What is it about those Italian women? You know the ones I’m talking about: beautiful, sexy, dressed to the nines just to take the kids to the park. They have a certain something that is indefinable. It is in the way they dress, the way they prepare their meals, the way they spend their leisure time.
It is because they know the importance of la bella figura. Roughly translated from Italian, it means putting you best foot forward in everything you do. It means cutting a beautiful figura. The opposite of la bella figura is la brutta figura, which is what someone might say about the falling down drunken guy at the party or the super tackily dressed woman at church. It means ugly figure.
La bella figura is much more than your appearance. It goes much deeper than that. It is about how you act. It is about how you treat others. It is about how you care for yourself, your home and your family. Living a life in line with la bella figura doesn’t take money. In fact, it is more about how to have class without a lot of money. Many guys who aspire to be a PUA are actually pursuing the La Bella Figura Lifestyle.
Someone who exudes la bella figura will have clean, pressed clothes and be well groomed. They will not be rude or sloppy. Their fingernails will be impeccably groomed. Their hair shiny and clean and their shoes will be polished. They will not have stray threads hanging from their suit hems. They will not be driving a car in need of the car wash.
La bella figura means driving that 15 year old car and meticulously cleaning it and caring for it. It means keeping your belongings in good repair. It means taking time to clean your house and not cluttering it up with meaningless objects.
When you focus all your spare energy, time and money on the things that bring you the most amount of pleasure, then you are truly living a life in line with la bella figura. The best part about it is that you don’t have to be Italian to do so. You just have to think like an Italian.
Italian children are raised to present la bella figura in whatever they do. From the time they are small and are groomed perfectly to attend church or school, they know that appearances count. They count because it is the first thing people judge about you. That first impression does matter. Appearances are also important because when you take the time to look nice, you are showing that you care about yourself. When you care enough to look good, it shows you have good healthy self esteem. Nothing is more attractive than self confidence.
In addition, dressing nice also shows respect for others. If you invite people over for dinner and greet them in flip flops, baggy sweats and a stained shirt, it is really disrespectful to them. The same if you dress sloppy to go to church or even to the market. By dressing nicely and being well groomed, you show respect for everyone in your world.
Having la bella figura means presenting yourself in the best light possible in all your interactions.
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Kristi, I received your book Wednesday and finished it last night. It was wonderful! I am also in the French Chic Group and couldn’t wait to read it since I always enjoy your posts. You did not disappoint.
Thank you,
Darelene Renee
Darlene! I went right from responding to you on FC to seeing you here! I’m so glad you liked the book — look forward to hearing more from you in the future on FC, etc! K
Kristi,
I’m a long time member of the French Chic group. I bought your book as I wanted to read about someone who had actually implemented changes in their lives to live a more european lifestyle. Your book was very good; more like talking to a good friend over coffee than just boring text. I will recommend it to my friends.
Pamela Walsh
Pamela,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to write me and let me know. Thank you so much also for buying it and recommending it. I am so flattered by all the positive responses to it. : )
K
Kristi,
I loved your book as well! Since I adore almost everything about Italy so much, I have come to desire a European-inspired lifestyle for years now. I see what you mean when you define fare la bella figura by not only putting your best foot forward in every situation, but also consciously choosing to live a personal value-driven life. You also illustrate it so well as this little book was an absolute pleasure to read. I have read shelves full of travel narratives based in Italy, and books about the Italians, and still have found tips in your book I have yet to come across. I can hardly wait to try some of them out! Right now, I am particularly interested in cultivating a wardrobe primarily consisting of classic, timeless staples, which I can still make my very own. Your tips will certainly help me in my style evolution.
Grazie mille!
Michelle
Michelle,
Thank you so much. If you have time, would you mind putting something like this on the Lulu site if it is not too much trouble? I’m so glad you were inspired!
Linda,
I have the same issue — giving myself permission to wear my nice things. I have a velvet blazer I need to make myself wear more instead of saving it. Thanks for reading!
Grazie Mille to you Michelle,
Thank you so much for the review. I really appreciate it. Please keep me updated on your wardrobe and style evolution. I feel like mine is constantly evolving and ongoing. I think it helps a lot ot have this blog and see outfits as others might.
Again, thank you so much!
K
I’m going to order your book! Thanks!
Thanks Renee!