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In praise of Insta-husbands: The truth about those men taking our pictures

The curtain rises: a girl in her best bib and tucker (perfect ombré hair, polished nails, a thousand euro designer bag) positions herself under a floral arch at the closest coffee shop door; her husbands enters the scene, camera in hand, and starts patiently shooting professional photos of her. He never complains. He works for free every weekend, though.

In 2019, this could be described as contemporary drama and is carefully performed in every developed country on a daily basis. The presentation has become so common, nobody raises an eyebrow anymore. After all, you know what they say – it didn’t really happen unless it is on Instagram…

This sort of post-modern philosophy seems to leave you with two options only: Being invisible, irrelevant, or endlessly working for that perfect shot that will make it to the Internet. However, for people making a living from blogging and social media, there is one choice only.

Some would say that a logical approach to the business plan must include photography budget (and they are probably right), but with a competitive market making more and more difficult to start a small company, most bloggers find themselves saving a significant amount of money by kindly asking their partners to give them a hand.

This, my friends, is the first act of an elaborated melodrama work that more often than not, develops into Greek tragedy.

On the weekend, I joined a friend for some last-minute Margaritas evening. While waiting for the cocktails to come, she commented on how excited she was about her upcoming trip to Santorini. ‘My husband is not that happy thought‘, she said inadvertently, ‘he resents the time we spend taking photos for Insta during holiday‘.

That sentence turned a red light in my head as I could not help but wonder: is Instagram affecting our romantic relationships too?

Intrigued, I made my research as soon as I reached home; unfortunately, the results look quite depressing in terms of numbers.

According to a study conducted by the International Currency Exchange (ICE), Brit holidaymakers spend 22 hours and 36 minutes over a nine days long trip taking snaps to post on social media. Yes, that’s an entire day. Nuts.

But let me share my own experience. When I first started part-time blogging last November, I knew my husband skills with the camera were essential. However, I underestimated how much time, effort and will it would take for him to help me – we are speaking about weekends and off days, some precious hours that could be used on something else, surely. Sometimes, the pressure of taking a nice photo that we can use for my blog can be slightly overwhelming too.

And this is when you need to establish limits.

For us, it is all about integrating photo sessions in our dates but limiting their length. On a typical day out we will spend one-hour maximum working and then the camera is packed away for good. If by any chance we don’t feel like taking pictures on a given occasion, we leave the equipment at home. That way we enjoy some quality time together. Once in a while, I will book a session with a professional photographer, so my husband gets some relief and I still have some pictures to use. As a blogger, these decisions might be far from perfect, but taking care of my relationship is a personal priority.

But what happens to those who become 24/7 Insta-husbands? How do they cope with a brand new demanding career that is so recent and frequently misunderstood?

Social perception on the matter is linked to issues such as Fragile Masculinity. For some, it may be hard to shift from a traditional system in which men were considered the main providers to a new role as career supporters. Those men might be ready to become professional assistants, photographers, and editors but society is still making fun of them (and the women who allegedly force them to be “trivial”).

Taking endless pictures of their wives/girlfriends? Is that even a job? (Spoiler alert: IT IS). It takes guts and a healthy dose of deconstruction for them to become the man behind the great woman. Even when it means to earn much more money, potentially. As for society? Well, only time will tell.

In the meantime, we can all support Insta-husbands (and Instagrammers) publicly by showing some respect for the work they do. Blogging might be a new industry, but people working hard in front and behind the camera are professionals and do deserve acknowledgment.

Do you think their job is a no-brainer? Well, I suggest you taking part in a little experiment: try to take a good picture (and I mean a professional one), then edit it, and oh, don’t forget to curate an entire feed that works smoothly together in the process. Easy-peasy, right?

After all, an Instagram husband would manage…

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019

Allegra Caro8 Comments

My pool-side and Summer holiday reading list recommendations

In my memory, books have been always connected with all those fragrant, endless sunny Summer days. As soon as June arrived, I would store my schoolbooks on the closet, only to pile up children’s novels and short stories in my nightstand. I was probably the youngest with a library membership in the school, and guys, I was not afraid to use it.

As I grew up, my thirst for books did too. When I was a teenager, it wasn’t unusual to find me reading in a corner during the classes break. Then I went to college and graduated in English. During all those years, I would spend the extra spare time in Summer to catch-up with my list and this is a habit that has endured thus far.

But the truth is that once you become a functional adult, the chances to keep your reading rhythm decrease – work, children, household, social life… Pickup your poison.

I enjoy buring my nose in a book every evening before bedtime but sometimes I am so tired I fall asleep with the lights on (raise your hand if you are familiar with the associated frustration). Hence, the holiday season turns into the perfect period to indulge.

This year, my reading marathon started during my trip to Spain in June, and since then I am proud to say I am back to track. Partially, thanks to all those relaxing pool-side mornings I am enjoying lately. As a consequence, I thought I could share some of my latest favourite reads with you.

