ITALIAN STYLE

Just spent 5 days in Bologna, Italy. 5 wonderful days I may add.

Apart from the wonderful food and shopping what hit me was just how at how fashionable a city it was. Women and men were beautifully dressed. The clothes were so well cut and worn with ease. I know this wasn't everyone, but mostly from what I could see.

As I sat people watching from a pavement cafe, I marvelled at the ease with which the women wore the clothes. Ballet flats were definitely the order of the day. Elegant, but also so very sensible in a city of cobbled streets and marbled walkways. They were worn with everything, and looked so good. I came back planning to invest in a few pairs. I have one pair to my name at the moment but I so need more.

Also scarves were worn with everything from summer shifts to jeans and sweaters. How did they manage to look cool in 30c heat wearing jeans and scarves. I guess looking good takes a lot of practice.

I had the feeling that high fashion was not the main look, but a classic look that worked for everyone. It was the ease with which the clothes were worn that amazed me. I so envied the confidence they seemed to have. Even young teenage guys were well put together, not something you can say here!

I know I am speaking generally, and from a general point of view what I saw were women who seemed to really care what they look like, who think about how they put their look together and pull off an effortless easy way of dressing. I was so impressed.

As I walk around my local High Street it is almost an exception to see someone who makes me look twice at their appearance. Why are we so bad at good fashion? Or are we? I think in certain areas of the country it's better, but not on the scale I saw in Italy.

So come on ladies, take a real look in the mirror, forget high fashion and find comfortable but smart elegant clothes that you are proud to wear. I think that is the secret to the effortless elegance I saw over there. Not saying I will pull this off every day, or even at all, but I know I will be trying.