From Milan, With Style
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at MP3’s Buying Trip
Illustration by Clara Christopherson
Twice a year, MartinPatrick 3’s menswear team jets off to Milan, the epicenter of Italian fashion, to do what they do best: bring the most exceptional pieces in luxury menswear back home to Minneapolis. Most recently, the team traveled to preview the Spring/Summer 2026 collections—meeting with longtime partners, previewing exclusive pieces, and immersing themselves in the artful world of Italian tailoring.
“It doesn’t get much closer to the source than this,” says Ben Magnuson, MP3’s Men’s Buyer. “We’re in the brand headquarters, working directly with the product developers, getting firsthand insight into the fabrications, the silhouettes, the details that really define the collection.”
Many of the brands MartinPatrick 3 carries, like ISAIA, Brunello Cucinelli, Boglioli, Manto, ZEGNA, among others, only present their full collections in Milan. These trips are not only essential for product selection, but also for deepening the relationships that make MP3’s offerings so unique. “I’ve worked with many of these houses for over a decade. These are true partnerships,” Ben shares.
Effortlessly light and luxurious, linen emerged as the standout across the collections, seen in everything from soft tailored jackets to casual knits and even denim. “We saw pure linen, but also beautiful blends—linen tees, linen sweaters, all with a refined touch. It was 90-plus degrees every day we were there, and the fabric spoke directly to that lifestyle,” says Ben.
One particularly memorable evening was dinner with Renato Baldassari, son of Maurizio Baldassari, at the iconic Dal Bolognese. “It felt like a family meal,” Ben recalls. “We’ve developed a really close relationship with Renato, and he’ll be joining us at MP3 later this month to celebrate the official launch of their family’s brand in our store.”
It’s these personal relationships, developed through years of connecting over the love of craftsmanship, design, and fashion, that shape the MP3 experience both in our Minneapolis boutique and across the world. Each piece on the floor is hand-selected, thoughtfully considered, and brought to Minneapolis with care. As Ben puts it, “It’s not just about buying clothes—it’s about understanding where they come from, who makes them, and why they matter.”
And that’s exactly what makes MartinPatrick 3’s menswear so special.
