Martin Margiela introduced a numbered labeling system in 1997, assigning a 6 to his more accessible diffusion line that same year.

For the spring 2027 show, the design team at MM6 Maison Margiela plastered the number 6 on men’s thermals like one would a football jersey; spliced it into rugby shirts, and added a sixth toe and six soles to its Havaianas. LOL! The collaboration was unveiled on the runway at Palazzo Mezzanotte, the headquarters of the Italian stock exchange, which has a giant marble middle finger statue in front of it.

Maison Margiela has always thumbed its nose at convention, and one conceit this season was being agnostic if garments were meant to be worn as tops or bottoms. A scooped-neck, vaguely military top actually looked kinda cute duplicated at the hips, the skirt jutting out into tiny panniers thanks to inner padding.

Other garments were repurposed, but wearing a dress shirt as a dress; a shirt collar on your shoulder, or a skirt hiked up over the breasts seemed a bit forced.

A few more straightforward garments stood out. For example, there were low-crotch jeans with narrow pant legs that here were pushed up over the calves to exalt those flip-flops, and handsome suede or leather car coats.

Crisp cotton pantsuits looked fine on men and women, and there were also fetching fabric and leather peacoats — no doubt selected for the show because they have six buttons.