Sightseeing in Style: Fashion Diaries from a Study Abroad Girl
The Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Colosseum in Rome. Big Ben in London. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Yes, the monuments I saw during my fall semester abroad were absolutely breathtaking and works of art, but honestly? My favorite sightseeing has been checking out what everyone is wearing. Call it fashion tourism.
Every city I went to had its own distinct stores, trends, and styles—almost as if each place had a personality expressed through clothes.
Of course, there was still a fair share of Solomon shoes, Longchamp bags, and Parke sweatshirts on the streets, and sometimes it was difficult to pick out the locals from the study girls traveling in packs. Nonetheless, I loved seeing the fashion trends of the fall and early winter all across Europe.
Now, this is just what I noticed walking around one city in one weekend. Weather-dependent. Mood-dependent. Definitely not the whole picture.
Florence:
My Florentine leather jacket that I sported in London.
My homebase. Florence, as I learned from my fashion professor, is actually the fashion capital of Italy, but it is also study abroad central. You won’t find the coolest local trends here, but you will find leather.
A classic black leather jacket will never go out of style. Nor will a leather bag with your initials freshly stamped in gold. Your dad? Your boyfriend? They would love a leather wallet or belt from the same shop or stand where you get your bag. Gifts for everyone: it’s a win-win.
As a part-time resident, I have been searching far and wide for the perfect jacket. I’ve been offered discount after discount, told it was the only one in my size, the only color left in stock…and yet I found my dream jacket at the Florence Peretola Airport. Who would’ve thought?
Barcelona:
Spain. The birthplace of Zara. Take your lap around the store (or rather, the climb, as it is multiple stories). But then, and I say this with love, get out of there.
Make your way to Muy Fragil and Yuma in the Gothic Quarter for some of Barcelona’s coolest brands. While you’re there, check out the amazing vintage shops like Le Swing Vintage.
The most amazing hand-painted jewelry found in Barcelona.
Paris:
Fashion lovers: The Christian Dior museum is a must-see!
Parisian style is less about what you’re wearing and more about how you wear it. Hair that hasn’t seen a brush in days? It’s intentional. Oversized trousers that hit right at the hip? Just wear a platform sneaker. Were you up until 2 AM the night before? No one knows if you’re wearing sunglasses, even on a cloudy day.
What would be considered “ugly” in America is Parisian cool girl. It’s the outfit you would wear from the gym to the grocery store, praying that you don’t run into anyone you know. They’ve mastered the art of pretending not to care while secretly caring a lot.
But if you want to brush that rat’s nest out of your hair, may I recommend a personalized comb from Officine Universelle Buly 1803?
Amsterdam:
The “babushka hat scarf” as mentioned above.
You couldn’t wear a jacket without sleeves in winter, but by mid-October, I spotted a vest on every corner. Whether on a girl biking or in one of the storefronts on the famous 9 Streets, fleece, quilted, colorful, patterned, or buttoned vests were on full display.
I am starting to see these trickle into H&M and Zara, but what I am describing as the “babushka hat scarf” was another one of my Dutch purchases. Basically, I found a hand-knit scarf/hat hybrid that checks every box for winter survival. I may look like someone’s grandma, and you may not be able to see my neck, but with a few hair strands pulled out, I think it is stylish.
Copenhagen:
Clips in every color and print possible at Picos.
The Danish girls are either layering a sweater over a long shirt, worn over a striped skirt with multicolored tights (which somehow look like the most high-fashion thing ever), or they are wearing baggy jeans and a plain white top.
If you, too, aren’t as bold and are choosing the latter, go to Picos for accessories fit for a non-hair wash day. Not only do they sell the most high-quality claw clips in all the shapes, sizes, and colors a girl could ask for, but they also sell scrunchies, roses, headbands, and more. I haven’t worn a flower in my hair since my dance competition days at the ripe age of 10 years old, but the Copenhagen girls have me thinking I can pull it off. Can I? Of course I can.
You’ll also want to check out Samsoe Samsoe, Mads Norgaard, and Boii Studios. And try not to shed a tear while spending an ungodly amount on an Acne Studios scarf.
Norway:
It was so cold in Norway that it wouldn’t have mattered if I wore a pair of Brandy Melville sweatpants as a makeshift scarf. But still, if you’re able to invest in a proper Norwegian sweater (the kind straight out of my Lutheran church back home in Washington state), you will not regret it. I purchased one from a boutique that sold the brand Dales of Norway. I am hoping it helps me survive yet another treacherous Boston winter.
A true Norwegian sweater complete with a viking boat and all.
Oftentimes, before making a purchase abroad, I found myself asking, “Do I really think I can pull this off, or is it just because I am in Europe?” I’ve now uncovered the answer.
Of course I can. Fashion is not only about the clothes you wear, but the attitude behind them and the confidence you exude. In Florence, leather is forever. Barcelona? Color and quirk are confidence. Paris proved that messy hair can be straight out of the Louvre, while Amsterdam showed me that practicality can still be chic. Copenhagen convinced me that layering is a competitive sport. And Norway? Even survival gear can be stylish.
While I picked up postcards along the way, I also collected clothing and accessories that told the story of each city (even if just in my mind’s eye). My Euro Girl Fall was not just about sightseeing; it was learning that the best souvenir isn’t something you can fold into a suitcase, but the confidence to wear whatever you want, wherever you are.
