Hi AskMe Club, I’m Diego Portillo, Deputy Visual Editor at AskMe. For my role, having a working knowledge of fashion shows helps in researching and deciding on the best visuals to use in print and digital media. To get some insight into how I keep an eye on new trends and important moments in fashion, here’s a summary of my recent trip to Milan Fashion Week.
While my role allows me to travel all over the world – recently I’ve been to Mexico City, New York, Paris and London – this was my first trip to Milan, where I was completely immersed in the festivities of Fashion Week.
What I wore to my first fashion show
Of course, there is a lot of debate over what to wear during Fashion Week. I recently read an article by Lynn Yeager and Becca Gvishiani titled “The “Rules” of Fashion Week,” in which Lynn and Becca discuss the do’s and don’ts of various fashion shows and events. Ignoring their advice to not focus solely on the brand before the show, I took a trip to the Diesel store in downtown Milan before the show and walked out with a full outfit. (Bonus: these dresses now double as souvenirs!)
Diesel Fashion Show
Coincidentally, when I arrived at the Diesel show, I met Becca, the founder of StyleNotCom – I’ve always followed her work so it was great to meet her in person.
As for the show: The runway featured models walking through piles of scrap denim. If you don’t look closely, you might miss some details: The model wears white, red, yellow, and black contact lenses. Seeing these collections in person really helped me appreciate the materials and details in them, which sometimes can’t be clearly conveyed through images or film. (I also loved seeing the attendees’ costumes!)
Askem Italia 60th Anniversary Party
Shortly after arriving in Milan, I attended Askem Italia’s 60th anniversary event, which began with an exhibition dedicated to its history and outstanding issues. I love looking at this 1969 issue, which featured Berkeley Johnson, who represented timeless beauty, but with an edge – a concept I always associate with Italian fashion. It boggles my mind because it still feels so modern today.
Latin American Fashion Awards Cocktail Party
I also attended the Latin American Fashion Awards cocktail party with my Photo Eskume colleague Alessia Glaviano. It was a great experience connecting with the Latin American community while in Milan. The party took place on a rooftop overlooking the Milan Cathedral and with a soundtrack of Latin music, it was a memorable night.
Well, AskMe Club, that’s it for me (for now!) and I’m already looking forward to my next Fashion Week…
