Designer Margherita Maccapani Missoni has style in her blood. The granddaughter of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, who, in 1953, founded the namesake high-end fashion house known for its knitwear, Margherita Missoni possesses an eye for beauty that’s practically genetic.
Constantly seeking inspiration for her children’s line, 35-year-old Missoni is, not surprisingly, greatly influenced by the elegance of Milan. With tailored lines, rich colors, and intricate details, the city demands to be seen. And though Missoni lives just north of Milan, in the city of Varese, the country’s fashion capital frequently lures her in with its artistic buzz.
What does “style” mean in Milan?
In Milan, style is really about the perfect cut and impeccable tailoring—and about understatement. Typically, Milanese women dress in a very individualistic way. It’s rarely provocative, but rather in a way that expresses our unique tastes and our adoration for things more idiosyncratic.
Describe your typical Milan uniform. What do you wear when you want to feel like yourself?
From November to March, I’m generally seen wearing statement outerwear, particularly impeccably cut coats, often in bold colors or patterns. In the warmer months, I rotate between casual jeans and full skirts, often pairing them with silk shirts, almost always playing with color blocking. I, like a good Milanese woman, tend to match my tan leather shoes and bag with vivid, solid-colored ready-to-wear!
You’re collaborating with Away on a line of travel products—tell me about
your designs.
Chic Milanese women have a tendency to wear richly colored velvets and liquid silks next to their worn-in and classic tan leather accessories. For that reason, I wanted to work with a rich palette of colors, pairing turquoise with warm reds, fuchsia with mustard, and combining them with classic hues of tan and black.
How does Milan inspire your work?
I find inspiration everywhere—the people I meet, the places I go, the things I see. It’s important for me to make the most of every opportunity and to make the effort to immerse myself in experiences. In Milan, Leonardo da Vinci’s L’Ultima Cena [The Last Supper] at Santa Maria delle Grazie is always incredibly breathtaking and inspiring, and Villa Necchi Campiglio, a museum filled with decorative arts, paintings, and period furnishings, which epitomizes Milanese society and its aesthetic.
Describe your ideal food day in Milan.
Marchesi for breakfast, La Latteria for lunch, and Vasiliki for dinner.
Where do you take your Margherita Kids meetings?
At my home in Varese, 45 minutes north of Milan. My office looks out onto a lovely garden and the surrounding lakes and mountains. Generally, I prefer to take meetings for my kids’ line and for my various collaborations right at home.
Where do you go to get pampered in Milan?
Violette, for the best manicure in the city Mantra Raw Vegan, on Via Panfilo Castaldi, for healthy and delicious cuisine.
Do you have any favorite art galleries and museums?
Kaufmann Repetto and Massimo De Carlo for art galleries, and Fondazione Prada and Museo Poldi Pezzoli for museums.
What do you miss most about home when you travel?
My bed!
Shop Margherita’s Milan
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This shop has all your vintage needs, offering clothing from yesteryear and today, mid-century furniture, and beyond. The store also hosts trunk shows, book signings, and wine tastings. Photo by @larabesquecultstore.
This young designer turns playful vintage fabrics into beautiful dresses, and specializes in bridal gowns and custom-made pieces. Photo by @martaferrimartaferri.
Formerly a designer, stylist, interior decorator, art director, and fashion coordinator for major international brands including Missoni and Max Mara, you can trust Uberta Zambeletti’s fashion sensibilities. Inside her shop you’ll find womenswear sourced exclusively from Finland to France to California. Photo by @waitandseemilano.
Pupi Solari opened her first shop in Milan in 1969, and the nonagenarian remains firmly at the top of Italian fashion influencers. She stocks low-profile labels like Massimo Alba, Massimo Piombo, Alberto Biani, and Aspesi in her store, located in a residential neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Pupi Solari.