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Published: January 11th 2018
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I had never been to a fashion show before, so experiencing my first one yesterday in Italy, front row, made for a great first time! Though I am not an ADM student, I did enjoy the experience. I love clothes, and I know that is not what fashion is all about, but it does account for my interest for fashion and design. I not only enjoyed the fashion that was involved within the show, but also the fashion in the crowd. Fashion is something every culture enjoys and you could tell by the diversity present within the crowd. I enjoyed observing the guests' fashion, and honestly wish I would have dressed up a little bit more!
The first round included a lot of neutral colors styled in a monochromatic display. The clothes were conservative with a lot of layers that seemed to drape over the model. I noticed boots above the ankle but below the calf on both men and women, which is already a popular trend in America. I also noticed buttons on the back of jackets, layered ruffles on sleeves and dresses, and an interesting idea of draping sweatshirts around the neck, but not fully wearing them. I
could see buttons lining the back of jackets becoming a popular style within American apparel. There are already sweaters, shirts, and dresses that are lined with buttons on the back. I do not see this becoming popular within men's fashion though. Men's apparel in America is not as daring as men's apparel in other countries. Ruffles are already a popular concept in American style currently, especially within tops and dresses, and their sleeves.
The second round of fashion was very different compared to the first. It involved a lot more colors and designs, but still included some monochromatic outfits.I really enjoyed the second round because the clothes were interesting and entertaining. The outfits included a lot of colorful plaids, furs, corduroys, and patterns. There were also shorts with knee-high socks and pants with zippers that were too long. Some things that reminded me of American apparel were the bright color schemes of blues, corals, and oranges. Plaid is also slowly becoming popular again, as well as corduroys, two things I like to incorporate into my own style.
Yesterday we also visited the Broncacci Chapel, which included an educated tour from Steve. The paintings within the chapel were beautiful,
and really portrayed the Renaissance style. Today we visited the Instituto degli Inocenti and the Strozzi museum. I enjoyed both, but the Instituto degli Inocenti has been one of my favorite experiences thus far.
We began the tour outside of the orphanage with Elizabeth, who explained the architecture of the building, noting its harmonious design. The orphanage began in the 1400's for unwanted children who were dropped off by their mothers, leaving with them only a small token to remember their family by. These small tokens included things like buttons, crosses, and halves of coins and necklaces, dating back to as early as 1827. The mother would keep the other half of the coin or necklace, in hopes that one day they would find each other and be reunited. We were able to see some of these tokens within the exhibit, along with the date and the name of the child it belonged to. As I opened the small drawers that contained these items, I imagined how special they must have been to these children, knowing it was the only thing they had left of their former family.
The museum included multiple pieces of art, both paintings and
statues, along with exhibits of dolls the nuns used to decorate. We learned about the history of life within the hospital, for both the children and the women working there. We also learned how the orphanage evolved over the years, and how hard the women worked to take care of the children, even after they were released from the orphanage. They would prepare them for successful futures, allowing them to come back if they were ever ill.
Once our tour was over, we went downstairs to look at a collection of photos taken in the 1800's of the orphanage. They included photos of the wet nurses, regular nurses, nuns, and children. They showcased the rooms in which the wet nurses lived, as well as the rooms for the children. The photos also included facts and further explanation of their daily life. I found a photo of multiple wet nurses with the babies that included a description of their regular diet. It included high amount of carbs, along with some protein, and wine every day. This especially interested me since I am currently studying dietetics, and we have discussed breastfeeding within my courses.
After we looked through the photos,
we explored further into the museum, finding a wall with colorful, handwritten cards hanging on it. On the wall it said; Use the pencil to leave us a message or drawing so you too can become part of the history. We went through each card, deciphering the ones we could, and admiring the art on the ones we couldn't. Some of the messages were so sweet and touching, coming from all different ages, that it honestly brought tears to my eyes. It really made me consider the impact history has on people, even when it is indirect. This was such a beautiful piece of Florence's history and I was glad I was able to be a part of it, even if it was just by leaving a note. No matter where you are from, or what language you speak, charity is a universal idea appreciated by all cultures and ages, and that is what I witnessed in the museum today.
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