I just got back from Germany, Austria and Italy. I’ll share European style and sewing patterns to match in this post. We went to the same town in Germany (Wurtsburg, on the Main river) two years ago – our kids participate in a high school exchange program with a school there. We spent a night in Innsbruck, Austria, and then we made our way first to the Dolomites, in Tirol in Italy, and then Lake Como (and brief stop in Lake Garda as well) before finishing up in Milan.
Context here a bit, it was cooler and we were biking more in both Germany and in Tirol/Dolomites, so the fashion sense was more “bring a jacket” than it was in our other part of the trip.
One fashion note, Instagram has really homogenized our fashion globally. It used to be that a big city like Milan would have clothing that seemed a few years ahead of USA fashions, but not so much anymore. Global brands, Instagram have both spread looks and ideas faster, and it’s easier for a global brand to have the same clothes for everyone. The brands themselves are different, for instance, North Face is a popular US brand but Fjallraven is a popular German brand. Adidas exists everywhere. So does Nike.
Sneakers are the footwear of choice. Almost everywhere, with suits, dresses, skirts, pants, people are wearing sneakers (mainly white ones but some colored ones in there too.) Because so much of Europe is walkable, it’s not surprising. Sandals, in summer, worn by women, were the only exception. But that was a second to sneakers.
The uniform of cropped top and wide leg pants on young women was everywhere. Young men wore more trousers/pants and jeans (nobody wears sweatpants) than shorts. Older women (middle aged) wore short sleeved blouses (a lot of the time with vests) with wide leg pants or dresses. Tons and tons of summer dresses. Midi skirts are always popular, and a good deal of slim knit ones. The vest/top with ties in the front were popular, saw a few blouses with puff sleeves. A lot of linen outfits – cropped boxy tees with midi skirts and wider leg cropped pants.
Here are some typical outfits I saw and some sewing patterns that go with them:
The bandeau top is having a moment: I saw bandeau and tube tops everywhere in Europe. This fun pattern of jumpsuit, pants, shorts, bandeau tops is a new-to-me designer. https://thefoldline.com/products/i-am-patterns-daisy-jumpsuit-trousers-culottes. You can also download my FREE August Blouson Tube Top here.
Most often these were paired with wide leg cropped pants or midi length skirts. My favorite wide leg cropped pants are the Emerson by True Bias and the Pietra by Closet Core, both are more “tailored” looking wide leg pants, or you could just sub in any wide leg palazzo pant you love and crop it to the length that looks great on you.
Over these, in cooler weather, cropped (waist length) hooded sweatshirts were popular, as were bomber style jackets or boxy cropped jackets. Try the HotPatterns Sakura Bomber for an upscale version, or try the Amelia bomber jacket by Wardrobe by Me.
A couple of hoodie patterns I love are here: The freebie Boxwood Hoodie by Mood Fabrics and the Mile End by Closet Core. I’ve made the Mile End before and will make it again.
Is Europe ahead of us in fashion? Unlike many of the trips I took back in the early 2000s, I am not seeing much distinction between the fashion in Europe and here – although I do think that sewing magazines BurdaStyle and Tauko both have more edgy unique Euro-forward sewing pattern designs, and you should check them out. Using these patterns is not for the beginner sewist, but if you’ve sewn for a while, both of these are well within your skillset and offer some really unique designs that are worthy of your time. I know I’ve made a few and plan to make many more of them, they’re just that cool. I have 2 decades of BurdaStyle in my pattern stash!
Vests were everywhere, most of the time worn as tops or over camisoles. A couple of good ones to consider making and making with ties in the front: The Winona Vest by Daisy Chain Patterns. You don’t have to go country girl with this – the pockets are fun and sewn in a neutral with ties in the front, this is the vest top of the summer in Europe.
Hot Patterns has a tie front vest (to be worn over a tee) the Slinky Slouchy Vest. Wear it over a tank top or cami and tie it in the front.
I did not buy fabric. I have a lot of fabric! Including one piece of wool I got on a 2001 trip to Florence (not kidding!) But I did get gold ballet flats, and these will be perfect with all my handmade outfits.