Before I proceed, please notice that all the selected works were written by women and that is not a coincidence: as Kamila Shamsie stated on a genius article back in 2015, gender imbalance is a reality when talking about publication or literary prizes. Examples are countless but I find this one quite enlightening: Pulitzer across the Atlantic has had no female protagonist among its 15 winning books. Beautiful, right? Surely, this is a topic that deserves an entire post but I left that for another day and decided to give you a clue of all those fantastic women writers I have been reading lately.

These are my recommendations for 2019 Summer reads.

Don’t Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

I don’t know if I have mentioned this before but I have a thing about ghost stories. Like, the kind of thing that makes you read every book and watch every movie you encounter. I am not joking when I tell you that there is a special folder on my eBook called “Books About Ghosts and Other Cool Uncanny Stuff“. Yeah, that’s me. Please, don’t unsubscribe…

But the thing is, I also love Daphne du Maurier and Rebecca is one of my absolute favourite books AND movies (seriously, how often is the movie as good as the book?) So, when this short stories collection landed in my lap, I knew it was meant to be. And it really was.

Most of the tales are set in Europe during the Summertime and tell the stories of English-American people who, one way or another, experience something unnatural during their holiday in the Mediterranean coastline. Yes, you can still smell a tiny tiny bit of colonialism there maybe, but I assure you that the tales are awesome and a Summer must.

Girls in Their Married Bliss by Edna O’Brien

Edna O’Brien is a bit like Doris Lessing and Iris Murdoch had a daughter together – in other words, her prose is astonishing. Girls in Their Married Bliss is the third part of the Country Girls trilogy but I had no problem to follow the plot, even without reading the previous episodes.

The novel goes into the story of Kate and Baba, two Irish county girls who move to Dublin in the hope of making the most of it. Splashed with loads of humor and sympathy, O’Brien explores how religiosity affects women both emotionally and sexually. If you are into meaty fiction, make yourself a favour and purchase a copy right now.

The Handmaid Tale by Margaret Atwood

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for a couple of years, there is a good chance you’ve already heard of it. The Handmaid Tale is a masterpiece which will give you all the feels (I will neither confirm nor deny that I binge-read it in the course of one day, making good use of an entire tissue pack and having to go for a late evening walk to process it all…)

However, this is not only an emotional narrative but a political one: Atwood brightly sections the innate danger to blindly follow leadership, as well as the chaos generated by fundamentalism of any sort. Dystopian fiction as its finest.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Guys, just so you know, this novel is so good this is the second time I read it (and I am quite sure it will not be the last one). Beloved is the story of a former slave called Margaret Garner who escapes and establishes herself in another state. Unfortunately, her pain is far from gone: very early in the plot, we come to know her house is haunted by an unknown but demanding revenant which will affect her daily life as well as her family’s. (You see? I was not joking about the whole ghost stories thing, was I?)

Main topics mastered by Morrison include family relationships, psychological ramifications of slavery, loss coping and manhood definition among others.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Considered a modern literature classic, the novel tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a young woman who ambitions to become a professional writer. Once she wins an internship in a fashion magazine, her dreams seem to come true but depression knocks on her door as she struggles with relationships and a vain society which will not take women seriously.

Personally, I have always considered The Bell Jar the female literature equivalent to The Catcher in the Rye – an initiatory tale with a darker and maturer tone. The style is light and smart, notwithstanding, which makes the novel a perfect pool-side lazy afternoon read.

What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations we can all benefit from?

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019

Allegra Caro6 Comments

These beachwear essentials will upgrade your Summer game

Summer is in full swing now and by this time of the year, the endless so-called-must-haves offer out there can be a bit overwhelming.

However, if you are anything like me, there is a good chance you kept forgetting to check your holiday bucket list purposely. (Did I comment on the fact that by the beginning of the month I had bought my SPF only? Because guys, that’s how lazy I am…) Well, I don’t know about you but spending all those fragrant breeze June evenings hunting for beach essentials felt like doing homework to me. And guys, holiday and homework don’t mix well together.

But back to the topic, July is here now and for most of us, that long-awaited trip to the sands is around the corner. Before you panic, don’t worry: Whether you are enrolling a cruise in the Mediterranean or dipping your toes in the crystal blue Maldives waters, I stopped procrastinating and surfed the internet for you to find the definitive beachwear essentials to upgrade your Summer game.

Looking for that French Riviera chic vacation vibe? I have you covered.

01. The boho girl beach style

Only few things can compare to the careless bohemian glamour – it is a bit like the fashion equivalent to instant soup allure, isn’t it? Channel your inner IT girl and voilá: ready to be invited to the V.I.P. lounge. No need to say this Camilla off-the-shoulder ruffled embellished printed swimsuit is plainly perfect.

(Rosantica beader wicker tote, Chloé sunglasses, Kenneth Jay Lane cuff, Aqquazura embellished sandals).

02. The vintage film diva look

When I was a kid, I used to daydream about becoming an Old Hollywood actress. Well, I might not be one but there is always the chance to wear this Norma Kamali halterneck swimsuit and play Gene Tierney in 1942 Rings in her Fingers. Cocktails anyone?

(Bow embellished slides by Prada, tote and shades by YSL, hat available here).

