I don’t know about you, but I feel like every single person I know is abroad this summer. Each time I scroll through Instagram it feels like all I see are pictures of my friends living their best lives in Europe. While I love a good gelato shot or a landscape of a breathtaking view, the photos I always end up bookmarking are my followers’ best abroad #OOTDs. I knew I had to share all the European style inspiration floating around in the College Fashionista community—but where would I even begin? After polling Community Members to find where they were spending their summers, one beautiful country by the Mediterranean proved to be the most popular destination. Now that they’re living in one of the fashion capitals of the world (and the home of all the carbs), our Italy-based Community Members had plenty to say about the trends they saw popping up around their summer home. Grab your passports—we’re going on an Italian fashion tour.
Lake Como
First stop, Lake Como. Marymount student and current Milan-based fashion design intern, Isabella Ricci, wore two trends she’s noticed all over Italy while on a trip to this popular vacation destination. Isabella says white sneakers are “just about all anyone wears” and has spotted gingham everywhere. However, her two-piece set is so much more than trendy. Isabella crafted this number from fabric she found in her Italian immigrant grandmother’s home after her passing. “This has felt like one of the most special outfits I’ve worn in my life,” Isabella said, “With this being my first time in Italy it makes me feel as though I’m completing a circle for her.”
Milan
Moving on to Milan. NC State University student, Nikki Page, has been studying in Italy since January—so you could say she’s a bit of an expert when it comes to Italian fashion. Spending the summer in Italy has taught Nikki the value of simple pieces, “I’ve learned that less is more and neutrals are your friend since I first landed in Italy” she said. For this look, she based her outfit on two basic staples she’s noticed Italian teens love; ripped denim and tube tops. Nikki loves tube tops because they’re a great way to stay comfortable in the heat while still looking fashion forward.
Cinque Terre
While studying abroad at the Florence University of Arts, Western Michigan University student Sydney Juncaj picked up on so many trends that influenced this look that she wore on a quick trip to Cinque Terre. Sunglasses, especially cat-eye frames are having a major moment, “no Italian leaves the house without them,” she said. Sydney also noticed that—thanks to the brutal heat—fabric choice is crucial for Italian women. “The light cotton fabric of my dress allowed my body to breathe and not feel restricted even in the warm climate,” she said. “The bright blue hue of the dress blended perfectly with Cinque Terre’s bold buildings, architecture and aesthetic.”
Florence
Knowing she would be studying in one of Italy’s chicest cities, Arianna Baquerizo, a University of Florida student, bought this gingham midi in preparation for her summer in Florence. “A huge trend I noticed in Florence was the bold statement piece,” she said. “This skirt itself was something I was unsure of wearing back home, but experienced no second thoughts in Italy.” To keep up with the statement piece theme, Arianna added bold yellow earrings and blue-lensed sunnies. Her main Italian fashion takeaway; “No outfit is the wrong outfit. The country’s ambiance is so carefree and Florence is a huge fashion hub with inspiration literally in every corner.”
Rome
And now: Italy’s capital. Recent Marymount University grad Alisha Duckworth traveled to Rome this summer for a refresh of her old study abroad stomping grounds. While she’s all about Italian fashion, she especially loved this outfit because the pieces came from Roman boutiques near and dear to her heart. Though subtle, the mixed prints of the pinstriped top and seersucker pants are perfectly on trend. “The stripes are slightly different sizes and the blues are different shades, yet, they managed to pair well together,” she said.
Castel Gandolfo
Our final stop on this grand Italian fashion tour Castel Gandolfo, a town just slightly south of Rome. On a day trip tour, Michigan State University Junior Lauren Gewirtz stuck with the trend of factoring in the impending heat when deciding on her #OOTD. “I love this outfit because of its comfort and versatility,” she said. “These pants kept me cool as it gets very hot in Italy during the summer. I paired them with a yellow top to keep the outfit fun along with comfortable black sandals.”
What are you wearing abroad this summer? Show us your #OOTDs on Instagram by tagging @cfashionista!
Opening image by Arianna Baquerizo.
