WTI Magazine #49    2014 December, 10
Author : Anna Stein      Translation by:

Celebrating Thanksgiving in the rural town of Castelnuovo, surrounded by a group of about sixty native Italians eating lasagna and parmesan crepes, my seven American friends and I were certainly in for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience. Despite being away from the family, friends, and country that make Thanksgiving what it is, I certainly had a lot to be thankful for.

Of course, more than anything else right now, I feel overwhelmingly fortunate for my so-far positive experience here in Italy; I can't help but remember all the lectures and warnings that preceded my journey about the possible dangers and worst-case-scenarios that a girl my age could face. It had been instilled in me that: travelling alone is never safe; I must always tell someone where I am going and when I plan to return; trust no one with my drink or belongings; never go anywhere with a stranger; never tell anyone where I live; never let someone I don't trust walk me directly to my doorstep, etc.

I had heard the horror stories about being kidnapped, trafficked, drugged... every girl by the age of twenty has had these lessons told to her--they're all scary, and all to be taken into consideration. But, I am happy to say that my time in Rome has been nothing but safe and pleasant, and the precautions I exercise while traveling and living abroad have had to be taken with no more carefulness than my male friends, or if I was travelling within the United States. Being a female abroad has been in no way a burden to my comfort-- of this, I am happy and thankful to report!

In fact, if you're a lady or gent interested in anything having to do with fashion, romance, or beauty, living in Rome is nothing short of exuberant and exhilarating! I remember on one of my first strolls through the city I saw three brides (with their almost as beautiful grooms) walking on a bridge over the Tiber River, kissing, posing for pictures, and mingling with googly-eyed tourists. I saw couples of all ages canoodling on every corner, under every lamp-post, sitting on every park bench. In the States, PDA (public display of affection) is generally unappreciated (to say the least), but in Rome, the playful flirtation of obvious and unapologetic love really seems to add to the overall glow and warmth of the city. From eighteen year olds holding hands in Campo Di Fiori, to brides and grooms in front of the Colosseum, to old married couples out to eat in front of the Pantheon, it's impossible to escape the romantic atmosphere of the City of Love.

Simply put, this place is people-watching heaven! At first glance, the fashion of Italy seems to be eclectic, with many different styles to choose from depending upon your age or where you're from. However, there are defining trends throughout; overwhelmingly, the color is black. At first, I stuck out like a sore thumb with salmon colored Sperry's, blue jeans, and a white t-shirt, while all the local fashionistas my age donned black leather tunics with black jeans and black ankle-boots (for your imagery: I looked like the stereotypical, American girl-next-door walking among clones of a couture Catwoman). It all comes off as very dramatic at first, but after settling into the city, I've come to love the local aesthetic. High, street fashion here is all about minimal color, gold accent jewelry, and cool sunglasses. In Milan, I saw the most fashion-forward women wearing either baggy boyfriend style jeans, or slim cigarette trousers, but hardly any skinny jeans or leggings that are popular in America. So, like any other conformist would do, I went ahead and bought myself some baggy, distressed jeans in Milan (fashion capital of the world-- Hello!) and a pair of sunglasses in Florence. Before I head home to the States, I hope to scrounge-up my loose change and go on one legitimate shopping spree, to fill my suitcase with Italian-esque fashion, and ditch my colorful and cutesy American clothes for the dark and chic European alternatives.

Romance and fashion are by no means exclusively appreciated by girls in their early twenties, however I do feel like this period of my life is the optimal one in which to be most amused and enamored by either's loveliness. In columns past, I've divulged into the beauty of the landscapes and monuments that make up Rome and, moreover, Italy, but it's also the style of the people and the tenderness that they exhibit-- nay, flaunt-- that have allowed not only Italy but also Italians to enter my heart and impact the way I interact with the culture around me. With only one month left of my stay in Rome, I really hope to switch out more of my wardrobe and immerse myself even further into Italy's fashionable and dominant identity, perhaps in an effort to better distinguish my own.