03. The ingénue in holiday wishlist

Personally? I LOVE everything Chelsea 28 produces but this Off the Shoulder Ruffle One-Piece Swimsuit is one of my favourites ever. It adds a note of romance to your look and is still casual, playful and wearable. Add the the Urban Outfitters marine hair clips to complete the mermaid vibe.

(Beach towel available at Fendi. Laminated sandals by CHANEL. Raffia bag here).

And these are my favourite 2019 Summer style essentials. Have you been shopping for the beach already? Any nice finds you would like to share?

July 15, 2019August 14, 2019

Allegra Caro4 Comments

Ten elegant style problems

If you have been a regular reader for a while, you know I wrote a statement piece about the amount of prejudice that people with a polished style tend to encounter on a daily basis. However, that specific article does not necessarily depict the most frequent ups and downs when you are into classy fashion.

Let me exemplify here: while visiting Madrid back in June I experienced quite an unpleasant episode related to someone judging my appearance. On our second day in the city, Sebastian and I went for a nice walk to El Retiro and we decided to take the chance for some pictures as a memory of the trip. At a certain point, we went into the Glass Palace and started shooting. Just for a bit of context, the place is a touristic point of interest – hence, every visitor was taking photos as well, most of them with high calibre cameras.

After about ten minutes, one of the security team members approached us to tell us we needed to stop it. Obviously, that was quite of a shock and we shyly asked what was the reason. Where we inadvertently breaking any rules?

The guard seemed quite embarrassed and hesitated to provide an explanation. Then, he said that I was “far too well dressed” for their standards and they could not guess whether that was a professional shot or not… Even more confused, we looked around and pointed out the higher calibre cameras other people were using (which were more professional than our very middle-ground Canon), and the fact that we were only a couple taking our holiday pictures. We were not using any kind of lamp, reflector or specialized technical material. Nothing of it seemed to make any difference, though.

At the end of a very short conversation, we left the place but I could not help but wonder how many times would I have to stand people prejudices and let them affect my life. Was I forever doomed? Was there a way to see it with a bit of humour? Then I thought about the blog and how I could possibly share the most common issues when your style is smart.

These are ten problems every elegant style person will understand

01. You need at least a couple of hours to figure out what to wear

When you want to look your best, there is not such a thing like throwing some jeans and carrying on. Most of the time, you will end up choosing your outfit the evening before just to regret your choice the next morning because…

02. You are a perfectionist

Which means chipped manicure or dry lipstick are NOT an option (not to speak about wrinkled clothing. If by any chance your neat skirt gets creased in the car, you will have a difficult day.) Do you want to speak about anxiety crisis? What about the day I lost a button from a designer jacket?

03. People will assume your only interest is fashion

Also, that you are unable to hold an interesting conversation. I recall a specific evening in which my husband had to “confirm” I have got a major in English just because the idiot I was talking to thought I looked nothing like the bohemian type. Consequently, my opinions on Virginia Woolf work were to be understated. Not need to say I never spoke to that person again.

04. Unless you wear jeans, people will also think you are overdressed

But if you do wear jeans, they will think you feel sick or something. No, there is no emergency here and my house didn’t burn down letting me with only a pair of jeans in stock. It’s called laundry day. Thank you for your concern.

05. You will be frequently mortified by your family about the value of your designer bag

It doesn’t really matter you are a professional with a decent disposable income and a good savings account. They will keep playing Can You Guess the Price… in front of you.

06. Your neighbour will always comment on how fancy you look today and then ask about the occasion

Is it rude to reply that being alive is the occasion? Because it is, really.

07. Your dry cleaner monthly expense is C.R.A.Z.Y.

Because that’s what happens when most of your clothes are made of interesting textures and materials (a.k.a. delicates) and there is nothing you can do about it. (Well, maybe you could stop buying nice clothes altogether. Or sell an organ in the black market. Just your call…)

08. You always have something to wear to Wimbledon

Only thing is… you are never invited to Wimbledon. Or to a yacht trip to Capri, for the matter. Yes, lifestyle can get on the way when you try to justify that gorgeous Valli dress price tag. But hey, you only live once, right?

09. You find office attire boring

And no matter how much of an effort you make to look at it on a more positive vibe. Still boring.

10. Most of the time, people will make you feel self-conscious.

Seriously, how much time is it socially acceptable to stare at someone on the commute? I am sure your social media feed is far more interesting than my outfit, so please gaze at your telephone screen instead. The good part is you can always look back at them blankly until they feel slightly uncomfortable. It is a bit like a Far West film, only with better attire.

Tell me, have you experienced these or any other style problems?

Slip dress: Zara

Bag and cuff: CHANEL

Shoes: Zara (old, similar at Gianvito Rossi)

July 12, 2019July 11, 2019

Allegra Caro7 Comments

Inadvertently shopping Valentino

Until very recently, when someone told me they are lucky at shopping, I rolled my eyes.

