Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks alongside New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks. Spring collections are historically shown in September, while fall collections are historically shown in February. Milan falls as a the third major fashion week during Fashion Month, following New York and London, and before Paris. The main venue for Milan Fashion Week is the Milan Fashion Hub, though many designers show off-site.
In 1958, the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italia (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) was formed, with a mission to promote Italian design. Italian brands began to rise in prominence because they were more affordable than their Parisian counterparts.
At the time, many of Italy's major cities were in competition with each other for who would become Italy's fashion capital. Milan began to edge out some of its competitors, like Rome and Florence, thanks to strong links to manufacturing and the growth in ready-to-wear. In the '70s and '80s, the success of Milan-based designers, including Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace, helped to solidify Milan's place as a fashion capital.
Versace, in particular, drew attention to Milan during fashion week, casting supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford in his shows.
Today, many major brands show collections at Milan Fashion Week, including Gucci, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Missoni, Ferragamo and Etro, as well as Giorgio Armani and Versace.
Historic moments at Milan Fashion Week have included Tom Ford's 1994 debut show for Gucci, which began a revival for the then-stagnant brand. There was also Miuccia Prada's 1996 show featuring dull greens, browns and purples, contributing to the ugly-chic era of '90s fashion. More recently, at Versace's spring 2018 runway show, Donatella Versace brought back the '90s with the era's supermodels, including Crawford, Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni and Helena Christensen, who walked in the show.
Milan Fashion Week
Backstage Beauty: Emporio Armani Fall 2017
A collection about contrast inspired the beauty look at Emporio Armani.
Sportmax RTW Fall 2017
Zippy, clean-cut athleticwear for women who have no intention of going to the gym.
Emporio Armani RTW Fall 2017
There was a lot going on in this Emporio Armani collection — and yet there were opportunities missed.
Diesel Black Gold RTW Fall 2017
Andreas Melbostad got in on a Nineties revival for fall at Diesel Black Gold.
Santoni Edited by Marco Zanini Fall 2017
For Santoni, Marco Zanini produced a collection that was focused and luxurious.
Atsushi Nakashima RTW Fall 2017
The Japanese designer said he was thinking about light diffusing through a crystal, and the many colors it…
Attico RTW Fall 2017
Giorgia Tordini and Gilda Ambrosio were inspired by the complex female characters in Pedro Almodóvar's movies.
Prada RTW Fall 2017
Politics, seduction and a set decorated with beds. Just the still of everyday chic from Miuccia Prada.
Les Copains RTW Fall 2017
Stefania Bandiera played with textures in a collection sprinkled with whimsical touches.
Roberto Cavalli RTW Fall 2017
The design team delivered a collection of precious couture-like dresses celebrating the house's codes.
Bally RTW Fall 2017
Bally's fall lineup, designed by an in-house team, riffed on some of its best-selling shoes and accessories…
Emilio Pucci RTW Fall 2017
A little fringe goes a long way.
Moschino RTW Fall 2017
Jeremy Scott delivered "cardboard couture," a pun-filled collection about a rich clotheshorse gone broke.
Dondup RTW Fall 2017
Manuela Mariotti blended Sixties minimalism with Eighties volume for a collection into a confident, cohesive…
Fabiana Filippi RTW Fall 2017
Sophisticated details added an edge to Fabiana Filippi's signature discreet elegance and superior…