When studying abroad there are many different things that you will need to acclimate to: the food, the culture and the language barrier. One thing you may not consider when it comes to the changes in a new country is adapting to their fashion as well.

Although Italy is home to some of the most fantastic fashion in the world, many of the locals’ everyday outfits can be somewhat reserved. They value modesty and neutrals; People working in the fashion industry being the exception. 

As stated in Italia Mia, “You can have enormous fashion hubs in Italy because it is considered a powerhouse of luxury goods, producing some of the world’s best-known brands, with a specialty in leather. Even Italian women are considered the best dressed on the planet.” 

Staying true to your style while still wanting to fit in and be respectful of the culture is a constant battle being an American studying fashion here in Florence. I will let you in on all of the things I have learned about fashion in Italy so far and how I have been expressing myself through my style while being courteous of the cultural norms.

The first thing is understanding what to pack and what to leave behind. Before leaving, I read many packing lists, giving me the gist of the things many Italians do not wear: the main two being shorts and athleisure wear. This made things a little more difficult as it has been 90 degrees for the majority of my trip. 

As stated on Travel Fashion Girl, an Italian lifestyle fashion website, they briefly talk about the different fashion norms for the different parts of Italy. “Italy’s clothing styles vary from the north to the south. Milan and the north of this beautiful country have a very fashionable and sometimes over-the-top style. In Venice, the weather might dictate the clothing over trends. Rome and the south have more local trends and traditions. Make sure you don’t show too much skin as locals here aren’t big on overly-revealing clothing.”

Although I followed these packing lists pretty religiously, there were a few things I felt like I could not sacrifice, such as my jean shorts and a few athleisure pieces. Upon my arrival, I found out that these lists were slightly outdated. Post-pandemic life has changed fashion slightly in Italy, as the athleisure style has made its way here since the pandemic. Thankfully, they have started practicing comfortable fashion in Italy. It only makes sense seeing as it can be sweltering and you walk for miles daily.

There is a phrase in Italian, sprezzatura, which means to look well dressed and put together while simultaneously looking like you did not put in much effort, which is the best way to describe Italian fashion. Despite the meaning of the word, achieving this look takes much effort. My best take on this style is taking pieces that aren’t worn often, such as jeans or biker shorts, and pairing them with a timeless piece, such as a linen or silk button-down. This way I am incorporating key pieces from my wardrobe, staying comfortable and still looking somewhat put together.

While it may seem like there are so many rules to be followed, my best piece of advice is to be confident in whatever it is you are wearing. If you feel good and you are comfortable, that is truly all that matters at the end of the day. When you study abroad, there are so many changes and new things to focus on, so it is important to focus on the things that you can control. Your fashion choices are one of them. 

Initially, I was worried about standing out and being labeled a tourist, but at the end of the day, those things do not matter. Staying true to yourself and what you feel best in is truthfully the most crucial rule to follow, regardless of where you are.

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Hi! I’m Catie Pusateri, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.