È arrivato il tempo di tornare alla settimana più bella a Milano: la Settimana della Moda! A week of fashion, family, and yummy food in one of my favorite cities. I was so excited to be returning to Milan for my second Fashion Week and staying with my grandparents. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before on here, but my grandma is a big inspiration for my fashion. Her classic Milanese style is what I’ve learned from her, so I love that we both share such a passion for fashion—and that this year, I was able to take her along with me and make beautiful memories together.
Last year, it was straight off the plane and into an event, but this year I made sure to give myself a day to settle in before the craziness began. First stop: a nail appointment, then straight back to unpack, hang up all my outfits, organize everything, and get it all steamed and ready. Even though I was exhausted from traveling, I was way too excited for the day ahead—I could barely fall asleep.
The next morning marked the official Day One of Milan Fashion Week! I woke up full of excitement—only to realize that my contact dermatitis was starting to flare up around my eyes. I immediately ran to the pharmacy and took an Allegra, hoping to get ahead of the reaction before it worsened. Thankfully, I was able to stop it in time and keep it under control for the rest of the week.
With that mini-crisis behind me, I threw on my favorite Armani Exchange balloon pants and hopped on the subway to Cova on Via Montenapoleone. Cova is an iconic Milanese pasticceria, first opened in 1817 beside the Teatro alla Scala—rich with history and always buzzing with the perfect mix of locals and fashion week visitors. I picked up a few sweet treats before heading to lunch with my dear friends from the Armani team at the Emporio Armani restaurant. Over incredible food and a vibrant atmosphere, we caught up on all things fashion, travel, and future dreams.
After lunch, I rushed home for a quick outfit change before heading to the Peserico show—a truly special moment for me, as it was my first-ever runway show in Milan, and I got to share it with my Nonna. I wore a stunning custom look by my talented friend Julia (@muniastudio), which matched the Peserico SS26 collection perfectly. The show took place in the Chiostri del Museo Diocesano—a breathtaking venue with ancient courtyards, lush greenery, and arched walkways. The collection was a serene blend of neutral-toned linens, soft cottons, and lightweight tailoring. Everything felt effortless and refined, embodying that signature Italian elegance with a modern, minimalist twist.
The next event was just a 30-minute walk away, and the evening was so beautiful that we decided to stroll to Parco Sempione, where Coccinelle was hosting their SS26 preview inside the Acquario Civico di Milano. The venue couldn’t have been more fitting—the collection was inspired by the ocean, and being inside the aquarium made the whole experience feel immersive and dreamlike. Soft blues, seafoam greens, and sandy neutrals dominated the palette, with accessories designed to evoke waves, shells, and the relaxed elegance of coastal living. One of my favorite touches? A matcha dessert cart that felt just as curated as the bags themselves. It was such a memorable first experience with the Coccinelle brand—especially meaningful since I’d heard so much about it growing up from my family.
The next day, Milan greeted me with a beautiful, sunny morning. I started the day at the Gherardini pop-up, a brand I had never heard of before—but quickly fell in love with. After browsing their website a few days prior, I was instantly drawn to their innovative designs, like the signature Piattina bag with its sleek, foldable shape and rich leather finish.
Inside the pop-up, I met my now-friend Dane, who generously spent time walking me through the rich history of the brand. Gherardini was founded in Florence in 1885 and has long been a symbol of Italian craftsmanship and heritage. Known for combining traditional Florentine leatherworking techniques with bold, modern design, the brand has recently been revived with a fresh creative direction. The new collection was on display alongside carefully restored vintage pieces, reintroduced with the same elegance and attention to detail that defined their original craftsmanship. I was truly impressed by the creative elements—unique closures, sculptural handles, and unexpected textures. To top it all off, I was gifted the chocolate brown Piattina, and I’m so excited to style it this fall.
Just around the corner in Brera, I stopped by the Giorgio Armani Archive Collection at the Pinacoteca di Brera. The exhibition featured 150 archival pieces by the legendary designer, each displayed among iconic artworks spanning centuries. It was a breathtaking fusion of fashion and fine art—Armani’s timeless tailoring and fluid silhouettes felt right at home among masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Hayez. It was a quiet, reflective moment for me—strolling through the gallery alone, I took time to feel gratitude. Grateful to be here, learning so much, discovering incredible brands, and connecting with such inspiring people along the way.
That evening, I changed into a velvet suit for a rainy night filled with color, texture, and bold energy at the Etro show. And yes—I literally ran through the rain for Etro, but it was absolutely worth it. The show opened spectacularly with a live performance (I highly recommend listening to the runway soundtrack by La Niña—it set the tone perfectly). The SS26 collection, designed by Marco De Vincenzo, was a joyful celebration of Etro’s signature bohemian spirit. Think: rich paisleys, layered fringe, vibrant patchworks, and plenty of movement. I had so many favorite looks—this show reminded me just how powerful color and pattern can be, and it inspired me to experiment more in my own styling.
To close out the night, I stopped by the opening of the Plan C store on Via Manzoni. Plan C, founded by Carolina Castiglioni (daughter of Marni founder Consuelo Castiglioni), blends quirky sophistication with structured silhouettes and playful prints. The store’s interior was just as bold and creative as the collection itself, perfectly embodying the brand’s balance between artful irreverence and everyday wearability. It was the perfect final stop on a day that captured the full spirit of Milan: heritage, innovation, and unapologetic self-expression.
I woke up the next morning especially excited, because I’d be joined by my fabulous Nonna. She has always adored Borsalino, so getting to see them present their collection on Via della Spiga felt like a dream for both of us. Borsalino, founded in Alessandria in 1857, is one of Italy’s most storied hat houses — known for its luxurious felt hats made through a painstaking artisanal process. At the presentation, they showed us how they mold straw to the head, and precisely cut each piece to create their signature silhouettes. They also demonstrated the different hat materials and techniques used across their collections.
I’ve never been much of a hat person, but watching the process made me appreciate how much dimension and elegance a hat can add to an outfit. We spent a full hour exploring hats, followed by another hour admiring shoes and bags — two of my favorite things! I visited the Casadei presentation, too, where I fell in love with a white bag and a pair of black heeled sandals. The venue had a stunning terrace decked with flowers for guests to take home, and even a candy station!
When I got home, I found a thrilling envelope in my mailbox—my invitation to the Emporio Armani show had arrived! I’d been worried it might not get to me in time, and seeing my name printed on that invitation brought me to tears. That day’s show felt deeply emotional: it was the last Emporio Armani collection designed by Giorgio Armani himself. The energy in the theater was powerful. Two grand staircases rose from behind a luminous doorway, and models emerged under glowing light—at the finale, there was a standing ovation for the man who truly changed the fashion world.I ended the night with a gelato run (of course) with Nonni.
Fashion week was slowly coming to an end and the weather was starting to slowly give up. My last event of the week was the Global Fashion Collective show where multiple designers showcase their latest designs. I discovered many new brands and my favorite had to be Paper Crazy by James Dimech, a collection which was made of paper. I went to the iconic Luini’s right after the show (iykyk) with a friend and ended the day with a pasta night and a game of burraco with my cousins and friends.
Fashion week was officially over. My dad picked me up, we went to spend lunch with my uncles and aunts and we were off to the lake to see my other grandparents. We hiked during our time at the lake and had the most perfect weather. This was my favorite time of the week as I got to really reflect on the most amazing week of my life, thinking about how far I’ve come and the dreams I’ve been lucky to experience. I am forever grateful for these opportunities and I love sharing them with all of you. Thank you to all of the brands that believe in me, my family and friends that helped me so much throughout the week, and all of you guys.
Grazie mille. <3
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