Milan Fashion Week is Italy's most eagerly awaited fashion event. Discover the kermis and how to experience it even if you are not an industry insider
The spotlight is on Milan: Fashion Week is just around the corner. During these magical days, the city transforms into the unconditional queen of the world fashion to host the fashion shows of the most prestigious Maisons and emerging talents. It happens twice a year for men's collections and twice a year for women's collections. In January and February, the fall/winter collections are presented, and between September and October, the spring/summer ones are. For the occasion, the brands set up their runways in the most beautiful places in the city.
But is Fashion Week 'only' this?
What is Milan Fashion Week
No. Milan Fashion Week is not 'just' catwalks. It is a kermis full of events, some by invitation only and others open to the public. It is a magical atmosphere of VIPs, models and models roaming the streets, luxury and elegance. It is a city tinged with new colours to promote strong values. It is the limelight of a kingdom that only follows its own rules, where nothing is excessive when it serves to carry the flag of creativity high. Today, more and more, the key themes are inclusion, uniqueness and sustainability. So beauty becomes good beauty, a powerful weapon to make our world a better place.
But how does one experience all this? How did the National Chamber for Italian Fashion and its partners devise this year's kermesse? Let's dive into this universe of spotlights where the brakes are not on.
Here is everything you need to know about this edition of Fashion Week to experience Milan like never before.
A bit of history: the birth of Milan Fashion Week
Today, Milan is one of the international Big Four of fashion, along with New York, London and Paris. But how did it all begin?
In 1951, G.B. Giorgini presented Italian haute couture collections to foreign journalists and buyers in Florence: Italian fashion had won its rightful place worldwide. Taking inspiration from these fashion shows, Milan Fashion Week was born in 1958.
In the 1970s, however, Milan became the capital of Italian fashion in all respects. Here, at the first Milanese 'prêt à porter' shows at the Fiera di Milano, the protagonists of the catwalks were the collections of the big names we all know today. These included historic Milanese brands such as, among the pioneers, Walter Albini, Krizia and Missoni, joined in later years by Giorgio Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Gianfranco Ferré. And then again, Florentine Maisons such as Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Emilio Pucci and Ermanno Scervino.
The must-visit Milan fashion venues
As we have said, Milan Fashion Week is more than just catwalks. It is a magical atmosphere, a spirit that invades the city and 'beats strongly', especially in certain symbolic places. So the first way to experience Milan Fashion Week is to visit these 'temples of fashion'.
In Milan, there is a fabulous place called the Quadrilatero della Moda (the Fashion Quadrilateral). It is the luxury shopping district and is bordered by Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia. It includes elegant streets such as Via Santo Spirito, Via Gesù, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Bagutta and Via Borgospesso. Shopping addicts come here from all over the world to shop in showrooms and boutiques. Simply strolling around and admiring the shop windows resembles a mystical experience. Even the nearby Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with its extraordinary architectural beauty, is a shopping arcade with venues and shops to take your breath away!
The Quadrilatero della Moda, however, is also a place to breathe in the city's history through cultural experiences such as visiting museums. Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, located in Via Gesù, is a house museum inspired by 16th-century Lombard houses. Palazzo Morando, in Via Sant'Andrea, is home to the Milan City Council's Fashion and Costume Museum.
Milan Fashion Week: how to attend the shows
Unfortunately, the MFW shows are an exclusive event, forbidden fruit reserved for industry insiders, VIPs, and wealthy clients or only accessible by invitation. Thus, influencers, fashion bloggers, pop stars, top models, journalists, or specialised photographers can attend the shows. But don't worry: there are solutions to this too.
A big screen in one of the city's squares will allow us to watch fashion shows, but let's remember the online channels. On the milanofashionweek.cameramoda.it platform, the National Chamber for Italian Fashion offers users the opportunity to follow the digital and live streaming of fashion shows. The shows will also be on the YouTube Fashion Channel after the event. The contribution of the Social Networks could be included, from the Camera della Moda Instagram profile to TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.
