Host a Girls Night Out Inspired by Fashion Week...

Sleek, chic and utterly urbane, the northern city of Milano is one of the premier fashion capitals on earth; a city where style is not just a business, but part of the fabric of life. And during its twice yearly fashion shows, this vibrant cultural center—the second largest and wealthiest city in Italy—is transformed into a swirling, bustling playground for the international couture intelligentsia. View our complete party guide filled with everything from the menu and recipes to table design ideas, to plan a special night for you and your girlfriends to share shopping tips, style philosophies and brag about great fashion finds, all inspired by Fashion Week in Milan. To get you inspired, let's take you behind-the-scenes…

The Milano Fashion Scene

Each fall and spring, the fashion elite—editors, buyers, retailers and celebrities—crowd the streets and hotels of Milano for the Milano Moda fashion week. And as might be expected in a city of such inherent sophistication, the locals take Milano Moda—and all its trappings—in stride. Because perhaps more than in any other part of Italy, the focus here is on la bella figura (roughly translated to "good image"), a model of behavior that considers flawless dress and impeccable manners as the key to a refined life. And the Milanese are strict adherents, every day. Sporting fashionable clothes, handcrafted shoes and hats, custom-tailored coats, and fine furs and cashmeres, the exquisitely styled citizenry set the perfect stage for the world-class fashion event that is the Milano Moda.

Designs for Everyone

Many top designers show two collections: one targeting high-end, couture clientele and a second featuring more moderately priced sportswear for broader distribution. Giorgio Armani, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana show not just their eponymous lines, but also Emporio Armani, Miu Miu and D & G, respectively. By showing both luxury fashion as well as mid-priced designs, the houses maximize impact with top buyers, bring in more media coverage, and increase sales.

Many of the shows, which are staged concurrently several times a day and last about 30 minutes each, take place in an exhibition hall in the center of the city. This centralized location makes it easier for journalists, buyers and fashionistas to move from collection to collection at a breakneck pace. But in a powerful display of independence, Milanese-based couture houses increasingly are mounting collections in downtown industrial buildings they have remodeled to serve as flagship stores and design spaces. At these showcases, the designers invite guests to enjoy a full fashion "experience," complete with DJ's, exquisite food and drink, and breathtaking décor.

The days and nights of fashion week present a thrilling schedule of swanky cocktail parties, elegant dinners and decadent bashes intended to enthrall the hippest of the hip and the poshest of the posh. And celebrity sightings are as de rigeur as the Hermes Birkin Bag. Madonna, Sting, Elton John and Sophia Loren are among the many stars spotted each season, lending support to their designer friends and adding buzz to the already glitzy affairs.

As any fashion devotee knows, trends are constantly shifting and evolving. For the latest on catwalk couture, visit the Web sites www.style.com, www.vogue.co.uk/shows/, www.fashion.net and www.nytimes.com/pages/fashion. Magazines such as W, Women's Wear Daily, Vogue and Elle, as well as Fashion TV (www.ftv.com), also cover the hottest looks and best designers in detail.

Better yet, celebrate high style and bring the fashion fun of Milano into your home with our fun Girls' Night Out in Milano entertaining ideas. You may not get to rub elbows with Madonna and Giorgio Armani, but "dishing" the latest runway styles over vino and antipasti – and sharing your favorite designer fashions with your friends – can be a cool way to warm up a winter's night.