Made in Italy: Fashion history in Rome, Florence, Milan
APRIL 2027
tour leader TBA
*** Preliminary Itinerary ***
OVERVIEW
Italy has long been celebrated for its style, the nonchalant flair encapsulated in the concept of sprezzatura. From the Middle Ages, Europeans looked to Italy for the latest fashions in silks and velvets, embroidery and even hairstyles, but it was the post-war Economic Miracle that brought “Made in Italy” the wider market and prestige that it still enjoys.
Led by an Australian fashion historian, this new tour explores Italy’s enduring sartorial legacy in Rome, Florence and Milan, including a recent return to craft, sustainability and cultural patronage. Beginning in Rome, we spend three days exploring the fashion district around the Spanish Steps, with walking tours and visits to houses such as Fendi and to lesser-known collections of historic garments and costumes. Leaving Rome to journey north, we stop en route to visit an Umbrian hamlet revived by a luxury cashmere brand.
Over four days in Florence, we discover the artisanal leather-making that lies behind the fortunes of Gucci and Ferragamo on visits to their private museums – and try our own hand at the craft with a private workshop. An excursion to nearby Prato reveals how Tuscany’s historic wool industry is today transformed into a diverse community of textile workers and a renewed interest in sustainable resources. Behind-the-scenes tours of two historic fashion houses and a free day to explore Florence’s rich legacy of museums round out the experience.
In Milan, we explore fashion archives at Palazzo Morando and La Scala and discover how houses like Prada and Armani have redefined the city: cutting-edge art, Tadao Ando’s architecture, a Wes Anderson-designed restaurant and even the renewal of historic pastry shops! A final excursion to Como, northern Italy’s silk district, includes a museum and factory visit before our farewell lunch at a grand lakeside villa.
The program is complemented by the expertise of your tour leader, an Australian fashion historian and experienced guide.
Explore Italy’s fashion legacy in Rome, Florence, and Milan, visiting couturiers, artisans, fashion museums and private collections together with a fashion historian
TOUR LEADER
The tour leader will be announced in April 2026. She is an Australian cultural historian and highly experienced educator, researcher, and tour leader. She has a PhD in history from the University of Sydney, and her doctorate was the first academic history of America’s pre-eminent fashion magazine, Vogue. She lectured in American Studies as a Research Associate at the United States Studies Centre for several years, has delivered public lectures at venues such as Hazelhurst Arts Centre and for Arts National (formerly ADFAS, the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society), and has led fashion tours for one of Australia's leading cultural tour operators.
Highlights
Enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of storied fashion houses, including Fendi at Rome’s Spanish Steps and Gucci in Florence
Take guided tours of archives and little-visited historic collections, including La Scala’s vast workshop
Discover ancient traditions revived, at a leather-making workshop in Florence and Prato’s Museo del Tessuto
Relax with a day at leisure in Florence, discovering renowned museums, taking a workshop or enjoying some shopping
Appreciate carefully chosen gastronomic experiences, including lunch at Prada in Milan and a villa on Lake Como
Benefit from an enriched perspective thanks to your tour leader, an Australian fashion historian
Questions?
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