black lace

3.1 Phillip Lim cotton knit double breasted blazer (old, but similar here); Matthew Williamson for Macy’s Impulse cowl neck blouse (old); LOFT Lou & Grey drawstring lace pants in black; B Brian Atwood ‘Bejo’ leopard wedges (old but similar here, here & here); J.Crew Factory station necklace & studded bracelet (both old); Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Amy’ rose gold watch.

Matthew Williamson for Macy’s Impulse cowl neck blouse (old); LOFT Lou & Grey drawstring lace pants in black; B Brian Atwood ‘Bejo’ leopard wedges (old but similar here, here & here); J.Crew Factory station necklace & studded bracelet (both old); Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Amy’ rose gold watch.

3.1 Phillip Lim cotton knit double breasted blazer (old, but similar here); Matthew Williamson for Macy’s Impulse cowl neck blouse (old); LOFT Lou & Grey drawstring lace pants in black; B Brian Atwood ‘Bejo’ leopard wedges (old but similar here, here & here); J.Crew Factory station necklace & studded bracelet (both old); Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Amy’ rose gold watch.

I’m obsessed with my new Lou & Grey drawstring pants. I bought them in black and in off-white (see them here). They are a very welcome addition to my growing soft pants collection. You may scoff at these glorified pajama pants, as I once did about 2 years ago, but my first pair got me hooked instantly (remember these from last year?). I packed a bunch of soft pants for my recent trip to Italy. They don’t really wear shorts over there unless you’re at the beach or pool. Also, a lot of the major churches don’t allow admittance to those wearing short shorts or skirts (or they can make you wear a long paper poncho to cover up, which happened to me in a couple of churches). Lastly, I’m getting older and I’m increasingly trying to find alternatives to wearing shorts since my thighs are not as taut as they once were (not even close, wah). So, these lightweight pants tick a lot of boxes for me.

Interestingly, I find soft pants dressier to wear than jeans and shorts. I felt very appropriate wearing them out to dinner with heels or wedges and a blazer or fun little jacket. Kind of ironic since they literally feel like pajama pants on your body.

Anyway, back to the lace pants. Looks like they are an additional 50% off the sale price. I’d grab these (quick!) for sure, or you will regret it. They’re true to size (medium), but I wanted a slouchy drape to the pants. I did not want these fitted through the leg.

What do you think of soft pants? xx

navy & olive

GAP bleached sweatshirt dress in blue; LOFT military jacket (old but similar here and here); Franco Sarto ‘Venezia’ flats in Platino leather; Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Natasha crossbody bag in faded aluminum (old but similar here); Ray Ban aviator flash lenses in blue.

I’m still loving my new GAP sweatshirt dress, it’s a snap to wear and it travels well (no wrinkles ever). The military jacket is a must for travel, I love all the pockets for holding my camera, tickets, sunglasses, etc. I’d recommend one with a waist that nips in so it gives you a feminine silhouette. And my other travel must-have is a crossbody bag in a neutral color like grey. The Vince Camuto crossbody that I provided a link to above as a similar option to my Marc by Marc Jacobs bag is exactly the same design as my crossbody. I love all the pockets. I use the flap pocket to hold the important stuff like passports, global entry cards, and boarding passes/itineraries. It’s a big separate pocket that you have easy access to grab the documents as needed. I like the color grey because it goes with every color in your outfit in any season.

What are your travel must-haves? Happy Wednesday!

shorts season!

GAP Essential Short Sleeve V-Neck Tee in white; LOFT Floral Fluid Tencel Twill Sorts with 4 inch inseam in black; Report ‘Lennon’ sandals in black (old); Ray Ban Aviator Flash Lenses in blue; Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Natasha crossbody bag in faded aluminum (old).

I love shorts weather! I’m loving my new LOFT shorts, a little dressier than the usual shorts given the silky twill fabric and pretty black and cream print. But don’t let that fool you, they are very comfortable with the elastic waistband and can easily be dressed down or up. It comes with its own fabric belt, but it comes off so you can use your own belt (or no belt for a casual look) too. I found the sizing to be way generous on these shorts, I ended up exchanging my online order for a smaller size in the store. So, definitely order one size down from your regular.

Any recent summer clothing purchases you’d like to share with me? I’m always on the hunt! xx

italian treats

NeroGiardini Nepal Sabbia Leather Brogues and Leather Belt.

Prada bucket bag in blue/red.

So, I came home from Italy with the leather brogues and belt in this beautiful sand dune color. To me, the gold standard of shoes are those that are made in Italy. The craftsmanship is typically superb. Actually, anything leather from Italy is top notch. So, I had to buy the belt, yes? lol, shopper’s rationale gets me every time. That, and shoes made in Italy are hard to find these days (that aren’t $$$$).

If you find yourself in Florence, go to the NeroGiardini boutique by the Ponte Vecchio. Every single shoe (men’s and women’s) and accessory is made in Italy. There are other locations of this store throughout Italy and a few other EU countries. The prices are not insanely expensive and I think they are fair for the beautiful leather and construction.