Not out of jealousy but of mere disbelief: being good at shopping is a bit like being good at winning the lottery, isn’t it? One cannot exactly trust the odds. There are, for sure, some factors that may help you to be successful – investing some time in checking your favourite shops on a regular basis, for instance. But being simply lucky? It never sounded real to me. Actually, it always made me think of Carrie Bradshaw: someone who has a lovely old-rent apartment in the town centre and a walk-in closet full of Manolo Blahnik shoes. Just too good to be true.

As it frequently happens when you hold a prejudice, Father Universe was determined to teach me I was wrong.

Last week, I woke up on a cloudy morning: it was too chilly to be tempted by the pool club we usually attend, but still nice enough to leave the house and enjoy a little walk. Since Sebastian was busy with work and I had no plans for the day, I decided to be spontaneous and booked the day for some second hand and vintage shopping. The city we currently live in is on the small size side, however, there is a complete neighbourhood consecrated to outlets and flea markets of all sorts. In the past, I have found a decent quantity of fast fashion brands (Zara, H&M, Mango… you name it) for a fraction of the price and in mint condition, as well as some one-of-a-kind interesting bits and bobs.

On the first shop, I managed to rescue a couple of cool pieces in the shape of basic sundresses for the upcoming seaside trip in July. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then, I moved to the next one. The aforementioned shop is slightly more expensive than your average vintage business because they operate like a brand-only store, meaning most of their stock comes from Inditex outlets.

Now, I am not such a big fan of fast fashion brands to justify paying close to the original tag price for last season items. To me, fast fashion is a reasonable alternative for basics and the occasional nice dress. Notwithstanding, if I am about to splurge some extra money, I prefer to get a valuable piece from my designer wishlist. (Please, notice that I don’t intend to be judgemental about anybody’s personal preferences here: I mention this so you can see I was feeling rather lazy about getting inside that specific store on the first place.)

Happily, for some reason, I did.

I checked the first floor quickly and was quite decided not to buy anything when a glimpse of a wonderful red shade caught my attention. It was a lovely skirt, with scalloped details over the waist and a light touch. From the very first moment, I LOVED the colour. I quickly checked the price tag which was a bit high for a little outlet shop of the sort but still very reasonable. So, I decided to go into the fitting room.

During the whole process, there was something in the back of my mind, telling me the cut and colour looked familiar. It was something I had seen before, surely. Then, I looked at myself in the mirror, loved how the skirt seated on my waist and hips and decided it was meant to be. The Déjà vu was still there, though. When I took the skirt off it slowly dawned on me that I hadn’t seen the label yet. Who was the manufacturer? I must confess I held my breath for a second when I read it – yes, it was Valentino.

Have you seen that episode from The Simpsons in which Marge accidentally finds a CHANEL suit on a second-hand store? Because guys, that’s exactly how it feels.

I went straight to the counter, asked the shopping assistant if the price was correct, she confirmed it was, and I handed her my credit card without a blink.

Well, I guess that’s the way the universe tells you not to be a cynic. After all, who knows? Next time it can be you.

Tell me, have you ever found a hidden treasure while shopping?

Skirt: RED Valentino (sold out, similar here, shorts version here)

Blouse: Saint Tropez (sold out, similar styles here and here)

Hair clip: Versace / Shoes: Zara (old, similar at Gianvito Rossi)/Lipstick: Kat Von D

Other accessories: Off brand

July 9, 2019July 15, 2019

Allegra Caro2 Comments

A Colourful Revolution: Mary Quant, the V&A retrospective

“London was dead. Fog permeated everything. Fog was a smell. Fog was a colour.”

In the context of a grim, black and white post-war London, the work of Mary Quant bloomed like a Winter Rose – an unexpected crimson brush-stroke in the snow.

No one in that colour-blind world could have foreseen it but when the suburban Goldsmith schoolgirl opened her first experimental shop in Chelsea, she was meant to start a vivacious revolution. Back in the day, couture embodied the rigid war generation mindset, deeply related to subjects such as traditional gender roles and a narrow elite class access to fashion. Baby boomers not only failed to empathise but also refused to do so: they were eager for freedom. “Fashion should be a game,” Quant wrote once, a motto an entire generation lived for.

When wandering about the V&A halls at the Mary Quant exhibition, one can easily come across ladies who look at the dresses with a nostalgic smile. “I had a dress very similar to this one,” 73-year-old Mary Brighton says, “I was only 14 then. My parents didn’t like it but they hadn’t much to say. I would work every Saturday on a tiny Carnaby Street shop to save the money.” Her friend Betty Wilkes nods her head: “Everything was grey then: the rain, the streets, the boring schooldays… And suddenly, she showed us the idea of hue. It was a bit like Technicolor, only better.”

This image deeply resonates with Quant’s work. Chromatism was used wisely as a part of an elaborated concept – to deconstruct British tradition by empowering women. Significant examples (sometimes, in the form of iconic dresses; sometimes, in the shape of lustrous raincoats, shoes or tights) are visible: if you take a minute to visit the ground floor, the OBE Dress must be admired. In 1966, the designer was appointed Officer of the British Empire, a medal awarded for her contribution to the UK fashion export trade, supporting the national economy. For the occasion, Quant created a bright cream gown to stand out in the crowd in a gloomy November afternoon. Her beret was designed to look like an English schoolgirl hat, the entire outfit recalls the Victorian boarding school institution but she gave her a fresh and modern twist. The short skirt shook Royal protocol.

