The lessons we can learn from Italian Vogue Editor Franca Sozzani

Franca Sozzani is one of the world's most famous editors and without doubt the most influential in fashion. Sitting at the helm of Vogue Italia, Franca decides what is in, and what is out. 

As I sipped ever so slowly french champagne awaiting her arrival, I couldn't stop thinking about why this woman had everyone is such a state of panic but the moment I saw her "I knew".

Here is one of the most incredibly effortlessly stylish women in the world, and her attendance at a Giorgio Armani reception was awe-inspiring. 

As she walked around meeting and greeting every single client of Giorgio Armani, she did so showing a direct interest in that  person.

I have been a Giorgio Armani client for about 15 years and it has always been a favorite of mine.  As I became more and more successful, my wardrobe was filled with Giorgio Armani suits, shoes, bags, dresses and gowns.

To me the brand Giorgio Armani stands for effortlessly stylish, good quality and classic - something that is forever.

The lessons I learned from Franca Sozzani were:

1. Make an entrance: That does not mean wear the tightest, loudest, most noticable dress. It simply means hold your head up high and walk into the room like you are meant to be there.
2. Be graceful: Class isn't about how much money you have, but instead is about how you conduct yourself. Franca was graceful, elegant and oh so stylish.
3. Treat every person the same: I have been a very good customer of Giorgio Armani for years, but regardless of this fact, Franca spoke to every single person in the room one-on-one.
4. Never leave a person out: Regardless of how short her time may have been, she spoke to every single person, right down to the last person in the room. 

Are you wondering how our conversation went after introduction from Sallie Pitt at Giorgio Armani?

Franca: Pleased to meet you.

Mellissah: I believe you live in Milan.

Franca: Yes, I do.

Mellissah: Beautiful city. We are fortunate in Australia to have Emirates and Etihad whom both fly directly from Sydney and Melbourne to Milan via Dubai - our gateway Europe.

Franca: (I don't remember - from this point, it was a blurr - I was talking to the most stylish Vogue Editor in the world!).