What does it mean to be bold in fashion? Lady Gaga’s meat dress? Diesel’s viral belt/skirt? Virgil Abloh’s Off-White when it first launched? Or just Kanye’s shoeless habits?
These might be the first things that come to mind, but really, being bold is subjective. It can be and look like pretty much anything. Being boldly maximalist, boldly pair-down, boldly chic, or boldy shabby. It’s not about what you wear, it’s about how you wear it. Boldness is an attitude, a state of mind.
Bulldog gin champions this idea of being boldly individual—whatever that means to you. The brand was born from a restless ambition, spirit and determination and it remains central to its DNA 15 years on.
For Milan Fashion Week, Bulldog hosted a series of events in partnership with the brands that share this bold spirit. The first was a joint party with Highsnobiety, followed later in the week by an after-party for Diesel’s dripping (literally) runway show, and rounded off with an exclusive dinner with Off-White.
At these events, we asked some people unapologetically championing their own individuality to weigh in on Milan Fashion Week and what being bold means to them. We spoke to models Lina Giselle and Red Longo, art director Davide Perella, photographer Jon Bronxl, and designer Domenico Formichetti.
What do you love most about Milan Fashion Week?
Perella: During MFW, the city is divided into: who is involved and who complains about the excessive chaos in the streets. Seriously, the city comes alive (and Milan is not boring during the rest of the year). Installations, fashion shows, new openings, and events are the order of the day… and night. Basically, if you work and you don’t want to miss anything, your sleep hours are at risk.
Longo: The allure of fashion week, for me, lies primarily in the captivating fashion shows. Although I can't attend every show, I'm consistently eager to explore emerging trends and see the boundaries that brands are pushing in their innovative offerings.
Giselle: I really like the conversations that come after the shows, like being able to understand the concept behind the collections and the shows.
What does it mean to you to be “bold” in fashion?
Formichetti: Being Bold means being yourself. Everyone is always trying to be something or someone else, and I think being bold is embracing who you are, imperfections and all.
Giselle: For me, it's when you wear the dress, not when the dress wears you. Meaning that you can follow trends or try different styles, but your choices always reflect who you are as a person and you don’t do it only because it looks cool.
Longo: To me, being bold in fashion means challenging conventions and breaking free from the increasingly restrictive norms in the industry. Boldness is also a reflection of my personal style, which often defies expectations [...] Being bold, in my view, means embracing your instincts and personal style rather than conforming to conventional trends.
Bronxl: To be bold can have many answers for me. But the main one is always to find a way to be you. Be curious and always try to be unique. People will look at you and sometimes will laugh, but if you are 100 percent convinced of what you’re wearing and 100 percent convinced of who you are for yourself, then I think people will feel your boldness, and nothing can stop you.
Perella: For a look to be bold, in fashion, but also in other sectors such as design or even music, must be easily remembered and must stand out from the others. There is no formula to make something "bold"—you need to play on something that people are used to seeing in one way and distort their idea.
What’s the boldest look or trend you’ve seen this week?
Perella: JW Anderson's garments made of clay during New York Fashion Week are the perfect example of a bold look. At first glance, from a distance, they might seem like normal garments, but then the wow effect is assured.
Longo: I can't pinpoint a single favorite look, but if I had to choose, I'd love to have outfits from Mowalola's collection in my wardrobe right now. What captivates me about Mowalola is not only her distinctive aesthetic but also her knack for reshaping old logos in a playful and sometimes ironic manner to create fresh, exciting ensembles.
Giselle: I was at Berghain and I met this amazing girl; she had a floral dress and glasses. If you think about Berghain, you envision a certain look, but there she was, having fun with her cute floral dress, being unapologetically herself. I think that’s pretty bold.
