Must-Attend Milan Fashion Events

Milan Fashion Week is just around the corner, and from February 20th to 26th, Milan will be buzzing. But what if no invitations have arrived for the runway shows? Don't worry, here are the public events happening during Milan Fashion Week.

Photography Yu Fujiwara

Fifties in Fashion
From February 20th to 29th, 2024, the exhibition "Fifties in Fashion" will be open to the public at the Accademia del Lusso headquarters at Via Montenapoleone 5 in Milan. The exhibition, through a carefully curated selection of original garments, commemorates the unique period that revolutionized Italian fashion style from the 1950s, creating the culture of Made in Italy. "Fifties in Fashion" is curated by Stefano Dominella, Honorary President of Maison Gattinoni Couture, and is in collaboration with the Afro Fashion Association. The exhibition is a precious opportunity, especially for younger individuals studying design and other fashion-related subjects, to get up close to the marvels of Italian creativity and high craftsmanship. They can admire, among others, the creations of Carosa, Fernanda Gattinoni, Tiziani, Schuberth, Antonelli, Fabiani, just to name a few.

Beyond Fashion: Photographic Exhibition by Michel Haddi
“Michel Haddi: Beyond Fashion” is the first major solo exhibition in Milan by the Franco-Algerian photographer Michel Haddi. The exhibition project unfolds in two parts: the first from October 19th to December 22nd, 2023, and the second from January 16th to March 16th, 2024, at the 29 Arts in Progress gallery in Milan (via San Vittore 13). On display are the most representative images from a career spanning over 40 years, part of an immense archive of famous faces, top models, icons, and legends of music and art. From Liza Minnelli to David Bowie, from Angelina Jolie to Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez, including unexpected appearances by Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Linda Evangelista, Yasmin Le Bon, and Veruschka.

Fantasmagoria Callas
The Teatro alla Scala presents, from Friday, November 17th, 2023, to Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, the new exhibition "Fantasmagoria Callas," curated by Francesco Stocchi with set design by Margherita Palli and dedicated to the soprano Maria Callas on the occasion of the centenary of her birth. The exhibition constructs a structured itinerary in five stages, with each chapter entrusted to a different artistic expression. Through the interpretation of the designer Giorgio Armani, the musician Alvin Curran, the contemporary artists Latifa Echakhch and Francesco Vezzoli, and the director Mario Martone, the figure of Maria Callas emerges from a collaborative and multidisciplinary narrative, specifically conceived for the occasion. The title of the exhibition refers to the theatrical form of "fantasmagoria," which traditionally employs stage illusions to recreate ghostly effects and supernatural visions. This choice aims to convey the impression of the myriad traces, influences, and testimonies that Maria Callas has inspired over time. The exhibition will also host a selection of costumes worn by Maria Callas throughout her career, all belonging to the Historical Archive of the Teatro alla Scala.

Collab between Ara Lumière and Galib Gassanoff
From February 22nd to 27th, a truly special collection presentation will take place at Galleria Gaburro. It's a collaboration between the brand Ara Lumière and Galib Gassanoff. Ara Lumière is one of the artisanal and sustainable brands to keep an eye on. In 2022, the brand won the Social Impact Award and the Camera Moda Award. The brand's commitment is not only environmental but also social. Ara Lumière helps women who are victims of violence to reclaim their lives. During the upcoming Milan Fashion Week, a collection will be presented in collaboration with Galib Gassanoff, former creative director and founder of the brand Act n.1 and now the new founder of the brand Institution. The collection will be created and then painted by women and children who are victims of violence. The entire collection will then be auctioned off. It's truly a project of great impact.