Let's Talk Italian Fashion!

I was watching a business report on CNN where a woman was talking about a well known retail chain that just opened up stores in China. She commented that fashion is the same everywhere. As such, they will not have to adapt to the local culture. If that were the case we'd all look like the Will Smith from "Men in Black", sporting our basic black suits. Fashion is not the same everywhere. I spend much of my vacations noting fashion similarities, differences and how I can incorporate new, fun, smart ideas into my wardrobe.

In Italy, they're all about fashion. You don't have to walk far to see Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Prada, etc… While many Americans are all about the knockoffs and the discount retailers, Italians embrace the designer label and the price that comes with it.

For many Americans, "business casual" is not only a part of our vocabulary but also a part of our closet. We now have little need for a formal suit (be sure to remember that the next time you wear your navy blue suit for the secretive interview… I mean, "Doctor's appointment"). Italians don't really understand the concept of "business casual". For them, a suit is their work uniform. And I can understand why everyone loves the Italian style; a nice suit goes a long way.

Most of the suits were classic cut with classic colors (black or navy). The shoes, of course, were superior. There's something about the Italian shoes that compels me to get out my MasterCard. The pointy toe is alive and well in Italy. And, of course, the stiletto can be seen everywhere. While we're on the subject, I have to give the Italian women some credit. I have ultimate respect for any woman that can walk in 4 inch stilettos … on cobble stones… and not kill herself in the process. I twisted my ankle on one of those nasty misplaced cobblestones. I, on the other hand, was wearing flats.

I must admit that I went to Italy with a mission in mind: she who leaves with the most shoes wins. While I consider myself a black belt in shoe shopping, I was not prepared for the Italian price tag. Do not be surprised to see shoes in the price range of 150 Euros and up. Keep in mind that the Euro is 40% higher than the dollar right now. So, 150 Euros = $210. As far as I'm concerned, for over $200, there better be a designer label on those shoes. They better look stunning on me. Aw hell, for that price, they better come with date, too. My shoe bubble deflated as I ventured into shoe store after shoe store. Yes, the shoes were cute. Yes, they seemed to be well made. But, there were no cuter, and actually much more bland than those that I had purchased for 45 Euros in Spain last year.

One store where I did find luck was Bata (which probably translates to " 'Payless Shoe Source' for the dumb Americans who won't pay for the designers", in Italian). Their shoes were cute, surprisingly comfortable and, on average, under 100 Euros. AND they said "made in Italy" on the bottom. I found my Italian shoes!

Now I just needed a scarf. Italians, as many Europeans, wear scarves at every occasion. You can find cashmere pashmina scarves every place from open air markets to the accessories shops, dedicated to gloves and scarves. In southern California no one wears scarves, perhaps due to the fact that it doesn't get very cold in the winter. Regardless, I needed a scarf. With a stroke of luck, at an open air market in Siena I found a cashmere / silk blend scarf for 5 Euros.

Another noteworthy accessory that the Italian women LOVE is their boots. Everything from cowboy boots to the swash-blucking kind could be found at virtually every store. They wear boots when it's 85 degrees outside and they still look fantastic. I think it's that sort of confidence that makes the rest of us envy Italian women. How do you rock ankle boots in July, is my question? Well, you can't do it without the ultimate confidence that you look fantastic no matter what. I think that in that sense, we should all be a little more Italian.

Anyone for some Chianti?

A fantastic introduction to Tuscany is a Chianti Wine Tour. There are many tour groups that offer tours of the Chianti region. Some tour groups are private - and range in price in between 200 to 250 Euros per person. I honestly didn't want to (a)spend $350 a person on a wine tour and (b) spend an entire day listening to a spiel about wine - there's only so much you canhear about wine in one day.

I chose the Cor Magis travel group because they would (a) pick us up/drop us off at the hotel and (b) it was 60 Euros per person for the tour. You reserve a tour and find other tours in Tuscany on their web site. http://www.cormagistravel.it/

The tour guide, Alberto, picked us up in a mini-van and gave us background on the region and the workings of the Chianti industry. For years, this wine could be found in a round bottle in a straw basket (and wasn't particularly known for its high quality). Over the years, the wine has improved and now rivals the rest of the good red wines you would find in a quality wine shop.

It turns out that making Chianti is serious business to the Italians. Wine named "Chianti Classico" can only be made in the Chianti region of Italy and must follow certain legal regulations. First and foremost, the wine must be made from about 70% sangiovese grapes. The rest of the wine is a blend from a local white (believe it or not) and another type of red. Chianti Classico Reserve represents the best Chianti out of several years. It's at the discretion of the wine maker if they choose to release a reserve that year.

Another interesting fact about Chianti is that you should always look for the thin pink label around the neck of the bottle. The ribbon is a certification that the wine is Chianti. Alberto explained that if the bottle says Chianti but doesn't have the pink label, it's not truly Chianti.

During the tour we visited 3 local villages (Radda, Castellina, Montalcino)and 2 wineries. The first winery I could have done without. The second, however, was a must-see.

Paggio Amorelli is a charming winery outside Catellina. Marco Mazzarrini was the wine maker and our host at this winery. Their friendly dog welcomed each visitor, one by one, hopeful for some affection in return. After about 2 seconds of talking with Marco, I could tell that wine-making is his passion. He explained that every day he checks the temperature of the wine as it ferments, sometimes every 5 hours each day. He also explained how to determine if a bottle of red wine is good or bad based upon things like color and clarity.

From there the wine tasting began. With prosciutto, parmesan, and home made bread as a snack, we tasted about 5 wines. Half way through, Marco also shared sliced tomatoes covered in olive oil. He said they were from his father in law's yard; the fresh ripe taste of the tomatoes tasted home grown.

The wine was good, to say the least and a selling point is that the shipping costs are included when you buy a bottle of wine. The Super Tuscan (certainly not a Chianti but a fantastic wine) is 45 Euros including shipping anywhere in the world, with a 6 bottle minimum.

The tour of the countryside and the wineries was a great way to spend a leisurely fall day in Tuscany.