Why do Italians Always Look Good?

 Why do Italians Always Look Good? 

Recently when asked about the connection between fashion and travel, my mind

kept returning to the travel experience when fashion actually felt real and interesting — my first trip to Italy. I left wondering, “Why do Italians always look good?” If you’ve been there, maybe you’ve wondered the same thing about fashion in Italy.

At the age of 16, when I first visited Italy, I was certainly already aware of fashion, in part thanks to having spent plenty of time in New York City, but seeing fashion in Italy took me by surprise. It was everywhere.

Walking down the streets of Naples and Florence, I passed shop after shop with beautiful window displays of perfectly displayed shoes, handbags, jewelry, etc. I was so taken with these displays that I asked my dad for two pairs of fancy Italian shoes, and with every subsequent trip to Italy, I would gladly spend evenings window shopping. 

It wasn’t just the shops that made me notice the importance of fashion in Italy. More than the displays of beautiful goods, it was the people. The men and women wore classic styles, nothing complicated or reflective of a passing trend. They looked good and seemed comfortable in their looks. Their easy style exuded confidence and positive body image.

This is certainly a far cry from the U.S. where some men (and women) dress in ill-fitting, too big, way-too-casual clothes. These looks might be OK in certain situations, but when you see the overwhelming majority of Italian men sporting flattering, classic clothes, the American tendency to dress down becomes almost offensive.

Now, I should mention that I’m not a fashion snob, but when you see how easily fashion works for the Italians, it’s clear that it needn’t be complicated, yet it makes such a difference.

Fashion in Italy

Men in Italy (not all, of course, but enough to make an impression) reflect fashion in a few ways. First, they’re not afraid of color. Perhaps the best example is the sporting of colored pants (red , green , light bleu etc. ) . I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an American man wear colored  trousers, but in Italy, I sure saw them. In fact, colored  pants on men is so common (and perhaps so Italian?)

Second, Italian men pull off a timeless fashion even into their old age. Trousers, nice hats, basic dark coats…Italian men show that classic style needn’t be hard. I’d guess it’s about buying quality items that they can wear for years and years.

Third, it’s the little details, like that Italian men wear scarves. And when they maybe don’t have a beautiful outfit put together, they can pull off something decent by wearing dark colors. 

The average Italian men  wear scarves — that shouldn’t really be newsworthy, but I never see American men add one as an accessory, especially not one tied like here in italy . 

Finally, in Italy, it’s OK for men to dress up. It’s OK for them to care about what they look like and about fashion. It’s OK for them to play with classic looks and maybe turn up the volume a bit.

The same goes for women. Italian women care. They care what they look like when they go out. I don’t promote women spending lots of time in front of the mirror getting made up to please men’s eyes…this is not about that. Or maybe for them it is, but in my view, it’s about feeling good about oneself, no matter the size or shape or whatever. When a woman can pull on something that looks good on her, she feels good about herself.

Is it *important* that Italians look good when they go out for their evening walk? Maybe not, but it’s part of who they are. I think for them it’s about showing a personal style that is a tiny part of what is collectively a national aesthetic. Italy is an achingly beautiful country. It seems only fitting that its people should blend in with the beauty that is all around them.

And how can you not feel inspired to look a little more beautiful when you have this kind of beauty around you?

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