Another quintessential example is to be found on the first floor. The 1967 tartan dress was deliberately made on Victorian-inspired patterned cloth and conservative bodice. However, the new hemline, as well as the usage of synthetic materials such as rayon with Lurex thread, helped to create a sparkling party dress – The Swinging 60s paradigm.

Although Quant is mainly credited for making mini-skirts popular, it could be argued that her most impressive achievement was the capacity to anticipate and capture the new age sensibility. Hence, it is no shocker that other visionary legends of the period like former Vogue creative director Grace Coddington (then a promising model) embraced Quant’s philosophy and wore her pieces.

Quant tartan lurex dress — 1967 Tartan Lurex dress

But what makes Quant work bewitching is her own fascination about modernity. When new materials first came out, she was eager to experiment with them. “One day, a new fabric appeared on the scene,” she said, “PVC was shiny, waterproof, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before.” Her revolutionary usage of plastic for the 1963 Wet collection was a turning point in fashion. She conceptualized practical clothes to brighten gloomy weather days, sure, but the choice of a watery material and a simple, natural pattern has a lot to do with her early prediction of the deconstruction process: By rejecting perpetuation of the highly structured Dior silhouette, Quant seems to anticipate Zygmunt Bauman’s liquefaction concept. The 50s corseted designs are inevitably connected to highly hierarchically organized structures such as family, social class, and gender roles, all of them early refused by the Baby boomers generation who started moving from a solid, heavy society to a more fluid one.

Mary Quant PVC raincoat — 1963 Wet Collection

It is quite significant that the V&A team decided to hold Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams and Mary Quant exhibitions at the same time, confronting both visions. On the subject, Quant once declared: “I always designed clothes from a very young age because I didn’t like the way they were. They were paralyzing; they were stilted.”

Paralysis is deeply connected to the topic, indeed. Women were frozen, a dragonfly on amber, trapped in a forced passive role conceived during the Old Regime times. With the second wave of Feminism in the 60s, themes such as reproductive and work rights became socially relevant. By giving women freedom of movement and rethinking gender stereotypes (her androgyny designs are worth to mention still today), Quant significantly contributed to the new cosmological vision. Hence, we can shamelessly affirm her work transcended the mere fashion substance to achieve a cultural patina of grandeur.

Certainly, Dame Quant also owned a natural genius for marketing and audience understanding: among many other fascinating moments, the exhibition portrays her elaborated plan to promote London as an avant-garde destination for the emergent American cosmopolitan class, while visiting New York in 1965. The Youthquake tour not only put London on the map but also succeeded to create a fan phenomenon over the brand, which sold out collections overnight.

Mary Quant tuxedo dress — Overdraft waistcoat and cheque book skirt (1967)

Curators Jenny Lister and Stephanie Wood have worked hard to bring together more than 200 pieces for the exhibition, many of them never displayed before. This is the result of a brilliant strategy: a public call-out to track down rare Mary Quant garments. Through hashtag #WeWantQuant people are still sharing their experience on Instagram. Many of the original owners’ stories are presented –together with their gowns– on a memorabilia masterpiece which is a page in the fashion book, as well as in the English history.

Now you have the opportunity to experience it: the exhibition opened on April the 6^th and will run to March the 8^th, 2020.

When leaving the V&A building, springtime drizzle falls across the grey London streets and a few colourful umbrellas pop here and there. And at the end of the day, the 21^st-century woman writing this cannot help but bless Mary Quant for that.

June 6, 2019June 6, 2019

Allegra Caro3 Comments

The Honest Fashionista Series: Shopping at Giambattista Valli x H&M pre-sale bloodbath

When H&M unveiled its 2019 designer collab on May the 23rd, middle-class fashionistas from all around the world went crazy.

The Giambattista Valli x H&M collection was meant to be the most glamorous one thus far, being artfully revealed at the amfAR gala in Cannes. Always a bandwagon-kind-of-girl, the unavoidable Instagram tidal wave caught me by surprise during the coffee break when, with a cappuccino y one hand and my phone in the other, I learned that a limited stock pre-sale was happening on the 25th before the official release on November. Hallelujah!

For a bit of context, I should probably clarify that my romantic story with H&M designer collections has been quite a tragic one: during the 2015 Balmain launch I somehow managed to mess up the dates and miss it; the 2017 Erdem collection was sold out before I had the chance to get one of their flowing Pre-Raphaelite gowns. In both occasions, I ended up feeling so sorry for myself, I would spend my days sighing and out of spirits – the vivid image of the Brontës heroines, Catherine Earnshaw in the moorlands moaning for lost ~~love~~ dresses… Oh, alas. Hence, I was determined to succeed this time.