But what if I told you there are also ways to watch the shows in person? Yes, you can hear the sound of heels treading the catwalks, the scent of luxury in the air, and the spotlight's warmth on your skin. The Maisons themselves, in some cases, auction off tickets and then donate the proceeds to charity. On portals such as CharityStars you can try to grab tickets to the shows, backstage access, passes to the most exclusive after-parties and much more. Beware, though: tickets go fast!
Alternatively, after everyone who has a ticket and is on the list has entered, it can happen that the location is not complete. In these cases, a few lucky people may be admitted to the events. So the only thing you can do is get to the venue and arm yourself with a lot of patience.
Milan Fashion Week 2023: what's new this year
In the following paragraphs, you will find details of all the Milan Fashion Weeks 2023. Follow us to stay up-to-date!
What's new at Milan Fashion Week men's collection Fall/Winter 2023/2024: 13-17 January 2023
This Fashion Week includes a schedule of 72 appointments, i.e. 21 fashion shows, 31 presentations, 4 digital contents and 11 events. In this programme, the National Chamber for Italian Fashion has emphasised Equality issues related to the support of women and emerging talents.
During the press conference, Alessia Cappello, Councillor for Economic Development, said: "This year, the mood is a bit different. We must remember the Russian and Ukrainian war, so we have a different spirit from the past to tell the story of the new Milan Fashion Week. There will be many novelties, a large presence of young emerging talents and new projects".
We should mention two of the most eagerly awaited appointments of the kermesse. One is Gucci's fashion show that will open the dances on 13 January: it is the first after the break with creative director Alessandro Michele and the first after three years that the fashion house did not show men's collections. The other is the catwalk debut of one of the designers of the moment: London-based Charles Jeffrey Loverboy.
Milan is waiting in the magical setting of Piazza Duomo for those who want to attend Fashion Week but don't have tickets: a Samsung big screen will broadcast the events in streaming. Alternatively, you can watch them comfortably, from wherever you like, directly on the official website.
What's new at Milan Fashion Week women's collection Fall/Winter 2023/2024: 21-27 February 2023
The calendar of Milano Moda Donna Fall/Winter 2023/2024 includes 165 appointments between fashion shows, events and presentations. To be exact: 59 fashion shows, 54 physical and five digital (an average of 10-12 per day), 70 presentations, seven pr by appointment and 29 events that will take place in ateliers and the city's most beautiful locations.
All the big brands of Italian fashion and beyond will be present. A few names? Marras, Fendi, Ferretti, Diesel and Etro on Wednesday, 22nd; Max Mara, Prada, Emporio Armani and Moschino on Thursday, 23rd; Gucci and Tod's on Friday, 24th; Dolce&Gabbana, Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta on Saturday 25th; King Giorgio Armani on Sunday, 26th and Laura Biagiotti's digital fashion show will close the dances on Monday, 27th.
The opening of Milan Fashion Week will be celebrated on Tuesday, 21st February, with an exclusive dinner at the Starbucks Roastery and a cocktail party where Krizia will present her new collection to guests. And, once again, Milan will be catapulted into the magical world of fashion that enraptures everyone for a whole week. Supermodels will invade the streets of the centre, and journalists and buyers rushing from one fashion show to the next, from one social event to the next. Meanwhile, the Camera della Moda website will stream the runways, which can also be followed on YouTube and TikTok.
Here are some of the novelties of this edition: the debut of the Japanese Tomo Koizumi - supported by Dolce&Gabbana - and the Chinese Raxxy. In addition, the Fashion Hub changes location. It moves from the historic Palazzo della Permanente in Via Turati to the recently restored Palazzo Giureconsulti in Piazza dei Mercanti.
In a Fashion Week that counts great presenters and absentees (such as Versace, Boss and Luisa Beccaria, who will not be showing in this edition), some Maisons will present both men's and women's collections, while others have focused on genderless clothing.
Coinciding with this fashion week will be the Black Carpet Awards, a new event organised by the Afro Fashion association to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. It will be an opportunity for less visible artists and designers - from the most diverse origins and primarily from the African continent - to have a dedicated space in the spotlight of one of the world's four fashion capitals.
Milan Fashion Week 2023 for men and women: the complete calendar
In the following paragraphs, you will find details of all the Milan Fashion Weeks 2023. Follow us to stay up-to-date!
