This is the fourth instalment in Vintagella Moda’s series on styling vintage fashion while conserving resources and preserving fashion history. The series focuses particularly on distinctive Italian designer pieces from the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, when Made in Italy production, natural materials and meticulous finishing were hallmarks of the country’s fashion industry.

For this edition, the focus is firmly on 1990s Milanese glamour.

These vintage trousers by Piragino are made for evenings when you want your clothes to be noticed. Their abstract snakeskin-effect pattern brings together blue, green, yellow and purple, while a fitted silhouette and elasticated waistband give them the body-conscious look that defined much of the decade’s Italian partywear.

They are also surprisingly versatile.

For a full-blooded 1990s look, metallic gold or silver accessories can amplify their colour and drama. For something quieter, black or other neutral accessories allow the pattern to remain the focal point.

Here are three ways to style them with an Italian glamour sensibility.

Look 1: Feminine glamour with a Roberto Cavalli feel

The fitted shape of the trousers works particularly well against something softer and more fluid on top.

Try them with a silk or satin blouse, such as a low-cut black satin wrap style with long cuffed sleeves. The contrast between the close-fitting trousers and the movement and sheen of satin gives the outfit an elegant evening feel without competing with the print.

Accessories in jewel tones can then pick up individual colours within the trousers. Royal blue or emerald green both work particularly well and add richness without overwhelming the look.

Look 2: Gold details with a Versace influence

Few things evoke Italian evening glamour quite like gold jewellery, chain details and unapologetically decorative accessories.

For a more dramatic look, pair the trousers with a draped gold halterneck top in fine metal mesh. Its metallic finish works naturally with the yellow and green tones in the print.

A black satin halterneck with a gold chain detail offers a more restrained alternative, retaining the same glamorous influence while allowing the trousers to do more of the talking.

Look 3: Milanese chic

For a sharper night-time look, introduce tailoring.

A simple fitted tube top in black or metallic gold leather can be worn beneath a beautifully cut black jacket with satin shawl lapels. Add a black lace bralette underneath for another layer of texture.

The tuxedo-style jacket brings a masculine edge to the outfit, while the satin lapels, fitted silhouette and lace keep the overall effect firmly within the language of Italian eveningwear.

The accessories

Pointed pumps with a low-cut vamp work across all three outfits. Nude and black are the simplest options, although metallic gold or a colour drawn directly from the trousers can make the look more striking.

If the evening involves dancing, comfort may win. Square-toe ballet flats, ankle boots, leather trainers or strappy sandals all provide alternatives to heels without losing the spirit of the outfit.

For the bag, try a small black satin or velvet drawstring pouch worn around the wrist, recalling the understated practicality of designs associated with Miuccia Prada. A crossbody bag decorated with oversized sequins or rhinestones creates a more overtly party-ready alternative.

Finish with gold hoop earrings and either nude lip gloss or red lipstick, depending on how much drama you want to bring to the look.

About Piragino

The Italian fashion label Piragino was founded in the Milan area by brothers and designers Omar and Ottavio Piragino.

The brand specialised in fitted and elasticated clothing, avant-garde collections and glamorous evening and partywear, using materials including leather, Lycra, jersey and specialist stretch fabrics.

Its designs reflected some of the defining fashion trends of the 1990s: body-conscious cuts, mesh inserts and bold graphic and animal-inspired prints. These trousers capture that aesthetic particularly well.

A piece of 1990s Italian fashion history

Vintage clothing becomes especially interesting when the label itself is no longer producing new collections.

These colourful Piragino trousers are a surviving piece of 1990s Milanese fashion: distinctive, nostalgic and increasingly unusual. As an authentic vintage design from a label that is no longer operating, examples can now be found only through vintage specialists such as Vintagella Moda or on the resale market.

That rarity is part of their appeal. Rather than simply recreating the look of the decade, you are wearing an original piece from it.

For styling advice on Vintagella Moda vintage pieces, contact our style adviser Sasha Gella.