Fashion Capitals of Italy 

Along with London, Paris and New York, Rome and Milan are also world fashion capitals. Armani, Versace, Fendi, Valentino and Gucci rank at the top of the list of fashion icons. If you're planning a shopping tour for your vacation in Italy, you'll have your choice of some of the biggest names in the fashion industry in either Rome or Milan. The Italian sense of fashion, however, is not confined to these two cities alone. 

One of the first things you'll notice in Italy, especially in the larger cities, is the chic appearance of everyone you see. There is no "casual Friday." Both men and women have a very high fashion sense. With haute couture at their doorstep, the fashion-conscious Italian would gladly give up comfort in order to achieve fashion elegance which is, perhaps, the defining word for Italian fashion. That is why you will see women in stiletto shoes walking along cobblestone streets without a wobble. 

Perhaps the fashion designer that had the most to do with establishing the Italian style is Giorgio Armani. Elegant but understated. Respectable but sensual. Durable but desirable. This defines nearly all of the high fashion houses in Rome and Milan but also much of the ready-to-wear clothing for the masses. Most top Italian designers adhere to the same principles. And although the likes of Versace has brought back glamour to the fashion lexicon, it is nonetheless understated and elegant glamour. 

Needless to say, designer clothing is expensive and your budget may only allow you to window shop. If you do decide to purchase something outrageously expensive, do it the Italian way. The average Italian, too, cannot afford an entire wardrobe of designer clothes. The trick is to find that one item that can be mixed and matched or accessorized to act as if it were a whole wardrobe. This might be a pair of shoes, a suit, a dress, a shirt, a scarf, a handbag or even a briefcase. It can make your ready-to-wear apparel appear much more expensive than it actually is.  

One of the Italian fashion highlights is Milan Fashion Week held twice a year – once in February-March and the other in September-October. The show is closed to the public, but you can still absorb the excitement of the event up and down the Via Montenapoleone, Milan’s famous shopping strip.  

Another fashion event that is open to the public is the Donna Sotto le Stelle (Woman Under the Stars), and is held every year in early to mid-July on the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) in Rome, which is part of the Festa di AltaRoma AltaModa.  A handful of talented fashion designers display their latest masterpieces and is definitely worth catching a glimpse if you are a devout fashionista.L’Accademia di Costume e di Moda,  Rome’s leading fashion school, is also a stop to put on your list. Periodically throughout the year it hosts fashion exhibits.  

If fashion is your passion, then Rome and Milan, Italy’s fashion capitals are a must-see on your vacation in Italy.