Brief History Of Fashion In Italy

There are four major fashion hotspots in the world: New York City, Paris, Tokyo and Milan. Of these, Italy has a reputation for creating fashion that not only clothes the body, but expresses the true self. To get the most out of Italian fashion, it's necessary to examine the beginnings of the industry, as well as the execution of style in the country.

History

According to ItalianCulture.net, the history of modern designer fashion began in Italy in 1951, when a dignitary held a show in Florence in his private palace. This established high fashion as a property of the upper classes as a trimming to their already art-filled lives. As Italian fashion then spread to the silver screen, common folks started to also absorb style. As manufacturing improved and prices decreased, Italian fashion started to become synonymous with high quality and elegance. "All of this went towards creating a stereotyped yet realistic image of the Land of the Beautiful, of Art and of Love," says Italian Culture.

 

Significance

The Italian people pride themselves on looking their best by wearing quality garments that boost the wearer's best attributes. Though they value inner beauty, most prefer to be a part of the surrounding loveliness by being attractive themselves. For Italian women especially, fashion is a way to show of "la bella figura," or the beautiful figure, for the appreciation of others. Life in Italy writer Damyanti Gosh states, "Yes, it is great if you have a good heart, but Italians would expect you to have well-groomed hair, an impeccable sense of dressing and a really neat pair of shoes besides."

Features

Italian men and women dress not with trends in mind, but with an emphasis on the body. Some common styles for women include snug, sexy jeans, high-heeled shoes, high-quality leather goods and nose piercings. Sensual beauty is prized; too much makeup and painted nails are marks of a tourist and are usually shunned by Italian natives.

 

Mens' high fashion is strongly influenced by Italian designers like Zegna, Armani and Versace. As such, there's little room for a slouchy look. Stylish gentlemen aren't afraid to pair leather with dress pants, or a nautical sweater with punk pants. Daniel J. Indiviglio of AskMen writes, "Anyone who enjoys blending attire that is generally associated with less-traditional dress codes --and can pull it off in an aesthetically acceptable manner -- enjoys the tweak chic look." Other popular fashion themes include a slightly rumpled executive leisure idea, or apparel with naval inspiration.

Considerations

Like the French, the Italian closet is full of well-made articles that act as workhorses. People constantly dress to impress, and even errands take place in good style. If visiting the country, it's best to leave behind some American fashion habits in order to fit in. For those in doubt, it might be best to purchase some clothing in Italy after arrival in order to see how people actually clothe themselves.

Warning

There are several ways that a tourist can misstep with fashion while visiting Italy. Clunky sports sneakers are usually a bad fashion idea, as are loose jeans, sweatsuits and cheaply made clothing. While Italian women aim for sexiness, they also try to be very careful about keeping decent. Italy tourism writer Martha Miller says, "Italian women suggest a subtler brand of sexiness by keeping their bodies fit and wearing slim-cut clothing."