As I’m sure many of you know, Men’s Fashion Week in Milan has just wrapped up.  Instead of going through it day by day, I thought I would let it come to a close, digest it like the krill I had for breakfast, and bring you the highlights and my thoughts on the show as a whole – so that download may be the next few days.  Be prepared.

One thing we saw from the designers this week was a decisively futuristic feel.  Maybe this is the influence of the entertainment industry buzzing with the likes of Transformers, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, etc….. I don’t know, but the future was in Milan this week.  Let’s take a look at how two different designers handled a similar feel:

Calvin Klein Black Attack

Calvin Klein gives a futuristic flair to an otherwise classic, almost 50′s or 60′s laid back look.  Take the leather off this outerwear piece and you get Steve McQueen on the set of Bullitt, circa 1968.  The sunglasses also give the look a terminator feel, because they clearly weren’t around for Steve to wear.

Prada in Prints

Prada also jumps on the future train (or hovercraft) with a slightly less dramatic leap into tomorrowland.  Miuccia Prada’s take with this line shows much more intricacy in prints and patterns [as seen above], all the while keeping with a very monochromatic grayscale pallet.

Miuccia Prada vs. Italo Zucchelli CK

In comparing these two lines – Prada’s designs are more of a classic take on the look of the future, whereas Italo Zucchelli’s designs for CK feel to me like a futuristic slant on otherwise classic pieces.  Take a look at each designers approach to the suit [directly above].  Both have a more casual flair, but CK makes a splash with color and contrast wheras Prada’s muted tones might seem dreary if not for the deep v pieces and interesting use of the sweater layer.  The ‘future’ in this look is not only in this unique neckline choice, but also the reflective and translucent fabrics.  For me, CK is more approachable, wearable, and fun.

I like what we’re seeing from both of these style mavens, and expect that the red carpet flaunters will too.