Men's fashion, Milan style
Monday, January 16, 2012

Milan unfairly has a reputation for being a bit 'industrial'.  I happen to like the industrial look (as in East London, Berlin etc), but when people say it of Milan they just mean there are lots of factories.  Sure it's not as pretty as Florence or Rome, but I love Milan.  Especially during Fashion Week!

I love it even though it's a nightmare to get to from Ibiza at the moment (don't get me started on Ryanair canceling the direct flights this winter) and even though it's cold, and even though it's Men's Fashion Week not Womens... there's something about it that just rocks.

It might be the way everyone oozes style, from the bus drivers to the waitresses, in the way that only the birthplace of Prada could.  Those designer bags are real here!  It might be that every bar you go to gives you a plate of gorgeous Italian food to nibble on (absolutely free).  It might be that you see things in the shop windows you just don't see anywhere else.  Whatever it is, this city has style.

Milan... where the Louis Vuitton luggage is real.

We had a couple of appointments this weekend, to see McQ Alexander McQueen and Y-3, and also to check out the White Trade Show.  On arriving at Centrale Station we got caught up in the middle of a Milanese taxi strike!  Fortunately it was just ending, as the Y-3 showroom is not near any train stations but it was just a little bit chaotic.  Brilliant!

Loads of taxis, just noone to drive them.

At Y-3 there were some great collection pieces (leopard print shorts, anyone?) but it's the shoes that we love the most.  In fact while we were there the design team gave us a sneak preview of some fabulous women's shoes they've been developing... ooh I'm sworn to secrecy but they are great!

The White tradeshow was more for a look than anything else.  The entrance was via a white carpet (naturally), and there were several different areas, all of which working the industrial angle the right way.  It was actually quite quiet, as all the Italian stores come on the Sunday (they are open on Saturdays!) but with lots of interesting stuff.

The bike theme in the main hall was a bit of a mystery...

Up and coming labels in Room 2...

Not just clothes - the most comfortable cactus you'll ever sit on - by Cerruti Baleri

We were keen to check out the Basement, and it was like entering a cool club, with a spiral staircase downstairs to a series of concrete rooms, music throbbing from within and an unsmiling blonde model-type on the door.  It reminded me of the legendary Nom de Guerre store in Bleecker St used to be (minus the staff skateboarding down the corridor!). 

Here were labels such as Silent by Damir Domar, PRPS and some really cool labels I'd never heard of, some of them (very unfortunately) way too directional for laid-back Ibiza, but I wish them well... some of them you will hopefully be seeing soon at reVOLVER!

Our McQ appointment on Sunday was a bit early... those Milanese wine bars I mentioned earlier didn't help!  Fortunately the photos prove there were some very strong pieces, and the shoes... well they were an unexpected highlight.

On the way back to the airport is started snowing, so it was a good time to leave.  Fortunately not for long - the Women's version is just over a month away!