Fashion advice

I am not adopting a capsule wardrobe and this is why you shouldn’t either

This blog was born with a single core value: to be honest with my readers at all times.

As you may or may not have noticed, that’s why the site’s motto is The Honest Fashionista Diaries, why I chose to publish this as my first post ever, and why there is an entire category called The Honest Fashionista Series. Openness is important to me and that (plus a pinch of humour) cannot harm the Blogosphere.

With that said, I believe there is a big difference between being sincere and blatantly regurgitating my unsolicited opinions at the earliest opportunity. After all, we have the right to hold off-record thoughts which we’d better keep for ourselves. As my grandmother taught me when I was very young: if you have nothing pleasant to say, it is better to say nothing. In other words, you don’t need to fight every battle or give your opinion about every topic on earth.

By nature, I am a peacemaker—one of my sisters refers to me as the O.N.U. family negotiator which never fails to make everyone laugh—and I try to avoid conflict when I see no good can be done. Summing up, I might be honest but I also know when to shut my mouth.

When the capsule wardrobe philosophy became a trend, I patiently read as many articles and blog posts as I could to have an informed opinion on the subject. What I found out though, didn’t resonate with me at any level, so I took a step back and kept my opinion to myself. Usually, this would be the end of the story—and it was for a couple of years—but a few weeks ago, I received an unnerving message via Instagram. The person who sent it was reacting to one of my outfit photos and felt the need to rave about how terrible I was as a person for posting pictures of me wearing my clothes, and what an awful example I was for every young impressionable person out there. People like me were, in her own words, a total disgrace and I should be ashamed for not promoting capsule wardrobes and sustainable fashion.

You can believe me when I say my first reaction was nothing but confusion. Mainly because:

A. My Instagram is a small account that (luckily) receives zero hate.

B. I don’t consider my content to be exclusively focused on outfits.

C. You can easily see I wear my clothes more than once and I am very far from a serial shopper.

Once the original feeling of astonishment left me, it was replaced by disbelief and finally, an increasing outrage. However, I blocked the person and forget about the whole thing as soon as possible. Three days ago though, I received a new DM via Instagram which contained almost the same message, sent from a sister account. Again, she seemed disgusted by the fact I kept posting my “non-sustainable” outfits and NOT EMBRACING THE CAPSULE WARDROBE TREND.

If that person would have spent a single moment to visit this blog by clicking in the link on the bio, she’d have probably learned a thing or two about my style perception and the sustainability topic.

For starts, the main reason why I’ve never written about the capsule wardrobe philosophy before is that, from my point of view, it suffers from some serious inconsistency on its base principles. The main target is reducing waste and using the whole contents of your wardrobe, which can only be a positive thing per se. However, reducing to thirty-three pieces your existing closet makes no sense from a logistic perspective.

First, the continuous rotation of the same pieces will inevitably damage even the best-quality pieces, leaving you with the urgent need to replace them at the end of the season at the latest. Potentially, this means money and waste. Second, thirty-three pieces may help you to survive for a season if the given items are high-quality but you will need to add a new set when the season changes and pack away (or dispose of) the used stuff. This means buying four new capsule wardrobes a year which depending on your budget and previous shopping habits might not be that good all things considered.

After second thoughts, there is yet another aspect holding me back: the deep existent association between capsule wardrobes and uniformity. One of the main ideas, you see, it to achieve a very defined style, with all the pieces working together. Pretty much, like a uniform.

One of the things you don’t know about me is that I studied at a religious private school for a couple of years. I could write an interesting (and probably juicy) list of the lessons I learned over there but the main and most important one was uniformity is rarely a good thing. When you make people wearing the same neutral colours every day, looking alike, there is a certain point in which they start thinking and acting alike. And I have read enough dystopian fiction to be afraid of any form of hive mind (thank you very much for the nightmares, Mrs. Atwood).

To me, fashion is all about individual expression and I think that’s something wonderful.

So, am I openly admitting I don’t give a s@#€ about sustainability? As a matter of fact, nothing is further of the truth. Adopting a capsule wardrobe is not the only way you can contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. Instead, I prefer to explore other paths including but not limited to:

Taking good care of your existing pieces, so their lifespan is extended
Cutting down on your shopping habits and getting only the things you love
Choosing clothes that are better quality and more durable
Shopping second hand or vintage
Supporting ethical brands of your choice

These might not look like life-changing rules but once you have been practicing for a while, you will realize they are. I have been shopping vintage, second hand and being more selective with my shopping habits for a while now (I think about five years and counting) and in the long run, you feel nothing but satisfaction and relief. Satisfaction because you love everything on your wardrobe. Relief because you can walk outside a shop with empty hands and feel good about it, anyway.

