LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE
Erica Guidato, a fashion designer, is the head of the fashion department and professor at the Santa Reparata International School of Art. You can reach her at style@theflorentine.net.
Although Florence seems a timeless city, styles change rapidly in tune with changes in culture. The latest cultural shift has to do with gender. Womenswear has long taken inspiration from menswear. But men are now turning the tables and doing some gender bending of their own. This trend, which began
With beach days behind us, we’re back to daily life in Florence, ready to start the fall season in style with a classic staple that’s trendier than ever right now: denim. The word ‘denim’ derives from the French city of Nimes—the blue
Spolverini are making a comeback this season. Made in soft fabrics like viscose, cotton and silk, these light jackets are a wardrobe staple for the Florentine spring and into the early days of summer. The term derives from the Italian verb spolverare, which translates as ‘dust off.’
This spring, you are most likely seeing accessories with a particularly playful look. Luxury items especially have taken a toy-like turn, featuring food, cartoons, animals and funny objects with a boldness that recalls surreal art. As the current season’s ‘base’ aesthetic becomes more streamlined, such
The coming weeks will continue to bring unpredictable weather, from days that feel like November to those that seem to hold the promise of summer. The adage ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ is an especially apt one to follow when dressing for the mezza
First comes the hairstyle, and then everything else follows! Of course, when Coco Chanel cut her hair short in the early twentieth century, it heralded women’s emancipation from the confining garments of centuries past. When short haircuts for women made a comeback a few years ago, it
In winter, Florence sparkles as the city gets ‘dressed up’ for the season. Lights, trees and ribbons line the streets, while stores call to us with irresistibly glittering window displays. The holidays are a time for friends and family, but also to dress more formally and pull out
Today’s fashion is all about accessories. Style is going in a simpler direction, so the pieces we choose to complete our look make all the difference. Here are a few must-haves for fall. Bags are tiny: clutches, small crossbody or mini shoulder bags are in. Along
Fall trends are still nodding toward ‘90s minimalism, and the current understated approach is changing our concept of luxury. This season, it’s all about clean cuts and simple shapes in the storefront displays and on the street-style stars. Here are the latest womenswear trends: tops
‘Non ci sono più le mezze stagioni’ (‘there are no more mid-seasons’) is an old Italian saying meaning that we are going from summer to winter and back, without the ...
Turn back the clock this season and embrace the styles of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Among these looks are dresses and accessories that have a retro, folksy style. Taking inspiration from Native American patterns are clothes that evoke the wild-chic look of the 70s, elongating the figure for
Black is still the king of colors, and this season it is on display in all its fascinating aspects. Black is rock, glam and punk. It’s romantic, boho, tribal and futuristic. Think black is not ‘happy’ enough for the cold season? New and unusual combinations of
Men, prepare to dive into a stylish Florentine summer with four trends fresh from the Pitti Uomo fair and the Milan Fashion Week. Italian with an Asian twist The classic Italian style—tailored, fitted and extremely refined—is absorbing new influences from the now-not-
Non ci sono piu’ le mezze stagioni! This has, by now, become a standard expression among Italians to express the fact that the ‘mid-seasons’ of spring and autumn don’t seem to exist any more. Especially in Florence, freezing winters seem to turn into hot
As some of you may know (or may have surmised), Sex and the City was the inspiration for the name of this column. As Valentine's Day nears, there is no better time to recall that glorious episode when Carrie celebrates her life as a single woman and states her
Florence sparkles with thousands of holiday lights. For some, this is a truly magical time that has the power to make us forget all our troubles and embrace the joys of life. For businesses, it can mean a make-or-break year, and so retailers are desperately looking forward to
Lace is back! Since last spring/summer collections, we have seen an incredible amount of lace, shown all over the female body, and the upcoming fall trends are continuing this direction. ‘Fashion reflects society and society reflects fashion': this is what I always tell my students. For example,
January is not only the month of fashion events by Pitti Immagine, it is also the start of the winter sales. The combination of these very different occasions in this particular time in Italy has made me think a lot. Italy is experiencing the most difficult economic and social crisis
The first two articles in this three-part series, ‘Mapping Italian Style,' explored Italy's fashion cities and textile districts. Now it is time to come back home to Florence. Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, and Roberto Capucci: these are just a few of the fashion
Is ‘Italian style' a ready-to-wear affair or high fashion? Can Rome reclaim its status as a fashion city? Does money or style rule in Milan? Does the Florentine tradition of excellence of accessories and artisanship represent not only the past but also the future of the Made
Fall brings a new style season, with its latest trends, must-have pieces and hottest looks. But as I follow the continuous race to dominate the global fashion market, one question is on my mind: what is Italian style today? Though Italy is home to big names such as
In June, thanks to the influence of Pitti Immagine Uomo, the international men's fashion trade fair that takes over Florence for one week twice a year, Florence dresses in fancy colours, daring outfits and extravagant accessories. And we're not talking about the women. First, a little history.
Something very special happened during my last visit to Milan Fashion week: an unexpected sequence of events surprisingly revived my love story with fashion. In returning to Florence on the train, I brought back much more than just my suitcase! I had the unique opportunity to visit the showroom
Is fashion ever new? Or is it, in fact, a reinterpretation of something old? Is this the eternal fashion trick, to make us want brand-new items that are actually inspired by the past? Florence embodies this conundrum like nowhere else, especially at this time of the year, when
