It is not a surprise to most that the style overseas is significantly different than it is in the Midwest.

Returning from overseas programs and study abroad adventures and then deciding which trends to bring back to the United States can be difficult, but also exciting.

Shoes are huge in Italy. Europeans live in shoebox-size apartments, but still manage to have an amazing collection of great shoes.

After seeing women walk the cobblestone streets of Florence in high heels, it’s obvious that they have several years of experience. But we should definitely not try this one on Iowa State’s campus.

A more comfortable solution to high heels on campus would be platform shoes. Platform shoes were very noteworthy throughout Italy, Denmark, England and France. 

Sandals with platforms and sneakers were prominent and seen frequently. The Midwest has yet to catch onto this trend, but it is definitely one to invest in.

Not only can you bring European clothing styles back to the Midwest, you can also bring home a variety of hairstyles and accessories.

Effortless hair – Long hair is everywhere and it looks perfect on just about everyone. European women have an amazing ability to have great looking hair that looks effortlessly natural. The less kept the better. Since is so hot and humid in Italy and many other European countries, it can be hard to keep your hair under control in the first place.

Arm Cuffs – One trend that is already very prevalent in the United States is the arm cuff. Every Italian vendor was selling cuffs and hundreds of silver rings and watches.

Cool sunglasses – Thick 70s style glasses were everywhere, along with Ray-Ban reflectors and designer frames. Each face shape can find a fashion-forward pair to frame the face.

If you are interested in studying abroad or attending a college of fashion, the Study Abroad Center at Iowa State has many connections to several schools around the globe. A few of the colleges include the London College of Fashion, Lorenzo de’ Medici College in Florence, Italy, and the Senior Interior Design Workshop in Paris. Check out the Study Abroad website for more information.

Whether you have studied abroad, keeping up on the latest fashion trends is a must, as they are ever-changing and can be hard to find in the Midwest. Fashion trends and fads will always exist, but the key to any outfit is adding your own personal style and making it your own.

Popular destinations for European fashion inspiration:

H&M – A Swedish clothing company that is popular all over Europe and in the U.S. H&M is known for being fashionable and fairly inexpensive.

Zara – A Spanish retail store that sells fashionable clothes. It’s located all over the world, but has a heavy presence in Europe.

Mango – A Spanish company that has trendy and fairly inexpensive items.

ASOS – This United Kingdom retailer is popular with European teens and people in their 20s.