Bottega Veneta's Spring 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week was guaranteed to make history long before Louise Trotter took her final bow. The September 26 outing was her formal debut as creative director—the start of the Italian label's long-awaited era with a woman designer at the helm. It's a rarity in the label's 60-year history and in fashion overall. While this season is full of designer debuts, Trotter and Proenza Schouler's Rachel Scott are the only two who aren't men. (Yes, really.)
Not even a Devil Wears Prada stunt at Dolce & Gabbana earlier on Saturday could turn the focus away from Bottega Veneta's show later that evening. The stakes were too high; the pressure was too intense. With so few women leaders in fashion, editors, insiders, and celebrity front row guests like Julianne Moore wanted to see Trotter's premiere offering succeed. Eva Chen, Instagram Head of Fashion Partnerships, told her 1.7 million followers she only traveled to Milan Fashion Week this season to support Trotter's first collection.
