Italian style: Take inspiration from Chanel's latest Metiers d'Art Collection

From Miuccia Prada to Sophia Loren, this week Emma Akbareian is focused solely on the country's style

Karl Lagerfeld took a Roman holiday this week to present Chanel's latest Metiers d'Art Collection (Getty Images)

While I can wholeheartedly get on board with many elements of Italian culture – most importantly, the carbohydrate-crammed menus – this week I'm focused solely on the country's style. I've taken inspiration from Karl Lagerfeld, who took a Roman holiday this week to present Chanel's latest Metiers d'Art Collection, along with a few hundred fashionable friends. This particular look from the show (1 - see gallery below) may not seem particularly Italian, but on closer inspection you'll find it's actually made up of several thousand teeny-tiny bits of farfalle pasta-shaped leather, hand-embroidered by Lesage. Yikes. Price on demand, I guess.

No discussion of Italian fashion would be complete without the first lady of Italian style, Miuccia Prada. I'm hankering after the newest accessory drop from Mrs Prada's 2016 resort collection now in-store – a quirky printed take on the Inside Bag (2).

From the old (ahem) guard to the new, Marco De Vincenzo is the Milan designer to know – or rather wear – right now. This lurex knitted dress (3) ticks all boxes for the festive season.

Not for nothing are the Italians known as master seducers; lingerie is one of their fortes. One of Italy's most popular high-street imports is Intimissimi, where this silk slip (4) has made its way into my shopping basket. Underwear good enough to sport as outerwear.

Sophia Loren is a stalwart of Italian cinematic style, so much so that the dons of Italian fashion Dolce & Gabbana have dedicated a lipstick (5) to her. It's a plush, luscious pinky red, as befits the legendary Roman beauty. Bellissima! Ciao.