What to Wear
First I want to say that Italians don’t seem to have any more insight into what looks good than Americans do. If you’re asking yourself what you should wear on your trip to Italy you have to look no further than your own closet. Fashion is about expressing yourself through clothes, jewelry, make up, etc. If the way you do this at home is with a pair of Nike sneakers, jeans and a comfortable top then this is your “fashion statement” in everyday life and it should be the same anywhere else. When planning my trip here to Italy I, myself, scoured the internet in hopes of finding out exactly how to appear fashionable. I was told not to wear jeans, tennis shoes, fanny packs, or anything bulky. When I arrived I saw that everyone wore jeans, American sneakers were extremely popular, and that my sister-in-law’s fiancé wore a fanny pack every day of the week (and is a native Italian). It could all be blamed on different perspectives, I suppose. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to know that I’m 27 and I’m usually hanging around people in their 20’s to 30’s. Although my mother-in-law still wears jeans and looks fantastic.
I was quite upset with the clothing I had decided to pack once I got here. I packed all very standard things. No flare, all classically cut and boring. When I arrived I saw flirty designs, patterns, colors and all in various styles. I was disappointed seeing as how I had a full closet of fabulous pieces before coming but had sold everything to finance my trip. So I walked around feeling as boring as an hour long lecture on poop. That’s what I get for following the fashion advice of people I had never seen.
I understand that if you’re new to Italy you probably feel like everyone is the epitome of “fashion forward” and it’s simply not the case. I’ve seen horrid clothing choices here as I have in any other place I’ve been to. Personally I can’t stand seeing someone’s bra when it should obviously be hidden. If it matches your top or accents it some way by showing the straps, then great, and it DOES happen that way some times. But when you wear a red bra with a pastel turquoise shirt, it’s just awful….and yes, I’ve seen this. There are also many young women who think that if they dress as if they’re thin, they’ll magically appear thin to everyone else. I’ve seen more tubby bellies here in Italy than I care to recall. I’m a strong believer in “big is beautiful” but dress your “big” in a way that MAKES it “beautiful”.
There are a few things I’ll suggest that you bring if you’re trying to whittle down your choices so you can close your suitcase without pulling something. There are trends I’ve noticed and I suppose they’re the same wherever you live but I can’t be sure as I’m here, of course. Ok, so boots. Any kind of boots are great. I bought a black pair that go up to the knee and lace up the front. This is not the most popular style here but I adore them. Riding style and cowboy boots seem to be the trendiest. Dark colored jeans are more commonly seen than light and they’re usually tucked into the boots. Personally, I love this look. I don’t really see a lot of “hoodies” although I own 4. They’re so comfy! If you’re going to be wearing heals, the ultra pointy toe is not as popular as it used to be but it’s still around. Everyone wears black, of course. This is true worldwide and throughout recent fashion history, black is always in style. Those furry boots that lace up the front and have little puffs of fur at the end of the laces are really cute and pretty prevalent. Actually anything with fur accents is generally well-liked. As for the summer time, flowing skirts, strappy tanks, colors, anything linen, Indian sandals or delicate heals, funky jewelry, natural hair and of course the all important oversized pair of shades pretty much sums it up.
I hope I’ve been helpful in your quest for Italian fashion. My recommendation is to just be yourself. You’ll feel much more comfortable that way.
I was quite upset with the clothing I had decided to pack once I got here. I packed all very standard things. No flare, all classically cut and boring. When I arrived I saw flirty designs, patterns, colors and all in various styles. I was disappointed seeing as how I had a full closet of fabulous pieces before coming but had sold everything to finance my trip. So I walked around feeling as boring as an hour long lecture on poop. That’s what I get for following the fashion advice of people I had never seen.
I understand that if you’re new to Italy you probably feel like everyone is the epitome of “fashion forward” and it’s simply not the case. I’ve seen horrid clothing choices here as I have in any other place I’ve been to. Personally I can’t stand seeing someone’s bra when it should obviously be hidden. If it matches your top or accents it some way by showing the straps, then great, and it DOES happen that way some times. But when you wear a red bra with a pastel turquoise shirt, it’s just awful….and yes, I’ve seen this. There are also many young women who think that if they dress as if they’re thin, they’ll magically appear thin to everyone else. I’ve seen more tubby bellies here in Italy than I care to recall. I’m a strong believer in “big is beautiful” but dress your “big” in a way that MAKES it “beautiful”.
There are a few things I’ll suggest that you bring if you’re trying to whittle down your choices so you can close your suitcase without pulling something. There are trends I’ve noticed and I suppose they’re the same wherever you live but I can’t be sure as I’m here, of course. Ok, so boots. Any kind of boots are great. I bought a black pair that go up to the knee and lace up the front. This is not the most popular style here but I adore them. Riding style and cowboy boots seem to be the trendiest. Dark colored jeans are more commonly seen than light and they’re usually tucked into the boots. Personally, I love this look. I don’t really see a lot of “hoodies” although I own 4. They’re so comfy! If you’re going to be wearing heals, the ultra pointy toe is not as popular as it used to be but it’s still around. Everyone wears black, of course. This is true worldwide and throughout recent fashion history, black is always in style. Those furry boots that lace up the front and have little puffs of fur at the end of the laces are really cute and pretty prevalent. Actually anything with fur accents is generally well-liked. As for the summer time, flowing skirts, strappy tanks, colors, anything linen, Indian sandals or delicate heals, funky jewelry, natural hair and of course the all important oversized pair of shades pretty much sums it up.
I hope I’ve been helpful in your quest for Italian fashion. My recommendation is to just be yourself. You’ll feel much more comfortable that way.