What not to miss at Milan Design Week (fashion & beauty edition)

Springtime in Milan doesn’t just mean blooming flowers and fragrant fields — it’s the start of a vibrant season packed with events, pop-ups, and installations filling showrooms, shop windows, historic buildings, and entire neighborhoods. From April 7th to 13th, Milan Design Week 2025 returns, sprawling from the Rho fairgrounds across every corner of the city, transforming Milan into the place to be for students, creatives, tourists, style hunters, and curious visitors eager to discover the latest design trends and coolest projects. This year, Fuorisalone 2025 focuses on the theme Connected Worlds, an invitation to explore the relationship between nature and technology, design, artificial intelligence, and collective participation. It has inspired some of the biggest names in Italian and international architecture and design. Ideas and creativity will not only touch design but also fashion and beauty, with installations, exhibitions, openings, capsule collections, collaborations, pop-up stores, aperitifs, performances, and countless special events.

The unmissable events of Milan Design Week 2025 and Fuorisalone

The Second Skin: Aesop’s Installation at Chiesa del Carmine

Aesop, Sensory Patron of Salone del Mobile 2025, presents The Second Skin, a stunning installation in the Sacristy of Chiesa del Carmine. It pays tribute to the properties of skin and Milan’s characteristic grand entrances. The space weaves together architecture, culture, and sensory experience, and marks the launch of the new Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser. Used as mortar between the structure’s panels, its woody, herbal, spicy aroma envelops visitors, offering a sensory refuge. The experience is completed by a contemporary dance film dedicated to the art of cleansing, created with Nayoung Kim, dancer at Tanztheater Wuppertal.

Where: Chiesa Santa Maria del Carmine, Piazza del Carmine 2

When: April 8–13, from 10 AM to 6 PM

Diptyque Opens a New Boutique in Milan

To celebrate Salone del Mobile, Diptyque inaugurates a new store at Via Manzoni 25, echoing the charm of its original Parisian boutique. Opening on April 8th, the two-level 134m² space blends colorful walls, marble floors, vintage furniture, and curated decorative objects. At the heart of it all are Diptyque’s iconic products: fragrances, body care, candles, and accessories. Special mention goes to the Milan City Candle, a limited edition with notes of geranium and cardamom, available exclusively in Milan and briefly worldwide from April 11th to 21st.

Where: Via Manzoni 25

When: April 8, from 5 PM to 9 PM

Byredo x Bethan Wood: A Colorful Urban Takeover

For Milan Design Week 2025, Byredo partners with artist Bethan Wood to reimagine the cityscape. Wood brings her colorful, surreal touch to a newsstand kiosk on Via Brera 21, a cargo bike roaming the Brera District, and the Byredo store in Piazza Filippo Meda 3. Visitors will enjoy a fully immersive, multisensory experience blending Wood’s vibrant designs with Byredo’s evocative fragrances.

Where: Kiosk: Via Brera 21, 9 AM–7 PM; Cargo Bike: Brera District, 11 AM–7 PM; Byredo Store: Piazza Filippo Meda 3, 10 AM–7 PM

When: April 7–13

Ephemeral: Antonio Marras’ New Temporary Space on Via Montenapoleone

While preparing to open a flagship store, Antonio Marras unveils Ephemeral at Via Montenapoleone 6/A during Fuorisalone 2025. The 300m² boutique offers an emotional journey through fragmented memories, Renaissance court illusions, and contemporary tributes to Versailles. It showcases Marras’ women’s and men’s collections, accessories, fragrances, and unique artistic pieces. A private opening event on April 9th with Plastic Club will kick off the experience.

Where: Via Montenapoleone 6/A

When: From April 9 onwards

MCM x Pet Therapy by Atelier Biagetti

During Milan Design Week, MCM and Atelier Biagetti present a playful, pet-friendly installation: sculptural poufs shaped like cats and dogs, designed with Altea Biagetti (age 11) and crafted from MCM Visetos and durable outdoor fabric. Alongside, the new MCM fragrances by Sophie Labbé debut at the beautiful Giardino delle Arti.

