Before the curtain rises, everything has to be perfect: the lights, the voices, the movements—and what everyone is wearing.

Precision and beauty were the order of the day when it came to dressing the young choristers of Teatro alla Scala at Vogue World: Milano, held inside Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the first day of Milan Fashion Week.

The project was born from a collaboration between Benetton and Luca Galasso, Vogue World: Milano’s Special Performers and Extended Cast Fashion Director. “They are children between the ages of nine and 20—103 of them in total.

So when I was thinking about which brand to choose, I immediately thought of Benetton, a brand I also wore as a child,” Galasso says. The singers performed throughout the event’s five acts, with opera singers cropping up from the windows overlooking the Galleria’s central octagon to sing selections from La Traviata during the Intermezzo.

The challenge was to strike a balance between the formal rigor of one of the world’s most important opera houses and the energy and physicality of its young choristers. The result is an understated, clean, almost timeless wardrobe in which classic elegance meets a fresh sensibility.

The proportions were carefully designed to accommodate different body types, while the materials and construction were chosen with one specific purpose in mind: to support the performance at Vogue World: Milan without ever competing with it.

The creative process began with visual research exploring the history of theatrical tailoring and its distinctive codes. From these references came the first full-look sketches, more emotional than technical, designed to envision not only the garments themselves but also how they would live and move onstage.

Once approved by Galasso’s team, the sketches moved into patternmaking, where the initial concept was transformed into patterns, then prototypes, and finally finished garments. It was a process shaped by fittings, adjustments to proportions, and countless small refinements.

At the heart of the look worn by the young choristers of Teatro alla Scala for Vogue World: Milano is a formal white shirt with a bib front, crafted from soft 100% cotton. Its regular fit and tailored details—from the classic cuffs to the concealed button placket—create a crisp, luminous silhouette in which the white almost becomes part of the splendid set design.

The black trousers, by contrast, introduce a more structured element. Made from a stretch poly-viscose blend, they are designed to combine elegance with freedom of movement. A sharp center crease follows the line of the leg, while the tailored waistband and pockets—slanted front pockets and double-welt back pockets—keep the overall design clean and precise.

Defining the waist is a black satin formal cummerbund, its luminous surface subtly marking the transition between shirt and trousers. Here, too, functionality meets sartorial craftsmanship. The adjustable fastening at the back was designed to accommodate the different needs of the young choristers and adapt as they grow.

But it is in the use of color that the project finds its most unexpected accent for the Teatro alla Scala Choir at Vogue World: Milano 2026.

For Benetton, it was important to introduce a touch of color. The traditional black bow tie gives way to Bordeaux Pantone Cabernet, a deep, refined, and quietly formal shade chosen in collaboration with Galasso’s team. It is a small but significant gesture: a tone that gently breaks the severity of the suit without compromising its elegance.

The bow tie, crafted from 100% silk twill, also adds a tactile, luminous dimension to the look, becoming the defining detail of the entire silhouette.

“They are onstage and performing the entire time, so we needed something that would work seamlessly with the show while still having a certain presence,” Galasso says. “The burgundy details pick up on the Vibi Venezia shoes, which are crafted in velvet in the same shade.”

Thrillingly, the look that Benetton and Galasso have crafted will become part of La Scala’s wardrobe going forward. “This will be the choir’s uniform, because both brands have decided to gift the garments to the choristers.”

Central to the collaboration is a respect for tradition without simply replicating it, alongside an interpretation of formalwear that feels less rigid. Because in the theater, clothing should never overpower the performance. When everything works, the costume almost disappears. At Vogue World: Milano, as at La Scala, elegance is itself part of the spectacle.