EUROPEAN FASHION VS. AMERICAN FASHION|All You Need To Know

Leggings? Never heard of them.

People watching in the most beautiful Vienna park

Quite possibly the best parts about studying abroad are the fashion and people watching aspects. The attention to fashion in Europe is unlike most of what I have experienced in the states. I can say one thing is for sure, the style and effort people put into their outfits here has made me put much more effort into what I look like going to class or out and about, and for that, I am grateful. Wearing leggings and a sweatshirt to class is simply not acceptable here and it makes me wonder…are we doing it all wrong in America? Should we care more about what we look like? I am starting to lean toward yes for a few reasons.

I have always been a firm believer in “look good feel good” and I am now fully standing behind that motto and its accuracy. I could be having the worst day, feeling incredibly stressed or sick and if I have a good outfit on, suddenly the day gets a little better. If I am put together physically then I become more put together mentally. Get it? It sounds very cliché and uppity but I promise if you try it, you’ll see a difference.

People in Europe take pride in what they wear and the vibes they give off as you pass them on the street. After being in Europe for a little over a month now, I can see the difference in confidence that a good outfit can give you. The fashion culture in America has become so lazy and it shows. What happened to the times when men and women would wear suits and dresses for a normal day of activities? How did we get so far behind that putting a pair of JEANS on seems like the most daunting task? Let’s all put our leggings and sweatshirts away and start dressing up for the occasion.

I have always believed that what you wear is a reflection of your personality and the stage of life you are currently in. My style has changed with the passing years and I truly feel that the way I choose to dress gives people a pretty good idea of the person I am or want to be. The influence Europe has had on my fashion sense is exciting and inspiring. I do not want to be lazy and look disheveled for class or the grocery store. I want to look like I am going somewhere even when I am going nowhere. European fashion makes me want to be something important and love my outfit while doing it.

This may seem totally ridiculous to most, but fashion is the best tool of self-expression and I don’t know about you all, but I want to be expressed in a positively fashionable way. I am forever grateful for the little cafes that line each street for giving me the opportunity to see Europe’s best fashion while sipping on my (overpriced, but worth it) cappuccino. All while being kind, of course.

XOXO,

Simply Complicated