Where: Giardino delle Arti, Via Palestro 8

When: April 8–13, from 10 AM to 6 PM

Cova’s Outdoor Aperitivo Experience

Historic Milanese pastry shop Cova celebrates Milan Design Week 2025 with an elegant outdoor aperitivo in Via Montenapoleone 8, featuring exclusive furnishings by Nardini Forniture and Promemoria. Enjoy the Garden Negroni cocktail paired with sweet and savory delicacies by Chef Enrico Rizzi and Cova’s Maître Pâtissier.

Where: Cova, Via Montenapoleone 8

When: April 8–11, from 6 PM to 10 PM

Frédéric Malle’s Portrait of a Lady Exhibition

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle celebrates 15 years of its iconic fragrance Portrait of a Lady with an art exhibition at Via Foro Bonaparte 54. Portraits by Nicholas Fols of Anna Dello Russo, Virna Toppi, and Aurora Giovinazzo highlight contemporary femininity. A red room installation evokes the 400 Turkish roses in each bottle.

Where: Via Foro Bonaparte 54

When: April 8–13, from 10 AM to 7 PM

Costa 70 + Zaven: The Collaboration Between Valextra and Zaven

Valextra joins forces with Enrica Cavarzan and Marco Zavagno, the Venetian duo behind Zaven, to create the Costa 70 + Zaven suitcase, a limited-edition design piece blending architectural sculpture and mobility. This project reinterprets the iconic Costa suitcase — a signature item from Valextra’s catalog and winner of the Compasso D’Oro award. Inside, it conceals a series of abstract resin objects to assemble into endless sculptural compositions. The collaboration also introduces the Iside Resin Tint Mini and the Milano Resin Tint Mini, limited-edition bags featuring resin inserts. You can experience this exclusive project at the Valextra store in Via Manzoni 3, transformed for the occasion with three-dimensional foam and resin elements.

Where: Valextra Boutique, Via A. Manzoni 3

When: April 9–12, from 10 AM to 7 PM

Valentino Beauty Pop-Up in Portanuova

From April 8 to 13, Valentino Beauty will host a pop-up store at the Civic Kiosk in Portanuova (Via Vincenzo Capelli), dedicated entirely to the Born in Roma fragrance collection: the original Born in Roma, Born in Roma Intense, and Born in Roma Extradose, available for both men and women. The pink-themed space invites visitors on an olfactory journey guided by brand experts, ending with a complimentary sachet of your favorite scent. Adding a special touch, refreshing herbal teas inspired by the fragrances' notes will be served in reusable cups decorated with the Valentino Beauty Born in Roma motifs. Additionally, the experience extends to Sephora Beauty Stores in Piazza Gae Aulenti, Via Torino, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, and Via Dante, where exclusive gifts await.

Where: Civic Kiosk, Via Vincenzo Capelli, Portanuova

When: April 8–13, from 10 AM to 8 PM

DoDo x Gufram Installation

During the Milano Design Week 2025, DoDo and Gufram unite the worlds of jewelry and design. Their collaboration transforms the DoDo Flagship Store into a surreal playground with the Pratone Forever installation, featuring 25 green stems made of polyurethane and bouclé wool. Visitors can also participate in an urban treasure hunt through the Brera district, leading to the flagship store where winners will enjoy an exclusive photo shoot.

Where: DoDo Flagship Manzoni, Via Alessandro Manzoni 26

When: April 7–17

Toiletpaper Beauty at Hotel Savona 18 Suites

The irreverent universe of Toiletpaper Beauty meets the design of Hotel Savona 18 Suites, part of the Blu Hotels Group, with a setup of two rooms styled in the brand’s unmistakable surreal aesthetic by artists Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari. From April 8 to 13, visitors can explore a pop-up store showcasing the full Toiletpaper Beauty collection: body care, home products, leisure items, and iconic apparel like the “snakes” pajamas. The experience extends to Garden 18, the hotel’s open-air lounge, where Oscar Quagliarini will craft exclusive cocktails inspired by the fragrances.

