Italians live by a philosophy called la bella figura. This literally translates to “the beautiful figure” but the Italians use it to describe their way of life. They believe that how a person looks and carries him or herself is very important. Fashion is very held in high esteem in the lives of Italians and their unique way of dressing is different than any other place in the world.

La bella figura means looking effortlessly fabulous. Somehow, almost every Italian regardless of age or gender, pulls it off. After living here for almost two months, I’ve begun to get the hang of what it means to live la bella figura. Here’s an outfit that will give you the idea of what the phrase means.

A colorful scarf adds the perfect amount of color and class to any outfit.

When temperatures start to drop in the fall, Italians stay warm and stylish with a cozy sweater.

These high waist trousers are very sophisticated, all while being comfortable at the same time.

Italians know their leather and won’t be seen without a nice pair of leather shoes.The Italians believe that dressing and living well contributes some much-needed beauty to the rest of the world.