For Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Spring 2009 combined "a futuristic allure and a nostalgic feel for the past"—but the future that shaped up on his catwalk seemed more like what might be left after an environmental catastrophe. Say, a handful of survivors on an island, living close to nature, making the most of what was left of civilization. What could make such an impression? Try distressed tops and pants, heavily patched in places, in faded shades of sand, earth, and flesh, worn with clogs or desert boots. Okay, that might be pushing the future imperfect a little bit, but there was a real sense of exhausted utility in these clothes. Even a crocheted cardigan and top felt like it could have been run up by the last granny on earth. But then there were the precious items like a brocade jacket and jeans or a gazar evening jacket—one pictured those survivors cherishing them, keeping them as new to remind themselves of what once was. Looked at this way, Dell'Acqua's collection could be appreciated as a green—if somewhat reduced—statement. Or maybe that's just the warped perspective of a heat-addled brain. Milan is nothing if not hot at the moment.
