Tour Details
Photos & Highlights
- Milan Fashion tour led by a fashion insider
- Discover the history of fashion in Milan
- Fashion District
Tour Description
Armani, Prada, Marni—these are just some of the many fashion houses that call Milan home. During this three-hour Milan Fashion Tour led by an insider, we'll explore the places to visit in Milan for the fashion-forward, including the Quadrilatero D’Oro—‘Golden Quad’—and smaller shops known for Milanese trends. We’ll talk about Milan’s rise to fame in the fashion world, the top brands behind this modish narrative and we’ll visit a number of different glamorous designer stores as we stroke luscious silks and steal glances at sartorially inclined Milanese. We’ll discover why all the top designers have established their headquarters here and what this means for world fashion.
Milan Fashion Tour
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Milan has symbolized the concept of "Made in Italy" and evolved into a mecca for for fashion lovers, trend setters, and fashion businesses. We’ll start near the Emporio Armani as we begin our Milan Fashion Tour together, kicking off things by talking about this important figure in Milanese (and global) fashion history. As we wind our way through the heart of Milan's fashion district with a local insider, we'll look at the history of fashion in Italy, how it evolved from something for the elite during the Italian monarchy to the democratization of boutiques and department stores today. According to the interests of the group, our focus can shift to particular designers, trends and includes both men and women’s fashion.
Montenapoleone, Via Sant’Andrea and Via della Spiga
In the company of our local expert, we’ll continue our Milan Fashion Tour through Milan’s renowned fashion hubs of Montenapoleone, Via Sant’Andrea and Via della Spiga, a compact area in the heart of the city where all the big names of Italian fashion reside. Our guide will share with us many anecdotes and illustrative episodes to describe Milan's rise to fashion prominence. We’ll talk about the 1950s to today using shops such as Versace, Valentino, and Loro Piana to show how fashion has developed. We may have a chance to talk to store designers as they describe the new collections and describe the various intricacies about running top brand stores in Milan.
History of Garments in Milan
As we leave the ‘Golden Triangle’ behind us, we may head in a number of different directions. We might walk to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as we admire it’s numerous stores, including the original Prada store dating from 1913. This particular shop, in the heart of the prestigious glass-covered walkway, became a favorite destination for the aristocracy and the more elegant members of Europe’s upper classes. Using this as a thread, we may well talk about the diversification of fashion and the rise of the ‘ready to wear’, attainable fashion that we see in Milan today. We’ll learn about the transition of this company as the women in the Prada family started to have a role in the business and moved away from trunks and handbags to other luxury items.
Beyond Top Brands
Milan has more than designer brands on show. Our group may move away from the main fashion district to another neighborhood, such as the charming district of Brera. Brera is celebrated from smaller independent designers and lesser-known Milanese brands. It houses a combination of artisanal goodness - home to leather and smaller shops as well as vintage and retro. We might spend the latter portion of the tour strolling in this neighborhood, which still retains some of its Bohemian spirit and has since developed to become a center for fashion.
Take Aways
This walk is designed for fashionistas and neophytes alike. It provides an excellent overview of Milan's status as fashion capital of the world, and allows us to dig in deeper into the ins and out of styles and trends today.
Note: For private tours, with advance notice and during specific times of the year, we may be able to arrange visits to private ateliers and encounters with designers. We can also arrange personal shopping with a stylist. On request only, please get in touch via italy@contexttravel.com.
FAQ
Where do we meet? Where does it end? The walk takes place within the fashion district (Via Monte Napoleone), and may stay within a relatively concentrated area or end in Brera. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map, and 24/7 phone number.
What if it’s raining? Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
Is this tour walking intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible? Please let us know your requirements and we may well be able to adjust the tour for reduced mobility.
Is this tour appropriate for children? This walk is not a part of our official family program. That said, we may be able to arrange a visit with a family-friendly expert. Please contact us.
Where You'll Start
Tour Experts
Leilane has been working, researching and teaching in the fashion field in Brazil, Italy and Japan for more than 15 years. She contributed to some of most reputable fashion educational institutions in San Paolo, Brazil before moving to Milan 2 years ago. As well as a Fashion Designer, she has worked for brands such as Vicunha, André Lima and Jogê. From 2004 to 2006 she was the creative director and the head of her namesake brand Lane Rigatto which was traded in San Paolo, Brazil and Tokyo, Japan. She has been a finalist as both a designer and an artist for Fashion Week and Sculpture contests in San Paolo. After various degrees in Fashion Design and another in Educational Practice she moved to Italy to finish her PhD in Fashion Design at Politecnico di Milano. She finished in June 2018.
25 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Federica was amazing!!! Thank you so much for everything
Noa
May. 17, 2019
I now have a new and exciting perspective on fashion and am enjoying the experience. My Context guide helped me to experience fashion more deeply and venture into places I would not have gone on my own.
Kim
May. 16, 2019
Leilane was an excellent and dedicated guide . Leilane’s passion is obvious in her completed studies in fashion and design are shining throughout our 3 hour walking tour of Milan’s fashion district. I learnt so much about the quality, styles and the reason why Italy exudes high fashion so well. Complimenti Leilane, you are a gem !
Anne
Oct. 25, 2018
