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
Marni RTW Fall 2019
Risso set the bar high for fall trying to define a new idea of sensuality fitting the quirky, edgy aesthetic…
Loro Piana RTW Fall 2019
The cashmere specialist added deep raisin jackets and vibrant yellow knitted separates to its signature…
Sportmax RTW Fall 2019
This was Italian sportswear at its best, tailored, easy and packed with natural fabrics, including cashmere…
WWD Recommends
MSGM RTW Fall 2019
Massimo Giorgetti embraced an eclectic, quite risky approach for his collection, including many of the…
‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ Exhibit Presented in Milan
The exhibition will be held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute from May 9 to Sept. 8.
Laura Aparicio RTW Fall 2019
The designer celebrated her Colombina origins with a lively collection, combining feminine details and…
Blumarine RTW Fall 2019
After taking an ath-leisure detour for spring where she layered on the day-glo Lycra and toughened up her…
Seventy RTW Fall 2019
Creative director Francesca Tegon employed men's tailoring to infuse an elegant, smart vibe into her…
F.R.S. RTW Fall 2019
Francesca Ruffini Stoppani employed heavier, warmer fabrics and new silhouettes to take her label to the next…
Emilio Pucci Fall 2019
"It's a great moment of change settling into something a bit more feminine and elegant, I feel very…
Woolrich RTW Fall 2019
Urban outdoor inspirations and a hip, urban twist were combined in this collection.
Georgia May Jagger’s Best Ever Concert? Her Dad’s, Of Course
The model turned beauty entrepreneur will be flying over to New Orleans to see The Rolling Stones perform in…
Moschino RTW Fall 2019
Jeremy Scott created his own "Price Is Right"-style game show as a backdrop for his fall 2019 Moschino…
Luisa Beccaria RTW Fall 2019
The mother-daughter duo presented an intensely feminine collection, filled with princess dresses, chic coats…
Sara Battaglia RTW Fall 2019
The designer delivered an hyper feminine collection filled with evening options.