Fashion

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 Caro3 Comments

How to Wear a Tulle Skirt in 2020 (Without Looking Like A Ballerina)

Worried about the ballerina look outside of a performance of Swan Lake when wearing a tulle skirt? Not in my watch! I have you covered…

In the six years I spent watching Sex At The City, I learnt a few interesting lessons from the show: Manolo Blahnik will ruin your life, friends are family, and it’s probably better to avoid dating eccentric Russian artists. But most important, you can totally wear a tulle skirt and carry away with it. (Pun intended…)

Before SATC entered my life, tulle skirts seemed to be the epitome of a style faux pas—a capital sin capable of transforming someone chic into a clueless fashion victim. However, as my relationship with the show developed over its six seasons, I came to figure out a few things about the main style icon Carrie Bradshaw, including but not limited to:

She sipped Cosmos the way you and I drink water (don’t try at home, kids. You will have to trust me with this one)
Mr. Big was a not very nice human being but she had her own luggage too
She could rock the hell out of a tutu

In terms of style, I felt like Carrie was reinventing the wheel! I had been living in a white and black world and suddenly discovered technicolour. In that old, dusty world tulle skirts exclusively belonged to ballet performers and maybe circus tightrope walkers. But not anymore! It was time to leave fear back and start experimenting.

Unfortunately, it took me a while to fully understand how to wear a tulle skirt in any situation.

As most experiences when walking my style path, it required a good dose of trial and error (I am a slow learner guys, what can I say?), as well as an embarrasing number of class-A fashion disasters—don’t make me ramble about the 2017 Christmas Eve tulle massacre. I would cry, you would cry, and we would never ever be the same really… But I like to think it was all worth it at the end. Eventually, I felt confident enough to wear them in public and adopt them as a part of my signature style.

So, what is the magic formula to looking great on a tulle skirt? It’s all a question of following a few steps. No secrets here!

Bear with me for the top five tips to rock a tulle skirt in 2.020

1. Tone it down with a graphic tie

Look, tulle skirts are dressy and unless you tone them down a bit, it will look like you’re all set-up for an evening at the opera. Now, that’s all good and well but unless you have tickets for La Traviata, you might feel a slightly overdressed in most situations. The solution here is rather obvious: you need to tone it down. A few things scream casual as loud as a graphic tie does, so pick up a nice one and you are good to go. For me, it was this cute t-shirt I got last year at StarShinners, but there are plenty of chic options out there (like this cute one at River Island (already on my shopping cart) or this lovely one from Pretty Little Thing). And yes, I totally have got a thing for French inspiration t-shirts.

2. Mix it with stripes and get the Parisian chic look

Another of my absolute favourite options is mixing tulle and stripes. Personally, I feel it gives you all the Paris girl vintage vibes and you can’t wrong with that, can you? I mean, how could you say no to looking like a modern Brigitte Bardot, right? Can I hear the amen here? Choose a nice striped tie or sweater and you’re done! Case on point? This gorgeous Boden top: it has got that gorgeous boat neck, it’s soft to the touch, and absolutely chic.

3. Add a bike jacket to make it edgy

This is a simple way to add some interest to your outfit while making it edgy. Guys, I am not gonna lie here: I love a good old biker jacket over my tulle skirts, especially in Autumn and Spring, when you can make the most of the weather by adding a warming layer. (Actually, I love a biker jacket with mostly everything but that’s a different story for a different post. And I can guarantee that will be a long one.) The good thing about bicker jackets these days is they come in every colour you can think of, so you will be always able to contrast/match your skirt.

4. With a turtle neck for a classic look

A turtle neck is such a versatile piece, it goes basically with everything (a tulle skirt, nice tailored trousers, an astronaut jumpsuit… you get the idea). So it’s no surprise it is one of my favourite ways to style a tulle skirt. The combination makes any look sophisticated and yet wearable, no matter the ocassion. Personally, I like to add some texture with cashmere but the options are endless.

