Thursday, August 23, 2007

Italian & American Women Contrasts- Natural vs. Complex Routine /Camouflage

The ANNOTICO Report

Italian women get up, get dressed, run product through their hair and presto, done. They don’t want to hide behind make-up. The idea of wearing make-up is ridiculous to them. Looking all natural is the most important thing.

American women have their daily routine: from thirty minutes to two hours, and the details include blow drying and styling the hair, putting on make-up and accessories and getting dressed. After this tedious process is finished, women usually take one last look in the mirror to see the finished product. For American women the idea of not wearing make-up is frightening. They get so used to seeing their faces with foundation, blush and eye shadow that the idea of looking like the real them is uncomfortable.

The Italian woman would see the American routine as a science experiment.

Italian, American Women a World Apart

OCooly. com

By Martina Reyes 

August 21, 2007

There are thousands of cultures in the world, and all of them have their unique traits. Depending on where someone is from, the way they see the locals is different. While vacationing in Italy over the summer, the differences between Italian and American women were seen first hand.

American women have their daily routine: some can do it in thirty minutes while others need two hours, but the same details are done. They get up, take their daily shower, wash their hair, shave their legs and then start the beautifying process.

This consists of blow drying and styling the hair, putting on make-up and accessories and getting dressed. After this tedious process is finished, women usually take one last look in the mirror to see the finished product and then out the door they go.

The Italian woman would see the American routine as a science experiment, completely lost in the whole act. For most European women, looking all natural is the most important thing. Italian hair stylist Oscar Blandi said that all European women do is get up, get dressed, run product through their hair and presto, done. The idea of wearing make-up is ridiculous to them. In Italy, it is all about simple powder and some lip gloss. They dont want to hide behind make-up; they want their face to be seen, flaws included. For American women the idea of not wearing make-up is frightening. They get so used to seeing their faces with foundation, blush and eye shadow that the idea of looking like they do when they roll out of bed is uncomfortable. In America, flaws are something that needs to be covered up. For Europeans, getting older is part of their lifestyle, and they are not afraid to show it to the public.

The craze among American women at the moment exercising. They need to look like the celebrities with perfect abs and legs. Of all the shops and businesses in Italy, I never saw a gym. There, working out is not something to schedule. They are not interested in hitting the local gym every other day. To Italians, walking around is enough exercise, because they walk everywhere. Gas is expensive, so most people dont own cars. The only options are public transportation (which in some places is not the safest because of pickpockets) or walking. When walking everywhere the need to work out doesnt seem so pressing, a reality women there understand.

Fashion for both Americans and Italians is a big part of everyday life. Both want to be able to go to work and out on the town while looking fabulous in the hottest fashion pieces. Italians choose their fashions a different way. As they come from a country that has produced more top designers than anywhere else, Italians tend to have an upper hand. With Garavani Valentino, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Mario Prada, Guccio Gucci and Gianni Versace hailing from Italy, fashion oozes from the seams. Every street has at least one of these designers stores, hell even the airport in Rome had a Versace boutique.

Although young, single Americans tend to be flirty with their style, Italians maintain a more elegant look. It is all about looking bold in bright colors and expensive fabrics. Although most Americans think of jeans and a vintage T-shirt as a cute, yet casual look, Italian women dress in tailored pants with blouses and heels. Most women wear heels, despite all the walking they do. For Italian women, it is about looking sleek no matter where they go.

The last difference hanging between the all-American girl and the mysterious European woman is the cigarette.

No matter what part of Europe someone goes to, one thing is guaranteed: that person will inhale so much cigarette smoke, they wont breath right for weeks.

Smoking is just something they do, not for show or to fit in with the crowd, but just part of their lifestyle. To truly emulate the Italian woman, a pack of cigarettes must be like your lip gloss; you should never leave the house without it.

So could you live like a European, ladies? Could you beat your everyday impulse to shampoo and shave, learn to smoke and wear your natural face all day long? Having seen Italian women first hand, I think that American women couldnt go longer than a week. We like our hair shiny and smelling good. Its just our American lifestyle.

http://www.ocolly.com/2007/08/21/a-world-apart/

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (and are Archived) on:

Italia USA: http://www.ItaliaUSA.com [Formerly Italy at St Louis] (7 years)

Italia Mia: http://www.ItaliaMia.com (3 years)

Blog: http://AnnoticoReport.com

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net