Boasting a history with a long and decorative trail, Italian fashion begins in ancient Rome, saunters through the glory of the Renaissance, and heads straight down the runways of modern Milan. Although dress styles have changed considerably over centuries, a generally unified theme of uncompromising quality has existed throughout.

Inherited from the Greeks, Roman dress styles were at the start simple draped and knotted constructions. As the empire grew and the Romans came increasingly into contact with varied ethnic groups, styles became elaborate, richly colored, and more complex.

Trade brought textiles from the east, silks and cottons, luxuriously edged with embroidery. Initially imported from China and India, textiles were later woven on native looms. Knowledge of clothe dyeing was expanded, and the famous Tyrian purple (actually a deep red hue) became the preferred shade Roman robes.

The Renaissance was marked style wars between the wealthy elite of Northern Italy. As families wrestled one another for political and cultural hegemony, style as affectation became a powerful tool used for gaining advantage. Fashion was born when fickle tastes and elaborate showmanship required the continual replenishment of one’s arsenal, or rather, one’s wardrobe.

Renaissance painting reveals a taste for complex constructions, intricate detailing, and body conscious clothing. Fashion for public display reached a high point in the famous chopine of Venice. The wooden platform shoe grew to heights that made walking a challenge at best, illustrating the frivolity of Renaissance fashion at its peak.

Italian designer creations have become synonymous with style, and fashion capital Milan keeps up the Italian reputation for showmanship. From dapper to daft, Italian style is on full display in collections showing on the city’s runways each spring and fall. Italian designers, with an appreciation for legacy, continue to use primarily Italian textiles in their designs. Italy maintains status as one of the largest garment producers in the world.