Milan Fashion Week men's collection Fall/Winter 2023/2024: 13-17 January 2023
The fashion shows calendar for Milano Moda Uomo FW 2023/2024:
Friday 13th
14:00 - Gucci - Via Mecenate 77
16:00 - Family First - Location TBC
18:00 - Billionaire - Piazza Della Repubblica 17
19:00 - 1017 Alyx 9SM - Via Achille Maiocchi 7
21:00 - Dsquared2 - Via Perin del Vaga 2
Saturday 14th
10:30 - MSGM - Via Andrea Maria Ampere 2
11:00 - Emporio Armani - Via Bergognone 59
12:30 - Dolce&Gabbana - Viale Piave 24
14:00 - Fendi - Via Solari 35
15:00 - Jordanluca - Via Valenza 2
17:00 - Federico Cina - Location TBC
18:00 - K-Way - Via dell'Aprica 12
Sunday 15th
10:00 - Simon Cracker - Via Bergamo 14
11:00 - Magliano - Via Calabiana 6
12:00 - Etro - Via Orobia 15
14:00 - Prada - Via Lorenzini 14
17:00 - Charles Jeffrey Loverboy - Via Valenza 2
19:00 - JW Anderson - Via Tortona 58
Monday 16th
10:00 - Giorgio Armani - Via Borgonuovo 21
11:00 - Giorgio Armani - Via Borgonuovo 21
12:00 - Dhruv Kapoor - Via Clerici 5
15:00 - Zegna - Location TBC
Tuesday 17th
10:00 - Children Of The Discordance - Digital
10:30 - MTL Studio - Digital
11:00 - Revenant RV NT - Digital
11:30 - SR Serdar Milano - Digital
The events open to the public at MFW men's FW 2023/2024:
Friday 13
From 14:00 COLMAR REVOLUTION on its 100th anniversary, the brand unveils a new collaboration for Colmar’s luxury line. The collection will be showcased starting on Friday from 14:00, followed by a private cocktail at 17:30, and will continue until Saturday at 18:00. Torre Branca – Viale Luigi Camoens, 2.
Sunday 15
15:00/20:00 MR.&MRS. OSSIE CLARK AND CELIA BIRTWELL FASHION AND PRINTS 1965-1974 – a Museo del Tessuto di Prato and Fondazione Sozzani project. The exhibition’s vernissage will be open to the public from 15:00 to 20:00. Fondazione Sozzani, Corso Como, 10.
Milan Fashion Week women's collection Fall/Winter 2023/2024: 21-27 February 2023
Tuesday 21st
CNMI Fashion Hub Opening
Wednesday 22nd
10:00 - Iceberg - Via Palermo 10
11:00 - Antonio Marras - Via Cola di Rienzo 8
12:00 - Daniela Gregis - C.so di Porta Ticinese 95
13:00 - Diesel - Via Moncucco 35
14:00 - Fendi - Via Solari 35
15:00 - Del Core - Viale E. Alemagna 6
16:00 - Marco Rambaldi - Via Guglielmo Silva 36
17:00 - Alberta Ferretti - Via Gattamelata, Gate 16
18:00 - N°21 - Via Archimede 26
19:00 - Roberto Cavalli - Piazza degli Affari 6
20:00 - Etro - Via Senato 10
21:00 - Onitsuka Tiger - Via Maiocchi 5/7
Thursday 23rd
09:30 - Max Mara - Via Enrico Besana 12
10:30 - Genny - Via San Luca 3
11:30 - Calcaterra - Via G.B. Piranesi 10
12:30 - Anteprima - Via Ferrante Aporti 17
14:00 - Prada - Via Lorenzini 14
15:00 - MM6 Maison Margiela - Via Valenza 2
16:00 - Budapest Select - Via San Luca 3
17:00 - Emporio Armani - Via Bergognone 59
18:00 - Blumarine - Via Calabiana 6
19:00 - Moschino - Via Ventura 14
20:00 - GCDS - Via G.B. Piranesi 14
Friday 24th
09:30 - Tod's - Via Chiese 2
10:30 - ACT No. 1 - Via Valenza 2
11:30 - Sportmax - Viale Gorizia 14
12:30 - Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini - Via Enrico Besana 12
14:00 - Gucci - Viale Mecenate 77
15:00 - Cormio - Via Gaspare Vismara 3
16:00 - ANDREĀDAMO - Via Calabiana 6
17:00 - Sunnei - location see on invitation
18:00 - Vivetta - Via G.B. Piranesi 10
