The document explores Italian fashion, history, traditional clothing, and cuisine, emphasizing the country's elegant and stylish approach to dress. It highlights how Italians prioritize appearance and dressing appropriately for various occasions while also touching on notable fashion figures and iconic dishes. Additionally, it discusses the influence of the Renaissance on fashion trends, detailing the evolution of clothing styles and accessories in Italy.

1. 1
Italy

2. 3
Contents
Introduction
Italian Fashion and Style Protocol
Get the Look
Style Icons
Italian Cuisine
Italian Fashion History
Hairstyles and Headgears
Traditional Italian Clothing
Italian Architecture
Festival
4
5
14
16
18
22
28
30
34
36

3. 5
Italians are very fashion-concious ,
but also very respectful of traditions
and customs.
Elegance is in the Italian blood, and
most Italians would unhesitatingly
give up comfort in order to achieve it.
Italy is a nation that cherishes out-
ward appearances.
Italians adapt the way they dress to
the moment of the day,the occasion ,
and the site or place they are visiting.
Explicit dress codes are realatively
rare in Italy, because people generally
know how to dress according to place.
Italian women always wear make-
up(usually natural) and have their
hair , eyebrows and nails done , but
they hardly wear perfume.
Wearing jeans is common , combined
with an elegant jacket or stylish
accessorie. They should be well fitted
and stylish.
Italians would expect you to have
well-groomed hair, an impeccable
sense of dressing and a really neat
pair of shoes.
Italians also tend to dress up accord-
ing to the level of place or people
they are visiting.
Italian Fashion
and
Style protocol
Italy is a country
located in Southern
Europe comprised of
the boot-shaped Italian
peninsula and a num-
ber of islands includ-
ing Sicily and Sardinia.
Neighboring coun-
tries include Austria,
France, Holy See, San
Marino, Slovenia, and
Switzerland .Its west
coast is the Mediterra-
nean Sea and the east
coast is the Adriatic.
France, Switzerland,
Austria, and Slove-
nia form its northern
border.
Its highest point, in
Monte Bianco, is 4748
meters. The mainland
is a peninsula and Italy
also includes the two
large islands of Sicily
and Sardinia
Italy is divided into
three major regions:
the north Italian Plain
and the Italian Alps
(continental); the
peninsula south of the
plain (peninsular);
and Sardinia, Sicily,
and numerous smaller
islands (insular).
Italy is not a “big”
country in the literal
sense of the word. On
the contrary, it is a tiny
peninsula in the south-
ern part of Europe (its
area is just about one
sixth of Saudi Ara-
bia’s) and has a funny
shape: it looks exactly
like a boot equipped
with heel and spur.
The standard tour of
otaly starts in Rome
with the Ativan and
the ancient buildings
from the empire.
Popularly known as
the world’s “living
art gallery ,Italia is a
delight .
It combines artistic
treasures, friendly
people, a beautiful
language, fascinating
history, and great food
and breathtaking scen-
ery; there is perhaps
no other place on earth
with a finer offering of
all these, and more.
Thus attracting hun-
dreds of thousands of
travelers each year.
Introduction

4. 7
Opt for soft, earth tones, black and white, rather than
loud bright colors that stand out. Focus on shades that
are not as conspicuous .
If you want to dress like Italians select pastels only in the summer,
although beige , cream , grey and white are acceptable throughout
the year.
Select more formal dress-wear if you are not sure what to wear.
Opt for quality material, designer labels and the complete look of
an outfit. Wearing ties with short sleeve shirts, lightweight summer
shirts and jeans is not usual Italian attire. Additionally, a shirt that
has not been ironed to a crisp is not suitable with a suit.
Jeans, are acceptable in a formal situation, as long as they are fash-
ionable, fit well, and are accompanied by a well-designed jacket.
Be selective when choosing shoes to wear with your outfit. Avoid
wearing socks with sandals or open toed shoes, even with casual
attire, and especially for men during the evening.
You should refrain from wearing flip-flops, unless you’re at the beach.

