Some of the most beautiful women in the world are from Brazil – but it’s not only their looks that distinguish them.
How can you attain the vivacious energy and dynamic attitude of a Brazilian girl?
1. Forget about dressing up.
If you’re not attending a wedding, or a truly fancy event, don’t bother too much with your hair and make-up. The going-out-to-a-restaurant uniform in Brazil, if the place is really worth the effort, is a nice pair of jeans, a dressy blouse and a pair of heels.
If the evening plans include a night club or a party, the outfit is basically the same with the addition of some party jewellery and a little more make-up. You could also use a shoulder bag instead of a tote. Clutches are reserved for the formal events only. If you’re slightly older (which in Rio means around fifty), you can trade the jeans for pants.
Cariocas love prints – and not those delicate little countryside flowers – I mean big, bold, colourful prints. You can even add a chunky necklace or big earrings in clashing colours. It’s about being fun and relaxed.
3. Shapes
Wide leg pants are a no-no, and comfortable jeans are for working in the garden or cleaning the house only. In contrast, the blouses tend to be looser and in light fabrics. Fuller shorts and skirts are often paired with tanks and layering is a must since nobody owns real winter wardrobes. A cardigan over a summer outfit works just fine. If you happen to be there when the temperature drops below 15 C degrees, you’ll get the chance to wear boots and a wool coat.
There is no such thing as trenches, wool coats, or gloves. Even if the rain is flooding the city, walking around in a raincoat will attract some weird attention.
4. Dresses
5. Skin
Still, if someone tells you “Oh, you look so pale,” it’s definitely not a compliment.
6. Hair and general grooming
People always want what they can’t have. In Rio, where the majority of the population has curly hair, the straightening iron is a superstar. Everybody dreams about straight hair. The girls make all the sacrifices necessary to achieve it. If you have the guts to embrace your beautiful natural curls, you’re not Brazilian. Another grooming must is nail polish. Everywhere in the city you can see beauty parlours with lots of manicurists ready to do your hands. Rich or poor, old or young, the nails are always flawless.
7. Flip flops
Forget about the Birkenstocks and toss your leather sandals. If you want to look like a real carioca, you must walk in her shoes.
Photos courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