I’ve been wanting a pair of brogues or oxfords for at least 5 years but I never pulled the trigger until now. I’m thinking of wearing these with my chambray dress, my soft/slouchy pants, and cuffed boyfriend jeans and khakis.

Can you believe that I walked away from that gorgeous Prada bucket bag?? I still kinda think about it. I loved how it was lined in that candy apply red. Plus, it came with a longer crossbody strap. But, if I was going to splurge on a bag, I’d want a Chanel classic flap in a color other than black (since I have this already).

We brought some other Italian goodies home. Authentic traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena (the real deal) and olive oil. Yum….

montalcino

LOFT military jacket (old); H&M rosette flower tank in pale pink (old); LOFT Lou & Grey drawstring lace pants in starlight; Lucky Brand ‘Leyna’ city sandals in tulip (old); JC Penney striped camo print scarf in blue (old); Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Natasha crossbody bag in faded aluminum (old).

Guide to Brunello Di Montalcino wine region, one of Italy’s best-known and most expensive wines.

Sant’Antimo Abbey.

Inside the Sant’Antimo Abbey.

Winery tour at Cantina Di Montalcino. We also enjoyed a tour of the vineyards as well as an amazing wine tasting!

Map of Montalcino, a hill town and comune in Tuscany.

Fortress in Montalcino.

Church in Montalcino.

Town of Montalcino.

Mixed meats platter, which included roasted veal, chicken, beef, pork and rabbit, at the famous restaurant, Il Latini in Florence. So tender and full of glorious savory flavors. The rest of our meal was delicious.

We were lucky to be invited by the owner of Il Latini to view his private wine cellar. Look at these bottles of Brunello di Montalcino wine, the vintages were jaw-dropping.

This day in Tuscany and Florence were a special treat since the Brunello di Montalcino wines are so lauded. Now I can understand why after touring the wineries, countryside and learning of the many centuries-old history of this Tuscan region. Just spectacular for all of your senses.

I wore my new LOFT Lou & Grey lace pants during my trip. They are so comfortable, I really love the pretty lace material. It’s a feminine counterpoint to the military jacket and camo scarf. Pale pink rosette flowers on my tank top adds to the girly factor. I kept the color palette soft and neutral with my sandals.

Have you recently traveled to somewhere special, whether it’s near or far? I love to talk travel, I always get ideas or inspiration. Ciao, xx.

ciao

Halogen linen blazer in white (old but similar here); GAP essential short sleeve v-neck tee in true black knit; RACHEL Rachel Roy printed pants in black/white; Franco Sarto ‘Venezia’ flats in Platino leather; Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Natasha crossbody bag in faded aluminum (old); Ray Ban Aviator flash lenses in blue; Cartier tank watch.

Estate Vignamaggio in Chianti. This overlook is where Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

Map of where Cantine Leonardo da Vinci & Casale Di Valle, where we enjoyed our visit to the Da Vinci vineyards and winery.

Da Vinci vines.

Da Vinci vines.

Hunting Lodge Casale Di Valle.

Pink roses at Casale Di Valle.

Overlook at Estate Vignamaggio.

Estate Vignamaggio.

The gardens at the Estate Vignamaggio.

Halogen linen blazer in white (old but similar here); GAP essential short sleeve v-neck tee in true black knit; RACHEL Rachel Roy printed pants in black/white; Franco Sarto ‘Venezia’ flats in Platino leather; Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Natasha crossbody bag in faded aluminum (old); Ray Ban Aviator flash lenses in blue; Cartier tank watch.

Visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s museum and birthplace.

I have just returned from a trip of a lifetime. Italy is truly God’s country, it’s my happy place. I’ve visited Venice, Florence (and a bit of Tuscany), and Rome about 5 years ago. I couldn’t wait to return. This trip celebrated Italian wines: Florence, Tuscany (Vinci, Chianti region, Montalcino), Trento, Verona. My favorite subject matter. Well that, and all the delicious food.

We really enjoyed our wine tasting at Da Vinci winery. It’s my favorite chianti to drink. Their Pinot Grigio is very nice too. They are widely distributed in the US, so it’s easy to find these wonderful and inexpensive Italian wines.

There will be more blog posts about this trip. I want to extend all of my wonderful memories of the beautiful events and of the wonderful people we’ve met along the way.

romper redux

VeronicaM drop waist jumper (old, but similar here); 3.1 Phillip Lim cotton knit double breasted blazer (old, but similar here & here); Franco Sarto ‘Venezia’ flats in Platino; Vintage statement necklace (old); H&M faux leather cuff (old); Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Amy’ rose gold watch.

VeronicaM drop waist jumper (old, but similar here); Franco Sarto ‘Venezia’ flats in Platino; Vintage statement necklace (old); H&M faux leather cuff (old); Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Amy’ rose gold watch.

Ok, today is very good day because I can fit into this romper/jumper again. So thank you, FitBit and My Fitness Pal, ha!

