Keeping busy outside Milan's Metropol

While hovering outside a venue in the hopes of being snapped is a reasonable approach (isn't it after all the natural habitat of the streetstyle photographer?), chances of standing out from your rivals are slim unless you are model or Anna Dello Russo. Here is a Swide batch of alternative suggestions; get snapped while...

Getting off the tram

There is something so chic about the insouciance of the great Parisian editors walking off the tram. Plus (this is us doing our public information bit), Milan is due to be car-free on Sunday February 28th and so while taxis shall be operating as normal we can imagine the demand while be even higher and the delays even more irritating than usual. When in doubt, follow the Vogue staffers' lead and use public transport.

Lost in translation

Something that streetstyle photographs can sometimes miss out on is relatability. Fabulous outfits and priceless garments are all good but they do exist on a fashion planet of their own. Try to offer more than fierce styling by showing the world that after all fashionistas are people too. Looking vulnerable and lost is one of the ways which can help you accomplish that.

Stuck in traffic

Your chances of being snapped will be high as it is likely that the snappers themselves will be stuck as well and they will jump at the opportunity to carry on working while having to deal with life's more mundane little annoyances. The exposure to great pollution will be a small price to pay for premium online exposure.

Crossing the street

Should you still struggle to get the flashes going then observe this one unspoken streetstyle rule: seeing as though photographers love to shoot the zebra crossing action then why not cross the street back and forth until the zebra magic happens? See this clever girl? Not one but two snappers are on her case.

Running late...

Since not every street photographer might be lucky enough to sit on the front row, you could always count on the odd blogger to be hovering outside the venue even after the start of the show; and while it might be a gamble it offers the added advantage of a total absence of competition as your rivals would already be indoors. Who ever said there was anything candid about this photography?

Want to make sure you are fully prepared for the photo op of a lifetime? Make sure you stop by...

... a hairdresser's: Not a scarce thing in Milan (the Italians literally are grooming-obsessed) but opt for Les Garçons de la Rue for an incognito hair and makeup experience in the basement salon; plus you can just about peek at the outside (well, the outside's most interesting bit, the shoes! Does it get any more fashionista-friendly?). They're also open till 10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays (that would be dai 1 and 2 of this fashion week);

or, if you believe the devil is in the accessories, why not a hatmaker? Not any millinery but a Milanese institution which caters for signore (proper ladies), courtesy of Lorenzo Borghi (the bee's knees for several decaded now), whose delightful wonderland of handmade hat lies just a few feet from the highly commercial and uninspiring via Torino (at 5 Via dei Piatti).

And so someone finally snapped you (or at least snapped in your general direction...) feel all your efforts have paid up... but aren't you just a tad nervous the photo will come out looking as something out of sealife documentary? While there is little you can do at that point you could always count on a little glass of white or five to cheer you up; avoid displaying your despair in the usual fashion week pitstops and opt for chic Milanese discretion instead. Il Cavallante (at 3 Via Muratori, just off Porta Romana and its yellow Tube line) is just about the perfect destination: a discreet winery (so discreet you wouldn't even know it was there if you passed by it during the day) with just about every gorgeous Italian wine and a pleasantly quiet atmosphere.

If the sugar fix is still calling then wandering a few doors down to 18/28 (27 Via Muratori), a most pleasant restaurant with good food and even better prices as menus will cost either €18 or €28; and let's face it, a bargain eat would be highly appreciated by anyone who had spent several overdrafts' worth of streetstyle looks... Anna was right, streetstyle definitely is a job!

Aurelie Bellavigna

Photo credits: Streetstyle photos courtesy of Tommy Ton at Jak&Jil