Fashion

How to Embrace Winter Style (And Feel Fabulous As You Do It)

When one thinks about seasonal weather Winter seems to be the ugly sister.

If you evoke spring, your mind will be full of images of pretty floral dresses and pastel colours. Summer recalls vaporous frocks and straw hats, and autumn inspires a myriad of rich tones and lovely knitwear. Winter, though? Winter always suggests boring parkas and Ugg boots.

In other words, if the cold season were a person, she’d be that poor girl in the teenagers’ movie who is never invited to the prom and cries her eyes out because it’s SO UNFAIR.

When talking about winter fashion advice, all the information out there seems to be focused on staying warm (and yes, I also wrote a post about it last year) but, there is very little guidance on how to enjoy styling winter pieces. Wintertime clothes feel a bit like an obligation we have to cope with, instead of something we can appreciate. And guys, I feel sorry for winter! Actually, I feel the urge to offer a hot chocolate to her, wrap her in a fluffy blanket, and tell her everything is going to be alright.

Winter style tips for women over thirty.

So, is it even possible to like winter fashion? I truly think it is, so keep reading if you wish to learn how to embrace winter style and feel fabulous about it.

The first thing we should talk about is the classic dilemma between beautiful and practical clothes. When you think about it, every casual conversation about the topic and every magazine article gravitate around this dichotomy. The conclusion is always the same: you must choose between staying stylish or staying warm. Period. And you know what? To me, that’s the biggest fashion fallacy ever.

Nowadays, most companies are busy producing lovely and high-quality coats. Not to speak about hats, boots, and scarves! Why do we keep insisting on that old-fashioned idea? This brings me to the first point.

Statement coats are key. If like me, you live in a cold-weather country, you will be using your coats a lot. (And by that I mean there’s a chance you don’t remove it from the moment you leave the house, mainly because you don’t feel like freezing to death and becoming Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining…) So given the fact most people will only see you in your coat, doesn’t it make sense it is as stylish as possible? And yes, I also own a long parka I use in the snow when the winter goes ugly, but if you can do it, pick a couple of nice coats in pretty neutrals you can easily mix and match. Or just go bold and pick up a statement piece. I own a variety of coats made in pure wool and in different styles (anything from military/regimental to quirky fits the bill for me) and those always add an extra something. Plus, I truly enjoy styling them with pretty accessories and that can never hurt.

2. Satisfaction guarantweed! (I´m very sorry guys, I couldn’t help myself. I will skip dessert today as a reminder of my awful sense of humour…) One of my favourite fabrics to wear during the coldest months is tweed. It’s stylish, it warm, and it comes in a variety of shades and designs. No matter what’s your style, you will find a tweed piece you love if you look for long enough. Case on point? This stunning skirt I found in Zara a couple of seasons ago. It’s fun, it’s unique, and it’s versatile. In other words? A total winner. I’m leaving some nice examples of tweed pieces here for your reference. Please feel free to have a look!

3. With gloves and scarves go bold or go home. Don’t be afraid of investing in colourful high-quality accessories. One of my favourite winter style tricks is illuminating a neutral outfit by simply adding a pop of colour in the shape of long bright gloves or a fabulous scarf. They can be the cherry on top of the cake, elevating an outfit while keeping you warm.

4. Velvet can be a stylish alternative to jeans. So why not to treat yourself with a pair of nice trousers or a little dress? They are friendly with the office dress code, and you will feel fantastic too. Just because, as much as you might love your boyfriend jeans for casual days, having your ankles’ skin exposed at minus 5 degrees isn’t the brighter idea.

5. A pattern will add some interest to your outfit. This is the season when most people opt for darker colours and plain textures, and that’s all well and good, but if you want to upgrade your outfit, patterns are the easiest way to do so. Houndstooth, Prince of Wales check, plaid, and dark rich florals are just a few examples. Don’t be afraid of experimenting and remember: add one pattern only to avoid distractions.

– OUTFIT –

Skirt and Blouse (Zara, similar here) | Bag (Chanel) | Boots (Deichman, similar at Tommy Hilfiger)

And that’s pretty much it! As you can see, adding a bit of interest to your winter outfit is not too complicated. It only requires a bit more creativity than spring and summer outfits.

February 2, 2022February 8, 2022

Allegra Caro13 Comments

The Strange Case Of The Little Yellow Valentino

How many of you over here are mystery books and movies fans?

If you are, please grab yourself a cup of tea because today I am bringing you an inexplicable story that could be out of the pages of a Sherlock Holmes case. It takes place in foggy London and involves an old Pinterest photo, a sceptical girl, and a little yellow Valentino dress.

Our enigma starts in a little apartment four years ago, when a then much younger (and probably much more rested) fashion blogger aspirant was browsing through her Pinterest feed on a cold Saturday morning. (In case you didn’t guess yet, that girl is me and I know for a fact it was a Saturday morning because back in the day Pinterest and coffee was my weekend morning ritual before getting ready for whatever plans I had. But I am disgressing here…)

Autumn Wintr Valentino Dress. Cheap design dresses.

So where was I? Oh, yes, Pinterest. So, I was browsing through my feed and saving some outfit ideas when the first event happened. The suggestions page refreshed and showed me this pin. I held my breath—There it was, the most perfect marigold yellow dress I had ever seen. I stopped scrolling and looked at it in wonder for a few minutes.

It was a little tie-neck dress, made of lovely silk, with a flared-bib design. It had the cutest buttons in the front part and looked perfect to me.

So I did what anyone would: I clicked on the link to shop for the dress. I was already taking my credit card out when I froze. Because guys, that unique and perfect dress, the one I was already planning to hang in my closet, was a brand new Valentino. And let me tell you that, back in the day, there was no way I was buying a two thousand pounds clothing item. ‘When Hell freezes over‘,I said with a lump in my throat. And I am not going to lie: I almost cried when I felt like a five years old who is not allowed to have nice things because she will break them (which is a fair point anyway, because with me being me, there is always a chance).

Affordable designer dresses. Sustainable designer dresses.

And this should be the end of it, really, but it would be a mediocre mystery story if it finished here, right? The interesting fact is I saved the pin. Then, once in a while, I would open my outfits folder and look at it, sighing. As weeks went by, I showed it to my husband, my sister, a colleague, and the dairyman, for the matter. It was my favourite dress, only… it wasn’t mine, really. That made me feel rather miserable. After a month or so, I started giving hope away and stopped looking at the Pinterest photo. Eventually, I even forgot about it.

Four years after, and already living in London, the second chapter of this conundrum was presented to me.

Sustainable waut to source designer dresses.

One cold evening last November, Sebastian and I went out for coffee and some shopping. We were walking down Oxford Circus when it suddenly started raining and we looked for a place to buy us some time. We were about to enter Zara (because I´m still shopping for pretty pants) when I felt this strange urge to go inside the outlet next door. First, we had a look at the homeware section, where they have some nice staff, and then I decided to have a look at the women’s floor. I started browsing through the clothes racks when I glimpsed a marigold piece hanging there. Attracted by the colour, I pulled the hanger and lost my voice. I stood there in disbelief, looking at the dress with stunned bewilderment. I had to ask Sebastian to hold it while I grabbed the phone and opened my Pinterest app. After a minute or two, I found the pin I had saved four years before. It was the same freaking dress.

‘How in the name of God?‘, I asked Sebastian in wonder. Then, I checked the price tag and couldn’t believe it. As I remembered, the original price was more than two thousand pounds but it was now reduced to three hundred and fifty pounds. I started checking the dress, looking for suspicious stains, flimsy seams, lost buttons, or any other defect. And you know what I found? Nothing. The dress was perfect in every possible sense. And also, my exact size. What are the chances?

Guys, I don’t know what happened then but I lost my senses. I looked at the dress and the very attractive price and instead of running to the cashier, I put it back in the rack. Yes, you can totally kill me now. That day I had just made another big purchase and wasn’t feeling that generous with myself. My husband, on the other hand, took the dress and headed for the cashier. I reasoned with him and decided to give it a thought for a couple of days. Sebastian, poor thing, was perplexed. He spent the whole day trying to make me buy it. But guys, let me tell you I can be quite irrational. At a certain point, I replied to him that if it was meant to be, it would be. I mean, slap me. But I went home, worked for the rest of the week, and got trapped in my daily routine forgetting about the dress again.

The last episode of this charade developed on Christmas Day. After lunch, we were opening presents and Sebastian gave me this big present wrapped in sparkly red. When I opened it, the well-known marigold yellow popped merrily and I opened my mouth in surprise. I looked at him, he shook his shoulders and simply said: ‘I guess it was meant to be‘.

And this ends the strange case of the little yellow Valentino. To this day, I don’t even know how that even happened but I can only guess some universal forces acted here. And you know? That’s part of the beauty of it. Not knowing how it happened.

Has something like this ever happened to you? Let me know in the comments!

– OUTFIT –

Dress (Valentino) | Bag (Strathberry) | Beret (United Colours of Benetton)

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

Allegra Caro4 Comments

I Found The Best Luxury Silk Pyjamas at Larolas And I am Celebrating It With A Give AWay

Have you ever felt like you were looking for that perfect piece of clothing forever? That’s exactly what I experienced for the last two months while looking for the one pure silk pyjama set that would finally make my skin feel amazing. The one pyjama set to rule them all.

The story began last March during one of my casual chats with a friend. We were talking about how your typical cotton sleepwear always seem to leave sleep marks all over your body and how this is one of those unavoidable curses that come with age. It’s a bit of a bummer, really: one day you are in the flower of your youth, all flawless skin, and the next you got sleep marks all over your face and body, and you look like the victim of an ancient Egyptian jinx. As a consequence, if you are anything like me and ~~a bit of~~ a drama queen, there is a good chance you spend five minutes every morning complaining about it because #SOUNFAIR. Guys, I wished I was joking here. I am not though and Sebastian can tell you about ALL the morning moaning while I apply my skincare…

At some point, I got sick of it all and after a fair amount of research I decided to give silk a go due to its well-known anti-aging properties.

I tried it all guys: I searched in every online sleepwear shop I knew, spending an amount of money I would prefer not to admit publicly in what seemed to be the search for the saint pyjamas grail (and Indiana Jones thought he was on a challenging quest, tsk…). I tried high street brands at different price points and I only got more and more dissapointed.

And as I was about to give up though, I received a message from the wonderful people at Laloras, asking me if I would like to test one of their 100% long-strand pure Mulberry silk pyjama sets. And although in all honesty I was quite sick of the whole thing at the time, I decided to give it a final go. And guys, I am so glad I did!

They kindly ordered the Tina Washable Piped Silk Pajama Set in cupid rose for me, together with some of their sleepmasks and scrunchies. One week afterwards, I got the parcel in the mail and decided to test the products right away and see by myself how much of a difference (or not) could I find. As the sceptic creature I am, my initial plans consisted in trying the sleepwear for a couple of weeks before allowing myself to form an opinion on the matter.

With all of this in mind, I prepared for bedtime on the first night (a.k.a ‘experiment session number one’ if you fancy) and, to my surprise, I noticed that the fabric did feel notably softer when compared to the bunch of pyjamas I had already tried. There is something about pure silk that makes me think about water since it’s so soft and light to the touch.

The watery texture is due to the composition of their products which is mulberry silk, considered the highest quality and most expensive silk. (Fun fact: in case you don’t know, mulberry silk comes from the Bombyx mori silkworm, a species whose diet consists exclusively of mulberry leaves, making it one of the rarest and more exquisite fabrics in the world. So yeah, you are totally authorized to feel like an empress when wearing it. Actually, feel free to call me Sissi from now, as far as I am concerned…)

Next morning, I woke up and headed to shower and I got shocked by the fact I could not find a single sleepmark in my body. I repeat: not a single one. What kind of witchcraft was that?

So, this bad boy is not only hypoallergenic, breathable, 6A Grade 100 percent pure mulberry silk, but also woven of silk charmeuse, which feels lighter and drapes incredibly well. HA! You see where I am coming with this, right? I was so impressed, the sceptic planning went out of the window as soon as experiment session number two… (And now you know why I never made it as a researcher at the WHO. Oops…)

But the whole point is, the two-month-long Indiana Jones style quest in search for the perfect anti-aging pyjamas was finally over and I would feel good enough on my skin to rest—and in style too.

Guys, we made it to the end of this review already, so it’s time to talk about our give away. To spread my love for their sleepwear, I am partnering with Larolas to offer a lucky winner a prize of silk accessories. Head to my Instagram account today for a chance to win before Sunday the 30th! I promise you will no regret a thing.

Good luck all contestants!

May 20, 2021May 19, 2021

Allegra Caro11 Comments

Beautiful Spring Outfit Ideas for Life After Lockdown

After what seems to be longest, dullest winter that ever was, we are seeing some shy signs of Spring arrival around here in London—and all I can say is FINALLY!

And yes, I know I might sound like a broken record at this point but c’mon, it feels great to get a real reason to feel joyful and carefree. In case you don’t know, London has been in lockdown intermittenly from last November (although it feels like since Biblical times, as far as I am concerned…) but as March rolled out, our government started the path towards return to normal life.

April was the month when we finally got some non-essential services back such as salons or shops, and most businesses and leissure activities will be allowed between May and June. How glorious is that?

And as much as I am looking forward to spend some time out and about soon, the other huge motivation for me is the prospect of wearing ACTUAL clothes! I mean, actual clohes to go outside and do real life stuff? Count me in! THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

And because we will all be out and about very soon, I thought it could be exciting sharing some outfit ideas for all of those coffee dates with partners, catch-ups with friends, an nice seasonal walks coming our way.

Case on point? This classic black and white number with a pop of colour!

Because guys, I love a nice blouse + circle skirt combo (basically, this is something that will make me think of Audrey Herpburn everytime and if it’s good enough for her, who am I to even disagree?)

First of all, let me just tell you that I am #obsessed with this blouse. Like in, ‘if I could marry a blouse, I would file divorce from the husband in a second’ kind-of-obsessed. This one is from Oasis Fashion and as soon as I saw it, it gave me all the Zimmermann vibes—but also, it was a fraction of the price! Unfortunately, it is out of the stock now, but I have found a similar one at Gucci for the high-end lovers and another beautiful option at Oasis for those who prefer high street.

The skirt on the other hand? It’s one of those timeless pieces you can wear over and over and that will look fantastic any occasion (I have lost track of the number of times I have worn this over springtime over the last few years, to be honest. At this point, it’s more a family member than a piece of clothing, really. Let’s just call her Aunt Margaret and call it a day…). ~~This one~~, I mean, Aunt Margaret is an old purchase but you can find similar alternatives here, here, and here.

Regarding this lovely colour-pop of a bag, it is courtesy of The Cambridge Satchel Company. In case you haven’t read it yet, you will find all you need to know about it in the review I wrote back in January (but just so you know, my love for the Cloud Bag is still going strong—and yes, I am planning to add some more pieces to my ever-growing bag shrine soon because we all know you can´t really have too many nice bags, right?). (Well, as a matter of fact you can. Especially if you live in a modest-sized London apartment and you have to choose between bag space and bed space. But that’s a whole other story for other occasion.)

