One is that Milan is Italy's bellwether: conventional wisdom has it that what the Milanese do today the rest of the country does tomorrow.

ECONOMIST: Italy's beleaguered prime minister

Stefano Tonchi, editor-in-chief of W magazine, called the Missonis "one of the most important Italian fashion families, " crediting their move to Milan in the late 1960s with helping make the northern Italian city the fashion hub it is today.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS