I had been looking forward to Vogue World Milano for weeks, and it was even better than I had imagined. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was a spectacular setting for the night, but what I loved most was the way the show told the story of Italian fashion through craftsmanship, design and performance.
It also came at the perfect time for me. I had just spent several days at Lineapelle looking at leathers for upcoming collections, followed by time in Florence working with our factory on new Elizée designs. A few days later, I was watching some of Italy’s most celebrated fashion houses bring generations of Italian craftsmanship to life. That connection made the night feel especially personal.
There was so much to take in. These are a few of the moments I’m still thinking about.
What I Wore
For the night, I wore a Dolce & Gabbana leopard dress with my Carmina mules in gold and a heart necklace. I loved the leopard and metallic gold together—it felt just right for Milan.
The Handwork
The first part of the show was one of my favorites. The fabrics, embroidery and level of detail were beautiful. I especially loved seeing all the handwork up close.
One of my favorite looks was a Gucci gown—the fabric and details were stunning.
I had just come from days of looking at leathers, materials and construction at Lineapelle and our factory, so this part of the show felt especially relevant to what had already been on my mind all week.
When the Clothes Started Moving
This may have been my favorite part of the whole evening.
Vogue World wasn’t a traditional runway, and that completely changed the experience. Dance and performance were woven throughout the show, and each designer’s looks took on a different energy.
Roberto Bolle and the dancers were a highlight. I loved the energy of the Versace looks—the color, prints and movement—and the blue Diesel looks were another favorite, especially seeing them as part of the choreography rather than on a traditional runway.
Movement is such a big part of how I design Elizée. I want a shoe to look beautiful, of course, but I’m always thinking about the woman actually wearing it—walking, standing, going to dinner, staying out longer than she planned. Seeing fashion presented this way really resonated with me.
The Tailoring
Then came the tailoring—clean, strong silhouettes from some of the houses that have defined Italian fashion.
I loved the contrast after all that detail and movement. A beautifully cut jacket or trouser doesn’t need much else, and the same is true with shoes. This is where I immediately thought of Elle and Portia: simple, clean shapes that work so well with tailoring.
The Color
There was no shortage of color either.
The Versace portion was one of the most memorable for me—the color, the hair, the prints, the performance, all of it together. It reminded me why I love a strong shoe with an otherwise simple outfit.
Red in particular is one of those colors I come back to again and again. Adriana in Crimson or Portia in Scarlet or Simone in champagne is exactly how I would bring some of that Vogue World energy into real life.
Meeting Donatella and Pierpaolo
I also got to meet Donatella Versace and Pierpaolo Piccioli. I’ve followed their work for years, so actually getting to meet them both was pretty incredible.
And Then Alicia Keys
The music throughout the night was incredible, but Alicia Keys at the piano in the middle of the Galleria was something else.
Hearing her perform “I Feel Love” live, with the music filling the entire space, was unbelievable. My videos don’t quite capture what it was like to hear it in person.
Definitely one of my favorite moments of the night.
What I Brought Home
At the end of the evening, thousands of paper objects designed by Jony Ive and LoveFrom came down through the Galleria. I grabbed one to bring home, along with my paper program from the show.
They’re now two little keepsakes from a very full few days in Italy.
More than anything, I came home thinking about materials, color, movement and the details that had caught my attention throughout the week. After Lineapelle, Florence and then Vogue World, I felt energized and ready to get back to working on our next collection.
A few of the ideas I brought home from Milan—and the Elizée pairs I’d wear with them.
