During our buying trip in Milan the LuxeDesigners team took a few phone snaps of the Milanese women and we had to include men. Silver foxes with olive skin, symmetric cheekbones, not sooo tall however their classic style makes up for it. The one thing we can take away is you must wear sunglasses in Milan, when in Italy wear sunglasses rain or shine  and use your hands all the time..

Understated elegance – the Milanese like to make a big impression with the way they dress but with a demure and effortless attitude. When you’re next in Milan take a moment to look around you and see if you agree. The women in particular are fond of strong patterns and bold statement jewellery, yet the overall feel is always understated. Our favourite spots for snapping Via MonteNapoleone & Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Milan is a trendy city, the capital of fashion, with its glittering shop windows in the city centre and crazy traffic during Fashion Week. So, undoubtedly, Milan is primarily made up of locals and their love for fashion. Whether it is haute couture or street wear, Milanese people stand out for their un disputable style… and their innate ability to detect “foreigners” at first glance.

Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Armani were born here, but also the phenomenon of The Blonde Salad blogger. From the mornings in the metro to the evenings in Navigli, Brera, Corso Como, Milanese locals love to dress well, appropriately for the occasion, following the latest trends, but with a personal twist. They are loyal to “Made In Italy”, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Moschino, TOD’s

How it all began….we do love a bit of history at LuxeDesigners during our coffee break chats.

Milan’s fashion history has evolved greatly throughout the years. Milan began as a centre of fashion in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as in Venice and Florence, the making of luxury goods was an industry of such importance that in the 16th century the city gave its name to the English word “milaner” or “millaner”, meaning fine wares like jewellery, cloth, hats and luxury apparel. By the 19th century, a later variant, “millinery“, had come to mean one who made or sold hats.

In the mid-19th century cheaper silk began to be imported from Asia and the pest phylloxera damaged silk and wine production. More land was subsequently given over to industrialisation. Textile production was followed by metal and mechanical and furniture manufacture. In 1865, the first major department store in the country opened in Milan by the Bocconi brothers (which was called Alle Città d’Italia and later in 1921 became La Rinascente^.

This was regarded as a novelty at the time with regards to retailing in Italy. Though, traditionally, artisans would sell the items they made directly or to small stores the opening of these new department stores modernised the distributions of clothes in the city.

In terms of the Milanese people, they are said to have probably been “fashion conscious” in the 1880s and late 19th century. The Milanese style was partially inspired by French fashion, which at the time was still dominant in terms of influence, yet adapted according to local tastes; this included a generally sombre and simple style, which was moderate in terms of decoration and ornamentation, and put an emphasis on the quality of tailoring and the different fabrics and textiles. The general Milanese interest in styling was reflected in the number of fashion magazines which circulated in the city at the time, as well as the fact that the people were ready to follow trends; nevertheless, the Milanese style was relatively traditional. The city had several tailors and seamstresses which in 1881 amounted to 249 and in 1886 to 383 (which were listed in guides). In this period, the city was one of the biggest industrial powerhouses in Italy, and had a diversified fashion and clothing economy that was mainly based on small workshops rather than large companies.

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