For as long as I can remember, it has been my dream to attend Milan Fashion Week. In fact it has been my dream to attend any fashion week, but as I’ve always been fascinated with Italian fashion, Milan in particular was my number one goal. So, you can imagine my excitement when two weeks before the event, I was invited to a show for a major Italian fashion house. I went through all of the usual feelings and emotions; excitement, shock, anxiety, and of course stress over what exactly I was going to wear!
Here is a rundown of my experience attending Milan Fashion Week…
My first show was early in the morning, though I arrived even earlier. Something which is not actually necessary given that fashion shows infamously always start late, but my organisational anxiety took over and I was taking no chances. Outside the venue was exactly what I expected. Hordes of people queueing to get in, photographers looking to snap the hottest “MFW street style”, and people going about their day-to-day lives wondering what the hell is going on.
Arriving early to shows may not be necessary, but it does provide a great opportunity to people watch and network with fellow early birds. I was very fortunate to be sat next to a lady I have long admired in the industry. While I couldn’t quite believe I was seated next to her, what stood out to me was just how friendly and chatty she was. Not that I ever expected anything less, but the fashion industry doesn’t exactly have a stellar reputation when it comes to friendliness. So, I was extremely grateful for this interaction that put me right at ease.
When I wasn’t chatting to my seat mate I was busy scanning the room, soaking up the atmosphere, and admiring everyone’s outfits. One thing I love the most about fashion week is the expression of creativity and getting to see everyone dressed up. It was also the thing that caused me the most stress pre-show when I was deciding on my own outfit.
While many attendees have stylists and glam teams deciding their outfits weeks in advance, I unfortunately did not. But my worry over looking underdressed or not stylish enough was unwarranted. Most people attending fashion week, including myself, are doing so for work. They are buyers, and journalists who often attend multiple shows each day, and therefore practical style takes precedence. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still fashion week at the end of the day, and looks were served. But needing to have a crazy, internet-breaking outfit is not as important as you may think.
The show was thirty minutes late in starting, which as previously mentioned is not at all uncommon, but once it did, it was pretty amazing. My expectations were high, but the show exceeded all of them. Runway shows tend to last around 20 to 15 minutes, which often surprises people, and I used to think it wasn’t enough time to absorb what you’re seeing. When in reality there is ample time to see even the finer details of a look as the models walk past.
Then, as quickly as the show starts, it ends. While some guests will stay back to get pictures or meet the designer backstage, for the most part, it is a mass exodus as guests leave the venue in a rush to get to their next show.
The idea of fashion week is a larger-than-life glamorous affair filled with celebrities and striking outfits. While this may be true in part, for most the reality is long hours, comfortable outfits, and a lot of stress mixed in with the fun. Would I do it all again? Absolutely!