Street style: the coolest women at Pitti Uomo SS18

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Since its inception in 1974, Pitti Uomo has grown to be the largest and most influential menswear trade show in the world. In recent years, though, it isn’t just the men turning heads on the long walk down via Faenza to the Fortessa de Basso, where the show takes place. The four-day event has become a mecca for fashionable women seeking to make a stand from the crowd with pops of bright colour, decadent accessories and a self-assured and effortless attitude. These women mean business, and we were there to capture them.

ICYMI: What is Pitti Uomo and why is everyone going? More importantly, why are we going?

Traditionally, the showcase is known to attract a congregation of men from around the world dressed to the nines – ney tens. Dubbed as the ‘Pitti peacocks’, the men don bespoke suits in dazzling colours and patterns and adorn their outfits with equally mad accessories. But a radical shift is happening right now and we’re seeing a move away from fine traditional tailoring to (sometimes) buck-wild ensembles; particularly for women. More women are attending and opting for attention-grabbing outfits in hope of getting noticed by the eagerly awaiting street style photographers.

This year’s fashion uniform focused on technically excellent power suiting and bold accessorising. Large, marvellous bags from Gucci (Florence is the home of Gucci, so the brand was very prominent throughout the week), Prada, and J.W. Anderson were the arm candy of choice this week, while new pop culture brands like Cult Gaia also made an appearance.

The mood changed from day-to-day as suits and smart silhouettes were swapped for billowing sleeves and wide, cropped and relaxed jeans. Days two and three focused heavily on street-wear, similar to that seen during London fashion week. Virgil Abloh’s Off White was a popular choice for skirts and camo pants (pictured above), while Fila and Nike were the preferred preference for sneaker feinds. The focus now shifts from Florence to Milan fashion week, which starts this weekend. Browse our gallery above and take inspiration from some of the world’s most style-conscious women.

Photo credit: Jake McCabe