So, the next time anyone feels tempted to judge me for posting outfit photos online, please make me a favour and just unfollow…

November 21, 2019November 20, 2019

Allegra Caro48 Comments

5 style lessons I learned in my first 5 weeks as a Londoner

Let me quote a universal piece of wisdom: Time flies when you are having fun.

Last Thursday, it was five weeks since Sebastian and I moved to London. And in all honesty? I still can’t believe it. I feel like we just arrived last night although we managed to do a lot during this hectic period: arranging our legal residence permits, unpacking all our belongings, and organizing our new apartment took some time and energy. (Please, feel free to send more ginseng, thank you.) However, I am glad to report most details are fixed and we are ready to become proper Londoners now.

Over the first few weeks, we took the chance to explore the city and start experiencing that famous London lifestyle. From trendy street food markets to majestic art galleries, and from cozy tea rooms to vintage stores—London never stops surprising you.

One of my favourite things about being an expat is discovering the local fashion style: Tokyo taught me everything about chic, while Budapest certainly deserves to be acknowledged as the new capital of shopping. It was rather ineluctable to learn something valuable from Londoner street fashionistas too.

Throughout my now five weeks of living in London, I have probably learned more lessons about style than ever before in my life. Today, I want to share them with you.

So, what have I learnt so far?

1. Sh#& Rain happens: Get yourself a statement trench

If you are remotely familiar with the British weather, you might know it is rainy. Like, cats-and-dogs kind of rainy. You’ll get used to carrying an emergency umbrella with you at all times and even start wondering how was life before that (or how did you look with neatly arranged straight hair, for the matter). But that’s OK because you will also learn to love a nice trench coat. Actually, I already loved them before we landed here, but my affection has gone deeper ever since: Hobbs, Burberry, Mulberry, Céline… the options are endless! You might certainly think a statement piece is expensive but here is where the second lesson hits.

2. The best fashion finds often come from charity shops and vintage stores

No, I promise I didn’t drink an entire bottle of prosecco before writing this (maybe later, but let me finish this post first). Many charity shops in London receive designer donations. Checking their branches regularly improves your chances to find a treasure in the shape of a Prada handbag or a pair of Chloé trousers. So far, my Max Azria collection—fan girl here!—has increased dramatically. I truly recommend paying a visit to stores around Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Marylebone and Kensington areas since they often receive the best stock in town.

3. Chelsea boots are life (and you can’t change my mind)

We all know how important it is to dress sensibly, but too often we don’t pay enough attention to footwear. London is not only a city but a huge one, even with the brilliant public transport network you will walk quite a lot. No need to say wearing the wrong shoes can easily spoil your day. (Please, raise your hand if you learned this lesson after years of poor and painful decisions too. Heels on cobblestone pavement? What could possibly go wrong?) When we first arrived, I would only carry some replacement flats in my handbag but then, as the weather started cooling, Chelsea boots became a natural ally—they are comfy, they are stylish and the epitome of British style. What else could you ask for?

4. Blazers are not for office only

Look, I have been there too—limiting blazers to the office ecosystem is very tempting. But, believe it or not, they can be fun too. One of my favourite things about Londoners and their style sense is the way they incorporate blazers on a weekend outfit without losing that effortlessly chic vibe. On a personal note, I love a good slip dress & blazer number but the options are countless: adding a nice pair of jeans, or even a knit dress can fix those Saturday brunch outfit plans. And speaking of knitwear…

5. When in doubt, just throw an oversized jumper

As simple as that. It doesn’t matter if we are speaking about a lazy at home Sunday or an office Monday morning, really: most of the days a note of wool can make all the difference and save your outfit. Reuniting a great quality collection has been in my fashion to-do list FOREVER (when I started that list back in the day, commercial transactions were still paid with wooden tokens and we used to adore volcanoes… good old days!), but coming to London has been the push I needed. Cashmere and Scottish wool are wonderful high-quality materials that may add value to your existing wardrobe. Plus, they will keep you warm during the long cold months.

And these are the five foolproof style lessons I learned over my first month in London.

Buy all the 2019 fall fashion trends for less

As we slowly approach to the end of August and evening air gets crisp, we have little option but to recognize that Autumn will be here soon. The associated post-holiday blues is almost knocking on the door; however, and at the risk of sounding like a BB (Basic Blogger, in case you wonder), I shall say that Fall is probably the best season of the year. Days might be shorter, sure, but it’s a small price to pay for all the gorgeous seasonal colours popping out, cozy evenings, and even for that infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte too.

One of my favourite Autumnal activities is seasonal shopping. If you are anything like me, there is a good chance you are already checking the upcoming 2019 Autumn/Winter trends.

Although this is quite rare, I must admit most of the runway proposals caught my eye this time: 2019 will be the year when we witness a punk revival, the rise of a Neo-Rococo style (with feathers and rhinestones shoes playing major roles in the stage), and the unexpected ascension of purple to the chromatic throne. Boring was scratched from the dictionary.

