Italians conform to the clichés of cool

"Diesel jeans, Dolce & Gabbana belts and sneakers by Nike or Puma," said Giulia Crivelli, a fashion journalist in Milan. "They all want the same thing."

This unofficial uniform of T-shirt and jeans, with colorful athletic shoes thrown in for good measure, and perhaps an It bag too, can be spotted on streets from Milan to Palermo. The look is spruced up with loud accessories by Italian name brands — Fendi, Gucci, D&G, Prada and Armani — whose logos often appear conspicuously on leather tennis shoes, belt buckles or the frames of oversized sunglasses.

"Everyone is wearing the same thing," Crivelli said. "They all want to be alla moda." Wearing trendy clothes to fit in — rather than risking an unconventional outfit — is a common goal reiterated among Italians.