened to taking part in a ritual of religious importance, but make no mistake: these outfits are anything but drab funeral attire.
Outside Marni, for example, one attendee bared her midriff in a black bra top and flared skirt, accented with furry shoes, while another wore a black bubble-hem halter dress with leopard-print boots and a creative half-up hairstyle.
The all-black tailored look that is characteristic of Italy was also given a directional twist. Men wore slim-fitting topcoats over ankle-length trousers, revealing ultra-flat ballet flats, the current favourite footwear for men. Collared shirts were swapped for black scoop-neck tank tops, and some went for a more casual take on formal suits.
Street style from Milan Fashion Week Spring 2025
Christina Fragkow/WWD
Elsewhere, women coordinated handbags with black suits and little black dresses. At Fendi, the brand’s signature “Peekaboo” bag, black with two lollipop charms and a collaboration between the brand and Chupa Chups last fall, stood out.
Although it added a touch of whimsy to her all-black look, neutral colours are all about practicality – something the photographer clearly knows well in her black denim jumpsuit – the ideal one-piece outfit for roaming the narrow streets of Milan looking for the perfect shot.
Here, WWD’s “They Are Wearing” vertical showcases the best head-to-toe black street style looks seen at Milan Fashion Week.