Nevertheless, — and as much as we love a good old trend hunting marathon — going for an early seasonal shopping spree can leave your bank account shaking. And I don’t know about you dear readers, but I don’t enjoy feeding on can soup.

What to do then? Should we all sacrifice style at the expense of budgeting and go home, hands empty, a modern Charles Dickens orphans parody? I have written this before, and I will again — I don’t like tragedies, other than Shakespeare’s. Instead of skipping shopping altogether, I took the time to make a budget-friendly selection for you.

Now, you can buy all the 2019 Autumn trends for less.

Hurry up before they are gone!

autumn-winter 2019 trends — The **skirt** and **blouse** are available at Chicwish, earrings are Vivienne Westwood, **bag** and **shoes** from River Island, **belt** by Asos.

The French bourgeois trend

I can say without hesitation this is one of my absolute favourites this season: the 70s lady-like vibe we have seen in most European runways is classy, timeless and flattering. If you don’t trust my word, check out the evocative Fall extravaganzas by Chloé, Burberry, Balenciaga or Valentino, bringing back Chic as good as it gets. This perfect day-to-day look can be easily integrated into our existing wardrobes, as most pieces match closet basics such as trench coats and neutral palettes. (Bonus: you will probably end up looking like a modern Stéphane Audran at The Discreet Charms of the Bourgeoise.)

2019 Punk trend — The dress is on sale at **Zara** at the moment, all **jewelry** is from **Vivienne Westwood**, **cardigan** and **ankle boots** from Zara as well.

Posh Punk

Combat boots, subtle tartan strokes, and the return of rich purples and blacks are the main evidence of Punk gaining momentum in 2019. Current politics might be related to this but, beyond deepest reasons, the truth is we will see a refined version of the original style coming back to the streets this Fall. Personally, I am the biggest Vivienne Westwood ever, so this is a trend I will definitely adopt myself — piercings, anyone?

Bold florals

Who said florals are cheesy? This season, we will see a good deal of unapologetic flower patterns on the high street, mainly in the form of dark tones. Although it might not be a revolutionary idea (we enjoyed a similar spirit back in the 90s, with big moody florals printed mostly everywhere for a couple of seasons), it certainly constitutes a refreshing approach to classic patterns. Take this Chicwish dress as an example: it can be paired with a maxi-headband (Zara, once again) for a trendy, urban look and the jewel-toned accessories provide a sophisticated vibe for those living in big cities. Forget about the involuntary prairie look and prepare to demonstrate that the floral trend is not as romantic as you would expect.

And this was my inexpensive shopping guide for the top fashion trends this Autumn. I would love to hear what are your favourite trends for the season.

August 26, 2019August 29, 2019

Allegra Caro15 Comments

Why black is a great colour for Summer

Let’s talk about fashion clichés: you are not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, florals are for Spring, and black is a big no-no in the Summertime. Classics, right?

However, that doesn’t mean they are commandments carved in stone. The thing about clichés, you know, is that very frequently, they are based on old ideas and misconceptions. Even so, some of them die hard — and no, it doesn’t matter how much you try, your aunt Mary will not change her mind.

My favourite line in the rule book is probably that one about dark colours and warm weather: we all know they don’t mix well. Except, is that really accurate?

By nature, I am a curious person and, as weird as it might sound, I enjoy reading on cultural assumptions. Sometimes, from a scientific angle. (Thank you Wired for the countless hours of interesting reading!)

During one of my endless pool-side mornings a couple of weeks ago, I read an online article claiming that most of what we mindlessly repeat about colour and weather is wrong. After all, thermodynamics don’t lie (sorry, I always wanted to have an excuse to write that. Actually, this entire post is just a pretext to do so. Let’s just pretend it is not…)

But back to the topic: Which colour is more suitable for Summertime, black or white?

White is claimed to be the best option — not only it is chic but will also keeps us cool in the warmest season. Or so they say. Actually when we look at white colour, we are seeing the combination of all existing light, meaning that the sun’s rays are reflected. And yes, that is perfectly right. Although, it is incomplete information too.

The heat comes both from the sun and our bodies. When all that body heat reaches the white clothing, it gets reflected right back towards the body. Hence, when we wear white, we cook ourselves.

The best color to keep cool in the heat, it turns out, is black.

Black absorbs the solar radiation, true, but it also absorbs the body heat without reflecting it back. Hence, the helpfulness of black clothes will depend on finding a fabric that is similar to those summery white clothes. It is quite logical, isn’t it? Atmospheric conditions play a leading role: once the heat is absorbed, if there’s a little wind, the tissue will radiate it away. That was unexpected, wasn’t it?

