Milan is one of four fashion capitals in the world, and one of the main sartorial hubs of Italy, and walking around Milan, it would be easy to see why. From the glitz of the world’s best known fashion houses, to the simple yet classy and chic ensembles of the locals, Milan is fashionable to its core. Even if you’re not big on the latest trends, you’ll definitely want to take some time to admire the sheer artistry of the fashion industry in the city.
Quadrilatero d’Oro
The Quadrilatero d’Oro literally means the “Golden Rectangle”, and it’s named that because the four streets that make it up, Via Monte Napoleone, Via Alessandro Manzoni, Via della Spiga, and Corso Venezia, are home to the boutiques and workshops of some of the best in international and Italian fashion.
Just north of the Duomo, walking down any of the main thoroughfares of the Quadrilatero d’Oro is like checking names off of a list of the biggest and best known brands in the world. From Salvatore Ferragamo to Gucci, Hermes to Cartier, the quaintly cobbled streets of the Rectangle are a far cry from the type of luxury available in the boutiques. And though you’d definitely need a big budget to shop here, it is 100% free to just wander around and window shop - there are few places better to get some sartorial inspiration after all.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a main landmark in Milan, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, named after the first king of Italy, is an elegant four-storey double arcade right in the middle of the city, just off of the Duomo. The Galleria has been the place to go for fashion since it was opened in 1877, and is also known as Il salotto di Milano, “Milan’s drawing room”, as it is a common meeting ground for locals. Since 2007, it has even housed a hotel, the Town House Galleria.
Shaped like a Latin cross and covered by an immense glass and steel dome, the arcade is a beautifully designed building, its architecture and beautiful mosaics, such as the one in the central dome that depicts the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa and America, highlighted by the sunlight streaming in, and doing justice to the various boutiques housed on each floor. Fashion aside, visitors to the arcade will also be treated to a delectable meal, as the arcade is also home to some of the best establishments in the city. Even if you’re on a budget and end up at the arcade’s McDonald’s, the outlet’s black columns, gold decor and chic terrace will make you do a double-take.
Before you leave the arcade, be sure to make a stop at the central dome to see the four mosaics that portray the coat of arms of the city of Milan, a red cross on a white background, and the three capitals of the Kingdom of Italy: Rome, represented by a she-wolf with Remus and Romulus, Florence, represented by a lily-flower, and Turin, represented by a dancing bull. Though no one knows why, legend has it that stepping on the bull and turning in a full circle will bring you good luck - if you do it on New Years’ Eve at midnight you’ll be lucky for a year! And though it might just be a myth, enough people have tried it that there’s now a hole where the bull’s delicate parts should be.
Corso di Porta Ticinese
The Corso di Porta Ticinese is a far cry from the luxe of the Golden Triangle and Milan’s Drawing Room, but it’s a fashionable street in its own right. This is where you might actually be able to shop, as the boutiques here tend to be smaller businesses and independent stores, as well as vintage stores where you might just score a timeless designer piece for a fraction of its original price.
Eclectic and alternative, this street is younger and in some ways more vibrant than its more established counterparts. In and amidst the stores, you’ll see youths smoking and skateboarding, aspiring musicians strumming their guitars and belting their hearts out, giving you a small but distinct taste of the real Milan.
Fashion Houses based in Milan
When a city is a fashion capital, everyone wants to set up shop there, not only for the industrial set up that Milan has, but also for the prestige of being based there. And Italy already being known for its Alta Moda, the Italian equivalent to the French haute couture, that makes for a very long list of fashion houses in the city, both native to Milan and not.
From Giorgio Armani, fondly nicknamed King George by the Milanese, to Domenico Dolce (who is actually Sicilian) and Stefano Gabbana (who is Milanese), the Prada family, and everyone in between, Milan is home to many, many ateliers, and continues to draw newer generations of designers keen to make their mark in this historic city.
Events - fashion week, MICAM, etc.
And of course, the peak of fashion in Milan is arguably the fashion events that are held in the city throughout the year. From the quintessential biannual Milan Fashion Week, where designers present their collections for the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons, to trade fairs like Milano Unica, where clothing and accessories made in Italy and Europe by established Houses and up-and-coming designers, and exhibitions like MICAM, where footwear is king, events such as these make it abundantly clear why Milan is and will continue to be a fashion capital of the world.
