1. Definition

2. Characteristic features

3. Sciura and class

4. Sciura, Snob effect and manifestation in media
     Sciura as Influencer  

5. Sciura in real life

6. Sciura in different cultures

7. References

8. External links

Definition

A 'Sciura' is a lady, from the city center of Milan, who is elegant in both her behavior and style.^[1] The style of the 'Sciura' has influenced the fashion industry and is continued to do so. ‘Sciura’ (pronounced /ˈʃuːra/) is the feminine word for sciur, which is the Lombardian dialect for signora and signor.^[2] The word ‘Sciura’ in itself can be translated directly in to lady, but the essence to the dialect word has a larger meaning. ‘Sciura’ has become strongly connotated to a certain lifestyle, look and attitude. What separates the ‘Sciura’ from other trends and styles is that the style in itself is not merely, or maybe not at all, defined by the physical features. The essence of the style can be described as an attitude, accompanied by certain aesthetic sets of features.

Characteristic features

In an objective attempt to distinct and define the characteristic esthetical features, the 'Sciura' is elegant and refined, but with an attitude. She is elderly, wealthy and living in the city center of Milan. She is wearing timeless high fashion designed clothing; often furs, big sunglasses, pearl necklaces accompanied with permed hair. A transpiration of a style is to be seen in the high-end areas of Milan, strolling the streets, having an espresso, going to the theatre or shopping.

Sciura and class

The origins of ‘Sciura’ is rooted in the old aristocratic society of Milan.^[3] The connection between the essence of 'Sciura' and the upper class hierarchical system is undeniable. Consumption as a way of displaying and defining your social relations and identity has been a crucial point in the theory of the Consumer Culture. As ‘Sciura’ taste has become synonymous with luxury, the display of this certain style has therefore become an activity in which one displays wealth and upper class. This act of using commodities as a form of visibly expressing ones wealth is what the American sociologist Thorstein Veblen called conspicuous consumption, and has become an essential part of the ‘Sciura’ way of living and how to portray one's own personal brand.

Sciura, Snob effect and manifestation in media

'Sciura' has been found in fashion, Films, Theatres, literature and in television for over a decade.^[4] The fashion world especially adopted the classical features of the ‘Sciura’ and from a 60-year-old Isabella Rossellini starring in the Bulgari advertisement in 2012 to Lauren Hutton closing the Bottega Veneta show together with Gigi Hadid in 2017, the fashion world the fashion world is adopting more and more to the dressing codes of the elders.^[5][6]

The ‘Sciura’ prefers exclusive, unusual and unique goods, which is called showing a snob appeal. How they are dressing is a way to communicate the status in a silent but effective way, where a high price also means high quality. The goods often have high value, but low practical value and the rarer the item is, the higher the snob value will be.^[7] They are influencing our contemporary society with the so called snob effect which is making the ‘Sciurastyle' grow and can therefore be seen many brands at the moment. Brands like Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Prada and Gucci bring back it's classic cuts and embraces the snob appeal.

Sciura as Influencer

‘Sciuras’ appearance in social media is increasing rapidly.^[8] Through the Instagram profile Sciuraglam the ‘Sciura’ has become famous to the wider public. The Instagram account with has over 150 K followers (March 2019) is a dedication to these elderly fashionistas that quickly became a phenomenon.^[9] The account captures real life Street Style photographs of the Sciura's moments of everyday life in the city of Milan. There is a presence of humor and sarcasm in the Instagram account, although it is strongly implied that the ‘Sciura’ is to be adored and iconized. A stereotypical post in Sciuraglam would be a photograph of a lady who will do grocery shopping in her Chanel suit or taking the tram with her Hermès Birkin bag in hand.^[10] The pictures that are seen on Sciuraglam are pictures both taken by the owner of the Instagram account but also pictures sent by the Sciura's themselves, honored and eager to be featured on the page.^[11]

Sciura in real life

Cecilia Matteucci Lavarini is a "Sciura-character" that often features in the Instagram account Sciuraglam. In her own Instagram account she describes herself as a "Haute Couture and Oriental Costume Collector. Enthusiastic supporter of concert, opera and ballet..".^[12]

Sciura in different cultures

Outside Milan there is influencers or fashion icons that can be seen as cross cultural 'Sciura's'. In New York, Iris Apfel, Helen Van Winkle aka Baddiewinkle or even Anna Wintour can be categorized as a 'Sciura' when looking at their attributes such as style, social class and habit. These are fashion icons that have reached millions of followers on Instagram thanks to their daring style and personality.

References

External links

[https://www.instagram.com/sciuraglam/ Sciuraglam]

[https://www.instagram.com/ceciliamatteucci/?hl=sv Cecilia Matteucci Lavarini]

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