As Women’s Fashion Week kicks off, Milan showcases an array of fashion, retail openings, and culinary delights, enriching the city’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Milan is bustling with anticipation as Women’s Fashion Week kicks off on Tuesday and runs until March 3, 2024. The city’s vibrant fashion scene is complemented by a rich selection of food and retail experiences designed to engage visitors. From brunch in the artistic Brera district to Spanish shoe shopping, the week showcases a variety of activities geared towards both fashion aficionados and culinary enthusiasts.

The week will introduce several notable store openings and concepts to explore. One of the highlights is the unveiling of a new flagship store for Miss Sixty on Saturday, located in Piazza del Liberty. Spanning 3,240 square feet over two levels, the store has been designed by Milan-based interior studio NM3 and architect Silvia Guerrini. The ground floor boasts a sophisticated aesthetic with neutral tones, travertine marble, and leather furnishings, while the lower level features the brand’s signature yellow epoxy resin floor. A standout installation, “Sexy Robot Floating, 2022,” by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, adds an artistic flair to the store. Additionally, Miss Sixty is launching a new campaign for its Spring 2025 collection, starring model Bella Hadid and photographed by Carlijn Jacobs.

Italian brand Slowear is also making a mark this fashion week with its revamped concept store at Via Solferino, 18. Designed by Carlo Donati Studio, the store merges clothing sales with a wine bar, featuring a three-tone color scheme and a central lounge for various events. This innovative approach builds upon the success of Slowear’s women’s store, which opened in 2019, and incorporates a selection of limited-edition wines curated in partnership with one of Italy’s exclusive wine clubs.

Modes, an Italian luxury retailer, is hosting a pop-up in collaboration with The Archive, offering a collection of iconic pieces from Phoebe Philo’s Céline era. This marks The Archive’s first physical pop-up in Europe, featuring a curated selection of 150 pieces that reflect the designer’s influential style.

Alohas, the Barcelona-based footwear brand, is also establishing its presence in Milan with a new store on Corso Garibaldi, 34, showcasing a range of its signature footwear styles. Speaking about the expansion, Alejandro Porras, founder and CEO of Alohas, expressed enthusiasm for the brand’s growth trajectory, stating, “2025 is a year of exciting growth, with many store openings ahead.”

Further enriching the fashion and shopping experience, Casamina Milano has opened its doors in Porta Venezia, presenting a vintage Wunderkammer concept where every piece is for sale within a furnished home setting, featuring vintage and contemporary designs.

As for dining, the city offers a variety of distinct culinary experiences. The Coffee, a Brazilian coffee chain, has opened its first Italian location in Porta Venezia, where patrons can enjoy a menu emphasizing high-quality ingredients alongside a minimalist design. Another new addition to the culinary scene is Particolare Bistrot, which has expanded from Porta Romana to a second location on Via Moscova, 50. The menu draws inspiration from tapas-style dining, offering a variety of sharing plates and vegetarian options alongside more traditional Italian fare.

The food scene also includes IT Maison, a restaurant within the V Maison boutique hotel in Brera, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring signature international dishes designed by executive chef Romualdo Palladino.

In conjunction with the fashion week activities, several exhibitions are underway to further entice visitors. The Museo Teatrale alla Scala is hosting “The Hidden Gaze. The Dance Behind the Curtain,” capturing the ballet world’s backstage moments through photography until September 14. Another noteworthy exhibition is dedicated to Cristóbal Balenciaga at Palazzo Morando, showcasing 25 curated looks alongside footwear from famous Spanish brands.

Milan’s Women’s Fashion Week is positioned to be a celebration of style, culture, and gastronomy, offering both locals and visitors an array of shopping, dining, and artistic experiences to indulge in throughout the city.

Source: Noah Wire Services