The Italian woman is iconic. She is Monica Bellucci power-walking across the square of the Piazza del Duomo. She is Sophia Loren flaunting her curves while dancing for Cary Grant. She is Lucia Pica reinventing the beauty wheel while staying true to the classic film noir color palette, and she is Donatella Versace designing another maximalist masterpiece for wearers who want to catalyze the trend, not catch it. Italian fashion, like the Italian woman, strive for innovation and boldness with its dramatic silhouettes, and creative usage of daring textiles. It is often sexy and unstructured, but rarely unhinged, and most certainly never outmoded.

Before I venture any further, I should make my bias known: I am a complete Italian fashion groupie. I applaud Missoni, scream for Bottega, and swoon for Diesel. With the Spring Ready-To-Wear Collections for 2023 unveiled, and the second season of the rave-reviewed The White Lotus conveniently set in Sicily, no time could be more apropos to give the Italian fashion aesthetic its flowers (and, of course inspire you to incorporate some of this year’s soon-to-be major style elements).

Sexy Silhouettes

Cinched bodices, tapered slacks, and draped necklines. Nothing brings the bombshell look to life better than a high-quality Italian basic. What should we take away from the runways of Italian fashion houses for Spring 2023? Lightweight fabrics and sheer, body-accentuating cuts are where our streetwear is headed. Best to jump on board with something airy, and whimsical before the temperatures start to climb.

Praised Prints

I know that minimalism is just as much of an Italian staple, as it is French, English, Norwegian, and German, but when I think of pronounced patterns and prints on stylish apparel, my mind immediately connects it to the Peninsula Italia. With floral accents on the rise across fashion houses for the new year, it’s time to rethink striking color combinations and garden-inspired designs.

Exiting Abundance

Our purses were small, then they ballooned to mass proportions and as quick as they entered the scene, they were gone. Join me in welcoming, yet again, the micro bag. I have a hunch that our fondness for comfortable shoulder straps will withstand the body shrinkage, but say sayonara to the canvas-sized satchels…or so fashion forecasters are predicting we will react. I don’t know about you, but I am not giving up my extra-large leather tote. In my opinion, a working girl needs to be able to fit her laptop, or at least a wallet, in her handbag. However, even us busy bees are capable of taking the evenings off…and those hard shell clutches do look great with a pair of heels…

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