It’s no secret that Italians are among the best-dressed people in the world. What’s less well known, at least to outsiders, is that dressing sharply is part of a concept called la bella figura. Literally translated, the phrase means “the beautiful figure,” but more often it is referred to in English as cutting a beautiful figure. La bella figura is an Italian philosophy and way of life, and for that reason it’s often difficult for foreigners to completely understand. Having spent a semester in Rome perhaps gives me a slightly better idea than the average American, but I’m still no native Italian.
What I learned in four short months is that la bella figura is all about making a good impression. A favorite Italian pastime is Sunday night passeggiata, where locals leisurely walk around their favorite piazza and maybe catch up on the latest gossip along the way. The point is to see and be seen, so people are often dressed in their best outfits to show off what they’ve got. However, in putting together the perfect closet, their focus is not necessarily in owning the most expensive pieces, or even having a great quantity of choices, but in finding quality in a few timeless, flattering pieces. It’s a “less is more” sort of lifestyle that increases appreciation for what you have, rather than worrying about attaining what you don’t. Luckily, that also means if you’re not buying countless t-shirts just because they’re on sale, you’ll save more money for that perfect pair of leather shoes.
Although dressing well is an important factor in overall presentation, la bella figura applies to all aspects of life. The way a person conducts oneself is especially important. Knowing how to act gracefully in any sort of social situation is a true marker of la bella figura. No matter what’s happening to you in your personal life, it is expected that you put your best foot forward. Generosity is also important. Providing two extra courses at a dinner party or offering to pay for coffee not only shows kindness but also that a person has money to go around (even if they actually don’t).
La bella figura isn’t exactly an issue of gender, either. Everyone, not just women, is expected to look and act well. What’s perhaps most striking to an American walking down Via del Corso, the major shopping street in Rome, is that most every man is impeccably dressed—no sweatpants, athletic gear, or boxers in sight. But because there is such attention paid to appearances, everyone is constantly evaluating each other. For women, unfortunately, this often means catcalling.
I truly believe that anyone who spends any extended amount of time Italy will be influenced by the Italians and their lifestyle. One of the most interesting readjustments for me coming back from abroad was experiencing my new perspective of what it means to live a “beautiful life” in an environment that isn’t used to that way of living. Although I’ve never felt completely comfortable wearing sweatpants outside of my dorm room, I no longer feel okay with wearing my gym clothes anywhere but to the gym, and I’m still slightly taken aback when I see people going to the grocery store in pajamas. I do not mean to pass judgment on the way people choose to live their lives, but I make these observations to highlight the way that my perception of presentation has changed. Now, I sometimes wonder if the extra effort I’m putting in to make myself look presentable is worth it, whereas in Italy, I would feel self-conscious without it.
I felt a strange sort of freedom the one time I did go outside in my workout clothes since coming back from Italy. I didn’t have the time nor did I feel like changing out of my gym clothes after coming back from a run, and knowing that I could go outside a little bit sweaty and disheveled was a relief. I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone judging me because they would assume I had just come from the gym, and to a lot of people that feat is impressive in and of itself. So although Italy taught me to how to present myself better, at heart I’m an American who isn’t willing to sacrifice practicality or comfort.
What I’ve come to realize, now having been back in America for the same amount of time I was gone, is that the experiences one has had will inform the experiences to be had in the future. When I first arrived in Rome, the concept of la bella figura was intimidating. When I came back, the thought of sacrificing the concept of beautiful living seemed tragic. But really, it’s about finding a way to blend together the best of both worlds.
Image Credit: FLO’ n the Go, Sogno Italiano on Pinterest, Serge’s Blog