Dinner in Milan if pale & not good in heat

[WhatToWearMilan]

If you were very pale skinned, strawberry blonde & not good in heat generally but you had a dinner with a professional contact in Milan in July, what would you wear?

50yrs old 5ft 9" & size 12

I want to look as good as i can! There will possibly be some sightseeing and lunch / dinner / drinks

I do think a lot of these sites have become more sophisticated-looking, & it's perhaps only once you've seen a few - & realise how suspiciously alike they are - that you might then think to check their credentials out online. Luckily there is now lots of information out there, not just reviews, with a quick Google search.

The similar appearance of the sites is one giveaway, as is clearly AI cut & paste images where the colour of the outfit has been changed - but another is that they will refer to a "crisp light fabric" & imply that it's cotton or silk etc - & then provide no information on composition.

There are probably lots more. However, perfectly legitimate sites are guilty of some of those things too!

I have these too and I love them. I don't think the fabric (even though it's cotton) would be ideal for a midsummer day in Milan and for the occasion the op has described. But they're great culottes and I've got a second pair on my shopping list.

They are great aren't they, even if the Milanese would look upon them with such disdain. Tbh I can't imagine what outfit would suit a business dinner plus sightseeing in possible 30C+ heat. 😬

I don't think it's that the Milanese would look down on them - they look like they'd be a really useful piece of clothing, especially for a city break (maybe when slightly cooler!). I like them too & find Uniqlo very good for basics.

It's more that the OP is dining with a business contact - in Milan, where she wants to look as good as possible - AND the contact is very wealthy & elegant.

So the implication is that she wants to look very well-dressed, while also being clad as suitably as possible for a pale strawberry blonde in sweltering heat!!! I have the same colouring so can empathise fully!

I appreciate your diplomacy but I don't think that what that poster was implying. Ironically, if the op wore that poster's suggested blouse, she would look like a deflated souffle after 10 mins of sightseeing.

Boden cream and brown polka dot cotton dress

Boden linen blend ivory polka dot dress

Shirtaporter black and white animal print dress

John Lewis cotton blend column dress

Kaoa linen black and white striped dress (caveat apparently quality is good, but returns sometimes tricky if sizing wrong.

A pattern dress might transition from day to dinner with a jacket, but less slightly formal work in style.

The Fold outfit idea

The Fold jacket

Could wear a light breathable top underneath for the day.

You will be pleased to see that my archaic brain has finally figured out how to shorten links! It was easier before when you just had to put link.

I'm still here!
Reading all the thoughts with huge interest!
That last photo is very close to how i would love to dress for this meeting but 30+ degrees it won't be possible this time

It's not a business meeting, its another academic but we're meeting socially rather than in a conference setting. So while i know it probably really doesn't matter what i wear, i love clothes & take great intetest in them & would like to look & feel as good as i can

In reality we will be v busy talking about our shared interest we prob won't pay attention to clothes but still

In an ideal world i would prefer this visit in autumn or winter but can't change that now

Have often been in Milan in summer and it can certainly be very hot, and humid. The one thing I would avoid personally is linen because, on me at least, it rapidly crumples up like a dish rag.
Otherwise, agree with others that, if you want to fit in with Italians, elegant simplicity is always the way to go. No sleeveless or cropped styles or anything that looks at all as if you’re on holiday ( eg, loud floral patterns).
I agree with a pp that black - or black and white- is a good choice. Something by an Italian designer is ideal. I wore, and loved, Max Mara for a long time when working, but they’re pricy - though a bit less so if you buy them in Milan! I love a tour of the shops, as well as the art and churches, there. Enjoy!

The Fold silk top

The Fold crepe trousers

Possibly might work, black silk will not show sweat stains and the trousers are a triacetate blend which will be cooler, wick away moisture and be breathable.

Ralph Lauren boat neck cotton top to wear with wide leg trousers and cover shoulders

Boat neck top

Hurrah, @Choconuttolata !! I love it when I figure out something techy (not being very good at it generally). That post is so much easier to read now!!

I've been a bit bemused by all the love on MN for The Fold, to date anyway. When I've glanced at it previously, I've just thought it looks like the kind of very safe, well-cut but rather dated clothing that women in executive jobs with strict dress codes would wear - from
necessity rather than love for the brand.

But that jacket is a beauty! And the trousers look good too. But I just love those jacket sleeves ...

One poster thought that having blonde hair might attract attention in Milan, but I don’t think that’s very likely, as Milan is very much in the north of Italy and northern Italians frequently have light colouring.

A linen coord but make sure it’s crew neck and long trousers so your colleagues can’t see all your tiger mosquito bites take every repellent bite ointment anti histamine known to man with you they’re horrendous

For those of you like me who love to people watch and get ideas... spring style but some adaptable for hot weather.

I think the lady at 2:31 pulls it all together well.

The chap at 8:39 is looking sharp

And I like the colour combinations and outfit @ 16:45

Hobbs linen dress floral

I don't know if I suggested this already, but having people watched there is definitely some floral around in Milan at the moment. If you are friends but also work colleagues, this and a cream jacket would be absolutely fine.

There are some really odd ideas about Italy on this thread 😂

I presume you don’t mean that my comment reflected ‘odd ideas’ about Italy?

Well there’s access to blonde hair dye everywhere.

Sézanne Pippa dress cotton

Richa Sharma Floral Linen Dress

Reiss midi dress

Reiss polka dot blazer and trousers

Holland Cooper peg trousers and blazer

Holland Cooper oyster pinstripe blazer and trousers

June in Milan

Is there no Bohemian style fashion in Milan?

Sounds exceedingly boring having to walk around as if you are on a fashion catwalk.

It's been a few years since I was in an Italian city, so I did have a quick scan of @Choconuttolata 's video links.

What initially surprised me (& then it didn't, as I realised I'd thought the same thing on my last visit) was how conventional & slightly dated the women looked - even the younger ones! Yes, the level of grooming - in terms of make-up & blow-dried hair - was probably better than here. But it was all a bit ... dull??

There was, however, in amongst the expected black & white & beige, plenty of colour - & some florals too. A couple of simple, cool-looking, pretty dress & sandal combinations. But I quite missed the quirkiness/individuality that I think you'd see on equivalent street videos in London or Glasgow, say???

Wyse London has lots of lovely options with sleeves which are really hard to find this summer but essential if you burn easily.

https://www.wyselondon.com/products/marina-skirt-blue-ivory-stripe
https://www.wyselondon.com/products/marina-top-blue-ivory-stripe?_pos=2&_psq=Marina&_ss=e&_v=1.0

expensive if you buy the skirt and top but they do look lovely together.

https://www.wyselondon.com/products/otti-midi-dress-white

https://www.wyselondon.com/products/cath-x-wyse-audrey-pleat-front-trouser-cream

these trousers would look lovely with a simple white blouse.

I agree. I got bored by both and gave up less than halfway through, fast forwarded and didn't see anything special. The orange coat in one was OK (although nowhere near as gorgeous as the woman I saw in Edinburgh a few weeks in a wonderful red and orange Casey Casey coat)

The woman in the white jeans and fringed boots - well I wonder what reaction that would get if posted here?

Re the level of grooming I've realised from all the "how to look groomed /how to look polished" threads on here that not only do I not looked groomed and polished I don't want to.

Yes, of course, not suggesting they’re all natural blondes (any more than in the UK), but many people in northern Italy do also have fair skin and blue eyes.