(Actually, this whole science-nerd moment was quite unexpected too. Please, don’t tell the cool fashion bloggers out there…)

Personally, my to-go warm weather uniform on its darkest shade consists on a sheer blouse and shorts, or fine skirt that will allow air circulating. Natural fibres such as pure cotton and linen are completely awesome to keep the heat at bay. I am a big fan of investing in Summer black — actually, black for all seasons.

For this look, I went for a a boredom-proof monochromatic Summer look by simply adding an organza ruffled blouse with dramatic sleeves. The shorts, on the other hand, are quite simple which help to balance the outfit. It can be styled both with heels or flats, (which I usually carry on a tote bag in case I feel too tired after a long walk, as this was the case).

What is your personal favourite colour in Summer?

(For more articles on The Prêt-à-porter Series, you can visit this link).

Blouse (Vintage. Very similar looking alternatives available at Chicwish )

Shorts (Old Zara, current option here)

Shoes (Asos) / Bag (Deichmann, sold out)

August 7, 2019August 14, 2019

Allegra Caro27 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

What to pack for a Bucharest weekend city break

I don’t know if this happens to me only, but every time I hear the words “city break”, I always think about Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. She is the perfect epitome of off-duty elegance in that film and for that very reason, I never feel satisfied with my own looks when on holiday. Yes, I know it sounds crazy and it is not something I do consciously but still, it happens. Every time I stare at my reflection in a hotel mirror I think “Hey, this is not Hepburnesque at all. Shame!” Now, I am obviously exaggerating here. (It is not like I am expecting to walk around head to toe in 1950’s Dior, right? Although, couldn’t we consider the possibility for a second? No? I thought so…) But the truth is, I tend to experience some dissatisfaction with my outfits choice when I am on a trip.

Frequently, I over-pack only to find out I have nothing to wear. And guys, I HATE that. This usually happens for a reason – I did not consider outfits. In the past, I found myself with a case full of dresses and skirts, and not a single outfit to wear. And here, as much I am hesitant to admit it, is where we should start discussing capsule wardrobes. First, I should state that in my (not very popular) opinion, capsule wardrobes are boring. OK, that is it, I finally said it. I can be officially expelled from the fashion bloggers club now. I will return my blogging camera and Starbucks membership at once…

But the thing is, I find they leave little room for creativity. However, there is one exception to this rule: they are really handy when it comes to traveling. Abroad, you don’t need 5,487,337 pairs of shoes. What you need though is a range of clothes you can mix and match. I must admit it took a bit too long for me to accept this idea, but it has proved to be efficient ever since.

Personally, I am more into skirts and dresses, and so is this capsule wardrobe. Also, I have decided to reduce the chromatic palette to three/four shades only which is, well… one of the main points when it comes to a capsule wardrobe, isn’t it?

Something you need to consider when traveling to Bucharest during the cold season is the weather. And I am going to tell you something, it can be FRIGID. Forget about light clothes and think about layers: cardigans, sweaters, coats… anything that can keep you warm enough. You should also add a scarf, a pair of gloves and maybe a hat or two. And please, don´t be afraid to pack some thermal tights too (and I am talking about 100 denier if you wish to walk around and enjoy your trip, so let’s be sensitive). Regarding shoes, I would definitely advise going for boots.

During our trip two weeks ago, we arrived on Friday afternoon and after checking-in, we went straight for a little walk and sightseeing just before dinner at our favourite place in town. I was far too tired to take any pictures but the jumper and skirt I wore were totally OK for the weather. Consequently, here you go my personal suggestions for a Friday afternoon and evening plan.

Sightseeing can be exhausting when you visit a big city. (I have got a shoes-related horror story from a trip to Vienna a few years ago and since then, I always choose my shoes wisely…) But Bucharest public transport is a great alternative to cover the biggest distances, don’t be afraid to use it. Personally, I prefer to add a pair of comfortable shoes to my luggage and I usually wear them for day tours, while I change from flats to heels in the evening. This tip also applies to shopping: please, do wear comfy shoes. You can thank me later.

Our Saturday was spent on some more sightseeing, food, and shopping. All followed by a late-evening concert in a town center club. Once again layering saved my life and let me enjoy the whole experience, so here I leave you some inspiration for your Saturday outfits both day and evening.

On Sunday we took it easy, had a late brunch and visited the old town to take our last trip pictures. Afterwards, we booked for a nice afternoon tea. Since usually, Sundays are the more relaxing day, I will suggest one versatile outfit which you could adapt to most activities on your last day in the city.

And this is pretty much it! I guess most of us will never look like Hepburn on Roman Holiday but that’s OK. It is not 1950 after all…

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019

Allegra Caro3 Comments

The High Maintenance dilemma: is smartness underrated?

Raise your hand if you are familiar with this scene: you have just arrived at the office after a good hour in the commute surrounded by too many people, made it all the way in stilettos from the suffocating underground to the company building carrying your take away coffee, laptop and birthday cake for Amanda from the accounting department, and then logged in on time to collapse on your desk.

