To start with, it’s sexy, but never vulgar. It can be quirky, but fit is always central to its appeal. And tailoring and quality fabric are everything.
Those are the opinions of fashion expert Micarl Lim, a buyer for Vancouver retail clothing institution Leone, on what sets Italian fashion apart.
“But definitely for me, Italian clothing is the way things are fit on the body – it’s the way they tailor, it’s the way they cut, and, of course, they have superior fabrics,” says Lim, who regularly travels back and forth to Europe to stock the high-end store that has had a presence on the city’s fashion landscape since 1987.
The Italian lines are broad – ranging from the whimsy of Prada and Marni to sultry lines like Versace and Dolce & Gabbana – but all have an enduring ethos of quality craftsmanship – much like Italy’s food, art, and culture.
Lim’s favourite Italian luxury line is Brunello Cucinelli, a more casual collection made with “scrumptious” fabrics. It’s definitely investment dressing, she says, but is worth every penny if you value quality threads that will endure season after season.
“I travel a lot … comfort is key,” explains Lim, who recently returned from a trip to Italy and says many of the stylish women – from ages 15 to 80 – were wearing sneakers on the streets of Milan.
“That’s the influence of the Americans,” she says, adding that fashion itself has become more global in general with the advent of technology.
But when it comes to Italian style, it still has its own flair with a fit that beautifully frames a woman’s curves.
“I find it’s very flattering on a women’s body … I mean it’s not skin tight, but it definitely follows a woman’s curves – if you’ve got breasts there is room for it; if you’ve got hips, there is room for it,” says Lim. “Even Prada, which skims the body, still shows off a woman’s figure.”
While there is more intersecting in the world of fashion, there are still notable differences between the French, Americans and Italians when it comes to style, says Lim. French fashion has a more polished ladylike feel, while American is more casual. French fashion tends to be cut narrower in the bust and hips, and American clothes tend to be cut away from the body, she adds.
“The epitome of French style is fitted little dresses with the little jacket, and the feel of American fashion is more relaxed, understated, cut away from the body, where the Italians cut close to the body,” Lim explains.
When people come in the store, Lim says she can tell by the quality of the fabric whether the clothes are made with Italian fabric – the quality is that distinguishable.
