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
Agnona RTW Spring 2020
Simon Holloway has his own, unique, bohemian and layered take on less-is-more lifestyle dressing, which this…
Missoni RTW Spring 2020
Missoni handed out Little Sun solar lamps, designed by Olafur Eliasson, to guests, while models carried them…
Giorgio Armani RTW Spring 2020
Giorgio Armani showed a chic, controlled collection that glistened with echoes of gentle color.
Stefano Tonchi Developing New Project
The former W editor is setting up a consulting practice.
La Perla Launches Capsule Marking 65th Anniversary
Called "Macramé Noir," it was unveiled during Milan Fashion Week and will be available starting in November.
MSGM RTW Spring 2020
Designer Massimo Giorgetti used the 10th anniversary as an opportunity to reassert his brand codes…
Hollywood in Milan
Shailene Woodley, Elizabeth Olsen and Dylan Sprouse were among a group of actors attending the Salvatore…
Loro Piana RTW Spring 2020
The cashmere specialist experimented with subtle crafty details, such as raw silk tassels on a cream cape and…
Salvatore Ferragamo RTW Spring 2020
The Vara has been born again as a shoe minus the gold hardware and the grosgrain on the bow. This new one had…
Sara Battaglia RTW Spring 2020
For spring, Sara Battaglia introduced her first footwear collection.
Ermanno Scervino RTW Spring 2020
The tailored pieces made for lovely separates, but they couldn't carry the show, which was a pileup of…
Colville RTW Spring 2020
Molly Molloy, Kristin Forss and Lucinda Chambers presented a great collection, perfectly combining the…
Istituto Marangoni Supports Former Student During MFW
The fashion school helps Danish designer Nynne Kunde make her runway debut.
Frankie Morello RTW Spring 2020
Tapped as creative director of the brand this past summer, Damir Doma is completely rethinking the image of…
Marni RTW Spring 2020
Manic brushstrokes covered most of the silhouettes of Francesco Risso's most conceptual collection yet.