So, I bought this jumper in 2007, the last time they tried to revive the romper, jumpsuit, jumper trend. I loved it back then and I love it now. The strapless version is a snap to get on and off since there’s no pesky buttons, complications begone. The drop waist is comfortable to wear and it prevents the unwanted wedgie that could happen when wearing the one-piece.

Both the blazer and jumper are a soft cotton knit, just like your favorite old t-shirt. Love this. I just finished the look with some pops of gold and yellow. This was the easiest and quickest-to-put-together outfit ever!

I just wanted to give a shout out to Adrienne, of The Rich Life On a Budget, and Jill, of Everything Just So. Both bloggers featured one of my sneaker looks today in their ‘How I Wear My’ series. This is my 2nd submission (I did a skirt outfit last month) and participating and checking out all the other participants’ looks are very fun and inspiring.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

another hair rec

Costco Kirkland Signature Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner (click image to enlarge, if needed).

Here’s a peek into my shower and those 2 ginormous bottles of Costco shampoo and conditioner to the right just impressed me. My hair is super soft and not frizzy. It’s safe for color treated hair, probably because it’s sulfate free. It’s also paraben and gluten free. I’ve read that this is a great dupe for Pureology shampoo and conditioner, but at a fraction of the cost. The last I checked, Pureology was running around $100 per bottle for a comparable size. One bottle of the Kirkland is under $20. Huge differential. I also saw online that Kirkland Signature hair products are made by Nexxus or Paul Mitchell. So, I’m not sure who manufactures this wonderful hair product, but I’m so glad they do!

The shampoo felt rich and like the one used at my hair salon. There was some lather to it and it smells nice. The conditioner is lighter in weight/viscosity, which is great because it doesn’t weigh down my digital perm waves (remember this post?). I towel dried with my favorite hair towel (hair towel post) and just blow dried for about 3 minutes. Holy softness and wave definition.

I plan on using my Sally’s Hair One cleanser conditioner (great cheaper dupe for Wen), the green bottle in the pic. But I like to alternate the Hair One with a regular shampoo & conditioner combo to mix it up for product clarification purposes.

Just wanted to share this with the class. Do you have a recent product fave?

Have a great week! xx

hurry, LOFT 50% off sale

LOFT Ikat Print Cami.

LOFT Floral Fluid Tencel Twill Shorts with 4 inch inseam.

LOFT Lou & Grey Drawstring Lace Pants in Black.

LOFT Lou & Grey Drawstring Lace Pants in Starlight.

LOFT Lou & Grey Lace Shorts in Starlight.

LOFT Beach Striped Elastic Waist Shorts in Black.

As you may recall, I ordered a romper from LOFT a couple of weeks ago but it was promptly returned since it wasn’t flattering or practical. But I’m still loving their ‘Follow the Sun’ collection (be sure to view the video in my romper post). I’ve been stalking their website for the ikat outfit and the floral shorts that were featured in the video. They are finally available now and on sale for half-off until midnight tonight.

As you know, I’m a big fan of the ikat print. It’s so summery to me and a classic print. I’m in desperate need of shorts that fit me well (I’m still continuing my weight loss quest, it’s very slow and steady), so I picked up the floral shorts, lace shorts and striped shorts. They all have elasticized waists, which will still look good when I hopefully lose some pounds and inches.

I spied the lace pants and I had to check them out, in both colors no less. You know I’m all about the slouchy a/k/a soft pants. I love how these have a pretty lace overlay but is supposed to have the softest t-shirt material for the lining.

I hope this recent purchase batch works out, I can’t wait to try everything on!

Were there any weekend purchases for you? Enjoy your Sunday evening, I am looking forward to Game of Thrones and Mad Men….

welcome to miami

Miken Oversized Graphic Tee Cover Up; Ray Ban Aviator Flash Lenses in Blue; black crochet shorts (old); straw fedora (old); Havaianas leopard slim flip flops (old).

Just got back from Miami, I love this city. The weather was perfect and the food was as good as I remembered it from past trips. So many great restaurants, clubs, etc. The pool scene is the best here, it’s even better than Vegas I think.

I’m posting a few Instagram pics, I love the how the view from our Fontainebleau suite looks like a vintage postcard with the filter. The last pic is from our dim sum lunch at Hakkasan. My husband and I first discovered Hakkasan when we lived in London. The Chinese cuisine is really amazing and I believe the London and NYC Hakkasans are both Michelin starred restaurants. The Miami location has two reasonably prix fixe menus for lunch, you should check it out if you’re in or near the Fontainebleau.

Everything I’m wearing is old, except for the #sunkissed coverup and my new mirrored blue-tinted Ray Bans that my husband got for me (you need a pair, trust and they come in several colored tints). As you can see, I always wear a hat in the intense sun. It keeps my head cool (black does absorb the heat) and my hair/scalp from getting fried. Fedoras and baseball caps are a breeze to pack since they don’t take up as much space as a huge floppy beach hat.

Have a great Friday! xo