17 Key Pieces That Milan's Best Dressed Have in Their Wardrobes This Year
Ciao, Milano—we've missed you. With fashion month nearly drawing to a close, it's time to head to the top of Italy's boot to see what Europe's most ostentatious dressers are wearing on the streets of the city. Paris is yet to come, but so far, we've been treated to the very best that New York and London have to offer. (Side note: We have a feeling we're all going to be investing in a lot more leather and reworked denim for the upcoming months.) But what of Milan, one of the most discussed stops in the fashion calendar?
This year's Milan Fashion Week saw the debut of the "new" Gucci under Sabato De Sarno—a mixed bag of micro bikinis, faux fur and sheer skirts—and a revamped Jil Sander, who revved up simple brights with motocross leather. And who could forget Tomo Koizumi's supersized rainbow collection supported by Dolce & Gabbana? As models floated down the runway in clouds of pink, orange and green tulle, the confirmation was clear. If you thought Milan was the shy and retiring type, think again. As showgoers gathered on the streets echoing the same spirited and creative dressing, it was evident that, no matter the city, one thing always remains the same—the successful formula to a standout look.
Whether you rely on simple tailoring or feel your best in party dresses, the best outfits are always elevated with just one key piece. As we saw in New York and London, a pattern of the same hero pieces kept reappearing time and again, and as you can bet, Milanese fashion people have been curating a wardrobe well worth copying. We've pulled together a list of some of the most popular pieces to come out of MFW street style, and the good news is they may well be in your wardrobe already.
Unlike London's tougher edge, the Milanese are favouring softer silhouettes, polished separates and neutral outfits with pops of colour. The oversized, menswear-inspired tailoring that took over London is swapped for on-trend utility, and instead of New York's voluminous A-line skirts and midi dresses, Milan is stocking up on slinky skirts and plenty of designer bags. Talk about some serious arm candy.
To find out which pieces Milan's most stylish are wearing now and shop some of their key buys, keep scrolling for the very best street style looks to come out of Milan Fashion Week 2023. Consider this your guide to living la dolce vita.
The Best of Milan Fashion Week Street Style
Style Notes: And just like that, it's trench-coat season again, and we couldn't be happier to break out this wardrobe staple for the rest of the year.
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Style Notes: Bored of blue jeans? Swap out your everyday pair for glossy leather trousers that will go with everything.
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Style Notes: Leave it to Milan to give us not one but two of the best trouser trends you'll see this spring. Size up in tailored trousers for a slouchy wide-leg look worthy of the runways, or try this season's cargo trousers in blue denim that feel more wearable than their noughties predecessor.
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Style Notes: Make an already sharp blazer feel even more luxurious in silky, creamy satin.
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Style Notes: And if the blazer wasn't enough, this spring marks the return of the satin midi skirt, too, made all the dressier with a white shirt and camel knit.
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Style Notes: To the accessories! And it just wouldn't be Milan without a special appearance from Fendi and its latest It bag, the First clutch.
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Style Notes: Proving that trenches come in all colours, shapes and sizes, this sleek leather trench is the perfect option to seamlessly transition your outfit from a day to an evening look.
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Style Notes: It's not just cargo pants—the utility skirt is top of the agenda too. Think of it as trousers' polished older sister.
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Style Notes: Here's a masterclass in modern colour-blocking. When you can't decide which statement piece to choose, wear them all at once.
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Style Notes: We've all got one at the back of our wardrobes, but to breathe new life into your faithful turtleneck knit, just add a miniskirt and heels.
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Style Notes: Sorry, cat-eye stans—chunky aviators are back and (quite literally) bigger than ever.
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Style Notes: Nothing says "sunshine" quite like citrus shades, but until the temperatures rise, layer up with a tried-and-tested classic guaranteed to keep you warm–the camel coat.
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Style Notes: Having worn a corset and maxi skirt during London Fashion Week, I can attest to the fact that this unexpected combo is both comfortable and statement making. What more could you need?
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Style Notes: The right accessory can make or break the look, so if you're aiming for 24-carat glamour, why not keep jewellery simple and add a metallic pop courtesy of your footwear?
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Style Notes: Everyone from Max Mara to Tod's have mastered the fine art of elevated Milanese dressing, and it usually starts with a maxi coat and finishes with matching tonal pieces.
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Style Notes: One of the best trends to come out of the spring/summer 2023 collections? The XXL bag. We're happy to back any movement that means we can surrender mini bags and finally be able to carry all of our essentials again.
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Up Next, The Best High-Street Buys We've Seen on Instagram This Week
Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.
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