Editor’s Note: Jessica Marati will be traveling the globe over the next several months and plans to send us dispatches about the local artisans, trends, and amazing finds she uncovers. This is the first in a series of posts about her trip to Milan for the spring/summer 2010 Fashion Week. Be sure to read her previous articles on Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile.
Aquilano.Rimondi showcase, Milan Fashion Week
A shiny black convertible screeches to a stop in the center of Milan. Out hops a scary-skinny Scotsgirl, hair teased, not a day over 16. “Ciao, ciao,” she tells her hunky driver, with a kiss on each cheek. Another girl, same teased hair, runs up to her from across the street. “Hurry!” she squeals loudly as they embrace, and they run inside. On the sidelines, a few photographers roll their eyes. I hold back a laugh.
I am standing outside La Pelota, one of Milan’s main Fashion Week venues, waiting to be granted access into the Aquilano.Rimondi show. As I wait, I watch the crazy assortment of people who attend these kinds of things. There are the models, of course, the blank-eyed, 70-pound canvases upon which the designers display their work. There are the veteran photographers, the ironic eyeglass-clad bloggers, the overly tanned Italian socialites (seriously, did Italy not get the message about harmful UV rays?). But there are also families, grandparents, and a baby the PR staff can’t get enough of. It’s Fashion Week, Italian-style.
Aquilano.Rimondi showcase, Milan Fashion Week
Aquilano.Rimondi, previously known as 6267, is the product of Italian creative duo Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi, who are also the creative directors of fashion house Gianfranco Ferré. The collection they exhibited was positively regal, with a sparkling palette of silver and gold mixed with deep purples and greens. The fabrics were similarly luxurious, with lots of intricate brocade and delicate chiffon. The final walk garnered loud applause from the audience, which included Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani. After the show, I watched as the models were whisked away, one by one, by their own personal knights in shining armor … and black convertibles.
