Prescription for Disaster

The temperature is in the high 90s, the air is heavy with car exhaust and industrial pollution, the transport union has called its usual strike, and to all intents and purposes life in this northern metropolis has come to a standstill. The Via Monte Napoleone, Milan’s high class shopping center, is deserted. Yet in the ice-cool interior of Gucci’s and Valentino’s there are no fire sales or “going out of business” signs. On the contrary, most of the outrageously expensive merchandise has long since been sold out to well-heeled Milanese, stocking up before the holidays.

At an ultra-chic men’s tailor it is the same story: business has never been better. The new Gatsby craze has forced every Italian jetsetter to order a few white suits. And in order to get them on time, the trendy ones have had to pay double, sometimes triple, the original price.

TT

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Taki Theodoracopulos

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The temperature is in the high 90s, the air is heavy with car exhaust and industrial pollution, the transport union has called its usual strike, and to all intents and purposes life in this northern metropolis has come to a standstill. The Via Monte Napoleone, Milan’s high class shopping center, is deserted. Yet in the ice-cool interior of Gucci’s and Valentino’s there are no fire sales or “going out of business” signs. On the contrary, most of the outrageously expensive merchandise has long since been sold out to well-heeled Milanese, stocking up before the holidays.

At an ultra-chic men’s tailor it is the same story: business has never been better. The new Gatsby craze has forced every Italian jetsetter to order a few white suits. And in order to get them on time, the trendy ones have had to pay double, sometimes triple, the original price.