This morning you had to skip Yoga because your child did not feel like dressing up and husband had the flu. Even so, you managed to make yourself presentable. You managed to dress up for you, to feel good. Then, Tom and Claire from the Creative Editing team say hello and absently comment on how nice your dress looks and, you know, how hard it must be to get ready every morning because well, it is SO hard maintenance — and aren´t you actually sick of spending some much time just to get ready in the morning when you have much more productive things to do, surely?

The thing is, you see, Tom and Claire do not mean IT is high maintenance. They mean YOU are. Déjà vu, anyone?

Shockingly, it seems to be socially acceptable to comment on other people appearance these days, especially women’s. With social media blooming, everyone spends a lot of time leaving opinions on posts to perfect strangers (“What a stunning outfit!” “Is that your husband?” “But have you gained some weight lately?”) and the scope of this phenomenon has naturally transformed our daily interactions. People seem to feel entitled to comment in real life too, just as they would on Instagram, and not always out of kindness. If you take a minute to scratch the surface, an interesting patina of tones appears underneath — the complete palette of social prejudice. Misconceptions die hard, even in the age of political correctness.

One of my personal pet peeves is related to criticism towards smartness.

Very frequently, people will frown at the sight of a nice dress, coat or bag, and discreetly let you know they don’t approve. The succession of reasons provided will pour like rain over you — it is too expensive, impractical, pretentious. But where is this perception coming from? And is elegance considered a disgraceful quality these days?

It might sound crazy when you read all those articles on the flamboyant latest catwalk designs from Paris Fashion Week, but in my experience, most people do not appreciate that kind of stylishness anymore, since they cannot consider it as an integrated part of ordinary life. While maintaining discussions on the topic, they will argue that several factors need to be taken into account. Frequently, the first ingredient they will bring into the conversation is classism. I don’t know about you, but I take class discrimination seriously and I don’t like it to be used on a frivolous manner.

Let me illustrate with an example. A few years ago, still a penniless humanities student, I found myself having a coffee with a recent acquaintance I’d had just been introduced to. By then, I would combine my college classes with a part-time job teaching foreign languages to kindergarten and school children. My allowance was very modest, and I carefully saved up and prioritized my expenses. I started spending some time hunting for good quality bargains at vintage and online shops. As a result and given the circumstances, my wardrobe grew up slowly but successfully. The girl I met that evening did not lose the chance to let me know she liked my dress although she would not understand why would I spend “so much money” on it. “It must be nice”, she said, “to get your expenses covered by your very understanding family, right?” Then she made a gesture with her hand, vaguely pointing out my clothes and manicure (a manicure that I would give myself at home every time). She shamelessly implied my family was rather wealthy. And I was far too shy to correct her rude judgmental statement. Then she proceeded to complain about the hard time she was having to find proper accommodation for her next holiday in Austria. I swear God I am not making this up.

My point is this person (as many other) linked dressing in a certain manner with a well-off economic and social status. And of course, she disapproved. Paradoxically, she was doing far better than me then. There is a big difference between dressing on designer pieces head to toe and carefully crafting your style. Still, many people don’t see it that way. If you are able to gather a luxury couture wardrobe, good for you too! I see no reason to shame anyone here.

Next argument detractors hold against smartness is practicality.

We all know how crazy life is these days: we find ourselves rushing on a daily basis and sometimes we don’t even take a minute to enjoy. Now, I am as busy as the next person (just as much as you probably are) and always try to wear clothes which easily adjust to my daily activity. I work in the comfort of an office, but flats will win three out of four times when it comes to commuting.

However, since I have not much time to stop and smell the flowers, I like to do some small things to indulge myself. They do not need to be big impressive things, necessarily: cooking something nourishing, buying a nice book to read in the evenings, dressing up a bit. They are the small everyday pleasures I use to comfort myself and to keep inner balance. Even so, there will be always people judging you. Do not listen to them. As our friend Taylor Swift once taught us — haters gonna hate.

But my favourite plot is the high maintenance one.

Because well, you know, if you are wearing nice clothes it obviously means that you are some kind of spoiled creature, right? In the course of years, I have been seen people repeatedly gossiping about women who make an effort with their appearance. “But look at her!”, they would say, “She thinks she is some kind of queen, doesn’t she? I bet she even needs a maidservant to get dressed in the morning”. Do you think I am exaggerating here? I wish I was. I literally heard someone who used to talk behind my back calling me “a duchess”. In case you’re wondering why my only sin was to dress up for a casual outing with some friends… No need to say I have heard similar comments about friends, siblings and work colleagues.

