Under the belting Italian sun, against the architecturally sleek backdrop of Piazza Olivetti, models paraded around a stretch of water – a family of ducks casually swim by, oblivious to events – to unveil MSGM’s SS23 collection. Exploring the idea of dichotomies, this season Massimo Giorgetti found inspiration between utopia and dystopia, natural and virtual, structured and deconstructed. With inspiration coming from Michel Houellebecq’s dystopian novel The Possibility of an Island, the work’s most iconic line told us all; “In the middle of time there exists the possibility of an island.”

The MSGM man may have just hopped on the first flight without bothering to check the destination, but whether desert island or pulsing metropolis, Giorgetti’s designs cater for the duality of both. A nuanced interpretation of the surfer appeared in louche Bermudas cut from natural, textured fabrics, midriff-baring cropped tops and ultra-short shorts, while boxy suits with patterned lapels, tailored trench coats and striped ties offered up a preppy alternative to their beach bum counterparts. As models literally held onto their wide-brim hats due to a sudden wind, they wore pastel-toned basketball sneakers created in partnership with eco-friendly company ACBC on foot. As recurring motifs of bananas, hibiscus, crocodiles, pineapples and tropical flora floated by, this sun-kissed mirage enveloped our thinking, and we left not quite knowing where fantasy and reality met.