5. Make it special with some lace

Now, it is possible you are wearing a tulle skirt for a special ocassion like a date. So, the dilemma here is how to dress it up and yet avoid the fatal ballerina looks. Easy-peasy: add some lace for a dramatic effect. Then, you can pair it with heels and some nice jewelry. I can guarantee you will look great.

And these are my top tips to rock a tulle skirt in 2020.

Have you tried any of them? Let me know and share your experience.

– OUTFIT –

Skirt | Chicwish (old, similar here)
Graphic Tie | StarShinners (now on sale at Wish)
Shoes | Dolce & Gabbana (old, beautiful alternative at La Redoute)
Bag | Chanel Boy Bag (available for a fraction of the price at Farfetch)

November 12, 2020November 11, 2020

Allegra Caro20 Comments

The Chloé Dress: Fashion Find Fridays

I have got a confession to make: I am into hunting. I don’t mean living things, of course (far from it!) but to be more specific, I am into style hunting.

To me, a few things can compare to the pure excitement I experience when finding a clothing piece I love. Although I don’t consider myself a serial shopper at all, I spend a considerable amount of time browsing through my favourite fashion websites and apps, visiting vintage shops, antique markets, luxe and high street boutiques. As I have defended previously, the main secret behind an awesome wardrobe is time investment.

From my middle-twenties on (when I finally stopped drinking cheap rosé, making very questionable style choices, and being a total Zara shopaholic) I developed a healthier relationship with clothes. I had no words for it at the time but looking back now, I realize I made a transition into slow fashion, and as a result, my life quality improved a lot. Like in Carrie Bradshaw-finally-stopped-buying-designer-shoes-and-got-out-of-debt kind of improvement… Yes, guys—it was that bad.

The main consequence of my shopping habits change was a healthier savings account, but also a progressive closet upgrade. As time went by, less quantity mostly meant better quality. And I thought it would be a nice idea to start a brand fresh blog series, featuring all those astounding pieces I find out there.

Case on point, this amazeballs Chloé dress. This beautiful velvet-trimmed silk-crepon dress had been in my wishlist FOREVER. Partially because the initial three thousand pounds price tag was intimidating (and a bit of a cooler) to say the least, and partially because at the time it seemed to be out of stock mostly everywhere.

A few months ago and just as we entered lockdown here in the UK, I was checking my Vestiaire Collective app and browsing through the Chloé category when I suddenly found the dress. Now, for those of you who are not familiar with it, VC is a pre-loved and vintage website which specializes in the couture and luxury markets—and just so you know, it is my BFF these days (or it would be if it were a person and I could invite her over dinner or for cocktails every week, that’s how good she is…). But where was I…? Oh, yeah, THE dress.

As it happened, I found this marygold number in mint condition and with no visible signs of usage. As far as I know and given the fact it looks like brand new out of the store, it was probably only tried on or wore once and then sold. The best part? I only paid four hundred pounds, which is not even close to the original retail price!

The gown is pure silk, light and soft to the touch. As for the shade, it’s vibrant and yet delicate. The cut makes me think of all those gorgeous pieces I used to drool over while watching Downton Abbey. It feels like a second skin and it’s truly comfy to wear in warm weather. In one word, we are speaking perfection here folks. So let’s roll-on and proceed with my favourite part…

Time to introducing the five stars voting system!

In this occasion, I am giving this Fashion Find Friday five stars. Not only was the dress amazing in terms of condition and price tag, but the shipping was surprinsgly speedy. Vestiaire Collective has a wide selection of items stored in their central warehouse in Paris and it takes only a couple of days to reach you when shopping from Europe. Also, they check every item to be sure you are getting only what you pay for (no designer knockoffs there). What else could you ask for?

