La Settimana Della Moda

It's FASHION WEEK in Milano! Well it was, until yesterday.

Super exciting.

Even more exciting is that I scored invites to four shows. All standing room, but beggars can't be choosers. And standing room isn't that bad when you're aggressive and make sure you're standing at the front of everyone else who is standing. ;)

Simonetta Ravizza
My first official fashion show in Milano. I wasn't familiar with the designer, but after hearing that she's known for her furs I was looking forward to seeing what she could do with furs for Spring.* Wrong. I guess she doesn't do a lot of fur for spring. Oops. The show was interesting though! Some great looking pieces (and some others that looked like something Wilma Flintstone would wear), a cool vibe, and a neat location.

* I'm not anti-fur.

Alberta Ferretti
I think this was my favourite show of the season. What came down the runway was beautiful, ethereal even. I only got a photo of the outside, where we stood around and people watched until we were allowed in. So you'll have to go here if you want to check out the runway shots. Again, cool location.

Frankie Morello
A much different scene than the first two shows, these designs are a lot younger and the show made me want to party (even though it was 10am on a Saturday morning!). Bright colours and funky shapes. Fun. As the week went on, my photo skills just went downhill and all I got was a photo of the outside of the castle. Yes, the show was in the castle courtyard. NBD.

And the pièce de résistance...

GIORGIO ARMANI

Correct. I actually attended this show. With Anna Wintour. Triple NBD. Ok, that's a small lie. She attended the 7pm show and my ticket was actually for the 8pm show. Let me tell you, that woman is all business. I was watching a video of one of the other shows, and at the end when the lights went down you could see the outline of someone in the front row getting up and leaving, way ahead of anyone else, actually bolting for the door. Watching the 7pm show exit, and seeing her come out about 3 minutes before anyone else, I realized that was her bolting from the other show I watched! Fascinating... at least, to me. I wouldn't believe me either, so I'm leaving you with two horrible photos (the quality, not the content). Oh and for the record, the Armani show was beautiful.

My good friend, Anna, making a run for it.

My good friend, Giorgio, basking in our adoration.

I know, I have friends in high places.

Language Course

As a way to ease myself back in to life a student, the first month here is just a Fashion Italian language course.

We spend 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, talking about and studing fashion in Italian. No complaints.

We've studied the major designers like Valentino, Armani, and Versace. We've taken a field trip to La Rinascente (I'd compare it to a Holts... but bigger and better...) to wander around and discuss fabrics, styles, and embellishments in Italian. We've watched fashion movies in Italian. We've studied the history of Italian fashion through the decades, and the history of global fashion.

This has been a great refresher as life a student. It's refreshed my Italian, and overall just been very interesting!

Crocs

I know, I know, those of you who know me are probably surprised that I would post something with this title. But, I couldn't resist sharing this with you!

When I arrived, I searched high and low for some inexpensive flip flops to wear around the house as slippers. Every time I asked for them at a store, I would get a funny look and a comment that it's fall now (the first few days of September with 30 degree highs), so of course they aren't in stock.

In a moment of desperation, I went to the Crocs website to see if I could find a store in Italy. This is what I found:

You can find Crocs stores pretty much EVERYWHERE in Europe, except Italy. You have a choice of TWO stores in Paris even.

Just something amusing that I chose to share with you all. And the good news is that I finally found some flip flops in a home decor store. Because obviously I should have started there, and not a footwear store...?

Did you know...

That jeans originated in Genova?

Neither did I until recently.

The story is that jeans were made popular by the port workers in Genova because they needed a material that was tough enough to stand up to the work that they did every day.

This came up during one of our classes when we were discussing the materials used for clothes for young people and how durable it has to be. You certainly aren't going to make silk pants for a teenage boy.

Now you know.

Judas' Blood

One of the greatest things about Italy is being able to buy wine at the grocery store. Cheap, yet delicious wine.

Of course, my roommate and I aren't too familiar with all of the local wines here, so we've decided to work our way from one side of the shelves to the other.

Tonight I broke the rules a little bit and chose a bottle a bit farther down, mostly because of the name.

For those of you who don't speak Italian (or can't see because of my incredibly horrible photo skills), the wine is called "Judas' Blood."

How does one NOT pick up a bottle like that?? I guess I got so interested with the name that I failed to notice that this wasn't an ordinary red, but a fizzy sweet red. I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad wine, but I've certainly had my fill of Judas' Blood for now.

Week 1

Everyone has asked me to blog about my year (well, hopefully more than a year!) in Milano, so here's my attempt to keep you all happy!

It's only been a week since I arrived but it feels like I've been here for so much longer. Student-style, I've rented a room from a woman who lives about a 10 minute walk from the school, and it's even better because I live with another awesome Canadian girl (because obviously, all Canadians are awesome). Oh, and my roommate can cook. It blows my mind.

Today was day 3 of our Fashion Italian course. Basically, it's 5 hours per day of non-stop Italian, but the best part is that in the morning we chat about the history of Italian Fashion; the afternoon is dedicated to boring stuff like perfecting our grammar. Schools runs 2.5 hours later for the next three Wednesdays, but those evenings will be spent doing things like field trips to Via della Spiga and Rinascente, or watching movies like Valentino: The Last Emperor.

Seriously.

My homework one day was to go to the Armani store and observe the lighting and decor.

I can't make this stuff up.

But, it's not all glitz and glamour, I promise. The first few days I was here were spent hoofing it all over town to try to take care of things like my Stay Permit, Fiscal Code, bank account, and mobile phone. I heard a lot of the following phrases: "No, you have to go there." "You need to do this first." "You need to wait until tomorrow." "We're closing soon so you have to come back another time." "No, you need to go back to where you were earlier today." "Bring 3 photocopies of everything, but we won't actually look at them or use them." "Dance, monkey, dance." (Ok that last one may or may not be real...)

The past couple of days have been pretty productive though, so hopefully all of the paperwork will be taken care of soon and I can just settle down in to life as a fashion student in Milano.

Miss you all. Please come visit! :)

Oh, and please bring the Vancouver weather with you. This humidity is driving me (and my hair) crazy.