Ellie Thumann Perfects Glamorous Fashion Week Elegance With Stunning Milan Looks

The two-time SI Swimsuit model and content creator attended the most luxurious runway shows in the most dazzling designer outfits during Fashion Week.
Ellie Thumann was photographed by Yu Tsai in Mexico.
Ellie Thumann was photographed by Yu Tsai in Mexico. / Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Ellie Thumann turned Milan into her personal runway, gliding through Fashion Week with an aura of luxury and a wardrobe that exuded effortless glamour at every turn. Best known for her fashion, lifestyle, beauty and vlog-style YouTube channel, the content creator has been on a whirlwind journey this year. She kicked off 2025 with a trip to Lake Tahoe, followed by a week in Tokyo with her dad, then jetted off to Aspen, Colo. and headed to New Orleans for the Super Bowl—all before diving into the frenzy of New York Fashion Week.

Last week, the 23-year-old brought her signature chic style to the streets of Milan, serving one stunning look after another at some of the industry’s most exclusive shows.

But behind the dazzling designer ensembles and high-profile events, the two-time SI Swimsuit model—who made her debut in Puerto Rico with Derek Kettela in 2023 and posed for Yu Tsai in Mexico last year—has always been candid about the mental and emotional challenges that come with the fast-paced worlds of fashion and modeling.

“I have a very unique relationship with fashion week in general, because I absolutely love being a part of it, and I think it's unlike anything else, but it definitely comes with anxiety for me,” Thumann shared with Cliché. “It’s a very social setting and you have to really mentally prepare for some of the interactions and conversations ahead of you. A lot of the time, you have to go into events alone. Being someone that not only has day-to-day anxiety, but also pretty bad social anxiety, it definitely can weigh on me. I’ve made the most of it and am able to make friends and partner with brands that always make me feel comfortable.”

The Arizona native, who now lives in South Carolina, has long used her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, candidly sharing her own struggles and breaking the illusion of perfection often associated with the fashion world. Whether she’s opening up about anxiety, reminding her followers to be kind to themselves or showing the behind-the-scenes reality of attending industry events solo, she continues to resonate with fans who appreciate her authenticity. And in Milan, she did just that—navigating the chaos of Fashion Week on her own terms.

Check out her Milan Fashion Week looks below.

Ferrari

Robert Cavalli

Ellie Thumann at Milan Fashion Week with Roberto Cavalli
Ellie Thumann / Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images

She described this one as the “dress of my dreams” on TikTok.

Max Mara

Ellie Thumann
Ellie Thumann / Pietro D'Aprano/Getty Images

Sportmax

Ellie Thumann
Ellie Thumann / Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Tod’s

Ellie Thumann
Ellie Thumann / Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

Published
Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.