As a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista, I am responsible for writing a monthly fashion article, even while abroad in Spain. I took to the streets to observe the styles around me. Bright colors are definitely in and since temperatures peak in the 90s everyday, the more flowy the clothes, the better.
My friends and I went out with my DSLR for a mini photo shoot. We all wore our own clothes that blended with the styles here. Many girls run around in summer dresses of many colors and patterns so that they can minimize the layers of clothes (and heat) on their bodies. Maxi skirts, flowy pants, and rompers are a custom. Scrappy jumpsuits are in here more than anywhere else right now. (I have added one to the souvenir list.)
My friends and I went out with my DSLR for a mini photo shoot. We all wore our own clothes that blended with the styles here. Many girls run around in summer dresses of many colors and patterns so that they can minimize the layers of clothes (and heat) on their bodies. Maxi skirts, flowy pants, and rompers are a custom. Scrappy jumpsuits are in here more than anywhere else right now. (I have added one to the souvenir list.)
We took many photos en el Huerto de Calisto y Melibea. It was only fitting since we are currently reading Fernando de Rojas' La Celestina in Spanish literature class and that's where part of the story takes place.
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Cropped tops are especially popular in America right now with all of the music festivals. They're just as common here in the Salamancan heat. One of my classmates from Delaware shows a monochromatic style that contains colors of the garden. This look reminds me of something out of a fantasy novel in which the protagonist flees to a peaceful garden for some time to herself. Her high low skirt allows lots of moving and breathing room to avoid the sticky summer air. A cute up-do is a wise way to beat the heat, while still looking dressed up. Who says you can't be pretty and comfortable in the scorching temperatures? This look is finished off with both neutral and teal jewelry. The teal bracelet reflects the same monochromatic look while the dark gold necklace balances out the tan gladiator sandals, creating yet another monochromatic theme in one outfit.
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I love the colors of this dress and how they reflect the brown and red hues of the antiquated cathedrals. Maxi dresses can be worn on a variety of occasions. Whether it's a night on the town, a day to the pool, or you just feel like dressing up for class, maxi dresses are a must. Feet clad in strappy sandals surround me when I look down. The people here walk everywhere. I sometimes walk 15-20 miles a day to class and around town, so flip flops would wear my calves out after a while. Dressing up at night, especially Saturday, is the norm but high heels made their way into daily attire long ago. The heels pictured above provide support in a similar way to flat gladiator sandals. While they may be supportive enough to walk around town in, I don't dare try a pair since I trip at least 3 times a day on the cobblestones of the old streets while wearing flats.
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Reflecting the colors and pattern of the architecture of el Convento de San Esteban, this dress is sure to catch a lot of attention. The intricate paisley print is highlighted with a silver statement necklace and several rings. Bold prints are trending all over the world right now, especially in Spain. The black gladiator sandals contrast against the lighter print on the dress to make it pop. Gladiator sandals are very popular here because they allow the feet to remain open to the air while being safeguarded by a few buckles. It's impossible to have too many cute dresses or gladiator sandals. Dresses can be lightweight and comfy and they can be worn on almost any occasion in Salamanca. This particular dress reminds me of something worn out to a nice dinner or party with friends.
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Nightlife is very prominent in Spain considering dinner isn't served until 9pm and most people don't go out until 11pm. Jumpsuits and rompers are both a staple in any young woman's wardrobe here. Bright colors that pop are worn throughout the day and then darker articles of clothing are revealed at night. The open-shoulder sleeves of this romper are unique and the dark lace on the back gives off dressy vibes. Once again, black gladiator sandals are depicted for a night on the town but they complete any look throughout the day and remain to be good walking shoes. Cross-body bags are essential for city life, especially while in a foreign country. They make for hands-free shopping but they are also good to have so that you can swing them around to the front of your body and keep watch over your personal belongings.
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Once again there is a stark contrast between the vibrant colors worn during the day and the solid classy shades of black and white worn at night. I've noticed that denim flourishes sections of the stores around Salamanca. From jumpers and rompers to skirts, dresses, or pants, denim is a look of its own. The white denim skirt pictured above presents the same trend with an American twist. I've yet to encounter white denim here, even though I brought white denim bottoms of my own. This skirt especially pops because of the contrast with the black cropped top and black gladiator sandals. Black gladiator sandals are so prominent here that I went out to buy a pair of my own. That is also because when I arrived to Spain, I quickly realized that flip-flops would do no good.
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Packing for a month long excursion in Spain with only a suitcase, a duffle bag, and a backpack was a daunting task. My instincts were to bring an outfit a day in case I wasn't able to wash my clothes here. I quickly realized that I was only traveling to another country, not another time period and decided to eliminate a quarter of the clothes I had been trying to stuff into my suitcase.From a fashion project I did during the spring semester, I had researched Spanish fashions and learned about all of the lively colors they are accustomed to wearing. It was also to be noted that with temperatures in the 90s everyday, lose and sheer fabrics would be my best bet. Much like American trends, Spaniards tend to wear both floral and tribal patterns in a variety of colors. A pop of color is highly necessary for my daily attire here. It was hard to pack too many shoes and accessories, but I managed to bring a pair of flip-flops, gladiator sandals, ballet flats, and sneakers too so I could keep up with working out. In hindsight, I packed the wrong walking shoes and too much jewelry, while forgetting some of the essentials like Advil and bandaids. A few days in and my flip-flops already ripped blisters onto the tops of my feet. My ballet flats wore down quick and my gladiator sandals were teal and couldn't be worn with every outfit. I debated on wearing sneakers everyday but decided that my feet got hot enough in them when I ran so I needed to give them time to air out throughout the day. When my friends and I embarked on a shopping adventure one day after class, I bought a pair of black gladiator sandals in the first shoe store we saw.
For this month's CollegeFashionista article, I decided to write for the "Style Guru Style" column so that I could feature some of the new fashions I've discovered abroad. This column requires that inspiration be taken from a current Vogue runway show. I researched Spanish designer, Balenciaga, and found his 2016 resort collection. This collection was full of white clothing that was made to pop when paired with bold prints. Bright colors like yellow and peach were presented as well. One look from his show featured black and white flowy floral pants and a bright-colored top. Spinning my own style into this, I slipped on my black and white tribal-printed pants and matched it up with a bright yellow tank. The fabric of both items is sheer and soft to the touch. It's a lightweight outfit, perfect for beating the heat. Before my ballet flats wore down too much, I still found them to be comfortable walking shoes. The metallic hue of them reflects off of my jewelry and brings the whole style full circle. I wear my Alex and Ani bracelets almost everyday to remind me of the places I've been or the things that are most important in my life. A few other pieces helped balance out the boho theme in a vivid summer fashion.
Click the link below to see my first article for CollegeFashionista written abroad. Check out some of my other articles for more fashion inspiration year round!
Click the link below to see my first article for CollegeFashionista written abroad. Check out some of my other articles for more fashion inspiration year round!
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