Where: Savona 18 Suites, Via Savona 18

When: April 8–13

ghd “Futurescape” Hair Bar

For Milano Design Week 2025, ghd teams up with Hair Bar to unveil the ghd Futurescape Limited Edition Collection. On April 13, from 11 AM to 8 PM, the ghd Lovers community can preview and test the latest hair tools with free styling sessions from ghd’s professional hairstylists. Throughout the week, the Futurescape Hair Bar at Via Filippo Turati 3 will also feature a special exhibition by artist Daniele Robbiati, presenting unique works in the mystical green, galactic purple, and transcendental pink shades of the Futurescape Spring Summer 2025 collection.

Where: Hair Bar, Via Filippo Turati 3

When: April 7–13

The Collaboration between Twinset Milano and Arper

On the occasion of the Salone del Mobile 2025, Twinset Milano and Arper merge the excellence of Italian design and the sophistication of Made in Italy, unveiling an exclusive version of the Liliane bag. This special edition stands out for its finishes in partially recycled and non-galvanized steel, and two large rings connecting the handle to the structure. Only 14 exclusive pieces have been created, using recovered and recycled materials and manufacturing processes characterized by lower energy, water, and chemical consumption. The color palette of the Liliane bag mirrors the shades of the cushions that complement the look of Arper’s Catifa Carta, which will also star in the window display of the Twinset boutique at Via Manzoni 34, Milan during the same period. Like the bag, the chair is entirely made of PaperShell, an innovative material obtained from wood waste paper. Thanks to its circular design, Catifa Carta is the first carbon-negative shell.

Where: Twinset boutique, Via Manzoni 34

Le Silla Presents Unveiled Elegance

Unveiled Elegance: three sculptural, never-before-seen totems, crafted with contemporary materials, take center stage in the boutique’s window and interior. This is how Le Silla celebrates Design Week 2025 and the Spring/Summer 2025 collection. The three minimalist installations are covered with a handmade net, recalling the meticulous techniques used in the brand’s footwear production, while highlighting femininity and craftsmanship.

Where: Le Silla Boutique, Via Sant’Andrea, Milan.

Alessandro Bini’s 20th Anniversary Collection 

For Alessandro Bini, the Milano Design Week 2025 is the perfect occasion to celebrate 20 years of the textile company. How? With a special presentation of the 2025 collection, featured in an artistic exhibition curated by the architecture and design studio Palomba Serafini, set in the evocative location of the Protestant Christian Church of Milan. The carefully studied setup and the uniqueness of the venue perfectly match the refined creations of Alessandro Bini.

Where: Protestant Christian Church of Milan, Via Marco de Marchi 90.

When: April 7–13, 2025.

The collaboration between Ditre Italia and MooRER

Ditre Italia has joined forces with luxury brand MooRER for a unique capsule collection. The protagonist? The Melville sofa, designed by French designer Patrick Norguet, which for Salone del Mobile 2025 gets a makeover inspired by MooRER's SS 2025 Collection, made of the fine Sea Island cotton from the tropical lands of Barbados and Jamaica. New design and luxurious details, such as the Australian mother-of-pearl button, the sofa is also tinged with four new colorways (Caribbean Turquoise, Tobago Beach, Kingston White and Jamaican Deep Sea), a tribute to the warm and vibrant tones of the Caribbean islands. The result is a unique and special mix of sophistication and innovation, craftsmanship and contemporary design, made in Italy and exotic inspirations.

Where: Ditre Italia flagship store, via Solferino 21

Armani Beauty pop-up at La Rinascente

Armani Beauty conquers Milan's La Rinascente Piazza Duomo by personalizing the windows, arcades, facade and escalators, but also by offering refreshment after shopping at the Armani In The Spotlight Café, located on the -1 floor. The highlight of this take over is In The Spotlight, an exclusive pop-up space of more than 100 square meters on the -1 floor, designed to make visitors discover the brand's world of make-up and fragrances and make them feel like real stars. The set-up, in fact, is reminiscent of a movie set, where visitors can discover the brand's new products: the fragrance Sì passione Red Musk, enriched with notes of strawberry and rose; the liquid blush Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Shine; and the volumizing gloss Prisma Glass Icy Plumper. Making the experience even more engaging is a full schedule of activities: make-up masterclasses (here's the link to book), where participants can discover the products and learn professional application techniques; the possibility to book make-up sessions followed by an exclusive photoshoot; and the chance to personalize the brand's fragrances.

Where: La Rinascente, Piazza Duomo

When: April 9 to 21