Louise Trotter's Bottega Veneta shows off soft functionality in Milan

Louise Trotter's debut as creative director at Bottega Veneta on Saturday contained moments of fantasy most evident in the fringe that bounced on coats and swirled like shiny bristles on glimmering skirts and jackets.

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Trotter, a British designer who joined Bottega Veneta in January, is one of four creative directors who made their hotly awaited debuts in Milan this season, following Demna at Gucci, Simone Bellotti at Jil Sander and Dario Vitale at Versace.

Bottega Veneta has some of the finest craftspeople in Italian luxury, and Trotter said they were an inspiration to her Spring-Summer 2026 collection. “I'm in the candy box,” said Trotter, who joined Bottega in January and previously was creative director at Joseph, Lacoste and then Carven. “It has been the most wonderful, wonderful entrance into this house, to discover the crafts, the hands, the willingness to always say: ‘Let's try.’ It’s just a wonder.”