But back to the topic and to wrap things up, I will link some more seasonal blouses and skirts for all the spring outfits you will be wearing very soon. No doubt there will be plenty of opportunities to wear nice spring outfits again!

Are you excited to be wearing real clothes very soon?

May 12, 2021May 16, 2021

Allegra Caro15 Comments

How To Dress For Winter Weather: Staying Stylish When It’s Cold Outside

Generally speaking, I enjoy a fashion challenge: scoring that It bag in a vintage store, styling an outfit on a budget, or getting a nice bargain for that dream-dress on the seasonal sales.

Actually, I even started a whole category in this blog dedicated to all those glorious finds I get when hunting for treasures. Yes, I love a fashion challenge that much. What I don’t like though, it’s the challenge of dressing up for extreme weather. And more specifically, I have always found it difficult to dress for winter.

Being Spanish, I grew up in a very humid and wet area—we have got North-Atlantic weather in my region—meaning it rains most of the year but temperatures are rather warm, even during the coolest months. Hence, as a child, I was never taught how to dress for proper cold.

Seven years ago, the husband and I moved abroad and for the first time ever, I found myself experiencing proper winter—and by that, I mean winter in capital letters, like the type the Stark family spent 8 TV show seasons warning us about and, of course, we knew nothing of because we were ~~totally unprepared idiots~~ sweet summer children. So, I had to learn. Quickly.

Looking back now, I can only feel the clothes I had for winter were unsuitable, to say the least (thermals? I was clueless about the meaning of that word…) and I had to spend a considerable amount of time and money making my research. And even so—for an embarrassingly long time—I was either freezing or making my best impersonation of a potato sack (while still freezing).

Since this is nothing but cold winter, I thought I would share with you all those little pieces of wisdom a poor clueless Spanish girl had to learn the hard way.

Here you are: my top tips on how to dress for winter (and stay stylish).

01. Thermals are your best friend

I am not gonna lie. It took me a while to realize there is a limited number of layers you can wear over your clothes. (Actually, it took me so long I am surprised to this day I didn’t end up like Jack Torrance at the end of The Shining movie…) The obvious solution is dressing from underneath and building up. A nice thermal tie and tights make such a difference, really. In my opinion, nothing can beat the Heattech line by Uniqlo. To me, it’s been life-changing since a friend recommended it. I can wear mostly anything with those and still feel like a human being. Guys, if that’s not the definition of success, I don’t know what it is.

02. And a nice coat should be your second skin

I know, Captain Obvious to the rescue. However, for most winter all people will see is your coat. Why not to invest in something that will keep you warm but is still fabulous? Personally, I am all about statement coats: they add up to your outfit in a simple way while making dressing a lot easier. If you want to play safe, go for a neutral tone that goes with everything. There are plenty of options out there depending on your taste and budget but I think we all agree a coat is such an investment piece.

03. Hats add the final touch to any winter outfit

I collect hats and berets in every colour of the rainbow and I can tell you it’s such an easy, inexpensive way to crown any stylish outfit. The one I am wearing in these pictures used to belong to my mother before she passed it to me and it’s about twenty years old. (You can tell I love a nice vintage piece, can’t you?) But the point is, a good hat will protect you from extreme weather, so why not to look for something you truly love?

04. Natural materials can be twice warmer (and fabulous)

It took me far too long but, once I said goodbye to all of that artificial knitwear and hello to my trusted 100% wool and cashmere, life was never the same. While living in Spain, I always thought it was more of a question of taste on texture but once I moved to a place with proper winter, I realized there is a difference beyond the mere aesthetics. The high price tag is there for a reason, guys. In the past, I found very nice pieces at The White Company but I’ve been obsessed over Repeat Cashmere lately. They offer a wide range of pieces from cardigans to coats in every colour and style, and I only regret I didn’t get to know them earlier.

05. When still cold, add pocket warmers

On particularly cold days when the temperatures drop below zero, I will wear my heavier coat but also add my secret weapon: pocket or hand warmers. In case you don’t know about them, they are a small device you heat and insert in your pockets to release heat for a couple of hours. There are several model types, including electric, gel-based, and even stone or carbon-based models, but they are an effective way to keep yourself warm during a cold wave.

And these were my tips on how to keep yourself warm this winter while staying stylish. What about you? Are there any tips you want to share?

Coat | Zara (old, nice alternatives at New Look and La Redoute)
Trousers | Zara (last season, similar model at Karen Miller)
Patent Ankle Boots | Reserved (old, amazing alternative at Russell & Bromley)

Hat | Vintage

Bag | CHANEL (Great opportunity to get it with a fair discount at Vestiaire Collective)

January 11, 2021January 10, 2021

Allegra Caro23 Comments

The Cloud Bag review: What I Got for Christmas

This Christmas many things were different at home: we couldn’t visit our family in Spain, spent the holiday on Tier 4, and had to make last-minute arrangements as a consequence. But even so—and as many people out there—we did our best to keep the festive spirit up.

Hence, we cooked a delicious dinner, had a Skype board games family meet up on Christmas Eve, and exchanged presents, as usual, the next morning. Maybe, it wasn’t the kind of celebration we had in mind but, against all odds, it was truly nice.

