Here comes Milan Fashion Week

After New York and London, the Italian capital is rolling out its fashion fest with a full line-up boasting 170 shows. In 2014, Milan brought us pyrotechnics at Cavalli, drone cams at Fendi and purple sand at Prada, what does the fashion capital have in store this season? All will be revealed this week...

Speaking earlier this month at the Milan Fashion Week press conference, Milan mayor Giuliano Pisapia welcomed signs of recovery for the fashion industry and the entire Italian economy, highlighting the increasingly international flavor of Milan's major style-setting event, which puts quality first. The news that Italian fashion exports grew by 5% in 2014 adds to the host city's buoyant mood.

Day 1 (Wednesday, February 25)  welcomes 11 runway events by homegrown labels Simonetta Ravizza, Fausto Puglisi, Luisa Beccaria, as well as big draw brands Gucci (3pm) and Alberta Ferretti (5pm). German-born Swiss raised designer Philipp Plein rounds off the first day in the 'nightfall slot' with his menacingly titled "There Will Be No Miracles Here" show at 8.30pm.

Fans of Giorgio Armani and Dsquared2 will have to sit tight till Monday to discover collections by these fashion week favorites. Their shows will be among Milan's most star-studded runway events, as both brands are celebrating big milestones. Dsquared2 turns 20 while Giorgio Armani will unveil Le Sac 11, a new limited edition handbag to mark the brand's four decades of fashion.

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- Ones to watch this season -

- Following Frida Giannini's exit, former Head Accessories designer at Gucci Alessandro Michele makes his womenswear debut for Gucci on Day 1.
- Young designer and one of Italian fashion's biggest rising stars -- Gabriele Colangelo will show his A/W collection on Saturday, just days after being named as Creative Director at luxury fashion house Giada.
- Stella Jean, fairly new to Milan Fashion Week, the 2011 winner of Vogue's Who's On Next talent contest's exotic fusion fashion is sure to wow the crowds.
- The Emilio Pucci show on Saturday night is tipped to feature Creative Director Peter Dundas's last collection, before he reportedly returns to Roberto Cavalli. Marco Zanini, who left Schiaparelli in November, is said to be waiting in the wings.

Other brands to track at the event, which runs until March 2, are Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli. These A-list labels rarely fail to deliver a blend of sexy, decadent game-changing style that Italians do best.