– OUTFIT –

Dress | Chloé (now on sale at Matches Fashion in capuccino colour option)
Bag | Vintage (similar Cult Gaia & Aspinal of London Hat Box Handbag)
Shoes | Deichmann pumps (last season, similar Reiss Paula Gold Leather Strappy Sandals)
Accessories | Accessorize Starburst Pearl and Crystal Headband

November 6, 2020

Allegra Caro14 Comments

Most Hilarious Things People Say To Fashion And Style Bloggers

If someone would ask me to define the Internet in one word, I would reply without missing a beat: Weird. Yes, Internet is packed with odd, inexpleinable things and people who will be even stranger.

But I am not speaking about UFOs or paranormal activity caught on camera. (Guys, I could totally deal with those thanks to the approximately two thousand episodes of The X Files I have watched. This is far darker and uncannier.) To be specific, I am mystyfied by the number of peculiar statements I’ve been reading about the blogging industry lately. Even more so about fashion and style bloggers. I must confess it is a bit of a hobby at this point, pretty much like binge-reading detective stories and waiting for the next plot twist. Because let’s admit it—when something becomes so surreal, it turns into a guilty pleasure. But allow me to provide you with some context.

A couple of weeks ago, I was making some blogging topics research at a certain forum when I stumbled upon a thread in which people discussed style blogging. Actually, I’d rather say they were discussing fashion bloggers and many of the questions and answers were… I’ll go with interesting here.

Hilarious misconceptions about fashion and style blogging

During my first year as a blogger, I learned so many things but even today I can’t explain why people make all kind of crazy assumptions about fashion bloggers.

I can only guess they are related to the fact that blogging is a relatively new industry and people seem to have a hard time figuring out it runs just like any other business: by means of hard work. There’s no magic formula, really. And as much as I’d like to say we all spend our days drinking champagne while our bank balance grows, it’s not like that. Sorry to burst your bubble!

Hilarious assumptions about fashion bloggers

So just for fun, let me tell you about the most hilarious things people say to fashion and style bloggers. Ready? Shrieks of laughter in three, two, one…

1. What do you do with your clothes once you are done taking pictures of them?

Guys, I love this one. The first time someone actually asked me this online, I stopped for about five minutes with a very confused look on my face. What the heck? Like, I don’t know about you but once I am done wearing something, I will add it to the laundry pile, and then it’s back to the closet until—drumrolls, please—I WEAR IT AGAIN. I know, ground-breaking, right? Yes, fashion bloggers wear their clothes more than once too. Who knew?! I don’t know, maybe it’s related to the fact that they buy them with their hard-earned money? UNBELIVABLE. Which of course leads to the following point in the list…

funny assumptions and misconceptions about style bloggers

2. How can fashion/style bloggers afford their clothes?

Dear readers, I am going to tell you a secret: there’s an obscure pact between bloggers and other people involving the transaction of labour and money. I think the call it… how was it? Working?

Yes, as much as this might surprise you, bloggers work too (sometimes they balance a 9-5 job with their side hustle, in case they are not fortunate enough/aren’t interested in blogging full-time). So basically, we pay for our clothes—and food suplies, living place, bills and other expenses—like anyone else. Not everyone buys couture and those who do work to do it. So pleasie please, stop asking us how we afford clothes. It’s kind of embarrasing (a bit weird too).

3. All bloggers in the fashion industry work with professional photographers

Sure, we do! And we also have our own stylists team, hairdresser, and make-up artist. I even hired a girl whose only job is to cheer me up every time I try an outfit. I call her Amanda.

No, most bloggers don’t enjoy the rare privilege of a professional photographer. Personally, I’ve been lucky enough to hire one a couple of times a year for complex projects (and only by planning/budgeting in advance), but most of the time I work with my husband or I take the pictures myself. For most bloggers though, that’s always the case. We spend a substantial amount of time (and money) learning a new set of skills such as photography and editing to improve the quality of our content in the long run. It requires patience, as well as a good dose of humour. Thanks God I’ve got Amanda…

4. Style bloggers spend all their time shopping

And drinking champagne, taking flights to the next exotic holiday destination, and using their Manolo Blahnik shoes to hold their doors. Yeah… not really. What bloggers do most of the time though is writing blog posts, brainstorming for fresh ideas, taking/editing photos, pitching projects, replying emails… You get the idea. Not so exciting, right? Actually, it’s rather similar to any other job in terms of time management—only with more multi-tasking.

