Fashion Update: Just returned from Italy
 

We just returned from 2 weeks in Italy and thought I would pass on this information to those seeking a fashion update. We stayed in Rome, Venice and Florence so were only in the cities.

While we were there the weather was pretty much low to mid-sixties during the day and 10-15 degrees cooler at night. People are still wearing black, black and more black. Those puffy black coats I kept reading about are still being worn a lot, but don't forget to wear a bright colored scarf with it. Men are wearing wool scarves too.

Those pointy boots are still in, but many women were actually wearing boots that were like cowboy boots. Cowboy boot heel and toe, sometimes the cowboy boot top other times just a straight top like a riding boot. They would tuck their pants into the boots, or roll them up to reveal the top of the boot. We also saw slightly wider legged black capris being worn with boots.

A few times in Rome we saw high striped socks being worn with a short skirt. Kind of a pirate look (not partularly attractive in my opinion.)

Another new trend was high top wrestling style shoes. That wasn't for me either.

What we didn't see a lot of that is so popular here in the states were ponchos and UGG type boots.

For spring, in the stores they were showing a lot of different spring colors. While lime green and orange were probably the most prevalent there was also a lot of light blue and pink. It appears as though white shoes are back in. Spring shoes are either very pointy or very round. Several stores were carrying the cowboy boots in the light pastel colors of lime green, blue, pink, purple, etc. Moccasins were also being shown, and a lot of metallics on shoes. Oh and don't discard the scarf because it is spring, just wear a light silk scarf in a bright color.

That cute, comfy sweatsuit you just bought to wear on the plane should keep you comfortable, but once you arrive no one is wearing them in Italy. Well, the only sweats we saw were on American college students in Florence.

I must admit, I didn't find that people actually "dress up" more in Italy, it is just that they never" dress down." We did not see a lot of dresses or skirts mostly black pants and jeans. (I suspect that changes in the summer months). They will just always wear nice slacks or fashionable jeans with a nice top or sweater and that puffy black coat and a big scarf. You never see someone wearing sweats or an over the head hooded sweatshirt or tennis shoes. Although the stylized Puma and Puma-type tennis shoes are VERY popular. Oh, and those ski jackets we Americans like to wear all the time - in Italy - save it for the slopes.

All that being said, please remember the number one rule: do not sacrifice fashion for comfortable shoes!! You will regret it. I can't speak for the summer, but for now just get a nice looking but comfortable pair of black shoes that you can do a lot of walking in and enjoy!!

This was very helpful. I leave in 5 weeks and we're starting in Milan and I packed very different clothing this time from last, trying to upgrade my look a little. But comfortable shoes are a definite must for me..I never understand how women can walk on cobblestone in spike heels. I can't do it, and though they look chic and with-it, I suspect when they get home they elevate, elevate, elevate and take a handful of advil. I know I would! I love the report on the colors and the cowboy boots. Maybe I'll pick up a cool pair in Milano!

"Men are wearing wool scarves too." My dear, since when haven't men worn woolen scarves? Every single year, every single designer will produce men's scarves in wool/cashmere.

"For spring, in the stores they were showing a lot of different spring colors." No revelations there - what exactly is a "spring color (sic)"?

"Well, the only sweats we saw were on American college students in Florence." Sweatshirts feature in this season's Dior Homme collection which even has one suitable for the evening, with a wolves motif taken from their signature tuxedo jacket. Helmut Lang also features a couple of sweatshirts. The sports top look is evident in collections from Dries Van Noten, and Siv Stodal who show tracksuit-esque affairs and cricket jumpers.

"People are still wearing black, black and more black." Black is always the new black, surely everyone knows that.

"No revelations there - what exactly is a "spring color (sic)"?"

Huh? OK here is a list of colors. See how smart you have to be to figure out which ones would be "spring" and which ones aren't.

Burgundy
Pale Lime
Yellow
Navy Blue
Forest Green
Dark Brown
Lavender
Deep Purple
Tangerine
Pink


Now, was that so hard?

Thanks for the update jgg! I'm leaving next week for a Italy, so it's nice to know I'll be okay ! I've decided to only take one pair of shoes with me so I will be FORCED to buy some new ones while I'm there. I'll be three days in Naplese and can't wait to hit the shops!

jgg: I so agree about the puffy black coats, if I'd had room in my suitcase, I would have bought one. What I noticed was how you could always pick out the tourists, they had t-shirts or tank tops, (it was warm/hot while was there), the Italians wore heavy coats, scarves, hats - definitely dressed for winter. Also noticed that not as many women were wearing the high stilleto heels, but more wore sturdier, but nice shoes and yes, lots of cowboy boots, but with lower heels and Puma.

Patrick dear, I'm not talking about naff shapeless pastel shades here. If you look at collections by designers with minimalist palettes such as Helmut Lang, Hedi Slimane (Dior Homme), Rick Owens, Raf Simons, Hussein Chalayan... they're using a lot of monochromic tones, with muted earthy colours that would look perfectly at home in winter collections. Even designers who go for extreme detail such as Dries van Noten, and Miu Miu have a palette that is not particularly season specific. What distinguishes the seasons is the use of colour and the cut/shape of the garments and the theme for the collection.

If you really want to do the Puma thing with some more class: Jil Sander will always feature some in their (Jil has gone for good now) collection for both men and women; high and lo-tops.

jgg, thanks for the heads up. I am leaving for Italy in May for my 1st time and was wondering what is coming this spring. Love the cowboy boot look.
(to mkingdom2, well Hootie-hoot and LA-DI-DA to you for knowing about fashion- but apparently not about being kind.)

Boots are definitely in. We saw lots of the colorful cowboy boots in shoe store windows in Florence, Lucca and Orvieto, and pastel desert boots, but on the street it was mostly black boots. The boots were either pointy-toed and high-heeled, or low-heeled with buckles and straps -- military-ish.

I did see one woman in Fiesole that was teetering across the street in an impossibly high pair of stilletos -- her feet were at the most uncomfortable looking angle. She was going to be in a lot of pain later.

A pair of comfortable walking shoes is a must.
((c))

jgg -

I guess I notice the different things but did you happen to take note of how they were wearing the scarves. It was kind of a slip knot arrangment I don't usually see in the US, must be tres chic!

Sounds like the classic "hacking knot", no?

They most always wear their scarves the same way. The ends pulled through the loop with your neck in the middle. If I wear mine differently some Italian will always rearrange it.

Thanks for the report! I should fit right in with my green, laceless DKNY sneakers.

What a fortune to be made...
Americans will take cooking lessons..
Wine tasting courses,
etc.

Why won't one boutique teach us (for a fee) just exactly HOW to tie those scares. Not the woollen, that's easy.
I'd pay

Fancy napkin folding as well, now that I think of it. Seeing a "swan" in a book and making the swan out of a napkin out of my artsy league even...

Surely you need to be taught how to dress before you focus on the little things like scarves?

ah yes, the scarves thing-always worn the way Sea Urchin describes, men or women, and worn quite late into spring, even early summer. All over Europe this is so. I've always thought that, like ice in the drinks, the requisite scarf-wearing is something of a "cultural flag" that differentiates us from our European brethren.

Cowboy boots..hmmmm..wasn't there some poor guy not too long ago who got a lot of flack from many posters (not ALL posters) about wearing his cowboy boots to Paris? Well, of course we're talking about Italy here so maybe Paris is different.

M-Kingdom: I'm impressed with your knowledge of all things fashion. Are you in the industry?

I hope that stud told his dear little (or perhaps BIG) wife to "stuff it" when she did the hissy fit thing about him wearing boots. I'm wondering if the divorce has become final yet.