Top Ten Italian Women's Fashion Trends for Fall/Winter 2022 & How to Save $ on Them
"L’eleganza è l’equilibrio tra proporzioni, emozione e sorpresa." - Valentino
"Elegance is the equilibrium between proportions, emotions, and surprises."
Just back from a month in Italy, visions of clothes as decadent as the peninsula's impeccable cuisine are still dancing in my head. My time in my ancestral homeland kicked off with the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto (more posts to come) conference in Turin and was sponsored by the Italian Trade Agency. All things Made in Italy are always on my mind, but this trip really solidified the fusion of the daily living arts; food, fashion, music, design, poetry, and literature which use similar sentiments to express signature Italian style across platforms.
In addition to food, I focused a lot on fashion, clothing and Italian brands this trip. Unlike U.S. retailers which are limited in variety and stock due to our dependency on slower than ever shipments from overseas, Italy's apparel offerings are gorgeous, robust and varied.
It was such a treat to see the beautiful window displays and stores brimming with styles and colors to fit every taste, body shape, and lifestyle. This post was created to share the Top Ten Best Italian Women's Fashion Trends for the season while giving an important tip on money saving that even most frequent travelers to Italy have yet to take advantage of.
As I travelled from North to South, East and West in Italy last month, I noticed enviable trends that could be easily replicated anywhere for an instant fashion boost. Both wearable and stylish, these following styles will make the cold winter temps more bearable and elegant.
Here are a few looks to try out whenever the mood strikes:
1. A Bold, Solid Colored Wool Coat
Yellow, hot pink, bright blue, and bold green all make interesting overcoats capable of brightening winter days while providing warmth. A new styling suggestion straight from the Italian streets is to buy your coat extra roomy so that a hooded sweater or sweatshirt can be paired underneath. For busy days with lots of walking in town (many historic parts of Italian downtown areas are pedestrian only and people prefer to walk instead of driving), pair the coat with a stylishly designed pair of sneakers.
This is one of my favorite Max & Co looks for the season from Torino.
2. Black with Gold Brocade
Wearing gold brocade with black is an easy and elegant way to elevate your wardrobe (watch video from minute 1.10 forward). Simply mix the brocade pieces with classic black staples such as bolero jackets, blazers, and slim black pants for an instant style upgrade. Perfect for the holidays but subtle enough to wear daily, these looks offer a high ROI.
3. Green and Black
Red and black are winter classics, but Kelly Green works just as well while offering a fresh feel to sweater and shirt fabrics. Kelly Green looks festive, fun, and chic.
Best of all, it pairs with the existing black and navy pieces in your closet.
4. Interesting White Sneakers -paired with everything
Italians have been wearing all-white sneakers with everything from dresses to business suits for about 5 years now. What's different now is that the shoes usually have additional textures or innovative styles to offset their casual nature. Tennis shoes are perfect for walking through cobblestone streets to get to work or play
5. Florals
Flower patterns have been synonymous with spring for so long that it's hard to imagine them in fall. Wearing them in cooler weather adds a fresh, feminine flair to heavier and more functional wardrobe pieces. Toss a bold color into the mix for an even more modern appeal, as featured in this whimsical Twinset window.
6. Evening Tops
Fall and Winter are times when last minute invites abound and it's often necessary to leave the office to attend a party. Elegant tops can take classic trousers and skirts to new heights while making it possible to celebrate without going home to change first.
7. Nautical Stripes and Neutrals
On their own, nautical striped tops and neutral colors like white, black, and camel don't seem very exciting. When paired together, however, the classic pieces combine to create an effortlessly luxurious look that's comfortable to wear and easy to achieve.
8. Fuchsia is the New Red
When I was in Italy in April, fuchsia was featured in every window I saw in Venice, Verona, and Rome. I bought a few pieces because after a long and difficult winter, seas of bright pink brightened my spirits in a hurry. I was surprised to see the color just as prominent for fall in cities throughout Italyval. Paired with black, leopard, and even red, bright pink can be worn in Winter. But don't take my word for it, Valentino's current Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli himself even created a whole new collection of it called #ValentinoPinkPPCollection in lieu of the brand's signature red.
Wearing head to toe pink takes courage and a strong dedication to finding the beauty in the everyday, but it also shows a commitment to creating joy despite the uncontrollable and often hostile world without us. Fuchsia is a color that can be flattering on every skin tone. If your not used to it, or not comfortable wearing it in certain situations, try one piece at a time such as a scarf, lipstick, blouse, or even handbag. You'll be amazed at how much it will lift your spirits and that of those around you.
9. Fur and Feather Trimmed Colors
Another glamorous touch of surprise is a splash of fur or feathers around a neckline such as those seen at Gucci. Those two details add interest and drama to take looks from day to night.
You can even purchase attachable pearl, feather, and fur collars to dress up existing pieces.
10. Tweed and Herringbone
Traditional equestrian styles such as tweed jackets and brown suede and leather boots and even felt hats are especially popular this season. These patterns are easy to wear and blend effortlessly into an existing wardrobe. They pair well with denim and solid colored dark pants and skirts.
Planning a trip to Italy? Don't forget to sign up for Tax Refund while shopping. Currently, if you have an American passport with you and spend more than 175 Euro in store in Italy, you can ask to register for Tax Refund. Then, when you leave the country, you can go to a kiosk to get a refund paid directly back to your credit card. Click here to learn more.
Interested in learning about the original female influences in the modern fashion scene? Watch the Luisa Spagnoli series or the Atelier Fontana movie for inspiration. You'll learn life lessons that are every bit as important as the fashion business itself, perhaps even more!
Luisa Spagnoli's empire didn't begin with fashion, but with fine chocolates, and her granddaughters have continued celebrating her entrepreneurial spirit with hand-made artisan chocolates like the ones she made a century ago. They just arrived in the US and my distributor, DITALIA has only 35 boxes available to ship the first week in December. Pre-order here and use discount code "amyriolo" at checkout to save 10% on all DITALIA products and enjoy free shipping orders over $100.
