topic Re: Fashions in Rome in Fashion

Fashions in Rome

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 19:41:00 GMT

I just returned from a fab trip to Europe. Was in Rome for 3 days, and noted some unusual fashion statements, which I wanted to share, since we hear so much about Italian style.

1) Many, many women in mismatched outfits. Example: purple floral print skirt with yellow striped top. I saw enough of this to think it was a "thing" or a fad. Not just a random fashionably-challenged person, but many. Young and old.

2) Roman women do not seem to care if their bra is showing. Saw my share of bra straps, but also lots of sheer blouses with white bras showing through. One lady with a backless sundress with a big old white bra showing. Another with a low cut blouse over a higher cut bra.

Pretty sure they were all Italians (as opposed to tourists), but of course I can't be sure.

There were a number of high end fashion stores with lots of high priced goodies, but I did not see anyone who was particularly well dressed (might have been the weather -- very hot.)

Re: Fashions in Rome

Snicks1 — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 19:48:11 GMT

I found that to be the case when I spent time there several years ago. I was not impressed with their fashions.

Re: Fashions in Rome

blackhole99 — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 19:55:21 GMT

I can see where the Italian women and men with money can afford to dress in all the latest fashions, but the average Italian isn't spending their money on high fashion or jewelry. My son travels all over the globe and he says the women in the US are the best dressed. I just think we are being sold a fantasy at the Q so we will buy the clothes and jewelry. I don't need the Italians or the French to tell me how to dress or what jewelry to buy to be fashionable.

Re: Fashions in Rome

lobstergal — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 19:57:22 GMT

You know what they say.....when in Rome....

Re: Fashions in Rome

151949 — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:03:03 GMT

IMO - a person should dress appropriately to their age, where they live and their body ( which usually has a lot to do with age), and your personal style. I would not think what is worn in Paris is of much value on a ranch in SW USA - and even what is being worn in NYC has much impact on what is being worn in Miami.And certainly a size 2 is going to dress differently than a size 22 (I hope!) and a 16 year old differently than a 66 year old.

Re: Fashions in Rome

abbeythe 8th — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:27:34 GMT

We have a home in Italy. What the OP said is true not just in Rome. Not everyone is a fashionista. Not making excuses but it's extremely hot in the summer and there is little air-conditioning in most homes. I've seen a lot of ladies of all ages wearing sleeveless or spaghetti straps with bras showing.

Re: Fashions in Rome

lavendar — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:43:25 GMT

I was in Florence many years ago and the women were really well dressed. And it was hot.

I was staying with an American woman who'd lived there for twenty five years. She took one look at my bermuda shorts and t

shirts and took me shopping to stores where I got very reasonable dresses in nice fabrics.

I passed on a dress that I thought was matronly. Owner of the shop ran after us screaming, "cheapest dress in Florence." He lowered the price and I bought it. Turned out to be lucky dress because I had to appear in court that summer and my lawyer said, "wear a very conservative dress." It was the only one that fit the bill.

Maybe things are different now. Or maybe it's just Florence.

Re: Fashions in Rome

millieshops — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:44:05 GMT

Every where we go, there are well-dressed people and not-so-well-dressed people. That's true in this country and it's true every where in the world I've been fortunate enough to travel.

For all the wonderful Paris fashions - and that's been the gold-standard long before anyone at QVC started to talk fashion - the several times I've been in Paris, I saw very few beautifully dressed women. Same in Rome, in Vienna, in London, etc. But that's the same in NYC - you see beautifully dressed people sometimes and bag ladies walking in the same crowds.

Where QVC is pretty much correct is that lots of couture begins in Europe. But it also begins in NYC or Miami and on and on. I don't see any reason vendors and hosts should stop the "European chatter," but I do think consumers need to do their own jobs and not blithely accept everything at face value. Whatever happened to caveat emptor?

Re: Fashions in Rome

NJgirl 1205 — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 23:16:25 GMT

I have been to Italy many times over the past 20 years and noticed that Rome is more of a hodgepodge and a true mix of well and not so well dressed. I always see more well dressed women in other parts of Italy like Florence and especially in Milan.

Re: Fashions in Rome

Desertdi — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:58:42 GMT

I always wonder where people go to see all these fashionably dressed women........(it surely isn't Phoenix in the summer....)

Re: Fashions in Rome

Witchy Woman — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:44:45 GMT

@abbeythe 8th wrote:
We have a home in Italy. What the OP said is true not just in Rome. Not everyone is a fashionista. Not making excuses but it's extremely hot in the summer and there is little air-conditioning in most homes. I've seen a lot of ladies of all ages wearing sleeveless or spaghetti straps with bras showing.

If you don't mind my asking, how did you come to have a home in Italy?

I've dreamt of doing something like that, but have never pursued any information since it just seemed out of reach.

Never been there, but would love to go!

Re: Fashions in Rome

Carmie — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:27:54 GMT

Here is my take on fashion around the world in large cities.

Women who work in large cities anywhere in the world tend to dress better because their job requires them to. When these women are on vacation or out and about, they tend to dress more casual like everyone else.

Most of fashionably dressed women we see are at work, on their way to work, at lunch or shopping on their way home from work.

i used to be surprised when in Europe, especially in small towns how mismatched the clothing was..... Not anymore.