5. 9

6. 11
Men , always wear socks in closed shop. The only
exception to this are moccasin-style shoes or
yachting shoes , but even here Italians will wear a
type of socks specially adapted to this kind of shoes
, called fantasmini (invisible or very short socks).
Make sure you do wear socks with shoes, and that
they coordinate with the shoe or the slacks and are
not conspicuous.

7. 13
Men wearing a suit
should know that
shirts without brest
pockets and collar buttons are
considered more elegant .
Men should also avoid short-
sleeved shirts when visiting
ceremonial locations or attending
formal events in Italy.
Dressing down the formality
of business attire is second
nature to the Italians.
Pinstripe suits are often
considered very formal,
but the soft shouldered,
single button jacket below
exhibits a loucheness that
makes work seem less stren-
uous.
The Oxford button-down shirt is
an element of this outfit that, at
first, looks out of place.
However, with a sartorial tweak
of leaving the collar unbuttoned,
the impression is of a soft-collared
business appropriate shirt.
An elegant wool and silk knitted
tie brings the look up a notch,
with its intricacy adding valuable
style points.
Orange and navy complement
each other beautifully, and an
elaborate, orange dominant hand-
ker-
chief has a rakish quality that is
of paramount importance in this
business-casual look.
Double monk shoes give a twist to
formal footwear.
These suede green versions inject
a sense of rebellion into the outfit,
with the scuffs the suede will pick
up adding character.
A linen or lightweight cotton blaz-
er is appropriate for the warmer
months, and you can dress it down
with an on trend mid blue/teal
t-shirt, preferably in a v-neck.
A shirt, suitably unbuttoned, is
the smarter alternative.
White trousers are a staple for the
Italian male.
In this instance, they are not
used to anchor bolder colours
but simply to reinforce a summer
aesthetic.
Playing a tonal game, a mid
blue belt provides a subtle yet
eye-catching accent .
A boutonniere provides a
small dash of colour and person-
ality that speaks volumes of the
person wearing it.
Its size, colour and thus its role in
the outfit below all giving an im-
pression that befits the character.

8. 15
Get The Look Get The Look

9. 17
1.Anna Dello Russo
She is The editor-at-large and cre-
ative consultant for Vogue Japan.
Her eccentric ensembles tend to
drop jaws and incite street style
photographers.
2.Giovanna Battaglia
A former Dolce & Gabbana model,
Giovanna is a freelance stylist and a
constant figure on street-style blogs
.
3.Bianca Brandolini
D’Adda
An Italian-born model and
noble socialite. Her personal
style is laid-back, yet luxe, and
she mixes boho-chic and uptown
glam like a pro.
4.Chiara Ferragni
A fashion blogger and law student
from Milan. Chiara’s impeccable
sense of style is evident to anyone
who has stumbled upon her daily
blog or Lookbook.nu account.
5. Coco Brandolini
D’Adda
A Central St. Martins grad, Coco is
now a fashion consultant forOscar
de la Renta, Alberta Ferretti, and
Adam Lippes. she mixes aristocrat-
ic glamour and bohemian charm,
and can often be snapped wearing
high-low cocktails of designer and
vintage clothing.
6.Franca Sozzani
The editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia,
Franca is considered one of the
most influential people in the entire
fashion industry.
7. Frida Giannini
The Creative Director of Gucci.
Frida’s personal style ranges from
glittery and glam to polished and
laid-back, but always with a sophis-
ticated edge.
8. Margherita Missoni
The heiress to the Missoni fashion
house: Margherita is every bohemi-
an girl’s ultimate style icon.
9. Martina Codecasa
A Milanese actress; she’s starred
in Italian films and is the
daughter of a fashion journal-
ist, Her red-carpet looks run the
gamut from Audrey Hepburn-es-
que dresses and flats to louche,
laid-back trousers and tees.
10. Valentina di Pinto
A stylist and fashion consultant,
fashion editor for Glamour Italy.
Her love of crisp trousers, pretty
blouses, and architectural heels give
her an aesthetic that is feminine but
not prissy, tough but still tailored,
and always classic and covetable.
Style
Icons

