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What to Wear to Fashion Week: Your Ultimate Style Guide

Fashion week is the perfect opportunity to show off your personal style and catch a glimpse of the latest fashion trends. But with so many events and runway shows, it can be overwhelming to decide what to wear. That’s why I have created this ultimate guide to help you stand out and look your best at Fashion Week.

  1. Mix Prints: Gone are the days when matching prints were a fashion faux pas. Mixing prints is one of the hottest fashion trends, and Fashion Week is the perfect time to experiment with this bold style choice. Try pairing a printed top with a patterned skirt or pants. Just make sure the prints have a similar color scheme to avoid a clash of patterns.
  2. Layer like a Pro: Layering and draping are great ways to add depth and versatility to your outfit. Layer a jacket over a dress or drape a sweater over a blouse for a chic, effortless look. These styles are also perfect for adjusting your outfit to different temperatures throughout the day.
  3. Be Bold: Bright colors are a great way to make a statement and stand out in the crowd. Don’t be afraid to wear stand-out shades, like red, yellow, or green. If you’re not ready to commit to a full outfit, try adding a pop of color with your accessories. For example by wearing an all-grey outfit and adding a pop of color with bright-colored shoes.
  4. Prioritize Comfort: Fashion Week events involve a lot of walking and standing, so it’s important to prioritize comfort. Opt for comfortable shoes, like comfortable loafers or cowboy boots, instead of super high heels that can cause discomfort after a few hours. Alternatively, carry your heels in your handbag and wear a pair of flats, so you can swap them when you arrive at the event.
  5. Opt for Statement Accessories: Elevate your outfit and add a personal touch. Consider adding statement jewelry, a dramatic pair of earrings, a chic clutch, or a trendy hat to your outfit. Just be careful not to overdo it, as too many accessories can detract from your overall look.
  6. Play with Proportions and textures: This a great way to create an interesting and unique look. Pair a voluminous skirt with a fitted top or a cropped jacket with high-waisted pants. The key is to balance the proportions to create a cohesive outfit. Mixing and matching different textiles and textures can add depth and dimension to your outfit. Consider pairing a cozy sweater with a leather skirt, or a silk blouse with a denim jacket. These unexpected combinations will make your outfit stand out in a sea of fashionistas.
  7. Coordinate with a Friend: Twinning with friend is a great way to create a cohesive and stylish look. Match your outfits with complementary colors or patterns to create a stylish duo. Why stop at coordinating with one friend when you can coordinate with all of them? Coordinate your outfits with your entire group to create a stylish and cohesive look.
  8. Wear a Co-Ord Power Suit: A power suit is a great way to ensure that you look polished and put together. If you’re feeling stuck and don’t know what to wear, remember that a go-to matching set is always a safe bet. Whether it’s a chic skirt and blazer, or a stylish two-piece suit, these outfits require minimal effort but still look stylish and put together. What is more, if you make your outfit monochrome, that is a great way to create a cohesive and stylish look. Try matching your shoes to your bag or your jewelry to your outfit. Just make sure to keep the color scheme simple and cohesive.
  9. Find Your Statement Piece: Finally, consider finding your own sartorial uniform and sticking with it. This could be a signature style or a go-to outfit formula that works for you. It could be as simple as always wearing a blazer or incorporating a certain color into every outfit. Whatever it is, finding your sartorial uniform can simplify your outfit choices and make getting dressed for Fashion Week a breeze.

As a Swiss fashion blogger and illustrator, I know firsthand the excitement that comes with Fashion Week. Fashion Week can be overwhelming, and sometimes less is more. If you’re feeling unsure about your outfit, scale back and stick to a simple, classic look with a twist. A little black dress or a tailored suit will never go out of style, add a bold red lip and you should be all good.

FAQs

  • What is the best shoe style to wear to Fashion Week? Opt for stylish sneakers or loafers, or cowboy boots instead of high heels that can cause discomfort after a few hours.
  • What should I consider when choosing an outfit for Fashion Week? Consider the event dress code, the venue, and your personal style. Always pay close attention to the invitation, as it usually reflects the theme of the event too.
  • Can I mix and match bold pieces for my Fashion Week outfit? Yes, fashion is about taking risks, and having fun. So be bold, and try out those trends you have been wanting to test out.

