For every fashionista, traveling abroad to the glamorous and scenic cities of Europe is a dream come true—a rite of passage, if you will. Nothing excites a true lover of style more than being in close proximity to a fashion capital and experiencing the ever-so-chic street style of the Europeans. In my summer travels to the Czech Republic, France, and England, I was immersed in new food, culture, and unbelievable shopping, and was ready see outfits from Instagram and Pinterest right before my very eyes.

Upon packing for my trip, the fashion stereotypes of Europeans were etched into my brain. The phrases “less is more” and “simplicity is key” frightened me a tad, because in my head nothing about Paris, France, and London, England seemed simple or understated. However, I was eager to adapt to my surroundings and find a way to achieve the European look without overdoing it or giving off an unwanted touristy vibe. After experiencing quaint French neighborhoods firsthand and making it a personal mission to seek out the most effortless, stylish women in the world, I noticed something that I wasn’t initially expecting: familiarity.

The trends of the summer were apparent: off-the-shoulder, espadrilles, denim everything…anyone with a pulse on fashion trends and celebrity street style would identify them immediately. I found that in Europe those trends were just as current, but reworked to achieve a more classic flair. A European flair. In one case, I saw a patchwork denim miniskirt and laced up ballet flats worn with a simple linen blouse and aviator sunglasses. In another, I witnessed an off-the-shoulder pinstripe shirt dress worn with white sneakers and a silk scarf tied effortlessly around the neck. I saw women dressed not necessarily in a way that intimated me, but in a way that I understood and admired.

Traveling abroad was successful in instilling important rules on timeless style and further demonstrating style lessons that have been taught for years: a good outfit is not about what you wear, but how you wear it. Traveling abroad has made me fearless in the face of personal style. The polished women who flounced around Rue de Passy and Oxford Street were chic in their own right. Those women were stylish because they took trends and made them their own.

Achieving great style is knowing how to make an item fresh and personal, and in an era of “fast fashion,” that key is sometimes difficult to maintain. It may be stereotypical to find the true importance of personal style in while in Europe, but I’m grateful. At the end of the day, the most important “C” in fashion isn’t Chanel, but confidence.