After an electrifying week of ready-to-wear from London's finest, Milan limbers up for the penultimate leg of international Fashion Week season before Paris steals the show on September 25. The recession-hit Italian capital has been taking notes from LFW on how to bounce back and is live-streaming over 70 runway shows on Milan Fashion Week's multilingual website (in Italian, English and Spanish), http://www.cameramoda.it/.
Day 1 opens with shows from Paola Frani, Mila Schön and Simonetta Ravizza. After a civilized pause for lunch between 12.30-2pm -- as only the Italian Fashion Week organizers know how -- Gucci will host two separate shows for buyers and fashion editors. The eagerly awaited double-bill will be a tough act to follow for John Richmond and Alberta Ferretti whose collections will be presented on Monday afternoon.
Ones to watch include Giorgio Armani on Sunday night for the ultimate Italian style fix and its A-list front row; Philipp Plein and Ermanno Scervino for the glamorous locations, trendsetting super brand Prada, and Krizia. Aquiliano Rimondi. Not forgetting the closing day of MFW on Tuesday, September 25 when new upcoming designers take center stage.
Italy's sexiest exports Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli will unveil their Spring collections respectively on Days 3, 5 and 6 (Friday, Sunday and Monday). These houses never fail to serve up that all too familiar, yet addictively heady, mix of seductive style, stars and paparazzi.
Lingerie label La Perla will set pulses racing as it throws a cocktail party at Palazzo Clerici on Friday. 'The Perla Romance Night' will showcase the brand's distinctive alchemy of femininity, glamour, emotion and the best Italian design. Over at Corso Matteotti, Roberto Cavalli will celebrate his Special Edition "I Lock your Love" range in style at the new Just Cavalli boutique which opens to the public on Saturday.
On Monday evening, MFW followers will flock to Piazza Duomo for "The Third Paradise" -- a slice of performance art by contemporary artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. Beyond the glitz, the event is intended to be a "manifesto for the sustainability of Italian fashion."
CJL
