The Attico: Penthouse Glamour Meets Milanese Cool
Imagine a penthouse: plush velvet sofas, glittering chandeliers, late-night champagne dressing, and more than a little swagger. That’s the spirit behind The Attico — a label that traffics in glamor, but does it with a wink, not an ego.
Founded in Milan by two style-savvy friends, The Attico has grown from a party-dress passion project to a full lifestyle brand stocked globally. It’s a story of contrasts — restraint and opulence, street-style and old-school luxury — and how two very different personalities built a singular, unmistakable voice in modern fashion.
Origins: Two Designers, One Vision
Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini, the duo behind The Attico, didn’t come from thin air. Both had strong roots in fashion, but very different ones — and that difference is exactly what fueled their creative alchemy.
- Gilda, born in Naples, carries that energy: bold, maximalist, and exuberant. Her taste leans into statement pieces, sequins, and a kind of joyful theatricality.
- Giorgia, from the Marche region, brings a quieter, more disciplined aesthetic. She studied design at Milan’s Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), and her approach often leans toward clean lines, subtle sensuality, and refined silhouettes.
They met in Milan through mutual friends, quickly recognized their complementary styles, and realized they shared a vision: to create clothes that felt both collected and alive.
They didn’t launch with a huge business plan. Rather, in September 2015 (yes, in a taxi in New York, of all places), the idea was born. By early 2016 — February, to be precise — The Attico was officially launched as a brand.
Why “The Attico”? The Name and the Mood
The name is key. “Attico” in Italian means penthouse, a choice that isn’t just pretty — it’s symbolic. It evokes exclusivity, elevation, and a touch of indulgence. This isn’t fast fashion or mass-market minimalism — The Attico is about luxury that feels lived-in, glamorous but not distant.
That penthouse energy also reflects how Gilda and Giorgia think about their creative and personal identity: they’re not building a cold, distant empire, but a place — a world — you’re invited into.
The Early Years: Robes, Kimono Dresses, and Sparkle
Their first collection leaned heavily into what would become The Attico’s signature: luxurious gowns that felt like dressing gowns, silk robes, peignoirs, and kimono silhouettes. These weren’t just pretty party dresses — they carried intimacy, as if they could be worn at home or a glamorous event.
The pieces immediately caught the eye of influential boutiques and editors. Their mix of sensuality and nostalgia, with fabrics like velvet and satin, and embellishments like lace and vintage details, created something that felt both retro and very now.
Their first collection sold quickly and landed in 140+ international stockists in very short order. For a brand that started in a taxi and then in a small circle of friends, that’s a hell of a start.
Growing Up, but on Their Own Terms
By 2018, The Attico hit a major milestone: Archive, an investment vehicle tied to Moncler leadership (Remo Ruffini’s group), took a 49% stake in the brand. This wasn’t just cash — it was a strategic move. With that backing, Gilda and Giorgia could scale, improve operations, and expand thoughtfully without losing their identity.
Rather than blowing up with hyper-fast drops, they leaned into a conscious scarcity strategy. The Attico didn’t want to make “more for more’s sake”; they wanted to build long-term value and maintain their signature world.
Expanding the World: Product Lines & Collaborations
Over time, The Attico has layered on new categories carefully and purposefully:
- Ready-to-wear: Beyond dresses, they added more staples — tailored trousers, tops, daywear that still channels that penthouse glamour.
- Shoes and accessories: Heeled sandals, mules, bags — all with distinctive shapes, bold textures, and a strong sense of design identity.
- Swimwear: In 2019, they teamed up with Eres to launch a capsule swimwear line, combining Eres’ swim expertise with The Attico’s sensual, refined style.
- Sustainability and vintage spirit: One of their most talked-about collaborations was with Re/Done, a brand known for upcycling vintage denim. Together they created a capsule rooted in 70s and 90s pieces: re-cut vintage dresses, Levi’s jeans adorned with Swarovski prints, and more.
These expansions didn’t dilute the brand. They reinforced it. Each new line plays into the Attico world: luxurious, personal, slightly nostalgic, and unmistakably confident.
Business Moves: Strategy, Distribution & Retail
From the beginning, Gilda and Giorgia thought very strategically. They built a brand as much around community and identity as around product.
- They launched in wholesale early: Net-a-Porter, Matches Fashion, concept boutiques, top retailers.
- But they didn’t just rely on partners. They invested in their own e-commerce presence, working with designers (like FAM) to create a digital identity that felt as considered as their clothes.
- In recent years, they began opening concept retail spaces. For instance, in 2025, they opened their first standalone store in Ibiza, a boutique designed around the idea of an apartment — each store room referencing a space in a penthouse.
- They also stayed disciplined on growth. According to their founders, they “chose to grow slowly and deliberately … we’ve always favoured a scarcity strategy to protect the brand’s long-term value.”
Aesthetic & Identity: The Attico Woman
What does a typical “Attico woman” look or feel like? According to Gilda and Giorgia, she’s multifaceted — someone who’s not just dressed for a party, but who lives in this rich, elevated world day to night.
She’s confident, sensual, and drawn to collectible pieces. The Attico woman invests in garments the way you might collect art or vintage treasures, not just wear-for-a-season stuff.
The brand plays with dualities: bold vs minimal, retro vs modern, extravagance vs restraint. Gilda and Giorgia lean into their own personalities in the creative process — one maximalist, one minimalist — and that contrast becomes one of the brand’s strongest signatures.
Defining Moments & Milestones
Some of the most important chapters in The Attico story:
- 2016 Launch: First collection of satin robes and kimonos, introduced in a private event in Milan.
- First Major Recognition: In 2017, they won Launch of the Year at the Footwear News Achievement Awards.
- Going Global: Within a few years, they had over 140 international stockists.
- Investment: Archive (Moncler group) takes 49% in 2018, signaling serious growth intentions.
- Sustainable Vintage Collab: The Re/Done capsule brought upcycling, regenerating vintage pieces with crystal embellishments.
- Pop-Up / Retail Expansion: From concept pop-ups in hotspots to their first standalone boutique in Ibiza (2025).
- First Runway Show: After years of lookbooks and presentations, they held their first runway at Milan Fashion Week in September 2023.