A big believer in the Go big or go home motto, my initial impulse was buying one of the dreamy tulle extravaganzas, but as Sebastian kindly reminded me, the last cocktail dress I purchased is still hanging on the original plastic cover, not a chance to wear it. After all, how many opportunities has got the average professional woman to wear something that excessive a year? One, maybe two, if you are lucky. I could for sure wear my new flamboyant Valli to go to the groceries as Crazy Rich Asians character muse Heart Evangelista notoriously said once, right? But in the end, I decided to be a bit rational this time and buy something that would certainly work better with my current lifestyle. Well, most of us bloggers are not Chiara Ferragni, are we?

With this mind, I checked the collection and immediately thought I could manage to fit the necklace in my existing wardrobe without much of a headache. On Saturday, I woke up early, prepared myself some tea and checked the launch time again. It was being released at 10:00 CET, so I entered the website at 9:00 a.m. and saw that the page showed a banner confirming the release at the expected time. At this point, I started feeling slightly nervous and texted a friend to see if she was already connected to the website too. Just to reassure me. Yes, I am that kind of person, what can I say?

At 9:20 a.m. and after the second green jasmine teacup, the initial butterflies in my stomach were more like that Mothra creature from the Godzilla films. Sebastian came back from his Saturday morning basketball game to find me still trying to play cool (as if…). “Just chilling”, I painfully lied, “Waiting for that H&M thing to be online, you know?”. Yeah, he knew. “Not nervous?”, he laughed and then he went for a shower.

At 9:45 a.m. I left any concealing strategy (and all hope) behind. It was my third cup of tea in a row and I was kind of worried I could start hearing the colours any time. Because a theine overdose is just what you need to start your weekend the right way.

I maniacally started refreshing the website at 9:55 a.m. During the 2017 Erdem doom-day, that was the main reason I wasn’t able to add the dresses to my shopping cart in time. It was not happening again, folks.

At 09:59 Apocalypse Now OST was playing in the background. Sebastian was kind of scared at this point and scrupulously keeping the P.A.S.D (Panicking Allegra Security Distance) at all times. That´s my man…

Then it was 10:00 a.m., 10.02 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. and the website was still loading. You are totally rightful to guess I was now on a state of sartorial red code. It didn’t matter how many times I would refresh, the catalogue was not updated yet. I tried my luck with the Spanish website at the same time. Nothing. I suddenly began thinking the page or server collapsed due to the number of people connected at the same time and totally panicked.

At 10:00 a.m. the collection was still loading. I was legitimately considering to drink all the limoncello in the freezer.

It was 10:11 a.m. when the website finally went up: “We have visual contact, sir!”, I announced to Sebastian a bit too loud, “I repeat, we have visual contact”.

I quickly added the necklace to the shopping cart straight away, didn’t even bother to look at the other options. Then I proceeded with check out and payment. The whole process took me less than a minute. Yes, I guess it is some kind of useless superpower. I am just waiting for Doctor Charles Xavier to knock on my door any day now. I opened my email searching for the order confirmation and once I verified everything was alright, I decided to breathe and make myself some lime blossom tea. I can assure you shopping is literally my cardio.

By the time I had my cup ready, I sat down again to see what else was still available on the website. Out of mere curiosity, if you please, and there it was: all the collection was gone for good in about ten minutes.

The necklace arrived four days later, packed on a lovely box and covered with silk paper. I was truly surprised on the effort the actually did with the presentation. Not bad for fast fashion production at all. The piece itself is beautifully designed although the locking clip is far from couture standards. However, it is worth to keep in mind that this is just a collaboration and not an atelier piece. Overall, I would say I am quite satisfied with the purchase – a light impression on how it feels to be a Valli girl.

For those of you who didn’t manage to grab your pieces in time, the full collection will be released on November the 7th. May the shopping odds be ever in your favour!

June 4, 2019June 4, 2019

Allegra Caro2 Comments

My experience in Vogue: Studying at Condé Nast College

I was only twelve and trapped on puberty drama the first time a Vogue issue fell into my hands.

Since then, the magazine and I were involved in a long-term relationship: we dated, we broke up and as time went by, we came to terms. In case you wonder, we enjoy a healthy friendship now — the sort you have with your oldest school days comrades.

But leaving romantic metaphors aside, the truth is that the publication has been present for most of my adult life. Once I matured, I shared my attention with other mags: Vanity Fair and The New Yorker started catching my eye, since my interests fluctuate from fashion to arts and literature, and their editorial line is designed accordingly. However, Condé Nast was always the benchmark for me, no matter what. Some of their best articles live on a special folder on my laptop, where I can come back to them for reference.

A few months ago, already involved in my current blog project, I discovered that Condé Nast College was offering a wide range of new courses, including intensive seminars for fashion writers. The point is, I had been considering to extend my formal education on creative writing with some specialization on journalism and this looked pretty much like the perfect opportunity. So, I finally reunited the courage to enroll and booked tickets for London in April. (Or so I like to repeat myself because the truth is that I panicked, decided to go ahead, and panicked again before I really booked my place in the seminars. Performance anxiety anyone?)

But let’s focus on the essential: How was to study in such a celebrated editorial institution? What about visiting Vogue House? In short? It was a blast. That’s it. You can now click away (just joking). But let me tell you the story from the beginning.