10. 19
1. Spaghetti with tomato sauce --
Don’t forget the old mainstay. This dish is simple, inexpensive and has a number of op-
tions to add, including meatballs, mushrooms, broccoli, sausage, or ground beef. Spa-
ghetti with tomato sauce is quick and simple enough to be made at home any time.
2. Fettuccine alfredo --
One of the heavier Italian sauces, a creamy alfredo sauce sticks best to
wide noodles like fettuccini. While store-bought packages don’t do the
dish justice, one can find the best alfredo-style sauces at Al Fresco
Ristorante at 11710 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News.
3. Pasta primavera --
One of the most well-known Italian vegetarian dishes. “Pri-
mavera” means springtime and can include any combination
of vegetables over pasta in a variety of sauces. Olive Garden’s
Shrimp Primavera is a tasty deviation from this traditionally
veggie dish.
4. Penne alla vodka --
Vodka sauces have become largely popular in recent years. Usu-
ally a mixture of marinara and a cream sauce with basil and a
shot of vodka, a reddish vodka sauce is a savory experience. The
best vodka sauce is made at Amalfi Ristorante at 2010 Colley
Ave. in Norfolk.
5. Veal marsala --
A good marsala wine sauce is loaded with mushrooms and scallions.
However, the thought of veal turns some people off and chicken can be
too boring. A refreshing twist to this dish is a sirloin marsala, offered by
Carraba’s Italian Grill at 12363 Hornsby Ln. in Newport News.
6. Chicken Saltimbocca --
“Saltimbocca” is a combination of Italian terms that means, “jumps into one’s
mouth.” Most of these dishes combine a meat, such as chicken, with prosciutto ham,
spinach, and mozzarella cheese. Luigi’s Italian Restaurant at 15400 Warwick Blvd. in New-
port News has the best saltimbocca dishes.
ITALIAN CUISINE
TODAYS SPECIAL
Spaghetti with
Tomato sauce
Fettuccine
Alfredo
Meat balls
Pasta Primavera
Penne Alla Vodka
Penne Arabiata
Veal Masal
Chicken
Saltimbocca
Chicken parmigiana
Lasagna
Linguine with clam sauce
Shrimp fra diavolo
Spaghetti with Pork
Bolognese

11. 21
1. Chicken parmigiana -- A classic dish that also works
as a sub sandwich.
2. Lasagna -- Lasagna includes plenty of ground beef,
sausage, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesean cheeses.
3.Linguine with clam sauce -- The best come in a garlic
and oil sauce and use whole clams.
4.Shrimp fra diavolo -- this style of red sauce relies on
crushed red pepper and garlic.
5.Spaghetti with Pork Bolognese-- A rich bolognese
sauce with plenty of meat.

12. 23
Italian Renaissance fashions greatly influenced fashions and
fashion trends in other European countries.
Gowns, some were called ‘houppelandes’ had sweeping floor length
sleeves along with other more practical sleeve lengths.
Renaissance women consisted of a kirtle and gown with a cone
shaped skirt and long train. Bodices had square necklines, deco-
rated with edgings of fine laces and jewels. Sleeves were very wide,
often edged in fur waistlines dipped slightly, and overskirts were
split to show the decorative kirtle underneath.
Renaissance wedding dresses were made of rich brocades and rich
jewel-toned velvets. Just like now, people wore their finest clothing
to a wedding. The bride usually wore her hair down and sometimes
added a circlet of flowers. White was not a wedding dress color
until much later.
Initially hosiery was either a sock-like affair made from flax or wool
(tweed) or knitted.Then came the woven hosiery and “clocks” or
patterns were introduced to smarten them up. These all gave way
to the more familiar silk stockings.
Children’s fashion (of the elite) mimicked adult clothing. Until they
were six or seven, boys wore gowns nearly identical to those worn
by girls.
IalianFashionHistory

14. 27
The men’s renaissance clothing focused on rich
heavy material, large sleeves, close body gar-
ments, large hip garments, heelless shoes and heads
covered with hats.
Men’s renaissance clothing took a turn in European
countries and patterns became more ‘square’ and
then later turned more like a ‘barrel’.
The vest or coat was widened at the shoulders and
padded to give the square look.
The lothing included pants that were padded breech-
es and hosiery with wide brimmed hats.

