In the historic picture above, Ioan Holender (left) and his designated successor Dominique Meyer organize an impromptu fashion show on the stairs of the glorious Vienna State Opera.
Even if the Staatsoper, like a certain Milanese institution, is at the present time long on chaos -- and on below-par performances -- but often short on present-day awesomeness, the victory of the black knee-hi sox over the terrible calzini corti is something to be cherished.
It's a good start.
(The prohibition of short-sleeved shirts -- with tie! -- is also another painful but necessary step that just had to be taken).