What it’s really like to attend a European Fashion Week

By Savannah Gomez

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Savannah Gomez is an NMSU student doing Study Abroad in Spain this semester. She will be providing periodic dispatches for CrimsonWire, providing a glimpse of life as a student and traveler in Europe.)

MILAN, Italy – On Sept. 22, 2026, Milan Fashion Week kicked off with an extravagant show in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Spectators ranged from celebrities such as Dakota Johnson to industry icons such as Donatella Versace.

Throughout the week, a variety of shows from brands like Gucci, Prada, and Giorgio Armani happened all through the city. As a student in fashion, I wanted to know what it was like for everyday people, beyond celebrities, influencers, and buyers, to be in a city that is hosting a fashion week. I took to the streets of Milan on Sept. 25 to answer that question.

While the spectacle of seeing a runway show was harder for the public to see, it wasn’t completely inaccessible. Throughout Milan, giant screens were set up showing the scenes — and the behind-the-scenes — of shows that were happening in real time. This gave the public an excellent opportunity to view what was going on.

There was no shortage of celebrity sightings in the city. A big part of Milan Fashion Week deals with the people attending the shows. Many people in the city flock to areas where celebrities stay, or are bound to be sighted, just to catch a glimpse of them.

Near the Galleria, the Park Hyatt Milan was swarmed with fans of K-drama actor Hwang In Youp to wait for his return from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2027 show. At the Gucci flagship store just around the corner, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes made an appearance to give a performance of his song “Treat You Better.”

LEFT: Actor Hwang In Youp signs autographs for fans outside the Park Hyatt Milan (Savannah Gomez photo)

A variety of exhibitions were available to the public showcasing different forms and themes in fashion. The Fashion Hub, found at Palazzo Morando, was free to enter with a valid I.D and displayed works from upcoming designers. Different types of projects were displayed including a special collaboration with Bucharest Fashion Week and a special look at some female designers coming from Romania. Dalí E La Moda, found at Palazzo Reale, gave tribute to the artist Salvador Dalí and his work with fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The exhibit curated many pieces of his own art depicting his interpretation of fashion as well as pieces of fashion he had worn and worked on in his years. The entry was discounted to €10 by showing a valid student I.D.

Fashion student Carlena Fernandez studying in Florence, Italy, flew to Milan to attend Fashion Week and gave her opinion on what she thought about her time there.

“Milan is known as the fashion capital,” Fernandez said. “As an Apparel Design major, I was eager to learn about events open to the public during fashion week.”

She continued by expressing her positive thoughts on the activities available in Milan.

“This whole experience brought me so much joy,” she said. “I found inspiration during the exhibitions from emerging designers specializing in threads this year. I highly recommend spending your time visiting these open galleries and taking time to learn about history, projects, designs and more.”

Visiting a European fashion week is not just for the rich and famous. There are so many ways to participate without attending an actual show and if anything’s stood out, it’s that the people who run Milan Fashion Week keep the public in mind.