By Romi More
What happens when Italian sensibility is mixed with a Britpop twist? The result is a playful yet sophisticated sartorial attitude, and this is exactly what ICEBERG delivered with its SS26 collection at Milan Fashion Week.
Italian State of Mind & British POV
ICEBERG, known for its sporty, dynamic aesthetic and avant-garde knitwear, has earned a reputation as one of the few Milan Fashion Week players that consistently bring pop culture, playfulness, and streetwise energy to a calendar dominated by sleek minimalism and luxury polish. This season is not an exception as James Long, celebrating his 10th anniversary as ICEBERG’s creative director, drew on his British roots while keeping the Milanese ethos at the core. “I love the freedom of ICEBERG. It is the sportswear attitude that is in the brand’s DNA, and my design background too. That is the mood of the season, with the Italian sportswear state of mind mixed with an English point of view. It is sharp, it is playful, it is totally ICEBERG.”
Sleekness With a Twist
On the runway, this vision was articulated in zip-up bombers, linen trenches, fitted knits, pleated trousers, and skirts with a kick styled against the backdrop of Oasis’s “Champagne Supernova”, which wrapped the show in the atmosphere of comforting nostalgia. The collection was much more toned-down compared to ICEBERG’s previous Spring-Summer seasons. Earthy tones and neutrals set the dominant palette; however, it was occasionally disrupted by flashes of vibrant red and hues of yellow appearing mostly in knitwear and accessories (Look 1, Look 30, Look 32).
Ruffles, pleats, and check patterns injected movement and youthful playfulness into certain looks, while fitted knits, pencil skirts, and sharply tailored yet roomy trousers introduced structure, preserving the brand’s signature sleekness (Look 2, Look 27, Look 25, Look 33). Statement sunglasses and signature foulards completed the looks, adding both character and a subtle 90s edge (Look 14, Look 31). On the other note, if anyone still doubted the pairing of nylon bombers with skirts or sporty parkas with heels, the ICEBERG SS26 collection delivered the definitive green light (Look 6, Look 26). Menswear, too, offered playful yet refined moments, such as a leather jacket worn with pajama-style mini shorts and knits distinguished by exaggerated collars (Look 8, Look 36).
Amid the buzz of Milan Fashion Week - Demna at Gucci, the first Armani collection after Giorgio Armani’s passing, and debut of Dario Vitale at Versace - ICEBERG’s SS26 show might have flown under the radar, but it is certainly deserving of notice.
Diesel SS26: Looks 1, 2, 6, 8, 14, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36 (Images courtesy of Diesel)
