If you intend to travel to Italy, then you might want to embrace every aspect of life in the country – including the famous Italian sense of style. You needn’t stand out like a tourist; by participating in fashion, food, and culture, you might even take a few key lessons home with you, and be that little bit more stylish for years to come.
Dressing the Part: Effortless Italian Fashion
What is it that makes Italian textiles so impressive? Well, there are a few broad principles to bear in mind. The fit of a given item is paramount, as is the quality of the materials from which it’s made. Try to observe what locals wear in any given setting, and to mimic the principles in evidence. What’s worn on the beach will naturally differ from what’s worn in the middle of a city.
Dining the Italian Way
A number of Italian dishes have become popular throughout the world. But there are also dining principles worth adhering to. Avoid sandwich boards advertising a fixed list of products in English. Try not to wolf down your food and move on. Instead, view mealtimes in the Italian way: divided into a number of courses, with plenty of time available for socialising with your fellow diners. Avoid milky coffee, like cappuccino, after breakfast time.
Living the Daily Rhythm: La Passeggiata and Slow Living
Slow living is an Italian idea that extends beyond mealtimes. You might enjoy an evening stroll (or passeggiata) through the local piazzas, or farmland. Certain parts of the country, like the famous Lake Garda, are perfect for this kind of thing. Lake Garda holidays should be enjoyed at a slower pace – which typically means setting aside free time in your schedule, so that you don’t end up rushing from one place to the next.
Coffee and Bar Culture
Of course, Italy is a country that runs on coffee. But there’s a very different culture around the beverage, here. For one thing, espresso is much cheaper. You might pick it up quickly, and neck it at the bar, rather than sitting down. On the other hand, a cafe is a social hub, and you might spend some time in your local one, sitting and drinking with Italians. Just be sure that you don’t order a latte, unless you want to be presented with a glass of milk!
