Hello girls and boys, I‘m glad to join our forum for this adventure :-)
I hope we’ll enjoy and, above all, that it could be a real meeting point to know each other, to discuss about Italy lifestyle - and not only -, to discover new things and exchange experiences. I hope to be usefull for you, as well, why not ..? :-)
I’ll introduce myself: I’m 32 years old, I live in Milan, in North of Italy, where I work as Journalist and Fashion editor. I did a lot of travelling, especially all around the european cities, for my work, for attending events or having editorial reports for magazines. But I’ve never been in Usa, even if I’ve to admit that all we are concerned whit “new trends” and communication, have always a look overseas. You are cutting edge about high tech, new business developement, new customs and many things. So we can say that there’s a mutual interest and esteem :-)
Anyway, You can ask me whatever you want about what happens here, in Italy, and about what happpens in fashion in general. I’d like to give you some suggestions about shopping if we’re going to come here. And above all, I’ll try and keep you updated, day by day, from my favourite positioning, Milan, fashion and design capital city, where at the present time, all is silent, waiting the catwalks get started.

kisses

L.

Hi, I'm 21 live in the USA, but I was born in Guatemala. I'm going to visit Europe for the winter and spend the holydays there. I don't know what to wear and I'm really intimidated by France and Italy. Specially Italy...I am come on, is all about fashion there. Please give me some tips on what to pack and what's going to be in for the winter. What do women wear in Italy and France around that time of the year?

Thank so very much!!!

Analy

Hi. I am an Australian woman thinking of going over to Italy to work for 12 months. I am a larger lady and I was worried that I would 'stick out like a sore thumb' in Italy. Are there many larger women over there? And could you tell me if there is larger ladies fashion available to buy. Thanks
Melissa:p

Please do not fret about what to where here, Ill tell you, when I was in the US, I dressed to impress, now that Im in Italy, I've gone somewhat casual...how strange

Jacqueline,

How funny that your clothing has become more casual as you've lived in Italy. Maybe it's just that we get used to living wherever we are and we don't think of it anymore as anything out of the ordinary.

I think you have the best attitude.

I know I use "going to Italy" as an excuse to spend money and dress up. It's easy to do because of the fashion houses, the stores, and its reputation.

Probably if I lived there, though, I would end up in jeans! :eek:

Teresa

Very true, once you become used to a place, you tend to be less formal there, like being at home!

But I guess it sometimes pays to be scruffy, as I discovered the other day I went to a fair for expat wives where they sell stuff from their countries and buy from others. Myself and a friend just dropped by, and were browsing through stuff, casting longing looks at everything....:o

And then we passed by the stall for this Italian lady who was selling handmade jewelry, beautiful pieces with huge amber pendants, wrapped around with gold or silver wire. I was admiring them, and was about to move on, when this veritable matriarch almost swooped on me, and asked me to try on some of the stuff. "I 'd rather not...." I began, only to be told to just go ahead and humor her.

All the time I was trying on things, she kept exclaiming "Bellisima!", and in the end I did really fall in love with a amber dragonfly pendant. As I wistfully handed it back to her, she said, "You are a student, so you get concession".

My friend, a mother of two, was watching from the distance, and i saw her grimace...."I am not a...." I began to protest, and the lady said, "it is okay you are not carrying a student card, but I can see you are a student, and I understand!":eek:


Before I could protest some more, she had bustled up the package, shoved it in my hands, and almost snatched the piddly sum I was clutching, trying to say I was not a student and could pay more. She gave me a huge smile, and somewhat nudged me off as she saw new customers walk past. :confused:

Unsure of what just happened to me, I turned to catch my friend who was openly laughing now, watching me look doubtfully down at my dubious T-shirt, and dirtyish jeans, and sneakers: my comfort dressing at its ugly best.

But she said the pendant was worth more than what I paid, and the lady may have actually believed that this much married, more than three decades old woman is a student!:p

While on the topic of jewels, I got a pearl collar necklace the other day as an anniversary present, beautiful white Akoya pearls, the Japanese sure know how to make their pearls! My sister-in-law, who went shopping with my husband got a lovely inset pearl Mabe ring for her troubles, with awesome Italian workmanship, you can see similar designs here (http://www.18carati.com/jewellery/?manufacturers_id=5&osCsid=0c98303617c47dd0d69b9d2545c57a8c). Mabe pearls are not spherical, they have flat surfaces on one side which allows them to be easily set in rings, pendants, and ear-rings. As you can see from the designs above, they blend easily with diamonds because of their sheen.

But the Tahitian Black pearls that I saw on one of husband's colleagues last week were the ultimate in beauty. They looked stunning on her fair neck, with a black dress they were fetching, almost mysterious. When I asked her she told me they were from Damiani (http://www.damiani.com), the Italian jewelry brand made even more famous (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1758361.stm)by Aniston and Pitt.

But if you want to figure out how to buy a set of pearls without damaging your purse, freshwater pearls are your best bet. Available in all kinds of shades, these are cultivated in freshwater mussels, and are shaped like long grains of rice, smooth or wrinkled. Since they are mass produced in China, Japan and the U.S., they are pretty moderately priced. But they sure add to your million dollar look:)!

You can read all about pearls at the link below and the next time you shop for your pearls( and I so hope they are Damiani)you will know what exactly you are buying:
http://www.diamondvues.com/2005/01/

Bubbles,

That fair you went to sounds like heaven to me... I love big fat baubles and colorful jewelry.

For anyone in Rome right now, I found a fabulous store there with really great handmade jewelry and great clothes. Not 'fashion' but not second hand... kind of unique clothing, belts, handbags, necklaces, bracelets. And the woman who runs it is very nice -- she dealt very graciously with my broken Italian, and she laughed gently when I said things like "I have good likeness of your jewels."

The store is on either Via degli Scipioni or Via Germanico, half a block west of Via Ottaviano on the south side of the street. If you take the Metro to the San Pietro stop and go south on Via Ottaviano, those two streets are the first and second you'll hit. If you get to the main bus stop you've gone too far.

If you find this store and go in, let me know if you like it... and also, what is its name??? :confused:

Teresa