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
Cristiano Burani RTW Fall 2016
The designer mixed a variety of references, with outfits ranging from oversized trouser suits to pleated…
Uma Wang RTW Fall 2016
The designer's fall collection melded military influences with opulent fabrics in Renaissance patterns.
Sportmax RTW Fall 2016
The design team went big with enveloping coats that bounced with their heft and roomy sweaters that nearly…
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FRS RTW Fall 2016
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Sansovino 6 RTW Fall 2016
A live disco performance and dancing models put a lot of charm behind Edward Buchanan's Sansovino 6…
Dondup RTW Fall 2016
Dondup's Manuela Mariotti plays with punk.
Anteprima RTW Fall 2016
Izumi Ogino's minimalist clothes for Anteprima don't make for an exciting runway spectacle.
Fiammetta Pancaldi RTW Fall 2016
Fiammetta Pancaldi tapped into masculine and feminine elements for fall.
Rossignol RTW Fall 2016
Rossignol's new apparel division gives sport the city touch.
Luisa Beccaria RTW Fall 2016
The collection combined the intimacy of leisurewear with the grandeur of historical costumes.
Francesco Scognamiglio RTW Fall 2016
The designer picked up where he left off last season, offering only the slightest update to his signature…
Vogue Italia, Yoox Celebrate New Talents
A range of fashion personalities flocked to Milan's Palazzo Morando to attend "The Next Talents" cocktail…
Fausto Puglisi RTW Fall 2016
Athletic and streetwear references — rendered in jewel tones — gave the collection a graphic…