Probably, the most unfair factor here is the insane amount of misogyny lying behind the question. Women are judged twice harder than men. If a man is smart, he will be usually praised for it. On the contrary, if a woman develops a taste for fashion, she will be considered frivolous. They will say she is wearing too much makeup or dressing up to catch men attention… However, if this fictitious woman freely decides to wear a bare face or comfortable sports clothes, she will be considered sloppy and lazy. Pick your poison.

Double standards will never let us women win and that is the reason why we need to stop contributing to the problem by criticizing other ladies and start fighting in the sorority team. I know it is not always easy, as we have been all raised on prejudice and socialized on a system whose deeper structures work against individualism. Every time we choose to deconstruct these ideas and stop the gears, we are placing ourselves in the line of fire. It is a conscious decision and it takes guts to do it. Still, it is the right thing to do.

Next time Tom and Claire make a passive-aggressive comment to your office colleague in front of you, do not look the other way. Let them kindly know it is not OK to express unsolicited opinions about other people looks. Maybe they are not conscious about being inadvertently rude. If they are though, you will make them notice this kind of behaviour is not welcome around the place. At the end of the day, we are all people who deserve some respect, no matter what are looks, beliefs or origins are.

And this was another episode of The Prêt-à-porter Series. In the next chapter, we will have a talk about some basic tips to dress up for a Brunch.

Stay tuned for more style advice!

February 4, 2019March 14, 2019

Allegra Caro10 Comments

Fashion Lessons I learned in Japan

“Let’s never come here again, cause it would never be as much fun.”

During my eleven hours flight to Tokyo last year, I deliberately watched Lost in Translation and could not help but feel Sofia Coppola got it right ‒ it is not about the inexpensive sushi or the massive LCD screens displaying music videos in Shinjuku, it is all about your memories.

Like most tourists, I brought a full case of souvenirs back from my trip.

Withal and as much as I enjoyed shopping around Asakusa area for traditional items with an authenticity flavour, I found out the best keepsakes were insubstantial ‒ playing a flâneur during the peak hour at Shibuya, the occasional matcha cup on a softly enlightened coffee shop, small talk with my sister while window shopping at Omotesandō, the beauty of a dusty pink kimono sight in the golden hour… Life, like a dragonfly, crystallized on amber.

As a millennial, there is no need to say I grew up loving all things Japanese.

I belong to the generation which raised Sailor Moon to the modern mythological category.

When I was a teenager, pop culture news from Japan arrived slowly and to us (poor Western children!) fell like rain in the desert. Street Fashion? J-Pop? Manga? You could burn down the cathedrals, we had our own religion. Even after many, many years, the serious woman with a nine to five office position who was boarding an overpriced flight noticed a shiver of the purest childish emotion: there I was, after all this time, finally visiting the oasis of my teenage dreams. Then my sister, a talented artist living in Tokyo, greeted me at the airport and that was the beginning of our best adventure up to today.

Do not get me wrong, I would gladly return to Japan tomorrow morning but a small part of me knows the experience would be completely different. Maybe a bit more tangible. Maybe a bit less surreal. After all, you cannot see things for the first time twice, can you? The process of discovering a new country resembles childhood, somehow. Every little detail catches your attention and remains there forever, floating like the scent of good perfume.

To me, it was about everyday beauty ‒ a moment of perfection shinning in the ugliness of a pavement metropolis. I can close my eyes and still see that old lady on gold and black furisode, standing on a crowded train wagon. I can smell the freshly baked taiyaki on a cold morning.

Unlike the characters of Coppola’s film, I did not experience a moment of enlightenment.

However, after intensive exposure to Japanese Street Fashion during our walks through Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza, I learned a bit of style wisdom I would like to share here. Japanese ladies are some of the more stylish on the planet, although their achievements are frequently underrated and I find it truly unfair. So in order to honour them, these are the fashion lessons I learned in Japan.

Statement coats are a MUST

Winter might make nearly impossible to show up that gorgeous outfit you have been planning for hours but Japanese ladies do not care about it. Instead, they pay much more attention to their coats than we European ladies do. A statement piece, you see, can make all the difference when it comes to transforming meh into yay. Their usual cold weather day look usually includes an awesome colourful coat paired with some nice shoes/boots and a designer bag. Following their example, I purchased the coat I am wearing in these pictures on a well-known Takeshita Dori vintage shop. Price was awesome for the quality and design, and I do not regret a thing to this day.

2. Everything can be accessorized

Maybe you think Western women know a thing or two about accessories, right? Forget about it! In Tokyo, fashionistas take the game to the next level. During one of my day trips to Ginza department stores, I fell in love with the newest trend consisting in adding wild silk and organza flowers to your plain boring coat buttons. Genius! By such a simple trick outwear looks instantly chic. This is just an example of how creative you can be, so do not be scared. Sometimes less is not more.

