Ancient Rome

• Italian fashion history begins in ancient Rome. Both men and women in ancient Rome wore tunics. The tunic was a simple, short and easy garment, fastened at the shoulders and worn belted. Women wore a long dress called a stola over the tunic and a palla, a wrap, that covered the head when going out. The tunic alone was the common dress for most men in the ancient Roman world. However, wealthy men also wore the toga. The toga was a very long length of wool wrapped around the body. This garment was both costly and complex, making it a clear sign of wealth and status.
  
  

The Italian Renaissance

• Italy again distinguished itself with the elaborate attire of the Italian renaissance. Both nobles and the middle class favored extreme fashions. Many cities even enacted regulations concerning clothing to keep these extremes under control. Women's dress during the Italian renaissance included a chemise or camicia, an underdress, sleeves, an overdress and a partlet. Men wore an undershirt and underwear, tights, a doublet, sleeves and a surcoat. Rich silks, velvets and brocades were popular in the upper and middle classes.
  
  

The 1950s

• Italy saw a rebirth of fashion in the post-war years of the 1950s when Italian clothing design and culture became both avant garde and trendy. Italian films brought Italian style and fashion to the world. Italian women wore capri pants, low-cut blouses, and hoop earrings. This polished and casual look, combined with short dark hair, became trendy well outside Italy. Italian men's fashions from the 1950s included well-cut silk suits and silk shirts, dark glasses and scarves.
  
  

The Design Houses

• By the 1970s, Italian fashion had grown into a major industry. Italian fashion houses, including Gianfranco Ferre, Missoni and Emilio Pucci, offered both couture and high-end ready-to-wear collections. Leather collections, including bags and shoes, also became prominent. Milan's fashion week remains as important to the modern design world as the collection showings in Paris and New York.
  
  

Modern Italian Fashion

• Italian fashion remains popular today, and classic design houses continue to produce innovative and beautiful couture garments. Italian designers show in Milan, New York and Paris, bringing their personal style to the high-end runway. Many Italian designers have also offered lower-priced lines to increase the appeal of their style. Excellent design schools and opportunities make Italy an ideal place for up-and-coming designers to learn and grow. Italian clothing design continues to take advantage of the highest-quality materials.