Can a glamorous city style give you a feeling of escape? As the weather gets warmer and the Tuscan hills make us feel more free and summery, we need a style that makes us feel in close contact with nature.
It may sound strange, but I recently found inspiration for two irresistible fashion trends during a visit to La Specola Museum, just few steps away from the more famous Pitti Palace. Though La Specola is hosting a stunning temporary exhibit on crystals, the permanent collection-which includes a vast display of Mother Nature’s most amazing creatures-is itself nothing but extraordinary. Here we find nature revealing its incredible colors and shapes, a show that is very easy to admire and very difficult to forget.
Nature plays into two very different but equally compelling trends for spring and summer: ‘garden party’ embraces the delicate and romantic side of the contemporary woman; ‘jungle fever’ powerfully shows off the seductive animal instinct in each of us.
The theme of the garden party draws on graceful and soft colors, like powdery pinks and warm beiges, pastel blues and greens with accents of mellow purples. Materials are light and fresh, like sheer chiffon, fresh cotton and fluid silky blends. The silhouette gently embraces feminine curves and embellishes them with frills, ruffles, bows and other irresistible girly things. Blouses are cut like flower petals; skirts and dresses fall above the knee underlining a ‘bon ton’ of sexy elegance. If you can’t give up pants, choose ones with a flair leg in beige or lilac or a boot cut to create a thigh-slimming effect. Accessories should be frivolous and include soft leather bags and heeled sandals with flowers, shapes and decorations that bloom and make us smile.
The ‘garden party’ look has the charm of 1950s glam that can make you feel like a sophisticated lady while enjoying a dinner on a restaurant terrace admiring the magnificent Florentine views. Moreover, you can interpret this style with a more bohemian romantic flavor inspired by art-nouveau and become a beautiful and evanescent creature while visiting the mysterious and unique medieval churches in Florence.
‘Jungle fever’ is a different side of ‘nature.’ Colors are bold reds and pinks, the vibrant greens and blues of tropical birds, intense browns fused with white and black, like wild animal skins. The mood is aggressive, the sensuality more daring. This look explores nature’s fiercest side. It makes you dream of exotic places even if you are traipsing the historical streets of Florence.
As the other side of the style coin, ‘jungle fever’ gives expression to a different aspect of the contemporary woman. Dynamic and sporty, she chooses loose, print shirts paired with colored leggings or more summery shorts. The look can be completed with big African bracelets and a leather bolero jacket.
At night, though, this animal changes its skin to become a much sexier creature. The look is almost 80s: leggings and skinny jeans are shiny; tops are fitted, with deep necklines or open backs. If you’re feeling more audacious, go for a bustier dress and you will transform yourself into a beautifully vicious ‘beast’ ready to conquer her prey. Accessories are big and bold bracelets and necklaces, platform shoes (or flats for the day) with ethnic flavor; bags are sporty for day or small clutches in python or crocodile for night. Materials range from jersey to shiny silks, fresh linen and the more diverse animal skins (real or fake, it’s up to you!).
So are you ‘garden party’ romantic or ‘jungle fever’ strong? Maybe both, depending on the mood or occasion. These looks have the charm and richness of Italian style.
