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¡Hola chicas! Although I usually
stick to penning the Geek Chic column, I’m
taking a break from scheduled programming to talk study
abroad. Why? Well, because I’m currently spending my
final semester of college in Madrid, the capital city of Spain.
We’ve already featured several articles about what to wear while studying abroad here
on CF, so this mini-series will focus instead on fashion inspired by the
monuments and landmarks of various cities in Europe. (Namely, the ones I
visit!)
Madrid is my new home city, so that’s where we’ll begin our tour!
Living La Vida
Madrileña: About Madrid
History
· In European terms, Madrid is a fairly
new capital; King Felipe II made it his capital city in 1561.
Today it houses both Parliament and the Royal Palace.
· Madrid is the third largest
city in the EU and also has the third largest GDP in the EU.
Food
· While I’ve had my fair share of sangria, tapas,
and churros con chocolate, the real Spanish culinary obsession
is jamón ibérico, cured pork that’s similar to prosciutto. My host
mom makes me a “bocadillo (sandwich) de jamón” just about every day, and
I’m quickly getting addicted to the jamón-flavored Lays chips!
· Other Madrid specialties include cocido
madrileño, a stew made with garbanzo beans, bacon, sausage, and veggies,
and tortilla española, which is essentially a glorified
omelette.
Shopping & Fashion
· When it comes to the work of retail,
the Inditex company, which owns Zara, reigns supreme. The company’s
other brands are Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Oysho, Massimo
Dutti, Uterqüe, and Zara Home. (Call me ungrateful, but
sometimes I do pine for those All-American mainstays Gap and J. Crew.)
· There’s also the ubiquitous department
store El Corte Ingles, where you can buy anything from a designer
wedding gown to an iPhone to an entire leg of jamon. It’s pretty much like a
giant high-end Target. There’s even a gourmet international food department
with a section called “Taste of America,” which sells outrageously priced
Duncan Hines cake mixes, tubs of Crisco, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
El Parque de Buen
Retiro
El Parque de Buen Retiro, which translates to
“The Park of Pleasant Retreat”, is a gorgeous garden situated in the center of
Madrid. (It gives Central Park a run for its money. ) The park features
beautiful rose beds, elaborate fountains, the Estanque (a large artificial
pond), and the incredible Crystal Palace pavilion. Originally a resting area
for the royal family, the park was bestowed upon the public in 1868. Today, the
park is host to a number of attractions, such as outdoor concerts, puppet
shows, and boat rides.
It’s definitely not warm enough in Madrid right now for this
ensemble, but it would be great for a visit to El Retiro in the spring, when
all the flowers are in bloom! Channel this historic park with a romantic yet
trendy ombre maxi skirt, seafoam top, and green sandals. A glass necklace
references the Crystal Palace, while the rose earrings are a homage to the rose
gardens of El Retiro.
El Museo del Prado
El Museo Nacional del Prado, usually
just called “El Prado”, is Spain’s premier fine arts museum, housing works by esteemed
artists like Velasquez, Goya, and Titian. The museum was established in 1819
and today holds approximately 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800
prints and 8,200 drawings. Notable works include Velasquez’s Las
Meninas, Goya’s Third of May, and Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights.
While the exterior of the building is mostly Neoclassical in
design, go for baroque in a fancy-pants outfit inspired by the artwork of El
Prado. I’ve noticed that the old ladies in Spain adore their fur coats:
while theirs are the real deal, you can get the glam cruelty-free with this
opulent faux-fur coat. A luminous brocade dress is reminiscent of the gowns in
Las Meninas. A pair of floral tights and ankle-strap heels further jazz up the
look. Finally, slip on a red rose ring for a pop of color: you’ll be a work of
art that Velasquez would be proud of!
P.S. Should you visit the Prado, remember that it’s always free
for students between 18-25, so make sure to bring a student ID!
Estadio de Santiago
Bernabéu
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, inaugurated in 1947, is
the home of the Real Madrid fútbol (stateside: soccer) team. Current star
players include Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Pepe. I’ve never been a huge
soccer fan, but I was informed (under the threat of bodily harm) by the folks
at my internship that I must root for Real Madrid. Last month, I was lucky
enough to score tickets to the Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona match. Although my
friend Nicole had to explain just about every moment of the game to me, I did
appreciate the fervor of the crowd. Never before have I heard such creative
insults!
Score a few fashion goals yourself with this classic combination
of a cobalt blouse and white jeans. Turquoise sneakers jazz up the look, while
a yellow cross-body bag adds some color contrast. Finally, crown earrings add
the “Real” to your Real Madrid-inspired outfit!
¡¡Goooooooooolllllllll!!!
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) is
a bustling plaza smack dab in the center of Madrid. It’s surrounded by several
other famous landmarks, such as Plaza Mayor, the Palacio Real, El Prado, and
Atocha Station. There are always tons of people here: shoppers, tourists, night
club promoters, bootleg DVD hawkers, and lots of young couples exhibiting
copious amounts of PDA. (Considered quite acceptable here in Madrid!) On a more
serious note: in the wake of the current economic crisis, demonstrations and
protests are often held here.
Given the massive amount of trendy stores surrounding the area,
it’s no wonder that you’ll spot lots of hyper-stylish ladies in Sol! The
sneaker wedge trend has really taken off here, and I have to admit I’m a
convert! Just rock them the way you would ankle boots. Cargo jackets are also
popular, so layer one over a fun mustache sweater. Cute bear earrings reference
both the crest of Madrid (a bear and a tree) and the teddy bear logo of Spanish
brand Tous.
Kapital
While Teatro Kapital is not likely to be short listed as a UN
World Heritage site anytime soon, there are lots of folks (mostly American) who
would argue that Kapital is a national treasure. The enormous nightclub has 7
dance floors, each with a different music style.
The Spanish take “salir de marcha” (aka going out) very seriously.
The night starts at around 1 am and ends at 6 am, when the metro opens. As I’m
a cranky future cat lady in the making, I’ve yet to stay out so late, but I’m
determined to do so at least once before I leave Madrid! Just like its music
offerings, Kapital’s fashion sense is all over the map: there are just as many
super blinged-out girls dressed to the nines as there are girls in flats,
jeans, and cute tops. Cater to your own going-out tastes with whatever makes
you feel comfortable — and fabulous!
What do you think?
Are you planning to or have you studied abroad in Europe? Did you
visit Madrid? Would you like to see more cities featured? (Next stop on my itinerary is the land of of 221 Baker
Street, the TARDIS, and Platform 9 3/4!)
Thanks College Fashion for reminding me how much I miss Spain
XX Besos y Abrazos
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