With a wonder and a wild desire, creative director Matthieu Blazy transported us to a world where grown-ups rediscover their playful side
Bottega Veneta’s SS25 collection was less “business casual” and more “bring your inner child to work day”. Ending Milan Fashion Week with a sense of whimsy, Creative Director Matthieu Blazy turned the runway into a playground for grown-ups who never quite let go of their childhood curiosities. Trends often mine our past—coquette aesthetics, playful bag charms, that deliberately messy aesthetic—and Bottega Veneta took this to a whole new level with a playful yet polished collection that celebrated youthful wonder while staying age-appropriate, realistic, and sophisticated.
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First things first—the seating. Guests like Jacob Elordi, Julianne Moore, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Olympic boxer Imane Khelif got cozy on animal-shaped bean bags in a special project titled The Ark, inspired by the 1968 Zanotta Sacco chair. The show hadn’t even started, and Bottega Veneta was already giving us the agency to relax, kick back, and let our imaginations run wild.
When the first models came out, it was clear Blazy’s vision had rummaged through a child’s dress-up box. Oversized coats and slouchy silhouettes dominated the collection, like a kid borrowing their parents’ workwear for an impromptu office meeting—liquid waistcoats, ballooning coach jackets, and linebacker shoulders made for outfits that would make any grown-up feel delightfully dwarfed.
But the real fun was in the details. Blazer shirts and dresses came with the kind of crinkles only a kid could get away with, like they’d just been yanked out of a laundry basket in a rush to play dress-up. A classic flannel shirt, however, was given a couture upgrade—proof that even the most mundane pieces can be reimagined with a little creativity.
The accessories were equally playful. One model sported a frog brooch as if it had leaped from a pond onto their cardigan, while another draped a scarf resembling a fish around their shoulders like they’d just reeled it in. There were faux-plastic grocery bags, as if they were heading to the office with whatever was lying around.
Matthew Blazy’s theme was understood: having grown-up responsibilities doesn’t mean you can’t add a little wonder to your outfit. This season, Bottega Veneta took a detour from its usual mature elegance and threw open the doors to a world where the only rule is to embrace the unexpected. Why should office wear be all buttoned-up when it can be a little wrinkled, a lot oversized, and full of childhood joy?