15. 29
The favorite colors were
variations of reds,
greens, blues and golds.
Wool (winter and northern
climes) was the most popular base
material followed by fine linen
(summer), and of course velvet
and silk for state occasions and
court activities.There was undyed
fine-weave cloth which was dyed
in rich colors and fine brocade
(embossed weave, creates two-
toned raised appearance).
Lace of all kinds was used by
both men and women.
Furs were worn by those
who could afford it.
The favorite furs in Court
were the grey and white squir-
rel furs. New fashionable furs
during the Borgia period were
dark sable and martin furs. and
gaining in popularity were the
‘wild furs’ such as lynx, etc. Er-
mine remained the ‘fur hallmark’
of Royalty.
Catherine De Medici helped
evolve the Italian Renaissance
Fashion during her reign as
Queen of France. It is thought
that she introduced the high heel
to the imperial courts of France.
Headwear was a necessity during
the renaissance. There were laws
in place that actually fined per-
sons appearing in public without
their heads covered.
Hats were increasingly important
to the Renaissance fashionista.
Hats, snoods, cauls, hoods,
and headdresses were swagged,
draped, jeweled and feathered.
A biggin was a tight fitting cap
worn by infants and children.
A”turban style” headdress made
fashionable by Isabella d’Este,
Marchesa of Mantua was known
as a ‘stuffed roll’ (balzo) and was
popular throughout Europe from
about 1450 to 1550. They were
often bound with ribbons and
adorned with pearls and other
jewels. They were sometimes
worn with veils underneath and
sometimes with the hair loose.
- It was during the renaissance
times that the beret was invent-
ed. They were highly decorated
during the renaissance by either
jewels or embroidery
Hairstyles did not become
visible until the very last
part of the Renaissance.
Up until that point, most
Renaissance women wore their
hair covered by hoods.
Some women puffed the sides of
their hair out, to peek out from
their hoods.
Like everything else in Sixteenth
Century Renaissance fashion,
hairstyles were dressed in ornate
styles, dripping with jewels, pins,
wires and ribbons.
Hairstyles
and
headgears

16. 31
Italian folk musicians or dancers - color-
ful costumes. The women wear colorful
embroidered skirts and bodices over
light-weight chemises or blouses, with elabo-
rate hats decorated with flowers or fruit.
Men’s traditional clothing tends to be simpler,
but doesn’t lack from attention to detail, with
embroidery and metal buttons and pins. These cos-
tumes have evolved from simpler peasant dress in the
Middle Ages.
Italian peasants wore simple pants and shirts for
the men .Italian peasants wore blouses and skirts
for the women, sometimes with a bodice.
They wore hats that covered the head with a square,
flat setion that curved or angled down to cover the back
of the head and the neck.
The flat top helped the women carry baskets to market. This style
eventually evolved into hats with artificial flowers or fruits often
worn by upper class women, mimicking a peasant carrying a basket
on her head.
The flat top helped the women carry baskets to market. This style eventually evolved into hats with artificial
flowers or fruits worn by upper class women, mimicking a peasant carrying a basket on her head.
For special festivals even peasant women had beautiful dresses and bodices. These were dyed in
bright colors, hand-crafted with detailed embroidery and sometimes used better fabrics. The
dresses were passed from mothers to daughters for generations.
Many of dresses were worn for were harvest festivals, food and nature themes are
prevalent in the design.
One notable traditional Italian fabric is a waterproof type of wool called
orbace. ( The uniforms of Mussolini’s infamous Black Shirts were made from
orbace as well).
The clothes worn by wealthy Italian women looked like peasant garb,
but they used richer fabrics like silk and velvet. The rich also had access
to colorful dyes, so the color palette varied more widely.
Upper-class Italian women also tended to wear more jewelry than
peasants. Italian folk musicians or dancers - colorful costumes.
The women wear colorful embroidered skirts and bodices over
light-weight chemises or blouses, with elaborate hats decorated with
flowers or fruit.
Men’s traditional clothing tends to be simpler, but doesn’t lack from
attention to detail, with embroidery and metal buttons and pins.
These costumes evolved from simpler peasant dress in the Middle Ages.
Italian peasants wore simple pants and shirts for the men they wore
blouses and skirts for the women, sometimes with a bodice.
They wore hats that covered the head with a square, flat section that curved
or angled down to cover the back of the head and the neck. The flat top
helped the women carry baskets to market.
This style eventually evolved into hats with artificial flowers or fruits worn by upper
class women, mimicking a peasant carrying a basket on her head.
For special festivals even peasant women had beautiful dresses and bodices. These were dyed
in bright colors, hand-crafted with detailed embroidery and sometimes used better fabrics.
One notable traditional Italian fabric is a waterproof type of wool called orbace.
Traditional
Italian
Clothing

