Color images by Paola Foresti. Black-and-white images by Paolo Simi.

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Ottavio Missoni and backstage at Missoni. Images by Paola Foresti.

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Missoni

Roberto Cavalli

Images by Paolo Simi and Silvia Bergomi

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Images by Paolo Simi

Blumarine

Etro

Fendi

Images by Silvia Bergomi

C’N'C Costume National

Images by Silvia Bergomi

Image by Paolo Simi

Ferragamo. Images by Paolo Simi. Text by Elisa Lusso.

65% of the human body is made up of water.
4/5 of our planet is covered in water but only 3% of it is drinkable, and in the majority of cases it is inaccessible.
Every day, 4,000 children die from water-born illnesses.

For these reasons and more, Giorgio Armani opted to join Green Cross International in supporting UNICEF’s Tap Water Project, electing two of Armani’s signature fragrances, Acqua di Giò and Acqua di Gioia, as conduits for change. For each bottle of perfume that is purchased, 100 liters of water will be donated to communities in need.

Additionally, by clicking on the Acqua for Life Facebook page, participants can invite friends to participate in the campaign and create their own online communities. Each new member will add ten liters of drinking water to the cause just by joining.

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Ferragamo

Acqua for Life

Backstage at Missoni. Images by Samantha Casolari. Video by Silvia Bergomi.

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Images by Paolo Simi. Video by Silvia Bergomi. Text by Elisa Lusso.

Jil Sander’s bold volumes and tactile textiles recall open skies, skis and clean cuts (both on the slopes and in the altier). Meanwhile, DSquared2 heads back to the Old West, where circled specs, bucket hats and even dreadlocks reigned. Finally, Dossier contributing editor Silvia Bergomi ends the day playing DJ at the Levi’s Curve ID event.

Backstage at DSquared2

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Jil Sander

DSquared2

Levi’s

Silvia Bergomi

Image and Video by Silvia Bergomi

The Trussardi boutique next to La Scala is a great place to be. The bar and the restaurant are amazing, if a bit expensive. In any case, the brand’s Fall 2011 collection—which showed in an intimate space on the third floor and comprised red leather pants combined with red leather capes, amazing bags, white furs and covetable bi-color boots—was even more impressive.

Dipping into a random café to warm up on the freezing day, we missed the shuttle to the Roberto Cavalli show so decided to stroll through Parco Sempione, where a small carnival was in full effect, creating a slightly surreal scene as children frolicked around high-heeled fashion show attendees. The runway was just at the end of the park, with the entrance through Arco della Pace. The ceiling of the space was transparent so that, while seated waiting for the show to begin, we were able to admire the iconic arch towering above us. The sun (well, the daylight) went down, the lights turned off and the sound of Kraftwerk’s radioactivity signaled the beginning of the show.

Cavalli’s collections tend to be reassuring, if only in their predictability. And this season the designer’s signature gypsy woman was back in full effect, layered in leopard prints, feathers, satin and wool, velvet, fur and sequins to aggressive effect. The fringed pants were a particular highlight as were the jackets, which appeared just a day later at the Oscars. Long white gowns, meanwhile, took a slightly more restrained approach that recalled Botticelli’s Venus.

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Images by Samantha Casolari

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Images by Paolo Simi. Text by Carlotta Menozzi and Silvia Bergomi. Video by Silvia Bergomi.

Victoria’s Secret face Candice Swanepoel opened an out-of-character Blumarine show that was a conversely shocking and subdued departure for a brand known for its sequins and vibrant hues. Instead, Candice emerged in somber camel and black, as did the following 20 models. The next group emerged all at once in saturated monochromatic looks. Lace—black, purple, yellow and red; short and long—followed. Aside from the runway, we remained entertained by a sweet guy at the exit who offered a providential bag of snacks: muffins, chips, chocolate and water, which hit the spot given the long wait and freezing weather that reminded the many skimpily dressed attendees that it is, in fact, still winter.

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