Nina Kaginda Breaks New Grounds at Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024
Like a breath of fresh air, Singapore-based tastemaker and entrepreneur Nina Kaginda breezed through the shows and presentations of Men’s Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 looking picture perfect. She speaks to L’OFFICIEL SINGAPORE about all the best moments below
Hi Nina! How was your recent experience attending shows and presentations at the Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024?
To be honest, it still hasn’t sunk in completely that I’ve gone through it all. It is something that I’ve always wanted to pursue and to finally see it come to fruition is a blessing. I previously attended the late Virgil Abloh’s first men’s show for Louis Vuitton in Paris, but to cover the full leg of Milan Men’s Fashion Week is a first for me and it has left me with distinct memories. As an avid fashion lover, I have never been one to narrow down my options by looking at just women’s collections, so being a female attendee at Men’s Fashion Week this season felt all the more special. Safe to say, this will not be my last Men’s Fashion Week.
Are there ways in which men’s week felt similar or different from the previous fashion seasons you’ve experienced?
No matter which season it is, it seems that I cannot escape having butterflies in my stomach. The exhilaration of preparing for each show and the anticipation of watching the first look go down the runway doesn’t change. For me, what felt different was the atmosphere. At the men’s shows, the energy levels seemed to be more relaxed and the pace felt less intense compared to the women’s shows. If I’m being completely honest, it did feel a tad more enjoyable as I could sink deeper into the moment and take in all the sights, and process the masterpieces that came down the runway.
What are some of the most memorable moments for you?
The sheer beauty of meeting people from various continents and different walks of life never ceases to feed my soul. What was particularly unforgettable was stepping into the Prada show at Via Lorenzini. I was told by my creative director, Melissa, who attended the Fall/Winter 2023 season, that the show venue for Prada has been the same for the past few seasons — so to know and see that the vast space takes on an absolute transformation season to season is breathtaking. The venue was decked in silver-tone and when the show commenced, slime flowed down from the ceiling to the floor, which was chilling to watch.
Is there one restaurant or café that you found irresistible in Milan?
Without a doubt, Langosteria. I love their food so much so that I visited it twice during my short four-night stay in Milan. Not only is the food exquisite, they have delightful service staff who make the dining experience so warm and comfortable. Anyone who loves alcoholic coffee has got to try their espresso martini too. I headed over to Langosteria right after the Dolce & Gabbana show because I had an intense craving for the food there. Finally, they have a limited collection of Samaroli whiskies that I have never seen elsewhere so that is another major plus.
What are some of your favourite purchases from your recent trip to Milan?
I’m someone who can’t resist the occasional over-the-top bling, so I was so pleased to get my hands on the Prada Cleo Bag with crystals. I incorporated it into my show look for the Prada show, which gave me this boost of energy while I had the bag in hand.
