Alexandra Moura's fantastical beasts wrap up Milan Fashion Week

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Fantastical beasts took over Alexandra Moura's catwalk on Monday as the Portuguese designer wrapped up Milan Fashion Week with a collection of clashing prints and overlapping fabrics.

For the Autumn/Winter 2019 mens' and womenswear line, the Lisbon-born designer took inspiration from Portuguese ceramist Rosa Ramalho, made famous at age 68 with her figures of surrealist creatures.

The models' makeup nodded to Ramalho's work with large circles around their eyes and teeth drawn on their faces. They wore jackets, coats and dresses with clashing prints – like tartan and pinstripe – with multiple layers from head to toe.

Models present creations by Alexandra Moura during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Hooded sweaters appeared wrapped around models' necks and above puffy coats, which often had one sleeve hanging to the side.

Skirt trims and sweaters featured ruffles while Moura also offered T-shirts and sweatshirts depicting various beasts.

The show notes read that Ramalho "was a countryside worker with a sense of aesthetics and intelligence very ahead of her time."

A model presents a design by Alexandra Moura during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

"The contrast between her visionary art and her simple countryside life is a key element to the collection's development. Fantastic beings, monsters and beasts gave life to details, drawings, the mix and overlap of materials, color palette and quotes."

Dark winter colors – navy, burgundy, mustard – featured prominently in the collection, but splashes of shiny silver appeared on collars, leggings, a dress, a head scarf, a ruffled coat, and gloves.

Footwear consisted of sneakers and climbing boots.

For men, puffy coats morphed into jackets with large front pockets. The outfits also bore the mismatched prints on sleeves or trouser legs.

Models present creations by Alexandra Moura during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

The words "not a dream at all", written in Portuguese, were painted on several outfits.

Milan Fashion Week, where designer heavyweights Giorgio Armani, Prada, Gucci and Versace have shown collections, was the third leg of the month-long catwalk calendar that began with New York and moved to London.

Paris, the last stop of the Autumn/Winter 2019 womenswear season, kicks off later on Monday.

(Cover: A model presents an Alexandra Moura creation during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, February 25, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters