Dress Italian Style
Editor’s Note: You may also enjoy The Surprising 2011 Summer Fashion Trends in Italy , How to (un)dress like an Italian at the Beach, and What we learn about travel fashion from Audrey Hepburn and the little black dress
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White sneakers and khaki pants? American.
Flip flops and shorts in the middle of winter? German.
Default raincoat and pink lipstick? British.
Vintage sundress, leggings and mary janes? French.
Skinny jeans, high-heeled boots, designer tote and crisp white T-shirt? Italian.
Walking down the streets of Rome’s centro storico, you can spot a person’s nationality without even asking for their passport. A lot has to do with hair too. Italian women most always don well-groomed roots, glossy Aniston-style manes, inconspicuous highlights and a killer haircut. Unless it’s 8:45 am and they’re dropping off the kids at school. There you’ll usually meet frazzled viragos wearing scrunchies and baggy sweats.
But Italians know how to dress, no doubt. Blame the haute couture designer influence, the “Made in Italy” philosophy, or the overall great history of fashion that surrounds them daily, le ragazze Italiane know their stuff. At times they may overdo the accessories, some are fashion victims, and some come covered head-to-toe in logos and initials. But for the most part, Italian women have chic in their DNA.
Italians can be thrifty and purchase knock-offs from their favorite Senegalese sidewalk Prada pusher. They may comb second hand stores for the perfect vintage leather jacket in a tucked away dark corner of the city. They may spend their hard earned cash on one exquisite pair of peep-toe slingbacks, or take daddy’s platinum credit card for a field trip, if they’re lucky.
I love the way Italian women dress. I appreciate the studied, “first thing I could throw on” look, how some can juxtapose classic cuts to denim, the dashing shabby chic, or the way some Italian ladies benefit from the simple elegance of a well tailored pant suit while riding their vespas to work.
Obviously style comes not with the clothes, but with the person. Elegance may have a code, it’s the personal taste that seizes that code and bends it to circumstance.
Italians take huge pride in their appearance. Many opt for classic, well-made clothes, rather than experimental, disposable fashion. Italy is not the place to find new fangled trends, rather le Italiane embrace a consistent elegance through all walks of life. There is rarely a style off-duty; for Italians dressing casually–even at pre-school pick up–is no excuse for slovenly attire.
Here are some images stolen on the street. They speak volumes on how to dress like a true Italian.
*First photo courtesy of OliverN5 via Flickr. All other photos by Eleonora, our own Moda Spia (fashion spy)
About Eleonora Baldwin
Love this piece! When I was searching for the photo to put up top, it cracked me up: I searched for “skinny jeans” images and at least 1000 pictures of the Jonas Brothers came up.
Alas, what will I do in the fall when I go to Italy? Black leather, black pants…they don’t look good on me. I will have to find some sleep alternative that is neither French nor American nor British…something bella!
I love the distinctions on dress ware, great article!
Leslie~ I’m sure you’ll find plenty of great fall clothes, just give me a call and we can go shopping together for great stuff.
Margo~ who are the Jonas Brothers?!
Ciao belle!
Eleanora,
Where/what shops do you recommend for affordable ladies (55-60yrs) clothes & shoes in Rome, Florence, Tuscany?
Marlene
E. – they are a teen boy band from New Jersey. I’m now more sure than ever that their stylist has an Italian style obsession.
Fashion aside, it’s also in the way Italian women of all ages carry themselves that exudes elegance and style. They’re to be admired.
Your nationality distinctions made me chuckle since I just posted a lighthearted article on how to look like a tourist in Paris!
Great article, I would say the most fashionable people in Europe would be the French but I am from Scotland so would I come under the Kilt and Sporran category?
Love the friendly neighborhood Malandra photo. You have nailed it. When ever I head back to LA, my friends always laugh and tell me the 1/2 Italian is more like 60%. It makes no sense to me to not look good when I go to yoga.
Eleonora,
Bella, buone idee qui!
Eleonora, I always enjoy your unique take on Italian life.
Such a fun article!!
Love the lady sitting down with the scarf around her shoulders. Classic. 
So true! And when we americani go to buy some of these fashions in Italy, we should not be deterred by the size 0 samples in the store windows. The shopkeepers stash the “large” sizes (6, 8, 10) in the back! Not really sure I can wait ’til May to go back . . .
Thank you for your wonderful comments!
Elizabeth~ Grazie!
Krista~ Isn’t she? Glad you enjoyed.
Linda~ Yes! Atlthough most shopkeepers are a size 2 themselves…
Thank you for your wonderful comments!
Elizabeth~ Grazie!
Krista~ Isn’t she? Glad you enjoyed.
Linda~ Yes! Although most shopkeepers are a size 2 themselves…
Eleonora…I am finally coming to Italy. Milano in Marzo! Any new pointers?
this is stupid AMERICANS wear normal clothes !! no khaki pants and sneakers we wear exactly what Italians wear whoever did this is stoooooooooooooooopid!
Please advise where to shop for clothing in Sicily. I am looking for clothing for a mature woman not teenagers!
I’ll be travelling from South Africa in April to Sicily for a wedding amongst other occassions.
I’d appreciate your help. Thanks
Esti
Just got back from Northern Italy. SO INTERESTING! In Milano, everything was black: boots, pants, jeans, jackets, ecc, ecc. Then….going east to Adriatic to Venezia….all of the sudden…the men in colored pants…or colored scarves…the women in carmel-colored leather jackets, ivory, buff. But to wear such a jacket or such a color in Milano….wrong! You would look like you did not belong.