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First things first, you have moved to Italy! You’ve made it!! YAY!
What do you do now? Think about all of the things that you usually do.
For me, I go to get my hair done, my nails painted, eyebrows waxed, etc. How do I know the best places to go to in Italy?
Go to the nearest place to you! They might not be the best place in town, but they will know all the other amazing services in town that you will want to know about.
The best way to do this is to ask the locals. It helps that I have family here to give me recommendations but you can just as easily strike up a conversation yourself.
For example, I went into a hair salon near me (that was recommended by family) and used google translate to communicate with my hairstylist. She told me the hottest place in town to get my nails done.
Word spreads….fast! You can spend several hours trying to find places online and then translate all of the reviews, or you can just ask a local. They will tell you the truth!
Switch your cell phone plan
This is one of the game changers to do after you move to Italy! It was actually pretty easy to do!
There are independent cell phone shops or you can find them in local malls, and even in some stores like Bennett.
The most popular plans I have seen are called Tim , Windtre , and Vodafone .
As long as you have an unlocked phone, you can go in and buy a new sim card with a plan that suits you.
I was shocked that I get tons of minutes and data, with unlimited use of WhatsApp for only 12 euros a month! Also, no contract necessary! WHAT!!!
In America, my phone plan was similar for over $80 a month with a 2-year contract. That’s what I’m talking about Italy!
Find a Grocery Store
So you moved to Italy. How do you find a grocery store?!
No Wal-mart! No Target! No Publix! No Sam’s Club! What is a girl to do?
I was officially on the hunt to find a grocery store that had the same vibe as the big box American stores. Keep in mind, I live in the North of Italy so these stores are in this region. Here is what I found:
- Bennet – This store is like kind of like a Walmart. Sort of. Walmart-ish?! They seem to have more “home goods” mixed in with groceries.
- Rossetto – This is a small store that has actually ended up being my favorite. It seems like one of the most inexpensive stores I’ve shopped in. Although it doesn’t really have “home goods” it has cleaning supplies, bath toiletries, and groceries. Good if you just need the necessities. These little stores are only in the Northeast are of Italy (Lombardia and Veneto).
- Esselunga – This might be the most “American” store I have found for groceries. It seems to be a little more upscale which also comes with higher-priced items. The upside- they offer a delivery option!! Back in America, I always ordered my groceries to my doorstep because I HATE grocery shopping.
However, if you are married or dating an Italian, good luck with this. My husband wants to touch and smell every fruit and vegetable he buys with his own two hands. Oh, how I love our cultural differences! 🙂
What to do now? Learn fashion trends!
After you move to Italy, you will realize you don’t quite fit in.
As someone who feels pretty confident in what to wear and how to accessorize in America, in Italy I feel clueless.
In America, we have this style that encourages you to be proud of your body. “If you got it, flaunt it!” These are the standard
3 B’s:
- A little boobage
- A little belly
- A little booty
Some cleavage, short shorts, tight leggings, peek-a-boo stomach shirts, off the shoulder, you name it, it goes in the good ole USA.
If you opened my closet, you would see all sorts of clothing, all different lengths, cuts, and colors-the brighter the better!!
Well, I just tried on 502 outfits to go see the family for lunch today… basically, take everything you know about fashion in America and throw it all out of the freaking window. Eye roll.
The fashion in Italy is wayyyyyyyy different. Of course, I’m only speaking about the North of Italy where I live now, I hear that things get a bit brighter in the South.
So, to help you make it simple, here the women stick to the classic colors.
The 3 B’s here are:
- Black
- Brown
- Blue
- (and white!)
Stick to those colors and you are golden.
Their style is way more modest. They cover up completely. Italians go for a very simple but elegant look.
They put a huge emphasis on accessorizing. You know the saying “If the shoe fits, buy the matching handbag”??
They buy the matching handbag, belt, necklace, bracelet, earrings, coat, lingerie, etc.
Yes, they even match their lingerie underneath all of the clothing. AHHHHH!
It all matches perfectly. It is all ironed and wrinkle-free. They are flawless.
They are all about the quality. Unfortunately for me, quality comes with a hefty price tag.
I just found an Italian store, Dani, in Venezia (Venice) that has reasonable prices and super cute clothing. They do have stores like Zara and H&M in the local mall and while they have good prices, it’s harder to find something I like.
Also, for leggings, tights, and socks, I like Calzedonia.
If I find more options for shopping in the future, I’ll definitely update the blog with the information.
Learning these few things after you move to Italy will make your first month more enjoyable. Remember, exploring your options here is all a part of the adventure! Try not to get frustrated and enjoy the new experiences. No doubt you will have some great stories to share with your friends and family back home!!
I'm settling in...what now?
Now that you’re here, you will be learning so many different things!
Check out my articles on how to stay.
Maybe you’re curious about the trash & recycling system. Read up to find out how different it is from the USA.
Finally, when you’re ready to have some fun, go visit the articles on traveling. Going to Milan was one of my favorite “American” cities to visit in Italy.
Enjoy!
XOXOXO
