Defining Moments: Milan, Night and Day

New locations, both historic and unique; an extended calendar; a live-wired partycircuit, and store openings that included Alberta Ferretti’s and Jimmy Choo’shelped add brio to Milan Fashion Week—one of the strongest seasons in sometime. To toast the future of Italian fashion, virtually every designer and industryexecutive in town turned up at the Who’s On Next talent-search presentation—from Giorgio Armani to Donatella Versace. The latter hosted a party of her ownlater in the week, with performances by Hercules and Love Affair, Alex James ofBlur and French artists Misty Rabbit.

George Clooney caused a frenzy at the Armani show but remained the unfazedgentleman. “No personal questions? Ask me, ask me,” said the actor, smilingbroadly, thus gamely brushing away guidelines provided by the designer’s staff, whocarefully monitored access to the actor.

Aishwarya Rai, Megan Fox and her husband, BrianAustin Green, also took in Armani’s show. Despiteher smoldering Emporio Armani underwear ads, Foxinsisted she’s camera shy and “uncomfortable” havingher picture taken. “I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable,but it’s like acting: playing a part, after all,” she said.

Different day, different party: A $750,000Aquariva by Gucci speedboat was docked at Milan’sPalazzo Serbelloni, where the Italian luxury goodshouse partied to celebrate its collaboration with boatmaker Riva. “It’s the Ferrari of the seas,” said creativedirector Frida Giannini.

Orlando Bloom protectively watched over his wife,a pregnant Miranda Kerr, as paparazzi clamored forattention—and photos—at the opening of “The Scentof the Future” exhibition hosted by Procter & GamblePrestige and Italian Vogue, whose editor, FrancaSozzani, also hosted a high-octane party honoringDiane von Furstenberg, with Lapo Elkann at the latter’sItalia Independent headquarters in Milan. Images ofvon Furstenberg adorned the warehouse space, as thedesigner reminisced about her first steps in fashion inMilan—where she also discovered she was pregnantwith her first child by fainting in the city’s San BabilaSquare. Among the guests: Mischa Barton, JadaPinkett Smith, Peter Dundas, Laudomia Pucci, Fendi’sMichael Burke, DJ Leigh Lezark, Bianca Brandolini d’Adda, Tommaso Aquilano,Roberto Rimondi, Roberta Armani and Diego Della Valle.

Von Furstenberg and Heidi Klum chaired amfAR’s second annual benefit inconjunction with the city’s shows—with a live auction of luxury items including asigned Bert Stern photograph of Marilyn Monroe and a Louis Vuitton vanity casedesigned by Sharon Stone.

Roberto Cavalli chose to celebrate his 40th anniversary with a party in Paris—anevent rumored to cost more than $2 million—but he didn’t skimp on his runwaypresentation either, holding it at a spectacular Milan landmark—the 19th-centurymarble Arco della Pace—and exclusively tapping Natalia Vodianova and LaetitiaCasta to open and close the show, respectively. The front row included the likes ofTaylor Swift, Rachel Bilson, Heidi Klum and Leona Lewis.