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Opening the calendar at 9:30 am is the Russian-Japanese Sergei Grinko, showing in via Daverio 7 (please take the scheduled time with a pinch of salt, because the stage lights will never come on before 10:00, causing the customary half-hour knock-on delays for the week to come, otherwise it wouldn’t be a proper Fashion Week, would it?). Just to be clear, the venue is close to the Rotonda della Besana. Anna Molinari will follow immediately afterwards with her lovely collection SS 2017 Blugirl, but fear not, this will take place in via San Barnaba, a few steps from the first venue.
If anything, getting to the third show (that of Wunderkind in Via Savona) will be the real challenge; luckily the National Chamber of Italian Fashion will provide (as always) the shuttles for the press and the buyers (but only for those who have previously been accredited following official application and have purchased the special badge!). Otherwise you just have to get around by bike or public transport, forget the car though, because in the coming days Milan will be more congested than ever. Let’s just hope it does not rain, otherwise the traffic will be real trouble.
It is vital to prepare from the start an action plan on how to choose the events one wants to follow: we strongly recommend sorting the engagements according to the areas where the main events will take place (because we cannot be everywhere at the same time, and that is a fact). Our suggestion is to organise the day as follows: catwalk shows in the morning, presentations in the afternoon – or the other way round. Possibly stopping for lunch at the CNMI lounge in Gae Aulenti, just to get something to eat and rest your feet; that of course assuming you have with you the famous badge (with your name on it!). Otherwise you could settle for a quick break in some jolly ice-cream parlour or smoothie lounge in the city centre (for instance Q.B. Gelato in via Bergamini 7) for a light lunch, just to make sure you won’t immediately fall asleep between shows.
And now for the unmissable appointments of this first afternoon of MFW: Gucci (14:30 in Via Valtellina); Fay (immediately after, same venue); Alberta Ferretti (16:30 in Via Besana 12), Fausto Puglisi (18:30 in Via Mascagni 8); and Francesco Scognamiglio (19:30 in Via Senato 10). The day closes with Roberto Cavalli and Philipp Plein in Piazza VI Febbraio, following which a fashion week opening day party will take place (accredited guests only).
The presentations and inaugural evening will certainly be more manageable, e.g. boutique openings, or at least the times will be more flexible: Antonelli Firenze (10:00-18:00 in Tortona 21), ideal for a cocktail with fellow journalists at the end of the day; or Brunello Cucinelli (from 18.30 onward in via Montello, gourmet buffet provided); or the triple bill Mariù De Sica, Co | te, L’Arabesque, all scheduled at the De Milan until about 20:00.
If you haven’t been accredited yet, time is running out to make your request for the Borsalino cocktail lauching the Capsule Collection Nick Fouquet in via Sant’Andrea 5, this being the historic showroom. It is in fact yet another really exclusive event! But Milan always keeps a few wonderful surprises in store and something will crop up, maybe a friend or acquaintance with the entry pass will come to the rescue… after all fashion, it must be said, belongs to everyone and not just to those who work in it!
So, those who are outside the fashion biz, and yet would love to browse through the backstage and catwalks will have no chance of getting past the irreproachable doormen, whose motto is “Show me your name on the list, or I’ll show you the exit”. But never mind, they just need to walk on the streets of Quadrilatero in order to admire (instead of the shop windows) the fashion bloggers dressed up for the occasion… after all this is also fashion biz!