The first day of classes, I arrived early and the staff kindly proceeded with my registration. The building is located in the heart of Soho which made it really easy to find it (even if, like me, you are awful at Googlemaps skills…), as well as convenient in terms of commuting options. I would love to provide you with some more details on my first impression of the place but I was so nervous I can’t even remember whether it was sunny or gloomy.

Afterwards, I was given a tote bag containing the latest Vogue issue, pens (in case I wanted to write notes), and some mineral water, which was very kind of them. Then, all the students were introduced in the main conference room for the welcome and orientation chat. It was nice to see that everything was organized in a timely manner.

The first thing that caught my attention was the incredible international environment: I had the privilege to share the classes with a great group of people from the most diverse countries: Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Switzerland, The Emirates… Everywhere. I feel this was one of the most enriching factors from the whole experience since it allows you to have a glimpse of other cultures and perceptions by sharing a genuine passion.

After the introduction discussion, we proceeded with the first journalism lecture, mainly focused on providing basic notions. To be completely honest, I should point out that my personal interests lay in practical classes and creative writing seminars. Hence, maybe this first session was not my favourite one. I am quite sure other students found it relevant and useful, though.

However, the best part was to arrive on the second day. Early in the morning, we enjoyed a very useful seminar with the Philippa Morgan, Planning Editor at Vogue International. Listening to someone who can provide you with some serious insights into the industry is probably one of the most awesome things that can happen to you.

But this wasn’t the only highlight of the day: after lunch, we were kindly invited for a group visit to Vogue House at Hanover Square. Our group was welcome to the press room, where we could listen to specialists in the different departments, instructing us on a variety of topics, from copywriting to edition, and from photography to production. It was truly informative as a whole, and it was inspiring to hear that many of the professionals in this editorial group made it through effort and will power. After a good hour of chatting, questions, and comments, we left the place. The only part I missed from the whole experience as a writer was the chance to have a glimpse of the editorial department since I was truly interested in seeing the work-flux on a normal working day. Nevertheless, I understand the staff must be very busy on a daily basis to attend students, so I was OK with that.

The next few days were a bit of a whirlwind constituted by master classes, creative writing workshops and even more importantly, specialized human resources advice which provided a unique glance on what skills and profiles are frequently targeted by the industry.

We engaged in some group projects as well, working for long hours in the amazing library. In there, we could enjoy the read of hundreds of books dedicated to the story of Haute Couture, as well as getting access to an unlimited number of magazine issues from their archive. I only wish I could have spent some months there, feeding my curiosity with all of that wonderful bibliography. But, oh alas, time passes by quickly when you are having a good time, and before I realized it was Friday and our final project was delivered on time for the closure session.

As a sum-up I would say the seminars were the most interesting part (especially those about conducting interviews, creative ideas development and catwalk reviews writing, which I found truly specific and helpful). Teachers were nothing but brilliant and they assisted us with feedback and advice at all times.

But as much as I learned from the whole academic experience, I would say that my favourite part was to be able to make new acquaintances and contacts from all around the world. After all, I was expecting to wide my perspective and that is simply the best way to do so, isn’t it?

May 22, 2019May 23, 2019

Allegra Caro9 Comments

Where have I been? April in a nutshell

Hey, hello there! This is Allegra, that Spanish expat you used to read about in here.

In the remote case you are anything like me and an obsessive Sherlock Holmes reader, there is a chance you already called Scotland Yard to report my disappearance. Good news! You can drop your loupe, pipe, and overcoat now. Apologies for the non-announced hiatus but April has been super hectic and side projects completely took over. Yes, it was a bit frantic and in some moments even exhausting, but to be honest it was truly gratifying too.

Since I am not the kind of person who likes to do things in halves, it felt reasonable to press the pause key until May. Just to be back with batteries fully recharged. Let’s start things off then with one of my absolute favourite post styles – a good old monthly highlights post, featuring the hallmarks from the past four weeks. Shall we?

The trip to London. Obviously, this had to be the first bullet point in the list, right? On April the fifth, I took an evening flight to London. The reason? I was visiting one of my oldest friends but the trip was not merely playful this time: I enrolled The Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design for an intensive one week course, focused on fashion journalism. For a few months, I had been considering to extend my formal education on the writing field and Condé Nast looked not only like the optimal option, but also the logic one. After all, who could teach on a better level than the professionals behind legendary publications such as Vanity Fair, The New Yorker or Vogue? To be completely honest, the decision was also slightly influenced by the fact I am kind of fangirl too (oops…) and been offered with the chance of visiting Vogue House headquarters was beyond tempting… So, as you guessed, there is some solid content coming your way and fully documenting the whole experience. Stay tuned!

Easter floral festival weekend. There are a few things that scream Spring! as loud as a floral festival. Mid-April was the witness of a lovely weekend when the city was literally covered in flowers – and we are speaking about more than 200 different species here. So, Sebastian and I took the chance to call some friends and mix with the locals. Let’s say this was nothing but well-deserved rest. Especially for him, since he is preparing not one or two, but THREE of his research books to be published this year which is, well, quite demanding to be diplomatic. Somehow, it was just what we needed. The weather happened to be glorious, our friends were absolutely the best, and the whole weekend was the final touch for a great month.

