Trying to be "A La Moda" in Espana

            In the United States, my everyday outfit usually consists of a big T-shirt with leggings or a pair of athletic shorts. For me, I opt for comfort instead of “classiness,” and wearing skirts/ dresses are only reserved for special occasions. This past year at the university, much of my closet was left untouched since I did not see a reason to wear my fancy clothes to class on a daily basis. However, after coming to Granada for only a few weeks, this has all changed.

In Granada, people of all ages look like they just stepped off the runway. There are mothers pushing strollers around in five inch heels, and I have seen toddlers and grandmas wearing nicer clothing than I do every day. The endless clothing and accessory stores that line the streets are always bustling with people, and the windows are filled with clothing that is “a la moda”; all these aspects emphasize how fashion is just a way of life in Granada.

A very common clothing store

Dressed up locals

So what exactly is “the fashion” in Granada? I find that it is easier to pick out the “DON’TS” rather than the “DO’S.” One of the big no-no’s of Granada is athletic clothing when one is not actually going to work out. My beloved athletic shorts and tank tops were not socially acceptable on a daily basis, which totally threw off my typical routine. However the benefit in this was that the stigma against athletic clothes pushed me to dress a bit out of my comfort zone. To pull off the authentic Spainard look, I had to dig out all the skirts and dresses that I had packed, and ditch the big t-shirts and shorts. Another “don’t” are flip flops; instead, women wear high heels or nice flats instead. While on occasion I do wear flip flops around, I have grown accustomed to dressing up outfits with a pair of gladiators or flats.  Although I have not worn heels at all in Spain, I know that they definitely help an outfit look a lot more put together (maybe one day I will be able to wear heels for a day without killing my ankles).

Attempt at dressing up

For the guys in Granada, they seem to care a lot more about their looks than in the US. What I have noticed is that many of them are “cookie cutter”- aka they all seem to follow a certain look that is considered popular. For the hair, many guys have buzzed hair on the sides, with more hair on the top of their head. Guys tend to wear button up shirts that are plaid or plain colored, and they like tight khaki or denim pants. Popular shoes are “boat shoes” and casual sneakers- pretty similar to the guys in the US.  

The go-to "hairstyle"

            While Granada is a city of fashion, in other cities, I noticed that people seem to dress a lot more laid back. In Sevilla, there were a larger number of locals wearing big tee-shirts and shorts (“gym clothing”) that gave a more casual atmosphere in the city. This was true in Madrid as well, since the locals were not as dressed up as in Granada. It was interesting in Madrid, because there were a lot more tourists/ guiris in the city that made it difficult to differentiate the locals from the foreigners. Either way, out of all the cities, Granada is definitely the most fashion forward.  

La Tarasca- here come floral prints everyone!

            With their high fashion sense, I was a bit intimidated by the young locals of Granada. With their greased back hair, crisp polo shirts, or name brand clothing, I came from a totally different world from them. Fortunately, I have learned that the young generation of Granada is very open and welcoming. My first interaction with students was at the intercambio- the local students were amazing and great to talk to. They were interested in learning more about me and my background, and vice versa despite my Spanglish. This past weekend as well, I made a new “amigo” for two hours on the bus ride back from Madrid. He was a student studying in Madrid from the Canary Islands, and we talked about a variety of topics that made the long bus ride seem to fly by. I hope more opportunities to talk to locals will arise during the rest of my time here, since I only have two more weeks left! 

As authentic as it can get