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Style
Milan through the eyes of a fashion designer
February 14, 2023
A finalist in a contest run by Rome Fashion Week and Italian Vogue, designer Marco Rambaldi has since collaborated with Valentino. Here are his favourite Milan boutiques – and what you can expect from Milan Fashion Week in February 20223
About Marco Rambaldi
Born in Bologna, Marco graduated in fashion design in Venice in 2013 before spending several years in Milan, presenting his first womenswear collection during Milan Fashion Week in 2014. “Fashion has always been part of me,” he says. “I believe it should carry a message: inclusivity, body consciousness and breaking social expectations are at our core.” This explains his choice of unconventional models for his flamboyant looks. Inspired by his grandmother’s doilies, Marco works with vintage crochet the colours of Liquorice Allsorts.
Milan’s finest fashion boutiques
Marco’s label can be found in the Rinascente department store opposite Milan cathedral, in the five-storey villa 10 Corso Como and in Biffi, which opened its first branch in Milan in the 1960s. “These are Milan’s most important multi-brand retailers,” he explains. “They believe in emerging brands and every season they select the most iconic pieces from my collection.” Marco also recommends browsing Shop the Story, which opened in early 2022. “The owner, Alessia, researches unique pieces from the 1990s to 2000,” he says. The range of vintage and second-hand designer labels, including Prada and Miu Miu, change each week.
Rinascente, 10 Via San Raffele, 20121 Milan
10 Corso Como, 10 Corso Como, 20154 Milan
Biffi, 5-6 Corso Genova, 20123 Milan
Shop the Story, 11 Via Cesare Correnti, 20123 Milan
Milan’s best little known shop
As the original home of Versace, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana, Milan is the fashion capital of the world, and proud of its leather shoe and handbag boutiques. So you might expect Marco’s favourite shop to be Stivaleria Savoia. Not so. Instead, Marco’s top pick is Vincent Vintage Bijoux, which will take part in the second edition of Milan Jewellery Week in October. “Its selection of vintage jewellery is mind-blowing,” he says. As well as brooches made with semi-precious jewels, you can browse its collections of silver charms and rings which are draped on marble busts and antique mirrors.
11 Via Lazzaro Spallanzani, 20129 Milan
Upcoming Italian designers
Marco is a champion of emerging brands such as Sunvitale Studio, a duo made up of Giovanna Cariello and Alessandro Falce, who he likes working with. “I love them because they’re young, creative and full of ideas,” says Marco. “They have good tailoring skills and they know the art of handmade crochet. They’re growing quickly. We cooperate together to create special pieces for our fashion shows.” With Giovanna and Alessandro’s love of crochet and pastel colours displayed on unorthodox models, it’s easy to see why Marco connects with the pair.
Milan Fashion Week
Marco’s upcoming collection juxtaposes heart motifs and vibrant pinks with upcycled knitwear and patterned chiffon resembling tattoos. “Working with Valentino for our autumn 2022 to winter 2023 collection and meeting its creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli was a career highlight,” says Marco, who will host his tenth Milan Fashion Week show in September. As a Fashion Week regular, Marco knows what to expect from this year’s edition, and is looking forward to the art shows, DJ sets with happy hours and events focusing on new designers. Want to mingle? Spiritual Sauna in Q Club collaborates with brands to create themed installations.
21 Via Padova, 20127 Milan
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