It’s a sign
Designers are trying to tell us something via symbols and signs. Vogue deciphers the new season semiotics.
SWALLOWS
Linked to nautical endeavours, the swallow denotes triumph over adversity or was said to lift sailors’ souls to heaven. Alberta Ferretti’s rendition had a beatific aura.
MOON PHASES
The phases of the moon have governed ancient calendars and provided a pace to set life by. The fact that dresses at Alexander McQueen were dripping in stars and moon motifs? Sarah Burton was reminding us to slow down and dream.
PANTHER
One of the panther’s symbolic meanings is as a totem of revolution, something Alessandro Michele himself has instigated at the storied house of Gucci.
SERPENT
Historically, the snake has multitude connotations and at Gucci it curlicues its way across dresses, possibly signalling rebirth (the new Gucci?), temptation, sexuality or all of the above.
BUTTERFLIES
Mary Katrantzou’s butterfly motifs were mostly decorative, which is fitting given they’re viewed as a symbol of spreading beauty.
TEAPOT
Like Hans Christian Andersen’s original story, Theepotten, Dolce & Gabbana’s fairytale collection illustrated that ordinary can be beautiful.
EVIL EYE
The evil eye affords the wearer protection from negativity, which they’ll need wearing Givenchy’s envy-inducing Egyptian-inflected, Eye of Horusprinted garb.
FLAMINGOS
It’s said that if a flamingo is chosen as a personal animal totem, the wearer is sociable by nature. The Miu Miu girl, then, is leader of the pack.