*By Jesse Scott *
Louise Trotter’s second season for Bottega Veneta was a study of contrasts. Infused with the type of operatic glamor that has taken Milan by storm this season, it was both bold and intimate with a distinctly Italian sensibility. “Milanese dress for community as much as for themselves,” the press was told. “There is a sense of pride in getting dressed with confidence and care.” Said confidence and care was evidenced throughout the collection; the ever-sure-handed Trotter effortlessly integrated diverse influences into a cohesive wardrobe while displaying the outstanding attention to detail that was lauded after her first collection for the Maison.
Of the Heart, the Mind, and the Hand
The guest list for this much-anticipated show was as exclusive as one would expect. Julianne Moore, Lauren Hutton, Alexia Niedzielski, and of course Anna Wintour all sat front row as the almost 60-year-old brand continued its exciting new era. They did not have to wait long for the drama, as a series of models dressed in precisely tailored all-black ensembles emerged onto a runway as crimson as the curtains in La Scala’s boxes. Look 3 was a personal favourite, as an asymmetrical high-waisted belt detail gave a jaunty yet sophisticated flourish to a wide-lapelled jacket-cum-dress. A similar belt returned on playful Look 13, which saw furry-textured pants paired with a sleek gray trench coat bearing a surprising leather collar and epaulets. The look was topped by a simple black beanie that would recur throughout the collection as an anchor of understated elegance amidst a series of exaggerated silhouettes.
I.N., Julianne Moore, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Prim Patnasiri, Dew Jirawat, Lauren Hutton, Edward Buchanan, Yuhjung Youn, Shu Qi (Images courtesy of Bottega Veneta)
Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2026: Looks 3, 13 (Images courtesy of Bottega Veneta)
Looks for Home… and the Red Carpet
In discussing the collection, Trotter referred to such concepts as “a dash of nostalgic floral… Nonna’s evening purse… father’s well-worn shoe.” These were recalled by several of the early ensembles, from Look 34 with its irreverently half-tucked collar to Look 36 with its casual moccasin contrasting a ferocious blue coat. But the blue trench was a harbinger of things to come, a turning point from which comfort gave way to drama meant for a Verdi opera or a Stravinsky ballet. Fur is a timeless catalyst for drama, and it is not surprising that it took center stage. Fashioned in silks, fil coupe, knitting, technical fibres, and basically everything except fur itself, furry textures took precedence starting in Look 40 and dominated the second half of the encyclopedic collection to the delight of those in attendance. The high-waisted leather belt was duplicated in a plush form in Look 49. A series of chapkas stood out among the most covetous accessories of the season in Looks 67 and 69. And the show closed with a crescendo worthy of Maria Callas with voluminous black and bright blue coats in Looks 77 and 79.
Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2026: Looks 34, 36, 40, 49, 67, 69, 77, 79 (Images courtesy of Bottega Veneta)
There was truly a look for all occasions in this collection. But all was possessed with a particular Italian savoir faire that showed a profound understanding not only of the brand’s history but also of its motherland. The British have come to Italy. And it’s been rave reviews for Louise Trotter thus far.