FROW To Row: Milan Fashion Week 2024 Highlights

We're only half way through the Milan Fashion Week 2024 presentations and already the internet's abuzz about what's going down the runway and spilling off of it. The MFW is considered one of the 'Big Four' fashion capitals globally, alongside Paris, London, and New York. And if New York is where the street style blossoms, Milan is where the FROW gets lit up with the biggest names in fashion and entertainment. Here are the highlights from the week that's been:

Tom Ford wins the FROW battle

Peter Hawkings' Tom Ford presentations are quite sought-after and the designer has dressed top billing names like Dakota Johnson, Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, and Dua Lipa. At their MFW show yesterday, the seats were filled with Hollywood's finest like Uma Thurman, Sharon Stone, Amber Valletta, Eva Green, Alek Wek, Sam Claflin, Iris Law, and Callum Turner. Now that's quite an impressive invite list!

Rashmika Mandanna makes her MFW debut

Decked in all black from head to toe, Rashmika made heads turn during her FROW debut attending Onitsuka Tiger's presentation, embodying their AW24 theme ‘Urban Winter’. Sporting their signature layers and an edgy glam brief, the starlet looks quite at home at the high fashion destination. 

No bras allowed

Akin to New York and London counterparts, MFW seems to freeing the nipple as well! The Italians labels are leading the charge with Prada incorporating embroidered furry florals on sheer dresses, and Emporio Armani transformed elegant outerwear into daring, see-through pieces. The risqué trend was also seen with patterns and prints at Roberto Cavalli and Antonio Marras, featuring abstract prints that leave nothing to the imagination!

There was snow?!

Talking of Emporio Armani, Mr. Armani opted for a bit of theatrics by concluding his show of fluid silhouettes, metallic suiting, and meticulous beadwork, with a dusting of fake snow at the end. The gentle cascade of imitation snow was combined with dreamy visuals of the models carrying umbrellas, it's just oh-so-beautiful!

Protesters storm Fendi show

A Peta demonstrator caused a disturbance during the Fendi presentation, where blasé British style effortlessly merges with its Roman counterpart in a blend of tradition and subversion. This marks the fashion house's encounter with such a protest, specifically targeting their use of fur, a recurring disruption seen at fashion shows over the past five years. The activist boldly entered the scene, carrying a sign proclaiming 'Animals are not clothing,' while the message 'Turn your back on animal skin' was prominently displayed on their back.

Devil is in the details

GCDS's horror-themed fashion show can make for a fun drinking game. Stream the show with your pals and take a shot when you spot references from the Child's Play franchise (Chucky!), Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, The Bride of Frankenstein, Leatherface and my favourite of them all…Hello Kitty!