Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
avere una marcia in più
English translation:
to be one step ahead
Italian term
Italy
Native in: Italian (Variant: Swiss )
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian, German to Italian, and 1 more.
avere una marcia in più
Grazie a tutti!
Proposed translations
Italy
Medical-pharma&IT translator since 1996
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, German to Italian, Italian to English
to be one step ahead
In questo caso, direi: ... is always one step ahead.
| agree |
Robert Holland
6 mins
|
|
Grazie!
|
|
| agree |
Colin Rowe
: to *stay* one step ahead (of the competition)
2 hrs
|
|
Even better. Thanks!
|
|
| agree |
Armilla (X)
7 hrs
|
|
Grazie!
|
|
| agree |
pitra
: totally agree!
8 hrs
|
|
Thanks a lot!
|
|
| agree |
dandamesh
19 hrs
|
|
Grazie!
|
Japan
Scientia est potentia
Native in: Japanese
Works in: English to Japanese, German to Japanese, Italian to Japanese, and 3 more.
has one aspect which is superior
This is how I would put it into English.
| neutral |
Oliver Lawrence
: there are plenty of idiomatic ways of saying it, unfortunately this is not one of them
11 mins
|
| disagree |
Colin Rowe
: With Oliver
2 hrs
|
Italy
Anything worth doing is worth doing well
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian
be a cut above
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 min (2009-10-19 13:24:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Da Zanichelli.
to stand out above the crowd
Italy
Conference Interpreter and Translator
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Spanish to Italian, Portuguese to Italian
to have an edge (on)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2009-10-19 13:27:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
anche "have got the edge"
United Kingdom
Architecture, design, technical, etc.
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
Mr X is always ahead of the game
| agree |
cynthiatesser
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Bianca Marsden-Day
: Good idiomatic suggestion, I think.
18 hrs
|
Seychelles
25 years experience constantly improving
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
to have something extra
Italy
Texts with zest by a Chartered Linguist
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK)
Works in: Italian to English, English
to have something up his sleeve
IMHO this metaphor is ideally suited to your fashion context :).
United States
Native in: Italian 
, English
Works in: Italian to English, French to English, German to English, and 2 more.
to have a leg up on...
adds his own touch
adds his own (special) touch
adds his own (distinctive) touch
Discussion
:-))