19:00 - Jil Sander - Via Perin del Vaga 2
Saturday 25th
09:30 - Ferrari - Via Brera 12
10:30 - Ermanno Scervino - Via S. Paolo 10
11:30am - Ferragamo - Viale Eginardo 2
13:00 - Dolce & Gabbana - Viale Piave 24
15:00 - MSGM - Via G.B. Piranesi 14
16:00 - Bally - location see on invitation
17:00 - Missoni - Piazza degli Affari 6
18:00 - Tokyo James - Via Procaccini 4
19:00 - Han Kjøbenhavn - location see on invitation 20:00 - Bottega Veneta - location see on invitation
21:00 - Philipp Plein - Viale L. Scarampo ang. Via B. Colleoni, Gate 4
Sunday 26th
09:30 - Shuting Qiu - C.so Venezia 51
10:30 - Hui - Via San Vittore 21
11:30 - Tomo Koizumi supported by Dolce & Gabbana - Via Broggi 23
12:30 - Luisa Spagnoli - Via San Luca 3
13:15 - Annakiki - Via Calabiana 6
14:00 - Vitelli - Piazza Belgioioso 2
15:00 - Giorgio Armani - Via Borgonuovo 21
16:00 - Aniye Records - Via Palermo 10
17:00 - Francesca Liberatore - location see on invitation
18:00 - Atsushi Nakashima - C.so Venezia 51
Monday 27
10:00 - Alabama Muse - digital
10:30 - Münn - digital
11:00 - Avavav - digital
11:30 - Husky12:00 - Laura Biagiotti - digital
The events open to the public at MFW women's FW 2023/2024:
The Fashion Hub at Piazza dei Mercanti, 2 will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 7 pm on 22 February and from 9.30 am to 1 pm on Monday 27.
Tuesday 21st
NSS MAGAZINE presents 'Jeanss Unit', a pop-up in collaboration with Sample_Unit. A collection of recycled denim at Galleria Colombo, Via Solferino, 44. Open to the public from 22 to 26 February, from 10 am to 8 pm.
Wednesday 22nd
LUISAVIAROMA presents LVRoom, a selection curated by LVR exclusively for the CNMI Fashion Hub. Open to the public from 22 to 26 February from 9.30 am to 7 pm and on the 27th from 9.30 am to 1 pm at Palazzo Giureconsulti - Piazza dei Mercanti 2.
PUMA X AC MILAN X KOCHÉ present their new collaboration at Via Solferino 31. Open to the public from 23 to 25 February, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Thursday 23rd
COLLINI presents "Urban Catwalk": its autumn/winter 2023/2024 fashion show will take place on a tram around the city, where travellers can get on to see the garments worn by models and models mixed up in the crowd. Destination: Piazza Duomo, where the final show, also open to the public, will be staged.
Friday 24th
ARMANI/SILOS - The "Guy Bourdin: storyteller" photography exhibition at Via Bergognone 40 will be open to the public from 24 February.
Sunday 26th
DOLCE&GABBANA, HELLO KIM! The exhibition will be open to the public on 26 February. Palazzo Reale, Sala delle Cariatidi - Piazza del Duomo 12.
Milan Fashion Week men's collection Spring/Summer 2024: 16-20 June 2023
The calendar for Milan Fashion Week men's collection Spring/Summer 2024 has yet to be discovered, but fear not: this article will be updated as soon as there are official announcements. Keep following us, so you don't miss the best of Milanese fashion!
Milan Fashion Week women's collection Spring/Summer 2024: 19-25 September 2023
The calendar for Milan Fashion Week men's collection Spring/Summer 2024 has yet to be discovered, but fear not: this article will be updated as soon as there are official announcements. Keep following us, so you don't miss the best of Milanese fashion!