To be a hundred per cent honest, I was expecting it to be a bit Dickensian due to the whole Christmas cancellation drama here in London (in case you do not know, the prime minister played the Ebenezer Scrooge card and forbade any celebrations a couple of days before holidays, which left us with the slight but undeniable feeling of being trapped in some weird version of A Christmas Carol, really). However, we came to terms with it by deciding that a simpler Christmas did not mean a sad Christmas, necessarily. After all, it’s not like we were eating gruel on rags or anything…

But back to the topic, one of my favourite things about the holiday is Christmas morning. I love preparing a bottomless festive breakfast and sitting comfortably afterwards, looking at Sebastian’s face while he opens his presents. This year though? This year, he decided to be the one surprising me.

I was given several amazing gifts (the guy does know how to hit a nerve) but he left the cutest for the end. And guys, I was in awe!

The Cloud Bag by The Cambridge Satchel Company Review

Sebastian did know I’ve always had a thing for The Cambridge Satchel Company partially because I am all about everything handmade and craftmanship, and partially because their bags have got a certain vintage vibe I cannot resist. Also, I’ve always admired the fact they started the company at their kitchen table with a £600 budget, and only two years later, they were working with Comme des Garçons. Their bags have been featured by the Italian Vogue, wore by style icons such as Alexa Chung or Lady Gaga, and the company has worked with Vivienne Westwood and Melissa among others. To me, they are the indie equivalence of a Birkin, and their image as a brand it’s all about reflecting on freshness, youth, and the cool factor.

As a result, every time I pass across their London shop in Seven Dials, I stop and spend a good half an hour looking at the never-ending selection of leather goods. I can tell you this: I would get their whole catalogue keenly and not regret a thing. A couple of weeks ago, we passed across the shop again and Sebastian realized there were huge sales inside so, while I was inside drooling over their pieces, he made a secret list from my favourites.

On Christmas morning, I received the beautiful Cloud Bag in pale lilac (in the pictures it looks more like blush pink but I promise it is the most delicate lavender tone you can ever imagine), with pale gold hardware, and gorgeous Celtic grain. This specific model is one of their best-sellers and usually out of stock, so I was over the moon he managed to find it in my favourite colour option. How awesome is that?

Another amazing detail is the company offers the possibility of customization for every piece so, Sebastian went the extra mile here and engraved it with my initials in gold foil. In case you wonder, he won the prize for the best husband in 2020. Period.

I can tell you guys, this bag is the new love of my life and I cannot wait for things to go back to normal, so I can wear it everywhere. I am dying to see how many Spring outfits I can get out of this cutie. (I’ve got a dress in mind it will totally work with…)

In terms of size, the bag is small but still fits my phone, keys, wallet, lipstick, and cardholder. So it’s not only aesthetic but also a practical addition to my collection. Win-win situation!

If, like me, you are in love with the bag and planning to get it (I might be playing with the idea of starting a little The Cambridge Satchel Company shrine at home, given the number of nice models they produce…), the good news is they have got a 30% discount sales at the moment, which applies not only to the Cloud Bag but to most lines. So hurry up, before they are gone…

And well, at this point I wrote almost eight hundred words about the bag—we all know I have a thing for long bag reviews when I love my purchase— so I am going to leave it here for now and let you go and stalk The Cambridge Satchel Company website for a while. You are welcome!

Have you heard of T.C.S.C. before? What did you receive for Christmas?

December 29, 2020December 28, 2020

Allegra Caro10 Comments

Should you be dressing up these Christmas?

I think we could say, without fear of being mistaken, that 2020 has been a long, gloomy year. But just as December approached, we witnessed what I consider a Christmas miracle: the find of the Pfizer Covid jab. And guys, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been dancing around the house ever since then.

Although Christmas will be strange this year, with the jab coming soon and the promise of an eventual return to normal life, they also look a bit sweeter. Still, the only social contact for those of us living in the UK will be our Christmas bubble.

Things are so different now that most of our usual festive traditions and habits seem to need a bit of a review, to say the least. We won’t be attending the annual corporative Christmas party, going out for festive drinks with our friends, nor hosting a twenty people Christmas dinner. We’ll be toning it down and, with that in mind, a question arises.

Should we dress up for Christmas this year?

In the middle of the whirlwind 2020 has been, this is for sure the last of our concerns.

However, as we approach the seasonal period and try to maintain as much normalcy as possible, it seems OK to ask ourselves to what extent is dressing up acceptable, adequate, or even relevant.

The answer seems to vary from person to person. Many people will be spending these holidays alone with their significant other, many with their closest relatives, and—sadly enough—many will spend them by themselves.

In our case, for instance, we were planning to go home (back in Spain) but with the existing quarantine protocols, it looks rather crazy to us booking a two week holiday just to spend it quarantined at our family’s place—and then repeating the whole process when back in the UK. Instead, we will stay, form a Christmas bubble with another household to celebrate, and then spend the whole thing speaking with our family via Skype. So, not the December we were expecting. (Or as The Rembrandts would put it: It hasn’t been our day, our week, our month, or even your year… No matter what, Friends philosophy always works over here, lately.)