Cinecultura International Film Festival. One of the brightest highlights in our cultural diary is the annual celebration of the city film festival, a week’s worth of movies soirées. Being a cinematographic gluttonous, I could only join when the opening night arrived. It is not the kind of event that requires white tie –no red carpet photos of me this time, damn!– but that naturally translated into a great opportunity to wear something nice, socialize a bit, and then watching a bunch of good films.

Easter break. At the end of the month, we finally enjoyed the orthodox Easter break, a well-deserved holiday. Since I was just back from London, we decided to simply stay and take the time to cook nice nourishing food, go to the movies and chill a bit. I know it doesn’t sound spectacular but sometimes, all you need is to wind down.

And this is all I did in April. I know you will excuse my absence now you know how hectic life was, but as I said, there is a lot of nice content coming your way. Silver linings, people, silver linings.

Trousers: Reserved

Blazer: Vero Moda (sold out, similar here and designer version here)

Blouse: Zara/ Shoes: Top Shop (sold out, similar here) / Cuff: CHANEL

May 6, 2019May 19, 2019

Allegra Caro12 Comments

My story as a nervous flyer: five tips to beat the fear

When Amelia Earhart said that the lure of flying is the lure of beauty, she wasn’t thinking about nervous flyers.

At the time writing this post, it is a glorious Friday morning and although 5th Piano Concerto ‘Emperor‘ is playing in the background, and the sunlight caresses the white kitchen walls while I wait for my coffee to be ready, I can’t feel any serenity. The reason? I am taking a flight to London in about seven hours, and the mere thought compresses my stomach. Yes, you guessed it: I am a nervous flyer.

For starters, I should probably clarify I am not one of the most severe cases ever. To me, the main trigger is boarding alone, rather than the flight itself. Hence, I only experience this kind of anxiety in the few occasions I need to travel all by myself.

Over the years, I tried different techniques to relieve my stress levels but since most of the international flights in Europe last two-three hours tops, I never took the time to search for real solutions. Last Winter though, Sebastian and I booked an eleven hours trip to Tokyo, and I immediately knew I would need to find a fix to make it sane to the other side of the globe.

It was a long process and it took a good deal of trial and error but at the end of the day, I managed to figure out a bunch of relaxation techniques which can make a difference in the way you experience a flight. In all honestly? It was enlightening. Just imagine to be able to block most of the negativity and reduce it to the extent that you are able to be functional again.

But how do you do that?

These are my five tips to get over flight anxiety.

1. Embrace a simple but revolutionary idea: you are NOT in charge

And do you know what? That is totally alright.

Our natural instinct is trying to control any situation. If by any chance you are a control freak (hello there old soul mate!), you will have a hard time on a plane surely. Try something new instead: follow the air crew instructions, take a deep breath and accept you are not in control – not here, not now. Embracing the chaos might sound like a silly cliché, but I find it truly comforting.

2. Instead of thinking about the flight duration as a punishment, treat it as a well-deserved rest

I know, it is difficult to see any in-board time as a luxury when the eternal promise of a noisy seat neighbour is floating on the air like a threat to your mental integrity – but please, believe me when I tell you that it is all about your own attitude. Don’t reach for your work laptop or tablet. Instead, use the time to eat something delicious (avoiding crappy tourist class food can be a good idea) or watch a nice film on your laptop. Catching up with some beloved podcasts is a personal favourite of mine but you should be able to find something to treat yourself.

3. Block as much unpleasant ambient noise as possible

Children crying, repetitive coffee announcements from the crew, motor noise… Personally, I can’t stand those. Since I was a child, I suffer from a light form of Mishophonia that can be aggravated on stressful situations, so blocking any unpleasant sound is a must. Last year, I started packing some headphones on my cabin luggage and so far, it has proved life-changing. Ear plugs are a great option if you wish to go for a cat nap too.

If you are a frequent flyer though, you might consider investing in some noise-cancelling headphones. My current best-loved are the Beat Studio 3 Wireless Headphones (they are foldable, wireless and they offer up to 22 hours of battery), but there are plenty of options out there.

4. Get yourself comfortable

It could be argued that long flights main issue is the lack of comfort: limited personal space and sturdy seats are a terrible match for sure. Nonetheless, there are a few tricks you can use to improve your rest. Have you ever thought of spending some cash on a memory-foam travel pillow, or even an Ostrich Pillow model (my own choice)? Wrapping yourself in a nice, soft cardigan or jumper is also a good idea since it will help you to sleep better if needed.

5. When things go wild, turn to rescue remedy

It might be anything from a lavender soothing spray to a luxury spa hand-cream. Take some time and search for a few products which essence and consistency will immediately make you feel safe and relaxed. Then prepare an emergency kit and pack it in your cabin luggage. In case you are curious about it, I personally trust Rosa Centifolia Hand Treatment Cream and La Creme Main Texture Riche to make me feel in a spa when travelling but any nice scent product will do.

April 30, 2019June 4, 2019