Made in Italy

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy (hard to believe it's only 150 years, right?), Colin McDowell has brought together Italy's most influential designers for a fantastically stylish exhibition at Somerset House. Masters of Style showcases a mouth watering, personally chosen collection of the designers' iconic campaign images, through the years. So can you guess who they are? Well, there is, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Gucci, Missoni and Prada, of course! So it goes without saying that you can expect pioneering campaigns, delicious clothes and beautiful photography, dripping with style.

So, what does Italian style mean to you? On my regular The Sartoralist binges, it's always the Italians that get my fashion rocks off! They look so 'put together', so stylish. Not effortlessly stylish mind. These people know what works, what makes them look fabulous and they unashamedly flaunt it. But that's ok because they can pull it off. The VT in the exhibition made me chuckle, talking about how the Italians invented the 'street catwalk' aka La Passeggiata. This is where everyone in town (and i mean everyone, young and old), put on their finery and simply walk up and down the main streets, just to see and more importantly be seen. Having been born into this crazy ritual, i can tell you for somebody who is half British (therefore has that self deprecating, please don't look at me thing going on) this can be extremely cringe worthy. Me and my little sister would constantly rebel, trying to look as scruffy as possible! Oh how I get it now...give me a Florentine street on a balmy evening, a beautiful dress, amazing shoes... Watch me work it!

Dolce & Gabbana S/S'11. Photographer Stephen Klein

Prada A/W '88-'89. Photgrapher Albert Watson

Missoni S/S'03. Photographer Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Georgio Armani S/S'90. Photographer Aldo Fallai. Gucci S/S'91. Photographer Lance Stadler

Catch the exhibition before August 14th