The risk of old-money style
When Le Duc saw the New York Times style article, "Style Secrets of Milanese Women", he asked if I had read it. I had not; and I glanced at the photos and said, "The 'secret' is apparently money."
Normally I would blur these women's faces, but they have already been in NYT's print and digital editions, so here's the full-moolah monty:
I see these ladylike uniforms in my city, too, though not often in my neighbourhood, where grown women prefer a more relaxed look, like the friends I saw on the bus in very good sportswear (the green tee and the beige hoodie were cashmere; their jewellery was discreetly luxe.) These women chattted in French, but I couldn't tell if they were local or visiting.
We don't know the occasion for which the three Milanesa gathered; perhaps it demanded more formal attire, but I found their choices staid and dated.
Scott Schuman, now based in Milan, is celebrating twenty years of his renowned street photography; he sometimes includes women of their vintage. For my (imaginary) money, my picks would be more like these other Italian women he shot:
If you want to "look rich" it's not hard to find the sciura trio's clothing; designers still make it. However, when in the Passage, head-to-toe clichéd choices will result in the statement of calcified wealth without any glow of personality.
"Maybe they like it", generously says my Italian friend Ava, of the first trio. Do you?
Comments
Yes, to my eye, they look a bit like fossils, sprung loose from a '60s time capsule. But as your friend says, perhaps they like their style! And perhaps their choices make them feel like they never have to explain who they are and where they stand. (In contrast, the ladies on the bus....who can say? A bit incognito, perhaps.)
I had forgotten about The Sartorialist, and this sent me to his IG site. Fun.