5. You guys must be full of yourselves to post your face all over the internet

Guys, let’s play a game: can you guess what is the bane of my blogging existence? Exactly. Posting my face all over the internet.

I started blogging motivated about the writing aspect since I studied English at university and words keep a special place in my heart. Having my picture taken, on the other hand? Not so much. I am shy—plus an introvert, and slightly socially awkward, if we’re going to be totally honest here—so you can imagine that posing in front of a camera in the middle of a busy street is not my comfort zone. As a matter of fact, I always try to look for quiet locations or work in the early/late hours, when the risk of me panicking and freezing over some stranger decreases exponentially. Visualize a deer paralized in front of the car hadlights. Right, that’s me.

So please, don’t assume we are all a bunch of narcissistcs just because our job involves imaginery.

And this have been the most hilarious things I have heard people telling to fashion bloggers. Now it’s your turn: What is the most hysterical nonsense you have read/listened out there? Share and let’s laugh together and bit longer.

October 28, 2020October 27, 2020

Allegra Caro12 Comments

My Autumn Fashion Uniform (An Infallible Outfit Formula To-Go)

If I had to pick a transitional weather piece I can’t live without, I’d always choose the humble biker jacket.

The biker jacket, you see, it’s pretty much the Erin Brokovitch of the autumn clothing: she might have umpresumptous origins and a not-so-chic background, but she will work hard to deliver every single time. In other words, she is a champion.

I like to think of TBJ as a good friend—she will always come to the rescue when you are in trouble and fix every casual outfit (or help you burying a body in the desert at three in the morning for the matter, no questions), which is the reason why I am obsessed. For months now, I’ve been captivated by the pink one I got in the sales last year, so I decided to look a bit around and add a classic black piece to my collection. And that’s when I stumbled upon this beauty by chance.

Once in a while, I pay a visit to my favourite pre-loved clothing stores around the Portobello and Kensington areas. I LOVE the idea of charity shops here in the UK, where you can find little treasures with a small price tag and your money will go to a good cause. It’s inexpensive, it’s charitable, and it’s sustainable. What else could you ask for?

A few weeks ago, Sebastian and I met a friend in Portobello after one of our photoshoots and decided to go for some second-hand treasure hunting. While carelessly browsing through the clothing racks, my dear friend asked for my attention. “Weren’t you looking for a biker jacket?”, she said, holding a brand-new Zara specimen (the original shop tags still on). It happened to be my size and a ridiculous price too, so I knew it was meant to be.

The universe can work in such misterious ways: some people will lose ten pounds only to find fifty on the street, some people will find the love of their lives while saving a never-ending queue. As for me? Well, I am not that ambitious. For me, it’s all about those unexpected, sustainable fashion finds that bring me joy.

Next Saturday, I decided to take TBJ out for the first time. I matched it with this gorgeous last season Zara dress and guys, it was love at first sight: both items seemed to work together naturally. I am happy to report they are having an affair here, (and they are not planning to end it any time soon).

As a consequence, I found my brand new autumn uniform outfit formula consisting on a biker jacket plus dress—the flufflier, the better. It’s easy to put together, casual and comfy.

Since these pictures were taken at the end of August, I’ve been repeating the formula non-stop (until the extent that the husband thought he was experiencing a déjà vu, and then I had to convince him he was not suffering a stroke, but only got a wife with a fashion OCS). You might find it funny but I can assure you he didn’t… Even so, I love this seasonal outfit formula so much, I have been planning to add some more pieces to my jacket collection. (Please, feel free to send me your recommendations for colourful biker jackets: I am currently looking for pieces in burgundy, green, or red, preferably vegan options). I can see an autumnal season filled with colourful outfits.

