Unleash Your Inner Italian Fashionista
October 2, 2014
By Brian Maynor
Everyone talks about French fashion and strives to dress like a Parisian, but this weekend let’s shift the focus a little farther south to the Mediterranean and embrace Italian style. With the Italian Festival and Bocce Tournament going on downtown Saturday, it’s the perfect time to celebrate all things Italian.
While Columbia may not be a global fashion capital everyday, we can certainly turn it into one for the weekend. Here is everything you need to know about embracing your inner Italian fashionista:
1. Confidence. This one quality exists across the board in all fashion capitals. It’s impossible not to see it in the men and women just walking down the street, and feel the impact it makes. No matter what they are wearing, it seems to be stylish and enviable by sheer force of will. And the best part is that confidence doesn’t cost a thing.
2. Commitment. Part of confidence is committing to your look. Whether it’s glamorous, simple, avant grade or preppy to look confident and embrace your inner Italian fashionista never go halfway. Full commitment to the decisions you make and the look you’ve created is the only way to go.
3. Details. From flashy to understated, details are paramount in Italian style. You can find outfits in everything from simple textured fabric to jewel encrusted bodices and no matter which you prefer they all will have impeccable seams and construction elements that go beyond mass-market offerings.
4. Tailoring. Probably the hallmark of Italian fashion, it is impossible to get a perfect fit without tailoring. A few inches here and there may not sound like much, but they make a huge difference. Plus when you tailor something you transform it from an off-the-rack piece into an investment piece, regardless of how much it costs.
5. Accessories. Red lipstick, statement bags, stilettos and dramatic eyewear are in every Italian wardrobe, and they use them all the time. Along with those pieces you’ll find costume jewelry, a signature fragrance and most important a smile.
Italian style plays on elegance, sensuality, mystery and intrigue and most importantly personal expression. Since it’s not so much about ‘what’ you’re wearing as it is ‘how’ you’re wearing it, you never have to sacrifice personal style and taste.
For more information on the Italian Festival and Bocce Tournament visit: http://www.osiacolumbiasc.org/festival.htm.
Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.
Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.
I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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