3. Experiment more

Pink hair? Neon pants? Transparent mini bag packs? Welcome to Tokyo. Japanese Street Fashion is well-known for a reason ‒ people are all but scared to experiment. Some of their trends are frequently discovered and imported to the Western market, via haute couture. My piece of advice is to follow their example and experiment a bit. Do you like it? Then own it, babe.

4. Invest in some quality pieces

I have recently written about how consumerism has become a tidal wave in Japan.

However, the main Japanese immanent style accomplishment to me is the ability to wear an investment piece as a part of an everyday outfit and make it look natural. Personally, I have always been a bit hesitant about wearing my best pieces on a daily basis. After my trip, though, I understood that you can only justify the price tag by actually wearing it. You know it makes sense.

5. Above all, always be you

Fashion is all well and good but sometimes we forget about our better judgement in its favour. Style should all be about finding what YOU like. Style shifting every season like a snake changes its skin can be kind of exhausting (not to mention expensive). Tokyo fashionistas discovered this fact many years ago and they tend to develop their own signature style. It is completely inspirational to me and a rule to swear by.

But the most important lesson I learned was style is a universal language. You cannot get lost in translation.

Coat: Juliette et Justine (vintage).

Necklace: Vivienne Westwood (similar here)

Dress: Stradivarius/ Jumper: Zara / Boots and Bag: Deichmann

January 23, 2019March 14, 2019

Allegra Caro12 Comments

Five stunning dresses on sale you cannot miss

Dear reader,

If you have been feeling the most undeniable lack of enthusiasm lately, expressed by a never-ending string of sighing and grumble that even the occasional morning smoothie cannot fix, do not worry: it is not you – it is the January blues knocking on your door.

Let´s admit it at once: with the Christmas chocolate leftovers far gone and the gloomy weather view through the office window, there are not too many reasons to be a January fan. Abandon hope all ye who enter here… And STILL, I try to search for silver linings. In the first month of the year, we celebrate my husband birthday, the opera and ballet season is in full swing, and the weather is cold enough to wear some of my favourite coats.

Also, there is another big bonus – the January sales! If that´s not a reason to beat the January blues, I don´t know what it is. Since the snow season is being quite harsh this year, I have found myself spending a lot of time indoors, scrolling through my favourite online shops. So I thought it can do no harm to share a collection of five stunning dresses on sale we should all admire (and yes, probably buy).

To add a pinch of salt, I decided to describe them according to what I call The Cinema Verité Method™. So basically, I will tell you how I imagine myself wearing them on a film and then, what it would probably happen, like… in real life.

Five stunning dresses on sale you cannot miss.

The Gossip Girl one (Conscious by H&M)

Isn´t this a dress Serena Van Der Woodsen would totally wear?

Or in this case, let´s say the episode guest star, a.k.a. me in case you did not guess… (As IF I could be in Gossip Girl show, LOL). Let´s all pretend I could play some mysterious Spanish friend Serena made during her European adventure in season two. I imagine myself all wrapped in tulle, wearing matching Jimmy Choo to enter the ballroom… and then falling down the big staircase. Because I don´t know about you guys but I cannot, for my life, make a slow-motion grand appearance wearing high heels AND a long dress. My character would be in the show about five seconds and then die of a skull fracture. The dress is gorgeous, though.

2. The Downton Abbey one (Claudie Pierlot)

Just look at this beauty: it is a simple tea dress, still elegant and with a vintage vibe.

Personally, I think this is a gown you could see in the upcoming Downton Abbey film (please, tell me you are as excited about it as I am. Otherwise, we cannot be friends.) Well, this is for sure something I would wear to have tea with the Dowager Countess of Grantham and Lady Edith, most likely plotting against Lady Mary – because come on, we are all on Lady Edith´s team, aren´t we? And although I would be glad to be a guest at the Abbey on a regular basis, I can only imagine my character lifespan would be rather short once again, especially considering I feel a deep connection with horses but my riding skills are a twelve years old (because literally, that is the only period of my life I tried to learn). “It is so distressful, lady Grantham! Didn´t you hear Miss Caro fell down the horse this morning? The poor soul broke her neck instantly.” Er… maybe I should start being more careful, after all.

3. The Great Gatsby one (Zara)

Before I start, I should probably tell you I have quite a thing for slip dresses.

They always make me think about old Hollywood glamour, the pure awesomeness of Galliano collection for Dior in 1998, and the effortless majesty of Keira Knightley in Atonement, which is probably the reason why I keep about a dozen of them in the closet.

Now, I believe this is a dress a party girl would wear at The Great Gatsby. Even if (like me) you don´t really love the most recent movie adaptation, you must recognize the costumes are quite awesome indeed. So yeah, I would pair this with some YSL and maybe the well-known Miu Miu tiara, and drink champagne all night long. However, my social agenda is much more unattractive (Oh! Alas…) There are many chances you find me wearing this with an oversized jumper on a Saturday evening. Probably eating a pizza. The modern glamorous life of the plain and infamous!