In conclusion, Fashion Week is the ultimate opportunity to showcase your style and make a statement. By researching the event dress code, considering the venue, and prioritizing comfort, you can ensure that you look and feel your best. Experimenting with bold colors, prints, and textures, layering for versatility, and accessorizing to elevate your look are great ways to stand out in the crowd. And don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the experience – after all, fashion month only comes around twice a year!

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Milan Fashion Week: Fashion Designers to watch & Spring Summer 2023 Trends by A Stylish Story

Milan fashion week is a biannual event that takes place between January-February and then again in September-October each year. MFW occurs in the third week of Fashion Month. The fashion month of madness always opens in New York, heads then to London, next to Milan, and finally wraps up in Paris.

The Milan Fashion Week is organized by the National Chamber of Italian Fashion, Milano Moda Donna, and is one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year.

Industry insiders, VIPs, and the press all flock to the Italian fashion capital to attend exclusive events, runway shows, and fashion presentations. This said, if you happen to be in Milan city at the time of the event, there is a Fashion Hub that is open to the public, which means you can still experience the artistic and fashionable ingenuity of MFW.

Milan Fashion Week

Italians are known for their style, craftsmanship and ability to combine clothes to look impeccably chic. Famous Italian fashion brands include Prada, Loro Piana, Tods, Gucci, Alberta Ferretti, MaxMara, Fendi, Bottega Veneta and Schiaparelli. Prints and textiles are also incredibly important emblems of Italian heritage. Luxury Italian fashion brands known for this include MISSONI, Pucci and Versace.

Milan Fashion Week: ones to watch

Of course, the big names are very exciting and generate a lot of buzz and press coverage. There are also smaller and lesser-known fashion brands that present their collections. With this in mind, here is a quick breakdown of the emerging designers at Milan Fashion Week with innovation and forward-thinking fashion lines to keep an eye on: 

DHRUV KAPOOR

DHRUV KAPOOR the dreamer presentation: This Prêt-à-Porter line was founded by the Indian fashion designer Dhruv Kapoor. Think mesh sets, floor skimming flared sheer trousers and graphic, oversized athletic pieces. My favorite aspect of the new Spring Summer 2023 collection were the circular, crystal-embellished top handle mini bags.

YUME YUME

YUME YUME means “dream” in Japanese. Just like its name, the Dutch brand, founded in 2018 by Eva Korsten and Dave Hendriks present at Milan Fashion Week, offers shoes with a style that are at the same time futuristic and inspired by Japanese traditions. What is truly innovative about their footwear, is that they feature insoles and outsoles made entirely of reused materials such as recycled nylon and rubber or samples of unused products. With an environmentally conscious framework, YUME YUME uses its traditional craftsmanship to ensure sustainability in an innovative manner.

SHUTING QIU

SHUTING QIU – AS A BUTTERFLY CHASING THE SUN. Fashion forward and fun: A complex contradiction in each piece with bold prints combined with softer touches of ruffles and tulle. Colour, textures, and print combinations are all combined in a feminine yet sporty manner. Each piece in the collection is worthy of a conversation with dramatic silhouettes that stand out.

Fashion Fun Fact: The designer has collaborated with Uggs changing the soles and adding hand-sewn sequins in her capsule collection. So her work stretches to footwear as well as fashion.

What to Wear in Milan during Fashion Week?

Of course, Italy is slightly warmer and milder than its other two European counterparts where Fashion Week takes place. Paris and London are freezing and rainy by comparison and you really have to plan your outfits in terms of warmth and comfort if you want to survive there. This means that in Milan, during Fashion Week you can get away with fewer layers and really rock out the latest trends you’ve been itching to try on. In terms of Street Style, you do not need to wait for Milan Fashion Week to get inspired in the city. Simply sit outside a coffee shop in a busy street and sip an espresso whilst watching the incredibly stylish Italians trot past each one oozing more class than the last. This said Milan Street Style Trends that will be making some noise this season include:

What to Wear in Milan during Fashion Week?
  • Noughties nostalgia: 90s Grunge, think Kate Moss meets the Matrix. Everything that made the 90s what they were: Latex leather, cutouts, thin straps, platform sandals, chokers, With this trend, the return of the cool girl is well and truly here.
  • Gilded glamour: sequins, rhinestones and feathers on everything. Euphoria eye makeup is the easiest way to adopt this trend. I tried and loved it personally but “il faut oser !” You might look like your crying glitter tears but that’s the idea. It is such a fun look for an evening fashion event for example.
  • Child’s Play & Y2K are here to stay: Barrette clips, baby blue eyeshadow, lipgloss and plastic jewelry are the easiest way to hop on this trend. Think Moschino fruits, low waist jeans and cartoons – this childhood daydream is what makes this playful trend so easy to adopt.
  • Gucci Grandma: I am not sure how I can name this trend, basically imagine an incredibly stylish grandma who rocks her designer oversized glasses, costume jewelry, and couture on a daily basis. Think lacy frills, chiffon with sequins, prints on prints, ruffles, pearls, and chunky gold with gelato hues.
  • Fashion Faux Pas Made Mainstream: Lastly (and possibly most questionably) Pants paired with dresses, visible lingerie, socks with sandals – essentially all the fashion rules you can imagine, break them. In my days at art school they actually had a themed party exactly in line with this trend (talk about avant-garde!). This anti-fashion fashion in certain circumstances, can be just the look you need.

Who to follow on Social Media during fashion week

Even if you are not able to attend Fashion Week, in this digital era you can happily hop onto your preferred social media outlet and enjoy the digital version of the show. Both TikTok and Instagram are official Fashion Week partners. Many of the Fashion Houses also host live runway streaming sessions. So you can tune in no matter where you are in the world.

There are also all the behind the scenes and street styles which are fun to look at. Here are the top bloggers and fashion accounts to follow:

Who to follow on Instagram During Fashion Week

Fashion Month
New York Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week

A Stylish Story pro tips for Fashion Week:

Want to know how to survive fashion month? No stranger to fashion shows, I have worked at Paris Fashion Week, and Couture Week, illustrated live at fashion shows, captured runway looks in the fashion pit as a fashion photographer and attended my fair share of fashion shows around the world as a member of the press, as an art director and a fashion influencer. With that in mind, here’s my two cents if you are headed to fashion week and want some prepping tips:

  • Mini miracles: always have a small mirror compact, a flat comb, your favourite lip product and a hair pin or two handy (easy to add into all your handbags and pretty useful for a quick pic op)
  • The holy grail: A phone charger, because there is nothing more heartbreaking than being at a show with a dead phone. This has happened to me one too many times!
  • Stomping ground: if you absolutely want to wear heels then opt for heeled boots with chunky heels, platforms also support well – you’ll thank me later.
  • Power pack: protein bars, a mini water bottle and chewing gum are going to be your best friends along with a ton of coffee.
  • Logo mania is dead: You would be very much mistaken if you’re planning to wear head to toe designer logos. Unless you are representing a designer, the majority of fashion week people wear unbranded, edgy looks rather than plastering themselves with visible logos. It’s much more of a “if you know, you know” vibe so definitely look at the design quality of what you choose to wear and avoid looking like a walking billboard for a brand.
  • Take your pills: Daflon is going to be your lifeline along with magnesium tablets in the evening.

The Future of Fashion & Italian Designers:

Last but not least, I wanted to touch upon what is next for the Fashion Industry, in particular for Italian fashion designers. With the steady shift linked to digital trends as well as interesting advancements have been adopted by some of Italy’s most loved fashion designers, such as augmented reality collections and fashion gamification.

Fashion and Web3: the Metaverse at Fashion Week

In March there was the first ever Metaverse Fashion Week and it featured luxury brands, household names and digital-native designers. The early adopters include the Italian Fashion designer Dolce & Gabbana who launched a bespoke collection of 20 looks of Metaverse wearable pieces. This season Dolce & Gabbana’s muse consisted of the the ultimate internet celebrity, the OG of social media influencers: Kim Kardashian. Other notable designers with a Metaverse presence include Hugo Boss, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Balenciaga. The latest addition to this list includes Vogue Business that launched their Metaverse Atelier on the 22 of September 2022. A members-only event which brings you behind the scenes and up close to view fashion at its finest.