Leon Kammer asked:


Tourists flock to Italy from all over the world; in love with the history, the food, the culture and the fashion, not necessarily in that order, depending on individual taste.

We know that when it comes to fashion and style or “bella figura” as the Italians like to call it, translated it means a good image and Italy can certainly boast designers like Armani, Versace,Dolce Gabbana,Gucci, Prada,just to name a few,not forgetting the famous shoe brands,like Ferragamo,Tods,Magli,where the Italians excel,both in style and craftsmanship,you can’t beat Italian shoe wear; that’s why you’ll find Italian clothing and shoes a major export to every corner of the globe: brand names that have become a household word,wherever you go.

For the Italian, particularly in Rome, on an everyday basis, style comes naturally and not something that’s talked about too much, it’s just the way it is; well dressed to the Italian  means dressing correctly for the occasion,which means a big no to the jogging suit being worn in the street, something that has become totally acceptable to the rest of the world.

For the Roman,however,whether a secretary,a regular working person or a professional it’s all about style and presence; as the day begins,decked out from head to foot.

The only place you’ll see a jogging suit is in the gym and even there,the code is to arrive in style and leave in style, never missing a beat. They know how to wear and strutt their stuff with a minimum of fuss; it seems to come naturally,the jacket, the scarf, the hair, the boots, the handbag, accessorized perfectly stating, “I have arrived”

Even the female cop directing the traffic in Rome’s Piazza Venezia looks like a ex supermodel,in full makeup and long blond hair flowing out from under her cap.

Where did all this style originate from: perhaps it’s the almost three thousand  years of history, influenced by the Emperors who entered the Senates with such pride receiving overwhelming crowd recognition or the Roman soldiers in their splendid gold suited armor and head wear, proud to be part of the Roman Empire.

So is the rest of the world too casual? Have countries like America, Australia or England taken “casual Friday” or the “track suit” too far?

What created that kind acceptability in these countries and why would people NOT want to look their best, when to the Italians it’s not even a question.”It’s not important”, you might say, but let’s face it,they look better.

But how can they afford to dress that way, you may ask? It’s not about money, it’s about taste and having a good eye. Firstly however you need to care how you present

The truth is that brands like Armani, Prada, Gucci, Cavalli are not what the Italians buy; these are for the tourists in the landmark fashion strip of Rome’s  Via Condotti, which runs from the Spanish Steps right to the main street of Via Del Corso and it’s there where you’ll find every flagship designer store and opulant jewelery from Bulgari to Cartier, tourists lining up from Japan to Russia, walking out with huge bags of the latest fashion goodies,excited to wear the latest look from the house of Vercasi back home.”do I look Italian”

The Romans are not the clients that visit Via Condotti.They are not concerned with name brands and they don’t own an abundance of clothes.

What they own is a few good pieces, not necessarily expensive; affordable and elegant, and they know how to put it all together, with the right accessories being the foremost important items, usually purchased outside the historic center in shopping strips where style and quality can be purchased at a fraction of the prices paid in the center.

Also there are many outlet shops that sell end of season high quality merchandise for far less than you would expect to pay in town and the truth is that these shopping malls and shopping strips are usually just thirty to forty five minutes away like Colle Di Rienzo in Rome, a street full of stores, running from Piazza Del Popolo to the Vatican in Rome, just minutes on foot from the center, or the Castel Romano Outlet where you’ll find most labels at half price; thirty minutes by car, from the center of Rome.

So before you embark on a fashion shopping spree, find out about the Malls,the Outlets and where the people go.

You may just find the item that will may you look good for less and join the “bella figura” set.

While your in Italy, maybe in Rome or Florence being thrifty with your fashion purchases, you might also consider the type of Italian accommodation you’ll choose.

Italian apartment accommodation seems to be the new way in Europe where the hotels can become very costly; after all what you save on accommodation in Italy may just leave you some extra for that new jacket.

Hemant Jain asked:


Men often find themselves wondering what to wear on a formal occasion. A formal shirt and trouser for a wedding or a reception party often turns out to be too boring. For the man of today there could be nothing more stylish and appealing than a Jodhpuri coat. Jodhpuri suits add an indefinable elegance and sophistication along with an ethnic ever green look. Traditional men’s wear has flooded the markets across the globe. They are available in new varieties, colors and have a perfect blend of modern and contemporary. Designers from across the globe are trying their hands for bringing more options for today’s fashion conscious men. Gone are the yester years when men didn’t think and found contentment in adorning any suit.

Jodhpuri coats can be worn in a good mix and match style after consultation with your designer. Depending upon your skin color and taste you can go ahead with clichéd colors like white, off white, cream etc. Perhaps if you want something bolder and unique then you have at your disposal a wide variety of grey, black and a whole range of color palette to chose from. The coats can be altered and changed to suit you perfectly. You may also opt for some embroidery work to highlight the neck. Jodhpuri coats are generally worn with jewelery and other matching accessory. Men’s wedding accessories include buttons in gold, silver and other precious stones. They also prefer to wear a gold or silver plated watch in accordance with the color of their wedding attire.

Indian wedding sherwani which is an all time favorite for men is custom designed for them according to the taste, style and color choice. It is one of the most respectable wedding attire that even the most urbane people prefer. You can go ahead for a heavy traditional sherwani with embroidery all over giving you a majestic look on the d-day. Sherwani helps in making you looking more handsome and attractive than you already are! What more could one ask for? Designers usually prefer offering the sherwani with a typical Nehru collar followed by a buttoned up look on front. Following set patterns sherwanis are usually made long and are meant to be at least knee length if not slightly more. Sherwani looks best when accompanied by appropriate jooties and sandals.

The younger generation of today is seen in weddings all across the globe sporting designer kurta pajamas. If you are very casual and the wedding not so important then you can team your collar less kurta with something as simple as denim. This gives you a trendy indo western look.  But generally kurtas are worn along with loose trouser like pants. Gone are the days when kurtas were worn only in light shades. The markets are flooded with really nice kurtas in pastels and other bolder colors for todays men. The older men still prefer to be seen at get togethers and functions in embroidered dhoti kurta. This makes them feel closer to their roots and gives them an exceptionally respectable look.

For the powerful and vibrant men nothing looks better than a pathani suit. It is very casual in appearance but as they say appearances can be deceiving! Something as simple as a pathani suit can make you stand out in the crowd like never before. Designers have experimented with pathani suits also and today you can get them in heavy embellishments and embroidered work.

Mens wear achkans, chic tuxedos, mens suits and more from India are getting world wide acclaim. Different accessories for men are also flooded in the markets today. You can browse online for thousands of designs of apparels and accessories. What you need to do is browse patiently and then you must choose the best from the rest!