4. The Mad Men one (Phase One)

I love this dress so much, I am only one click away to buy it.

It is a bit like the holy grail of the Winter dresses: it is made of silky velvet fabric, the colour is the perfect emerald green, and the shape is undoubtedly flattering. As an added bonus, it also happens to have a certain je ne sais quoi that reminds me of Joanie in Mad Men. Well, I might not be Christina Hendrix for sure but I do enjoy a nice dramatic gown as much as the next girl. So if you excuse me, I think I will hit the buy button and then plan to which of my absolutely fascinating outings to the closest Star Bucks I will wear it to…

5. The Devil Wears Prada one (H&M)

I don´t know why but to me this dress could be the perfect affordable option to Hathaway´s most iconic daytime looks in the movie. Add a pair of nice long boots and a trendy hat, and it could totally make the trick. And it costs only a fraction of the price tag! Can I hear a double hooray here, please?

If I were in that movie though, I would probably end up with a giant coffee stain in the dress and a snappish anxiety attack while running through Manhattan streets. Personal assistant life is probably not for me.

These are my five favourite dresses on sale right now. I would love you to share your own sale crushes too. Show me all the gorgeous gowns, skirts, coats and bags in your own wishlist.

And remember, wearing dresses can be dangerous: Don´t try this at home!

January 21, 2019January 20, 2019

Allegra Caro14 Comments

How to dress like Dita Von Teese

Fun fact: Not many people know that the etymology for the word glamour seems to have its origins in the Scottish term gramarye, meaning magic or spell.

(Well, maybe it is not SUCH a fun fact – I am sure you will excuse my pedantry, this is what happens when you spend too much time surrounded by books and not by real human beings, especially being the kind of an introvert who would rather eat her aforementioned books than talk to a total stranger for five minutes… Please, do not punch me with a book on the face… But I was trying to tell you a story, surely?)

Once a naive English language student, I learned this etymology by heart and immediately started associating it with a very personal memory: all those rainy Saturdays of my childhood, when my mum used to make us hot chocolate and play an Old Hollywood classic movie on TV.

Those actresses on them – ruthless, fierce, awesome – had nothing to do with the cute beauties in the 80´s or 90´s films. They were, I was and still am convinced, the quintessence of glamour.

The point is, glamour is indeed a sort of spell – you don´t really need to be gorgeous, but to become kind of a human magnet. It is more about personality than about beauty.

And then, about the same period, I heard Dita von Teese on a late-night show, saying glamour is not about youth, age or race. This idea truly resonated with my own perception on the matter. To me, iconic figures such as Bette Davies, Marlene Dietrich or Mae Wong represent this concept, but they did not fit the classic beauty standards at all. Just as Dita does not fit them.

The reason why people are fascinated by her is the way she represents herself in front of the others. The persona she has carefully crafted and created. More than once she has declared she started as a plain-Jane from Michigan. However, she managed to tailor herself a charm armour no-one would be indifferent about. To me, this is the whole point on glam. She found out her own thing and went ahead.

Now, when I suggest the topic of this post, I am not telling you to turn yourself into a Dita wannabe.

As she did, we should all go and find our own thing. Nonetheless, there are some outfit formulas she relies on which I find universally approachable and stylish, and this is what I really wish to share with you.

How to dress like Dita von Teese:

Outfit formula 1: The Sophisticated Lady

There is something indefinitely elegant on the combo formed by a well-tailored circle skirt and a simple turtleneck. Pair it with some nice heels and fine accessories and you get a look which can be used for any smart event, day or night.

Outfit formula 2: The Naïve Girl

Same skirts can be used with a nice blouse or cardigan and flats for a more casual look. It allows you a bit more movement freedom for daily errands (count me in for this, always), plus it can be always toned up with a couple of fancy earrings or a quality bag.

Outfit formula 3: The Bombshell

Well, most of us might never see the red carpet closer than we do on the MET gala pictures, but if are going out for a date this outfit formula totally counts. A pencil dress is a classic we usually underestimate, but with the right shoes and accessories, we can all experience a bit of that vintage glam Dita likes to share.

Outfit formula 4: The Librarian

Looking for an everyday look? We have seen the burlesque queen wearing a simple pencil skirt and cardigan frequently. You can match them with a nice scarf and glasses too for an easy daylight outfit. Clean, simple and classic – a combination which never fades.

These were some ideas on how to bring a bit of old school glamour to your wardrobe. Which of them would you adapt to your own style? Have you got any favorites?

In the next chapter of The Prêt-à-porter series…

The High Maintenance Dilemma: Is elegance a bad thing today?

Stay tuned for more monthly style tips!

December 10, 2018January 15, 2019

Allegra Caro21 Comments