+STYL.MX

>>...it's time for some Spanish street style.  But first, I must debrief you on the general trends I noticed:

I have to admit, I did go to Sevilla as well as Barcelona and San Sebastian, but I haven't really talked about it because I didn't really see many young people.  And the ones I did see were tourists = no thank you.  So again, I'm going to focus on what I observed in Barcelona and San Sebastian -- by the time we get through, you'll be a master at Spanish fashion (I'm so modest about my advice, aren't I?).

The most interesting thing about the trends I noticed was that a lot of them were unisex.  For example, both guys and girls were very into the capri-length pants.  Of course the guy's were baggier, and the girls more fitted, but I didn't see any guy wearing shorts that end right1_059_1 below the knee like all guys wear in the States.  Also, everybody and their mom had espadrilles (or alpargatas, if you like), but that was to be expected, I mean, it's Spain, people.  There was one surprise, however.  The guys also had their own version of espadrilles -- alpargatas espigo -- that were quite ubiquitous as well.  In fact, my boyfriend fell in love with them and bought a pair (left, €10).  And the hairstyle, oh, the hairstyle.  We saw it so much, it became dubbed "the haircut" when we were pointing it out to each other.  On guys it resembled a mullet -- short on top and in the front and longer in the back, and on girls (women, all ages really) it was the same, except the long was Abarca usually longer.  And there was one more style that was all over both men and women's feet -- abarcas (right).  They don't look like anything special, but on feet, they're cute.  And especially attractive when you're walking around all day (instead of using a car) like many Spaniards do.

Other random notes I made: 

There's nothing too different about the way Spaniards dress, and yet I found myself getting a certain style vibe.  They do add sportier elements to their dress that you typically see in the States -- something I mentioned the other day.  And they don't wear nearly as much makeup as the average American woman does.  In fact, it flatters them to wear less.  Funnily enough, I think the most beautiful women I saw were both mothers without any makeup on at all.  They were both dressed well, however.

I did see some girls wearing jeans, but they're not on everyone's tush like back home -- they're more likely to be wearing skirts or dresses or capris.  But no short shorts -- not at all.  In fact, my friend from Paris was telling me that Europeans can always tell an American, especially if they're wearing short shorts.             

Barcelona was very bohemian, at least in the area I was in.  No, not the Paris Hilton-bright-pink-long-flowy-skirt-fashion-victimization that's going on all over everywhere, but the dreads, layered bikini tops under cotton halter dresses, piercings everywhere, unkempt looking kind of bohemian.  Speaking of piercing, this was another thing I noticed.  Many many girls had the area below their lip, but off-center, pierced.  I've never really seen this in the States, so I found it interesting.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for -- my paparazzi debut (Spanish street style).