High Fashion in the North of Italy

By Olivia Bastin

My parents are constantly complaining about the 3 clothes racks I have in my room; however, I love fashion. Italian fashion designers add a sense of panache. Italian fashion is flamboyant and decadent. You can imagine my excitement when a friend of mine invited me to stay in the north of Italy in Venice with her and her family. The north of Italy does have a stylish reputation, so I was delighted. When I arrived, I was dazzled by all the stunning designer brands in countless shop windows. The clothes in Venice and the surrounding area were glitzy, glamorous, sparkly and expensive to say the least. I stopped counting how many Louis Vuitton shops I’d seen after the first couple of days. Some of my favourite clothes were some gorgeous soft white furs and some cute Louis Vuitton scarves. The fashion in Venice was aimed to dazzle and impress. Lavishness was valued above cost and practicality.

I found the way they dressed intrinsically linked to the way people were judged and valued. Historically speaking Venice has always been at the heart of international trading with its celebrated plays on the old silk routes from China. A taste for materials has carried through the centuries and inspired many modern day designers such as Gucci and Giorgio Armani. As we approach carnaval (mardi gras) we must remember, the Venetian sense of drama as we see in their masks, cloaks and ball-dresses.  These items of clothes are fit for a masquerade ball therefore they are lavish, opulent and stylish. The haute couture filters down to the everyday person on the street. As a foreigner, my clothes looked and were different to theirs. As a result, I sometimes felt separate to my friend and her family. The clothes I wore weren’t designer brands and they weren’t shiny or super pricy. The clothes you wore in Venice formed a cultural identity. They described your socio-economic place in society. Creativity was more valued than practicality.

Yet interestingly, when we went round to a friend's house and I borrowed a dress, and she did my make–up I felt closer to her and her family. The dress was flattering and formal. It was floor-length. It was black with horizontal lines around the waist. The dress symbolized the stylishness of Italian fashion. The quality was good and it looked elegant which is how my friend and her family’s clothes appeared. I didn’t feel like I was from the UK anymore. I didn’t exactly feel part of the culture, but I didn’t feel as other as I had before.

My friend, her family and their friends took great pride in their appearance. It was important for them to wear lovely make-up and designer brands. They put thought and effort into the way they styled themselves. I did love the clothes in Venice. They were beautifully designed and created. The materials looked rich and expensive. And I was truly amazed at how many clothes and shoe shops I saw. However, the value of these clothes went beyond style and fashion. They transcended into a cultural identity and socio-economic status which made me at points feel different to everyone else around me. So, if you're travelling to the north of Italy, make sure you bring your finest attire!