In this post, I tell you all about the dreamy, slow-paced, romantic lifestyle of the Italian people – the women in particular – and how you can easily implement it in your daily life. La Dolce Vita, as it’s commonly called, urges you to live a life that is meaningful in the smallest of ways – to be surrounded by beauty in all its shapes and forms, to love yourself and others whole-heartedly, and to keep falling in love with who you are every single day.
Elegant, charming, refined, femme fatale. It’s no surprise that Italian women are viewed as such. Just look at Sophia Loren, Monica Bellucci, or Gina Lollobrigida, and the reasoning is obvious. These Italian icons share one thing in common: the aura of la bella figura – which is the concept of always having a great appearance and making a good first impression.
Embed from Getty ImagesImagine being so in awe of everything around you that the mere concept of being alive and living lights you up. Imagine being the personification of the quote “stopping to smell the flowers” because you have the time to do just that.
That’s how I go by my days now, taking in everything that my five senses can pick up on. And it’s all thanks to the idea of slow-living and incorporating the sweetness of the Italian lifestyle into my world.
Without further ado, here are the 7 ways you can live the Dolce Vita wherever you may be:
Table of Contents
1. Slowing down
“La gatta frettolosa ha fatto i gattini ciechi.”
Translation: “Haste makes waste”
One thing the natives of Italy live by is the concept of taking things easy. Have you ever wondered why is it that so many famous pieces of art originate from this particular Mediterranean country?
Whether it’s Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, or the recognition of Milan as one of fashion’s capitals, it’s safe to say that none of the big masterpieces we know of today could’ve been created as a result of a two-day job. There’s the fast-paced artist (like a considerate number of content creators these days, think Youtubers who rely on clickbait) that produces mediocre media, and then there’s the artist that pours their heart and soul into their work.
It’s in the small things that we can truly capture moments of beauty. You can’t really find that in the New York subway on a Monday morning. Unless your idea of beauty is a rat running towards you and blocking your way – in that case, the NYC undergrounds is the place to be.
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Get your coffee to stay. Don’t sip and go. Sip and enjoy!
2. Celebrating being a woman
“Ogni donna può figurare al meglio se sta bene dentro la propria pelle. Non c’entrano i vestiti ed il trucco, ma come si brilla.”
– Sophia Loren
Translation: “Any woman can look her best if she’s comfortable inside her skin. It’s not about clothes and makeup, but how you shine.”
As this blog is geared towards women and everything femininity, this point is essential if you truly wish to embody the sweet Italian lifestyle! If I dare say, the woman as a whole is the epitome of beauty – as our Creator intended us to be. Thus, being proud of our womanhood is our birthright.
Whatever femininity means to you, live by it and be it. Most importantly, love yourself. Italian women confidently take their space. You are entitled to nurture and protect your emotional and physical body – it’s your temple and it expects you to take care of it.
See how I discovered my own femininity and the lessons it taught me!
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Wear the garments that make you feel the most confident, and not what you think might look good just for the sake of fashion trends.
3. Tasting the sweetness of life in all its moments
“La Dolce Vita”
Translation: “The sweet life”
As we saw in the first point, the premise of the Italian culture lies in doing everything with tender loving care. That means taking your time to enjoy moments of bliss.
As someone who calls North America their home, I understand how busy and stressful our daily lives can get. But that is exactly why it’s crucial to instill small instances of joy and peace into our worlds.
One way Italianos achieve this is by seeking out connection, and not the remote kind offered by social media. Community is huge in Italy, as it should be!
Picture the Italian grandma circled by a table of joyfully conversing and laughing family members as she serves them heaps of her freshly cooked, made-with-love food. A rather stereotypical image, but the point is that those are the kind of moments we are supposed to take from our days. The ones filled with our loved ones, good vibes, and delicious food.
Speaking of food, your meals should give you pleasure while you eat them!
Treat your mealtime as a big break from everything. Wherever you are, lay a proper place and turn off your screens.
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Get out in nature. It doesn’t have to be an arduous task like hiking a long trail, a simple view of the tree on your street will do just fine.
4. Prioritizing yourself over the man in your life
“E’ vivo grazie a me, ‘o figlio tuo!”
– Sophia Loren
Translation: “He is alive thanks to me, your son!”
As much as I praise the feminine energy present in many aspects of the Italian culture, the truth of the matter is that Italy, just like every other country in the world, has its societal inconveniences. And one that is quite problematic is the culture of misogyny (which unfortunately isn’t new to most of us).
