Every year thousands of college students leave behind their mundane university existences and head to Europe, eager to shake off the doldrums of American life for the exciting sophistication of London, Paris and Rome. It is viewed as a rite of passage. As the cliche goes, Europe is where sheltered young Americans go to "get cultured."
Yet, while browsing a high school classmate's Facebook photo album dedicated to her Parisian adventures, I noticed something that speaks to the very opposite of this truism. In every picture, she and her friends were decked out in some variation of the most heinous yet commonplace of outfits " the uniform of the modern American ingenue abroad: Ugg boots with leggings under jean skirts, and tight, layered T-shirts of the Abercrombie-Hollister variety. It would have looked tacky and trashy anywhere, but against the backdrop of the Avenue Montaigne it was especially offensive. "No wonder the French hate Americans," my friend wryly observed upon viewing the photos.
Americans have long admired and idolized the legendary elegance of European style yet have failed to achieve nary a soupcon of its characteristic effortless cool, even after being immersed in the day-to-day life of the continental fashion capitals. Despite being exposed to an inimitable world of stylistic inspiration, American students abroad cling to Juicy Couture sweatsuits and Vera Bradley bags like security blankets.
Then one might ask, how can the typical Dartmouth student avoid these all too commonplace sartorial blunders while on one of the European FSPs or LSAs? While it is difficult to ever fully capture that elusive quality that makes Europeans so naturally stylish, there are a number of easy ways to slowly integrate elements of Euro-chic into your wardrobe. An important first step is to abandon the typical California Girl US Weekly "style icons" such as Lauren Conrad and the Rachel Zoe-bots and start emulating It Girls from across the Atlantic -- trendsetters like Duffy, Alexa Chung and Charlotte Gainsbourg -- who epitomize Euro-chic by quietly combining an intuitive eye for the whimsical and unique while maintaining a classical aesthetic. Forgo the boring editorials of the increasingly bland American Vogue in favor of its British, Italian and most especially French counterparts. Under the tutelage of these immensely more creative and innovative glossies, you will be prepared to instinctively grasp high fashion for everyday wear.
Once you have the proper inspiration established, there are a few things to keep in mind. For one, dressing Euro-style requires a sense of humor and daring. This is especially true if you're headed to London, home of a very current anything-goes aesthetic, an unsurprising development from the city that spawned the quintessential English eccentric Vivienne Westwood. Cool kids like Peaches Geldof, Henry Holland, and Agyness Deyn (natch) are epitomizing the cheeky, off-kilter looks that creatively reference different decades in a single outfit. Taking inspiration from the street, the New Ravers and club kids that control the city's fashion scene live for bright colors and funky accessories. Playful touches such as illustrator Will Broome's delightfully batty T-shirt collection for fashion emporium TopShop (which the artist describes as "My Little Pony on a trip to the glue factory"), the bunny backpack from Stella McCartney's collaboration with LeSportsac or a neon pair of Doc Marten's are all affordable options that can help you achieve the look.
Another key to achieving Euro-chic is simplicity. It's hard to understand, coming from our perfection-obsessed culture, but the European aesthetic is all about simple, unfussy style. French style icon Lou Doillon summed up the attitude perfectly in the New York Times: "I never comb my hair or make anything pretty. When people look too beautiful, it's too easy. I know I'm dressed wrong if the businessman turns his head. But I like to think that after an hour of sitting next to me on the train, he'd look. I'd have grown on him." Follow Ms. Doillon's advice and skip the heavy makeup, fake tanning and obvious, overly matchy styles popular in the States. Instead, go cosmetic free, tousle your hair and stock up on French labels such as A.P.C., Paul and Joe and Vanessa Bruno for low-key basics that embody a slouchy French dishabille. Or try mixing loud, clashing prints to achieve a modern, intellectual bohemian look as seen on the runways of Italian powerhouses Prada and Marni.
Embracing European style may appear intimidating on the outset, but ultimately it is accessible to even the most stylistically clueless American. A potent combination of confidence, originality, playfulness and simplicity when experimenting with cool continental glamour is the ultimate way to experience the culture (and look good doing it!) on your next FSP.
Stephanie is a writer for The Mirror.
