An operatic pop trio belted out song from the center of a medical university plaza Wednesday while Dolce&Gabbana’s showed its latest men's collection in tones of summer blues and geometric prints. Just five months ago, there would have been little remarkable in such a scene.

But the coronavirus pandemic has largely put the kibosh on live fashion shows — with most fashion houses going digital to launch their summer collections for next year in both Milan this week and Paris last.