Milan became the centre of the fashion world on September 22 as Vogue World arrived in Italy for its fifth edition. Held inside the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the opening day of Milan Fashion Week, the event brought together designers, models, actors, musicians and athletes for a show celebrating Italian fashion and craftsmanship.
Unlike a conventional runway show, Vogue World: Milano was structured around five acts, moving through different periods and ideas that have shaped Italian fashion. The evening looked at Renaissance craftsmanship, Italy’s industrial history, the rise of “Made in Italy” and the relationship between fashion and technology. The final act focused on what Vogue described as the “Age of Intelligence”, bringing the show’s focus towards the future of the industry. Vogue’s overview of Vogue World: Milano
The Galleria Became the Runway
The location was a natural choice for an event centred on Italian fashion. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of Milan’s most recognisable landmarks, was transformed into the setting for the show. The historic arcade connects Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala and has long been associated with Milan’s luxury shopping culture.
For Vogue World, the space became more than a backdrop. The show used the architecture of the Galleria to connect Milan’s history with the fashion being presented inside it, bringing together references to Italian craftsmanship, design, cinema, manufacturing and technology. Vogue’s report on the concept behind Vogue World: Milano
The guest list reflected the scale of the event. Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, Hunter Schafer, Pamela Anderson and Naomi Campbell were among the high-profile names in attendance, alongside Italian designers including Miuccia Prada, Alessandro Michele, Donatella Versace, Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana, Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Vogue’s coverage of the Vogue World Milano arrivals
Deva Cassel’s Dior Couture Moment
One of the most closely watched appearances of the evening came from Deva Cassel, who walked the Vogue World runway in a Dior Haute Couture bridal gown.
Cassel wore “Aurore”, look 66 from Dior’s Fall/Winter 2026-27 Haute Couture collection, designed by Jonathan Anderson. The dress was made from hand-pleated white chiffon layered over degradé white lace, with cactus-flower and fern motifs. The lace was finished with embroidery, beads and white feather details, while the fitted silhouette featured a Bardot neckline and a long train. Vogue Italia’s breakdown of Deva Cassel’s Dior look
The bridal gown was especially fitting for a show that placed craftsmanship at its centre. While the finished look appeared light and ethereal, its construction relied on detailed couture techniques, from the hand pleating to the embroidered lace.
Cassel has appeared at Vogue World before. She walked at Vogue World: Paris in 2024 wearing Dior, making her Milan appearance another major moment between the model and the French fashion house. Vogue’s coverage of Deva Cassel at Vogue World Paris
There was also a family moment in the audience. Cassel’s mother, actress Monica Bellucci, attended the Milan event and watched her daughter walk the runway. Vogue Italia’s coverage of Monica Bellucci at Vogue World: Milano
A Front Row Full of Fashion Names
The guest list brought together international celebrities and some of the biggest names in Italian fashion.
Jennifer Lopez attended wearing Dolce & Gabbana, Hunter Schafer chose Prada, and Pamela Anderson wore Ferragamo. Other arrivals included Laura Harrier, Adria Arjona, Aryna Sabalenka, Simone Ashley, J Balvin and Reese Witherspoon. Vogue’s full arrivals gallery
Indian fashion also had a place at the event, with Rashmika Mandanna attending in an Anamika Khanna look styled with Swarovski jewellery. Vogue India’s coverage of Vogue World: Milano arrivals
Looking Forward While Looking Back
The central idea behind Vogue World: Milano was not simply to celebrate Italian fashion’s past. It was also about considering where the industry is heading.
The five-act structure moved from traditional craftsmanship towards technology and artificial intelligence, reflecting a fashion industry that is increasingly balancing centuries-old techniques with new tools and processes. Vogue’s explanation of the show’s five acts
That contrast was perhaps most visible in Cassel’s Dior gown. It was a contemporary couture look created for a major 2026 fashion event, yet its impact came from techniques that depend heavily on skilled human hands.
And that may have been the most fitting way to stage Vogue World in Milan. The city is looking towards the future of fashion, but the evening made it clear that its history, craftsmanship and people remain very much part of that future.
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