28 August - Milan and the return of the Bedazzler

Milan. Home of high fashion. Style beacon. Shopper's paradise. So the theory goes at least.

I suppose I was at a disadvantage by arriving in August, with an average temperature of 35 degrees and, subsequently, all the locals escaping to their holiday homes. The mass exodus was so extreme the city centre resembled Brisbane city mall on a Tuesday evening - thankfully minus the goths loitering outside Hungry Jacks. At the very least it put me in mind of that wonderful song by the Specials - Ghost Town. I could listen to nothing else for three days.

So, keeping in mind what I was supposed to get out of Milan, I, with a friend, booked a day's shopping at the designer outlet mecca - Seravalle. Think DFO, but rather than driving to Melbourne airport, one must board a bus for 1.5 hours, and end up closer to Genoa than Milan. Upon hearing about the necessity of the bus, I explained to T, that if we had to wear name tags and fight a bunch of middle aged mums for bargains, then Milan, shopping beacon, could take a flying leap. Luckily, things are slightly more dignified in Italy and the bus was merely the transport to outlet paradise.

Now for those who know me (and why would you read this if you didn't know me), you are aware that my style extends to shades of black, grey and the occasional scrap of draping fabric.  

However, inexplicably, by the end of my Seravalle experience, I actually thought that my wardrobe was somewhat lacking in rhinestones and white slacks. I mean, the Italians epitomise style right? And when all the shops had to offer was rack after rack of bling, strange polyester blends and 'distressed' denim, then obviously I was the one getting it wrong. 

After struggling with this moral dilemma for close to six hours, I am pleased that my only concession to bling manifested in a slightly dubious gold-ish shirt from Moschino. I had my wits about me long enough to also purchase a very sophisticated (dark blue) stiff cotton dress from Prada. Though, upon trying it on, perhaps it would benefit from just the smallest row of diamontes...