While the notion of borrowed from the boys style seems unremarkable now, when Max Mara took the traditionally masculine camel coat and reforged it as a womenswear piece back in the late ’50s ...

a camel coat and a red suit. Legend explains the brand name this way: The “Mara” comes from Maramotti and the “Max” from a fun-loving local roué in the town of Reggio Emilia—still the ...