Every year, I will dress up to the nines for our Christmas Eve flamboyant dinner party but, without an opportunity to travel or host fifteen people in our miraculously roomy London apartment, the idea started feeling vacuous.

Would my family/friends look weird at me during our festive Zoom meetups? Would my Christmas support bubble be judging me? Should I give up and wear the ugliest Christmas jumper and pyjama bottoms all holiday long? Would anyone care at all?

I think it’s fair to say that, for most of us, these questions have come to our minds lately. And the reply was nowhere to be seen.

I’ve been thinking quite enough about self-love during the pandemic and how the small things and routines seem to affect our well-being. Even the smallest choices, such as the clothes we wear, have been playing a huge role in our mental health. And this is when all I have learned during the last nine months come into play.

Because the truth is the only person who cares is YOU. People are far too concern about real issues (no need to comment on how evident these are because we all know someone who has been put on furlough, lost their jobs, or even lost a vulnerable relative during this nightmare) to spend a minute of their time judging your personal choices about something as superfluous as clothing. So my advice is simply this: go with your gut.

Dress up for yourself, to have some sense of normality this year, to feel good. Or don’t dress at all and drink all the prosecco in your ugliest Christmas jumper and pyjama trousers. Dress up (or not) to claim the festive season for yourself. Just because you do deserve it.

You may have no control over the economic consequences, the permanent changes this pandemic will leave on all of us, or how quickly things go back to normal. And yes, if you are a control freak (hello bdudy, it’s two of us now!) it must have been bugging you for a while. What you can control though is the way you react. Try to take it easy by taking small decisions: choose the things that make you feel good. Love to wear a sparkling gold dress? Go for it. Love some jeans? That’s good too. You do you. Own your life and don’t let anyone or anything to convince you otherwise. Don’t even listen to me, for the matter. Always go with your gut.

Because you know? At the end of the day, we all had the strangest year and anything making it better should be welcome.

What about you, though? Are you dressing to kill these Christmas or toning it down?

Coat | Zara (last season, great festive alternative at L.K. Bennett)
Bag | Metamorphose temps de fille (vintage, similar model at La Redoute)
Scarf and gloves | Accessorize (last season, they have another scarf model on sale now. Nice gloves alternative available at Dune.)

December 14, 2020December 13, 2020

Allegra Caro10 Comments

What I Learned About Style (And Self-Love) During The Pandemic

I am going to tell you something nuts—a few weeks ago, I found myself screaming at my yoga pants. If this was an American comedy (a film entitled The Honest Crazy Fashionista Diaries, if you please) it would be that in media res moment when we see the main character making something weird and hilarious just before we are told the story from the beginning. Let me explain how I got to that point.

Nine months ago, in the few first weeks of the lockdown, I was sent home to work remotely. Like virtually everybody else, I set my best intentions: waking up as usual, investing the extra time in a relaxing morning routine which would include yoga, morning shower, and healthy breakfast, and then dressing up as I would usually do for the office.

At this point, you probably know where this is going, right? Three weeks afterwards, I was wearing comfy pants 24/7, eating chocolate cake for breakfast, and dressing up from the waist upward for the occasional Zoom meetup—which wasn´t that often, anyway.

So basically, any sense of normality went out of the window in about five minutes.

I was struggling to sleep as usual, eat healthily, and having the necessary amount of daily exercise (I already wrote about that period over here) so, dressing up was the very last of my concerns. Indeed, the only moment I would open the closet was when picking some clean comfy trousers. Then, I´d look at my clothes and think how sad it was not to have anywhere to go… In other words, wild party over here guys.

As events unfolded though, it was crystal-clear this wasn´t one of those situations that would fix themselves in a few weeks´ time. Quite the contrary, Sebastian and I found ourselves cancelling any travelling plans (we said our farewells to my birthday city-break in Paris, as well as our yearly beach retreat family visit) and I didn´t even see the point in shopping any cute summer outfits because who in the world cared, really?

And then, the unexpected happened and we were allowed to go outside again, even if it was in a socially distanced way. I remember the first Saturday morning we ventured outside. It felt surreal and exciting, even if it was just about going for a walk to the city centre. Every step outdoors was a bit like walking on the moon: it felt that strange.

But one of the strangest aspects was opening my wardrobe and looking for real clothes. Not yoga pants, or my university hoodie but actual, grown-up, outdoors clothes. And guys, that was a trip.

I hadn´t been more surprised even if an army of Oompa Loompas had paraded out of my closet singing. It was THAT weird. On the one hand, I felt super excited about the prospect of dressing up but, on the other hand, I couldn´t help but feeling dressing to the nines would be a bit inappropriate. Still, I missed the sense of normality linked with dressing in nice clothes. So there I was—trapped on a dilemma of my own creation. Thank you very much, you stupid brain.

So, I did what felt right and found a middle ground: I dressed up a bit without going over-the-top and called it a day.

As we walked through Bloomsbury, I came to realize most people had chosen a similar plan of action. You could feel many people were making a bit of an effort (probably because, just like me, they were missing the chance to wear real clothes) but at the same time, trying to tone it down a bit. So, I went home thinking I wasn´t that crazy, after all.

