February 28, 2026 |
Designer’s childhoods often find ways into their work, but Moschino’s Adrian Appiolaza doubled down on his heritage and based his whole collection on growing up in Argentina. He sifted through memories – personal and collective – bringing a flavour of his home country to the Milan catwalk.
The highly personal theme was put through the Moschino filter and emerged with typically witty results. The designer touched on many aspect of his roots from gauchos and Eva Perón (her pixelated image appeared on an oversized tee) to tango dancers, a bus driver with a vintage ticket machine and llamas (why not, as knitted bag charms?). Famous Argentine landmarks were pixelated in oversized square sequins on a column dress, a leather bag came in the shape of a bag of chocolate dipped churros, even rampant inflation got a look in with bank notes clustered on shoes and prints on shirts. Actually the designer said that piece, which closed the show, was a comment on how fashion is all about money. One T-shirt stated “The problem with closed minds is that they always have their mouths open”, a comment on the censoriousness of our times and the moral outrage it fuels. The designer didn’t confine his imagination to one silhouette or a uniform look. Instead every look had its character and story.
There was plenty of theatrics from bunny eared-hats to and neon bright ponchos and latex frilled skirts. But as always with Appiolaza, alongside the drama there was plenty of covetable clothes, from an elegant double-breasted tulip shaped coat to ballooning harem pants and pony print silk dresses – a tribute to the bourgeois ladies of the Argentine capital. Home sweet home.
Photography by Christina Fragkou.
