Ciao bellissima

Words: Emma Juhasz

WHEN IT COMES TO STYLE, ITALIANS DO IT BETTER ­ AND THEY’VE GOT THE FASHION PAGES TO PROVE IT. CHECK OUT FIVE DECADES OF VOGUE PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY

ITALIAN STYLE HITS London with a twist this season when fashion bible Vogue Italia showcases some of its iconic images during London Fashion Week in mid September.

Franca Sozzani, the editor of Vogue Italia, has selected 50 pictures taken over the past fi ve decades from her magazine, as well as dipping into the photo archives of Casa Vogue and Vogue L’Uomo.

Entitled 50 Years of Italian Style, the event has been created by On/Off and will take place at the Royal Academy during London Fashion Week, in a show co-hosted by Peroni beer. Well, odder collaborations have occurred among the fash-pack.

Although some of the emerging trends to be revealed during London Fashion Week are wacky, weird and downright unwearable, it’s also the perfect time to see the synergy between the fashion capitals. While London does edgy and Paris does chic, Milano is all about the eternal eleganza. But On/Off is the best of all worlds as it shows off both those who are established (such as Jasper Conran and Betty Jackson) as well as the up-and-coming ones to watch. Amongst those who sprang to fame here were the hot young designers Basso & Brooke and Jean-Pierre Braganza. You saw it here fi rst.

50 Years of Italian Style is organised by On/Off and takes place between 18-20 September in the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly W1 (www.royalacademy.org.uk). London Fashion Week runs 15-20 September (www.londonfashionweek.co.uk)