Then, as summer progressed, I started getting used to normal clothes again and that new casual-chic-thing I was trying felt more and more natural up to an extent, I perceived it as the only acceptable way of dressing.

By the time my birthday arrived in mid-August, I was so used to it that dressing a bit fancier felt unnatural. And as much as I enjoyed the day in general, wearing my Chloé dream dress for high tea was strange. But the part that hit me like a bullet was the fact I was feeling slightly ashamed. I knew it was a special occasion when we were going to celebrate at some fancy place, and still, I felt guilty about it. I felt guilty to wear something nice, guilty to enjoy myself, and—on a deeper level—guilty to be perfectly healthy to enjoy a day that was nothing but perfect when many other people were struggling out there.

As stupid as this might sound, that guilt made me going back to my yoga pants for a little while. I felt I didn´t deserve anything nicer in the short-term. How could I be thinking about clothing, anyway?

I returned to the comfiest clothes I could find on working days and toned it down even more on the weekends. In my head, that would make me invisible to any judgement coming from others—what I was reaching for was being invisible to my own judgement, though. And guys, I am Judge Judy´s severe sister when it comes to myself.

At some point and during one of my Skype chats with my sister, we talked about it, and something she said stuck with me: “Girl,” she told me, “this crap ain´t nobody´s fault and punishing yourself for doing whatever makes you cope won´t fix it. You know that, right?” And guys, I didn´t.

That was some food for thought, certainly. I began to realize every time I picked up my yoga pants, I was saying sorry, somehow: Sorry for being young, sorry for being healthy, sorry for having a job while others are being made redundant, sorry for laughing…sorry for being alive. It was time to let it go.

So, on a cold autumn morning, I found myself yelling at my yoga pants. Letting all the compressed rage go out. And you know what? I felt better immediately.

Because in the end, it wasn´t about clothing or style, really. It was more about self-love and acceptance and forgiveness. And that guys is something to remember.

December 1, 2020November 30, 2020

Allegra Caro14 Comments

A Chic Outfit Under A 100 Pounds? Challenge Accepted

Although we took these pictures back in late-September, it feels like a thousand years ago. I am tempted to play your grandma here and say they were simpler times, when you could leave the house freely and have a nice walk under the autumn sun. That’s how odd things have gone.

At the time of writing, we’re not allowed to leave the house except for essential reasons which can make blogging and content creation a challenge, and although I do know that means nothing in the big scheme of things, it means a lot to me. The positive side here is Sebastian and I anticipated a second lockdown at the end of the Summer and we started creating batch content, which is the reason you are able to read me here once a week (plus, the reason why I keep updating my Instagram page regularly) and why many of my photos are a bit older. Case on point, the ones in this post.

But getting straight to the point, the week before we shot these pictures, I was spending some spare time browsing through one of my favourite online fashion forums when I encountered a thread where people were discussing the average cost of clothing these days, and more especifically, how expensive it is to dress on a stylish way.

Although it might sound fair enough initially, the problem with that premise is most users identified dressing decently with couture brands. Hence, they wrongly assumed that style is all about an expensive price tag. And I think that’s a huge mistake.

It is true that most couture brands produce high-quality clothing but it’s no longer the monopoly of these companies. These days, you can find attractive prices under different shapes: high street stores, vintage shops, and even second-hand couture markets if that’s your jam.

Since most people will think it’s easier said than done, I thought I would take the plunge and finding a nice outfit for less than your average price tag.

A chic outfit under a hundred pounds? Challenge accepted!

So first things first: the moment I decided to try this, I knew shopping resposibly was the main angle to me. I didn’t feel like going outside and shopping for new clothes on some random fast fashion place and then forgetting about them forever. Don’t get me wrong, I am not judging other bloggers for doing that, but I don’t feel comfortable about it. Hence, the first thing I did was thinking about the outfit in terms of my actual wardrobe gaps and using the chance to fill some of them. For me, shopping sensibly is a must.

I keep a document on my laptop containing a shopping list with specific pieces I need to get at some point (things like, let’s say, a good-quality camel coat or a long-lasting neutral bag). So, I opened the list and after determining what was next, I made a bit of shopping research… AND BINGO! I found the exact brown mid-length pleated skirt I had been looking for a while on the final summer sales. I ordered it online and crossed the item from my list. As for the price? I paid only twelve pounds for it. Win-win situation, people.

For the next piece of my outfit and keeping up with the sustainable principle, I wanted to use an item from my existing wardrobe. One of the most interesting points about sustainability is elongating the useful lifespan of your clothes by taking proper care of them. And guys? I am sucker for that.

After checking my closet extensively, I chose this off-white Zara turtle neck from last season. It is perfect for autumn weather and it looks great. The original price was about fifteen pounds at the time I bought it and, although it’s not available anymore, I found a nice alternative for you here. Let’s go with the next piece!

