2018 Fashion Year in Review: Royal Wedding, Dolce&Gabbana Scandal, and Political Turn

The article reviews key fashion events of 2018, highlighting the Royal Wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Henry, Duke of Sussex, which broke aristocratic conventions. Meghan wore a Givenchy dress by Clare Waight Keller. The Dolce&Gabbana advertising campaign in China sparked backlash for sexist and stereotypical portrayal of Asian women, leading to economic fallout. Gucci responded with a cultural approach, presenting Maurizio Cattelan's exhibition 'The Artist is Present' in Shanghai, exploring themes of copying and imitation. The year saw a rise in diversity and political engagement in fashion, with Virgil Abloh appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton Uomo, and the #MeToo movement reflected at the Golden Globes. Oprah Winfrey interviewed Michelle Obama for Elle America's December issue. In Italy, Milan led with a focus on ethical production, replacing red carpets with green carpets. The year closed with Italian brands Gucci, Prada, and Valentino winning at the Fashion Awards 2018 organized by the British Fashion Council at Royal Albert Hall in London. Gucci, under creative director Alessandro Michele and CEO Marco Bizzarri, ranked among the Best Global Brands with 30% growth.