Through respectful observation and interview, this post is designed to give a simple perspective on how we express ourselves. The everyday pieces we grab are a reflection on what qualities we deem as the most important. How many of us have a closet full of different clothes, yet wear the same things over and over again? We attempt to look at how popular culture and tradition impact the way seemingly different people show their values through style. First, we look at Italy, a country known as a pillar of art and fashion to see how the average Italian lives their life through dress.
Let’s start with the foundation; an important aspect of Italian society is the concept of Bella Figura. The literal meaning translates to “beautiful figure.” La bella figura is about how you present yourself in your clothes, your actions and in social situations. This is why you’ll never see an Italian out in a pair of sweatpants. They are conscious of what they wear as a reflection on themselves. There is also a phrase called Brutta Figura that applies to acts of taboo or faux pas.
TRENDS
Probably the biggest difference in dress is that the Italians do not partake in full on “athlesuire.” Those types of looks are reserved for actually working out. The sweatshirt/t-shirt and legging look is reserved for lounging at home. At the same time, leggings are not uncommon. Another contributing factor is the lack of Lululemon in Italy. There is not one store, not even a showroom in Rome, so while the brand is seen as a staple among certain people, especially college students, the Italians do a fine job of living without it. When it comes to streetwear, jeans are favored.
Following the trend above, even if there were thousands of Lululemon stores in Italy, our generation may not be on board. Clothes are more expensive overseas so Europeans give more thought into their purchases. The items have to be worth the money. The average girl (or guy) cannot afford to buy a lot of clothes. We asked a close friend — who lives in Italy part time — her thoughts and she said, “To me, they have fewer clothes but they mix and match and use accessories to make it look like they have tons of outfits.” In lieu of bella figura, belts, nice shoes and handbags are all fully utilized to add a fresh dynamic to any look. Placement is just as important. Sweaters and scarves, worn by men and women alike, are tied and draped carefully. Our friend went on to explain her theory, “They learn about all the beautiful art and somehow that translates into knowing just how to tie that sweater around your shoulder. They start drawing in school at young ages so they are more artsy.” Nowhere in the U.S will you find the same magnificent display of art history. People from all over the world travel to Italy in anticipation of seeing what the Italians interact with everyday.
COLOR
Fashion trends change like the tide, but one constant in Italy is the love of color. Despite fashion icons like Kim Kardashian who have popularized neutrals in the U.S, young Italians incorporate color someway into their looks, even if it means just adding a pop of red lipstick. Summertime in Italy is full of people wearing bright colored shorts and tops. They also have no qualms about their bodies. Form fitting clothes are chosen over the loose and baggy styles common among many college students here. Crop tops are a shared love. Men sport deep V-neck T-shirts and leave at least the 3 top buttons undone when wearing a dress shirt. Bras are not something to be self conscious about either; girls give no second thought when pairing a black tank with a pink bra.
SHOES
Shoes are probably the biggest commonality. Vans, Converse, Adidas, Nike, and even Ugg are sold and worn in similar fashion. Leave it to shoes to connect two different cultures.
UNIFORMS
Italians love uniforms. Most companies allow workers to personalize uniforms. Other than that, we’re not entirely sure why. An interesting example is the Italian airline company Alitalia. They recently redesigned their uniforms to resemble a 50’s style fit with a somewhat avant-garde color pallet that is different but still very Italian.
HAIR/BEAUTY
Beauty is an interesting topic. Despite the current makeup frenzy shown on a plethora of social media sites, most college girls in the U.S wear little to no makeup on a day-to-day basis. Italians seem to feel the same. Liner, mascara and lipstick are essentials we share. If makeup is worn, winged liner is a must for young Italian women, and the style is quite popular with American girls for an event. Hair follows suit. Styles are kept natural and the use of heat is reserved for special occasions.
So what does the average Italian look for in their clothes? Even if they do not have access to the same brands we do in the U.S, it seems they dress more for style whereas most American young adults dress for comfort. There is always a desire to look nice and in turn, to feel good in what they wear. Perhaps it’s the surrounding art that has taught the Italians to live life beautifully or it’s turbulent past, but one thing we do know is that clothes are not excluded.
