Fabric
One book did it. Virginia Postrel's The Fabric of Civilization, about how much of human history went into making thread and cloth, took me from athletic jeans, Kohl's tees and flip-flops to Irish linen, selvedge denim and Montflex desert boots.
Italian didn't help. By chapter 3 it teaches stare a pennello, to fit perfectly. French wants you to be able to find the train station; Italian wants you to be able to compliment a well-cut blazer.