17. 33
Most items were made from simple fabrics, wool
being very common.Most items were made from
simple fabrics, wool being very common.
The clothes worn by wealthy Italian women looked
like peasant garb, but they used richer fabrics like silk
and velvet. The rich also had access to colorful dyes,
so the color palette varied more widely. Upper-class
Italian women also wore more jewelry than peasants.

18. Italian
Architecture
Roman Colosseum:
The Colosseum or Coliseum,
originally known as the Flavi-
an Amphitheatre ,is the largest
amphitheatre built in the Roman
empire. Originally capable of
seating 50,000 spectators, it was
once used for gladiatorial combat.
It was built in the 70s AD by
Jewish slaves captured at the end
of the Great Jewish Revolt.
Pantheon:
The Pantheon is a building in
Rome which was originally
built as a temple to the
seven deities of the seven
planets in the state religion
of Ancient Rome, but which
has been a Christian church
since the 7th century.
St. Peter’s of Rome:
The Basilica of Saint Peter ranks
second among the four major
basilicas of Rome and its Vatican
City enclave. Possibly the largest
church in Christianity,
Piazza of San Marco,
Venice:
Piazza San Marco, often known
in English as St Mark’s Square,
is the principal square of Venice.
It is the only great urban space
in a European city where human
voices prevail over the sounds of
motorized traffic, which is con-
fined to Venice’s waterways.
Doge’s Palace, Venice:
The Doge’s Palace is a gothic
palace in Venice. Giovanni and
Bartolomeo Buon created the
so-called Porta della Carta, a
monumental late-gothic gate on
the Piazzetta side of the palace.
Florence Cathedral:
The Basilica di Santa Maria del
Fiore is the cathedral church, or
Duomo, of the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Florence, noted
for its distinctive dome. Its name
(which translates as “Saint Mary
of the Flower”) refers to the lily,
symbol of Florence, or to the old
town name Fiorenza.
Ponte Vecchio, Flor-
ence:
The Ponte Vecchio is a famous
medieval bridge over the Arno, in
Florence, Italy, noted for having
shops (mainly jewelers) built
along it
S. Maria Novella,
Florence:
Santa Maria Novella is a
church in Florence, Italy, The
church and the adjoining cloister
and the chapterhouse contain
a store full of art treasures and
funerary monuments.
Villa Rotunda, near
Vicenza:
Villa Capra “La Rotonda” is a
Renaissance villa in Vicenza,
northern Italy, designed by
Andrea Palladio , it is included
in the UNESCO World Heritage
Sites list.

19. 37
Festival
Carnivale di Venezia Festival
Italian tradition is filled with festivals celebrating saints, holidays
and important events in Italian history.
In Venice they celebrate Carnivale di Venezia, a two-week party in
early spring.
It is marked by parties, parades, live performances of music and,
most famously, masquerade balls.
Masks are worn throughout Carnivale, ranging from simple half-face
masks to elaborate full-face masks called bauta.
Although family-friendly events are part of the celebration, the
masks and the party atmosphere give Carnivale a reputation as a
place where “anything goes.”