Lightning bolts, a manipulated electrocardiogram, the distinct sound of a thudding heartbeat – if the video MSGM posted to Instagram in the lead-up to the brand’s FW19 womenswear show was anything to go by, desire and disruption were afoot.

SPEZZACUORI, which directly translates as ‘heartbreak’, was the telling title of this season’s collection. Influenced by the surrealist nature of fashion film, MSGM’s creative director Massimo Georgetti set out to depict: “A love story of female power and nocturnal passion, dark romance and city dreams,” as the show notes read.

Theatricality seeped from every thread, as the love heart symbol served as a defining motif. From a high-neck top with a heart-shaped keyhole cut-out to a blazer lapel adorned with two shattered halves, this collection was as saccharine as it was sultry. Two-toned cocoon coats and plunging leather bow-front dresses felt distinctly 80s, while extra-tight tops emblazoned with the ‘M’ logo made from Swarovski crystals oozed 00s decadence. Additionally, to mark the 50th anniversary of Flash Art – a renowned Italian magazine – shirts and high-waisted jeans were printed with the publication’s typography and distinctive imagery from its pages. An amalgamation of various aesthetic eras, this collection was an ode to the femme fatale who ironically likes to wear hearts on her sleeves.