Radical Chic: European Politics and Their Accessorizing
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Chattanooga
Radical chic is a fashion and aesthetic movement that is emerging within the consciousness of gen-z Italians. Conceptually, radical chic involves performative politics wherein a member of the bourgeoisie would adopt a lifestyle and dress in quasi-bohemian manners. The members of this aesthetic lifestyle would boast opinions of the radical left while sitting comfortably in their chic homes. This is part of the comfort of being “radical chic” the bourgeoisie who tote this lifestyle of being “politically engaged” are able to agitate politics while still remaining fashionable and out of harm’s way. Radical chic is a term that has become commonplace in English, French, and Italian; however, this spring and summer as Italian politics “collapsed” according to Italian locals, we saw radical chic come back into fashion.
For a painfully oversimplified explanation of the changes in Italian politics that occurred during the summer, several different political parties created pressure that amounted to a split of a major political party and the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, triggering an early election for which Italy was not prepared practically, politically, or socially. Culturally, it is common for Italy to slow to a near halt during the summertime as many businesses close for weeks at a time as people flee to the shores and islands for vacation. Given the cultural differences, “political unrest” is a fluid term and looks wildly different than American political unrest; for Italians, it primarily consists of long conversations with families and expressions of discontent over dinner and a cigarette. While the average Italian is expressing their discontent at the dinner table, this leaves an opening for the political right to emerge as a predominant force in Italy. So, the resurgence of the radical chic aesthetic movement is not too surprising; however, the hypocrisy of radical chic compounded with changing politics is what makes the political-aesthetic movement so interesting.
What is different about this resurgence of radical chic is that those who don this aesthetic are painfully aware that the expensive clothes, shoes, and accessories that they are donning to fit this aesthetic are frivolous and hypocritical when contrasted with the social-political views they preach. On TikTok, girls dressed in similar radical-chic clothes poke jokes at each other and themselves regarding using reusable water bottles and preferring to walk likely with the caption: “pov: lei è un radical chic” meaning, pov: she is a radical chic. This joking isn’t much different from what we did with “vsco girls'' trying to save the turtles; however, the numerous tik toks I saw were more aware that they were not making fun of the people who adopted this aesthetic so much as they were making fun of the state of the world. In a sense, it doesn’t matter if the shoes a radical chic wears are expensive because while they can boast views of the political left, nothing will really change. This joke itself is radical chic: a blasé feeling regarding politics that is chic with a radical undertone that the individual can make more sustainable choices or donate to charity or make some kind of change; however, nothing will truly happen without greater political action beyond the individual.
So, what is it that these radical chic girls are wearing?
In many ways, the radical chic has a classic style, her tones are earth-tone neutrals, specifically blues, greens, and white, with a pop of color somewhere on her outfit. For example, an oversized blue button-down with white jeans and colorful loafers would be a casual dinner outfit. While the modern-Italian radical chic’s clothing is generally tame and unidentifiable in a crowd, there is one item that easily identifies someone as being radical chic: Friulane slipper flats. Friulane slippers are hand-made velvet slippers from Northern Italy, they come in just about every color imaginable, though green, red, and yellow are the most popular among the radical chic. Radical Chics also appreciate Birkenstocks, lots of rings, long and flowy skirts, crochet tops, and other bohemian fashion items. The radical chic might effortlessly and lovingly say “ciao amo,” (goodbye, love) after dinner as she walks home. Overall, to be radical chic goes beyond clothing and shoes, it is to be effortlessly chic and have political views that are sociable and in fashion.
Strike Out,
Writer: Jane Dodge
Edited by: Sarah Singleton
Graphic Designer: Gus Gaston
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