This is probably my favourite part of the outfit (a.k.a. SHOES). In the last year or so, I have become a total convert (and by that what I truly mean is I’ve been possesed by an evil spirit who will push me to buy the most gorgeous pair I can find, day or night…). I used to be quite practical —and a bit boring, if we are being honest here— when it comes to shoes but not anymore. Right now, I feel like filling the gaps on my shoe collection and I’ve been having some fun by doing so. And speaking of that, I got obsessed with the Gadly Court Shoes by Dorothy Perkins last Summer, which made me buy them in tan as well as in yellow. What can I say? I am no saint. But the point is, these lovely pumps were in my closet already. Total cost? Seventeen pounds. I know, CRAZY.

As for the accessories, I wore this cute vintage carved ivory box from my collection. It was a gift from Sebastian but the price in the antiques shop was about fifty pounds, which is a steal. The belt was another lucky find at ASOS (I got it for five pounds in the final sales too). I am not including the sunglasses here since they were another present my husband purchased for me at Chloé for a special ocassion (I am truly sorry because it’s a bit like cheating, really. We all know you can find inexpensive sunglasses out there without any hussle, though…)

But it’s time to do the maths!

Skirt | H&M Value: 12 GBP
Sweater | Zara (old) Value: 15 GBP
Belt | Asos Value: 5GBP

Bag | Vintage Value: 50 GBP
Shoes | Dorothy Perkins Value: 17 GBP

TOTAL COST | 99 GBP

Final thoughts: I did dressed up for less than a hundred pounds (leaving out the designer sunglasses, obviously) which is great, all things considered. I would say it is totally possible to dress on a classy way as long as you carefully curate your pieces and take care of your exisiting clothes. To me, planning this outfit did not feel hard. I simply had to be witty with my choices and give it some thought.

So tell me, what do you think about style on a budget? Are you into sensible shopping too?

November 25, 2020November 24, 2020

Allegra Caro9 Comments

The Ultimate Yellow Trench Coat: Fashion Find Fridays

There are a million things I love about London: the architecture, the food variety, the people… But among them all, a favourite of mine will always be the local pre-loved/vintage market.

During the last six years as an expat, I’ve had my fair share of travelling around, so I know a bit about vintage shopping at this point. Budapest is simply amazing for antiques hunting, while Tokyo second hand luxury market is to die for. But London is something else—a refreshing oasis for all the thirsty thrift lovers.

Only in London, the pre-loved offer seems to be never-ending: From flea markets to antique boutiques, and from designer outlets to charity shops. The party is never over.

By wandering around the Kensington and Notting Hill areas, I’ve been adding high-quality pieces over the last year. I feel like these shops are sort of a fashion black hole, where you can loose the track of space and time while browsing through piles of stunning dresses, bags and accessories. I am sure one day I will enter just to emerge in 2040 or somethig. I will do it flawlessly dressed, though.

Being a slow fashion fan, I can only describe the last twelve months as amazing. Every time we enter a specialized shop I will find at least one piece I love. I am not joking guys: the quality is usually so good, even Sebastian will chase me around the shop in question, bringing me one piece after another. “LOOKZ!” he will invariably say, “It´s a designer skirt! In burgundy! You need to try it now.” (And I usually will, mostly because burgundy is my personal cryptonite and I can’t say no, really.) But back to the topic, let me introduce you to the newest addition to my Fashion Find Fridays portfolio…

The ultimate yellow trench coat!

Oh, she’s my pride and joy! Look at her, isn’t she just gorgeous? Although it seems like a lifetime ago now, there was a time when I used to dislike trench coats (I know, CRAZY). But things are different these days and I can’t get enough of this beauty.

She is the perfect shade—somewhere between lemon and butter— which makes this trench the perfect match for all those vibrant spring and summer outfits. It does help that I’ve been developing an insane taste for the colour since last year and it’s basically flooding my closet these days.

Also, the fabric is light to the touch and yet warm enough to wear it in September. Win-win situation here. As for the cut? It’s truly quite a structured piece, with well-tailored shoulders, a flattering waistline, and lovely details in the form of a nice satin trimming and over-sized buttons.

Since I bought it back in June, I’ve got lots of compliments and questions about it. So, I feel like a million dollars every time I wear it. The best part? It costed about twenty pounds and it was brand new!

About one month after the purchase though, I found these amazing yellow satin pumps at Dorothy Perkins (which by the way, are now on sale: you’re very welcome!), and had to buy them since they were the exact same colour. How often does that even happen? I can tell you I am over the moon about it!

But let’s go with my favourite part: the five stars points system!

I am going to give four stars and a half to my fashion find this week, mostly because the fit was slightly big for me (I am between sizes) and had the waist tailored in order to reduce some inches. Even so and overall, I am truly happy with the purchase and I would totally but it again. I think this has been one of the most interesting additions to my wardrobe this season.

Although this is a vintage piece, I have looked for some beautiful yellow trench alternatives for you. All the links are below.

-OUTFIT-

Trench coat | Vintage (similar alternatives at Farfetch and Asos)
Shoes | Dorothy Perkins Yellow Gladly Satin Court Shoes

Watch | Olivia Burton Marble Florals and Grey Lilac Leather Strap 34 mm watch

Blouse | Max Azria (old, lovely alternative at Lilysilk)
Laser-cut miniskirt | Zara (last season, brilliant option at Revolve)

November 20, 2020November 19, 2020

Allegra Caro8 Comments