Case in point: As I was researching famous Italian quotes for this article, I came across a webpage with “Italian quotes about women”. And let me tell you, I could not believe my eyes when I read some of the expressions! I won’t be mentioning them here, but if you’re in the mood to get shocked, be my guest and look it up on Google – and come back and let me know what you thought!
In any case, that’s all the more reason to take pride in who we are and remember that we’re complete just as we are. No man should be able to take that away from us.
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Walk tall, with the chin up. Good posture is essential.
5. Eating foods you love
“Anni e bicchieri di vino non si contano mai.”
Translation: “You never count years or glasses of wine.”
This goes without saying: Italians love their food. Everybody loves Italian food. We all love food, period. But the difference between the culinary culture in Italy and places like America, is that the former’s people don’t tend to feel guilty after eating carbs and fat.
Ever wonder how Italians manage to eat pasta, pizza, and gelato almost every day, yet still maintain their figure? It all comes down to portion sizes and the quality of the ingredients.
If you’re a foodie like I am, mealtime is a sacred ritual for you – as it should be. And in order to maintain a balance between palatable pleasures and staying in good healthy shape, we must be mindful of the foods we eat. Always eat the best-quality fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy that you can find. Make sure to watch out for additives by reading labels!
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Eliminate ready-made meals from your diet and opt for a fresh alternative instead.
6. Understanding that style has nothing to do with money
“Il vestito di una donna dovrebbe essere come un reticolato: serve allo scopo ma non ostruisce la visuale.”
– Sophia Loren
Translation: “A woman’s dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view.”
Another given: Italians have style. An elegant, classy, yet chic style – which I personally adore – that serves as a testament to the concept of simplicity. After all, it’s only the world’s greatest fashion designers that call the land of parmigiano their home!
Embed from Getty ImagesI believe we can all agree that a Gucci dress looks better than one from Shein, but if you know how to choose the right material, cuts and colours for your skin and body type, then the label on your garment doesn’t matter as much.
For Italians, looking their best every day is part of the bella figura. They generally always look good, yet not all of them can afford the luxury of purchasing designer items. So, how can we incorporate a good sense of style into our wardrobes? Opt for more timeless pieces and most of all, wear them confidently.
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Look up more when you’re walking. And definitely smile more! Looking down at your phone all the time not only leads to neck problems further down the line, but also makes you look – and be – less available to the world.
7. Knowing what works best for you and leveraging it
“Il sex appeal è al cinquanta per cento ciò che hai e al cinquanta per cento ciò che la gente crede tu abbia.”
– Sophia Loren
Translation: “Sex appeal is 50% what you’ve got, and 50% what people think you’ve got.”
Finally, this tip adds on to the previous one, as once you’ve learned what makes you feel good, look good, and generally allows you to live a well-rounded life, that’s when the true change occurs!
As the Italian concept of il dolce far niente testifies, this way of life is simply an attestation to not doing something unless you want to. In this manner, Italianos are given the opportunity to discover what truly makes their heart sing and they do it because it serves them in some way, not because they must do it.
Let’s say you want to stay in shape but going to the gym just isn’t your cup of tea. In that case, find a form of exercise that you truly like or that you find bearable at the very least.
One thing from the Italian lifestyle you can implement into your life today:
Join a dance class! Experiment with different styles and see which one you enjoy the most.
Final words
Whichever lifestyle you lean more towards, what matters in the end is that you live your life fully, and put peace and happiness above all. Ultimately, that is all the Dolce Vita is based on.
Stay true to who you are, embrace yourself, love your inner self as much as your outer self, work on becoming a better you each day, and most of all, be happy – you always have the choice.
Thank you for reading.
Until next time,
xx
Palo
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References: goodreads.com
These are some great points and I LOVE your writing style!
Thank you! I appreciate it 🙂
This was a really enjoyable read! I am half Italian and have been to Italy twice so it truly had a near and dear place in my heart. It’s a beautiful country and culture, one that I really love!
Beautiful read. I have been craving these ideas in my chaotic life. Can’t wait to implement them.
I love this look into the Italian culture! I’m planning a trip for 2023 and I will keep these things in mind. Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome, I’m planning one soon as well! Wishing you a wonderful time 😉
Such great tips! Sophia Loren totally had it down to an art!
Sophie Loren was a wise woman and understood the essence of being a women. It is totally a mind set and you have to “own it”!
I really enjoyed this post, especially the part about not counting years or glasses of wine! Italian culture is certainly full of enjoyment and vivacity, and I LOVE it!
We have family in Italy, and I have definitely seen first hand that they live a much more relaxed lifestyle than we North Americans. So many of your points are familiar to me.
Your tips for living your best life are inspiring. We often forget to do things like slow down or prioritize ourselves. These are great reminders for all of us!