Re: Fashions in Rome

abbeythe 8th — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:28:36 GMT

@Witchy Woman wrote:
@abbeythe 8th wrote:
We have a home in Italy. What the OP said is true not just in Rome. Not everyone is a fashionista. Not making excuses but it's extremely hot in the summer and there is little air-conditioning in most homes. I've seen a lot of ladies of all ages wearing sleeveless or spaghetti straps with bras showing.

If you don't mind my asking, how did you come to have a home in Italy?

I've dreamt of doing something like that, but have never pursued any information since it just seemed out of reach.

Never been there, but would love to go!

My husband is Italian and we vacationed there a lot. Years ago a cousin's husband began buying fixer uppers and flipping them. He helped us choose a home, a rundown farmhouse. It's in San Gimignano (Tuscany) It took awhile to restore it but it is now beautiful. I'm retired so spend more time there than my husband. In total, I'm there close to 5 months of the year. We have a caretaker and his wife who live in a cottage on the property.

Re: Fashions in Rome

Stray — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:34:08 GMT

@Jerseygirl1266 wrote:
I have been to Italy many times over the past 20 years and noticed that Rome is more of a hodgepodge and a true mix of well and not so well dressed. I always see more well dressed women in other parts of Italy like Florence and especially in Milan.

Hi fellow Jerseyite - I spend 6 months in Italy out of the year and what you say is correct. Milan is known as the fashion capital I believe. Some years Paris, some years Milan. I am outside of Sienna and people are very well dressed but some aren't. Italy is just like any other place...those that work on farms or vineyards dress appropriately and many Italians are working in Rome but when out, always fine leather, good shoes and a gold piece or 2 and depending on age. Young Italians like American designers and Gap is big in college towns....I wouldn't judge Italian fashion by Rome. There are so many tourists and it is hard to find a true Romani and like any big city, they have their share of poverty. In the small neighborhoods, non tourist sections, you will find the authentic Italian. For me, Italian design has always been my preference. The sheer blouse and dark bra is popular in America and I see it often in NYC, not to my taste

Re: Fashions in Rome

CatsyCline — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:38:05 GMT

wow this lifestyle sounds like Under the Tuscan Sun! How Fun!

by any chance are there any hunky 40ish bachelors in Tuscany ?

Re: Fashions in Rome

chrystaltree — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:05:25 GMT

While a certain former show host pretended that all Italian women were immaculately dressed 24/7 and the eptiomy of style and grace....anyone whoever spent 10 minutes anywhere in Italy knew that wasn't the truth. Italian women are no different than women anywhere else in the world. Some dress well, some don't. Some even commit fashion faux pas. Their lives do not and never did revolve around fashion. No more than our lives do. While were talking; it's the same with French women. I do know that fashion trends begin in Italy and we are about a year behind. I've seen some of that "very sheer blouse with the bra showing" this summer. Mostly white blouse/white bra or black blouse/black bra. You might have seen it on very fashionable women but I think the woman with the sundress was just a walking "fashion don't". Italy has it's fair share of that type too. The intentional mix match look has been around for a couple of years now. It's hard to do and I don't think it took off here in the US. Apparently the look is popular in Italy.

Re: Fashions in Rome

Stray — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:22:59 GMT

@CatsyCline I have seen many a good looking men in Italy, mostly Italian

@ashleigh dupray wrote:

wow this lifestyle sounds like Under the Tuscan Sun! How Fun!

by any chance are there any hunky 40ish bachelors in Tuscany ?

Re: Fashions in Rome

Witchy Woman — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 17:27:45 GMT

@abbeythe 8th wrote:
@Witchy Woman wrote:
@abbeythe 8th wrote:
We have a home in Italy. What the OP said is true not just in Rome. Not everyone is a fashionista. Not making excuses but it's extremely hot in the summer and there is little air-conditioning in most homes. I've seen a lot of ladies of all ages wearing sleeveless or spaghetti straps with bras showing.

If you don't mind my asking, how did you come to have a home in Italy?

I've dreamt of doing something like that, but have never pursued any information since it just seemed out of reach.

Never been there, but would love to go!
My husband is Italian and we vacationed there a lot. Years ago a cousin's husband began buying fixer uppers and flipping them. He helped us choose a home, a rundown farmhouse. It's in San Gimignano (Tuscany) It took awhile to restore it but it is now beautiful. I'm retired so spend more time there than my husband. In total, I'm there close to 5 months of the year. We have a caretaker and his wife who live in a cottage on the property.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. It sounds marvelous on all fronts -- Italian husband and home

5 months out of the year would work for me!

Enjoy!

Re: Fashions in Rome

ladyroxanne — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 17:47:52 GMT

the women in rome can wear what they they like, just as we in the u.s. wear what we like. true, there are cities that are ahead of us setting trends but that doesn't mean we have to follow them. we all should pick and choose what is appropriate for us and wear them. no one should dictate what we wear at any time. true, i like many of the trends but that doesn't mean that all women should follow them. it's to each their own and what women look good, like and feel comfortable in is what they should wear.

Re: Fashions in Rome

Marienkaefer2 — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:04:48 GMT

My maternal family is Italian...our extended family, cousins, aunts, uncles. ..live in northern Italy in smaller towns and cities. I never noticed them to be fashion mavens anymore than anyone else I knew. The cousin I am closest to always wore jeans and sweaters or tee shirts or blouses. I do have three cousins, sisters, who liked to dress trendy when we were teenagers. ..and they were really beautiful girls. But for the most part, clothes wise, everyone I saw dressed like me. I will say that Italian women have one quality...confidence...and I think a confident woman is the most beautiful of all.