The day, my second at Milano Moda, kicked off with a late bus, crazy traffic, and a disastrous fashion malfunction — think skin, and lots of it. Pissed, I skipped out on the morning’s Roccobarocco show for an emergency shopping trip to the streets around the Duomo, which are packed with cheap, trendy fashion chains like Mango, Bershka, and Promod. I settled on a cute striped number and, after gulping a caffè macchiato, set out on the day’s mission — to absorb as much of Fashion Week as humanly possible.

Laura Biagiotti showcase at the Piccolo Teatro Studio

I started at the Laura Biagiotti show, held at the Piccolo Teatro Studio, in the center of the city. Laura is about as Italian as Italian gets. Her simple, elegant designs have long been coveted by the women in my family, whose eyes lit up when I told them about the invite. True to form, I lusted after the ensembles in the new collection as well. The clothes were, to put it simply, gorgeous — sophisticated and stylish and everything I’d expect from one of Italy’s classic female designers. One ensemble in particular — a silver gemstone-encrusted jacket paired with voluminous satin harem pants — was so breathtaking, the audience burst into enthusiastic applause.

Next up, Angelo Marani, at the Palazzo della Permanente. The show started way late, so I stood outside grumbling with a Romanian magazine editor and a Swedish blogger. Once inside, I was underwhelmed by the assortment of sequined sportswear, breezy floral pantsuits, and technicolor minidresses that paraded down the runway. They were supposed to recall “the eighties spent in the discos of Ibiza.” If the collection was any indication, I’m not sure that’s a time that should be relived.

Angelo Marani showcase at the Palazzo della Permanente

Don’t know if you could tell, but by this point, hunger and fatigue were making me grumpy. Thankfully, there were snacks at the next show, for Fisico at the Palazzo Mezzanotte. Cookies and brownies and chocolate-covered strawberries — score! It’s like they read my mind. If it wasn’t the sudden injection of caffeine and sugar into my bloodstream, then it was certainly Cristina Ferrari’s sexy designs that got my pulse racing a few minutes later. To a breathy, suggestive soundtrack, gorgeous multicultural models showcased resortwear in a bright palette of teals, oranges, and purples. The show was steamy, both figuratively and literally: Most of the guests fanned themselves with invitations throughout it.

And so the day ended, with another late bus and some more crazy traffic, but thankfully, no fashion malfunctions.