Culture: Italian Style

Walking around my neighborhood on my first day, I immediately felt inferior to the Italians when it came to fashion. Men, women, and children alike are just infinitely chicer than their American counterparts. At home, I am a mascara, brows, and go type of girl…that does not fly in Italy. Italian women will rock a red lip like it’s a cherry chap stick. The most concise way to describe them is as glamorous.

They dress in a combination of black, leather, and fur, but at the same time they take incredibly risks. They will be wearing leather leggings with a huge fur coat then the rattiest converse you have ever seen yet it looks spectacular. While at first I was intimidated by their seemingly innate style, I tried to embrace it in my own way. My mom had originally teased me about bringing a red nail polish, but that was an easy way for me to feel a bit more put-together and my leather jacket became an everyday staple.

An aspect of American culture that has yet to permeate Italian culture (and hopefully never will) is athleisure. I do not think I ever saw a woman or man in a café, shop, grocery store, or even walking around in athleisure. If I saw people in workout clothes it was because they were running, which is even a rare sight in Rome.

I realized at school I often resort to leggings, a large sweater, and boots too often. I’m definitely going to make more of an effort when I come back home to spend a bit more time planning my outfits so that I can aspire to be a fraction as elegant as the Italians. I noticed that sometimes I can be a bit embarrassed to show up to class dressed up, but why should I be? What is embarrassing about showing thought and care in your outfits. Thank you, Romans, for giving me some style lessons.

She wasn't Italian, but she was chic!