But back to this outfit: to round things up, I added these cute patent ankle boots from Reserved and the polka dots tights from Calzedonia. As dark shorter days get closer, I enjoy playing with little perky details to provide some texture and fun. (There’s nothing putting me off as quickly as a boring autumn/winter outfit. To me, they feel like that awfully bitter sirup your mother made you take when you were a child. As you can guess, I was never great for that, really.) Dark textured outfits, on the other hand? Yeah, they feel like eating your chocolate dessert before lunch.

Unfortunately for me though, the specific day I chose to wear this temperatures dropped from 20 to 10 °C overnight—meaning that, by the time we finished out photoshoot, my lips were blue and I was shaking uncontrollably, making my best White Walker impersonation. Although the jacket was very warm, my legs felt numb in no-time and we had to seek refuge in the V&A for the rest of the day (which is one of my favourite places on Earth, anyway). The other silver linning apart from all the glorious art was that my autumn uniform works either for a casual coffee date or a day in the museum. So we had a win-win situation here.

Well, since things got a bit out of hand here and I just wrote about eight hundred words about biker jackets, I think I should be leaving it here. However, I would love to hear it all about your own seasonal outfit formulas.

What is your autumn outfit formula?

– OUTFIT –

Dress | Zara (last season, similar style at Chi Chi London)

Tights| Calzedonia

Biker Jacket | Zara (thrifted, nice option available at Asos)

Ankle Boots | Reserved (last season, designer option at Matches Fashion)

Bag | Michael Korrs Mercer Gallery Leather Satchel on sale here

October 14, 2020

Allegra Caro20 Comments

My Super-Affordable, Still Chic Fall 2020 Shopping Guide

Oh, autumn. For many, the cosiest time of the year—a decadent plethora of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, heart-warming fall foliage day trips, and bonfires. As for me? This is the largely anticipated seasonal shopping extravaganza. Keep reading for my the crème de la crème fall 2020 shopping guide.

As the weather becomes cooler and I start spending more time indoors, there are two immediate consequences in my household:

The budget for hot beverages, hardcover books, and cute but slightly unnecessary throws skyrockets.
I get feverish about the seasonal news arriving at shops.

To be honest, autumn is the only time of the year when I go a bit too excited about shopping. This is the period when brands bring to the fore my favourite colour shades, fabrics, and textures, and I feel like a kid in a candy store. (To be more specific, like August Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I live in genuine fear the Oompa Loompas will come for me, someday.)

Many years ago, once a carefree English student who would spend her money not very wisely, I would go on a manic shopping spree every autumn—which meant I was left with a tight budget for seasonal outings, books, or any other expression of a comfortable existence. But as I matured and went through an exhaustive shopping detox, I adopted the healthy habit of writing down a shopping list between September-October and stick to it. As a result, my saving accounts improved and so did my perception of shopping needs.

I am not going to lie, though: as all those gorgeous knitwear, jewel tones, and dresses arrive, I make an extra effort to rationalize my shopping list and adhere to it. (Sebastian could tell you a thing or two about my yearly transformation into Gollum, and how I will whisper ‘my precious‘ to every piece of clothing I see…)

But going back to the topic, the whole point is, I find shopping guides super useful and also, fun. Over the years, I have developed a fancy for them so I thought I’d share with you my favourite picks this year. And remember children: don’t blame me if you go over-the-top with your shopping this year.

This is my autumn 2020 shopping guide

1. The Giambattista Valli-inspired Zara blouse

Look at this beauty. What could you possibly not love about it? The neckline bow, volume-contrasting sleeve details, and plumeti texture are just to die for. The greatest bonus? This shirt does look much more expensive than it is, and it will give you all those couture vibes on a budget. Definitely, I am adding this to my seasonal picks, since I find it timeless and perfect both when on duty or out and about.

2. Next preppy style 2 in 1 sweater

Personally, I am all about sweater-plus-fake-shirt pieces: they provide you with the rare window of opportunity for looking formal, without the nuisance of wearing too many layers. They are one of my staple autumn classics. No surprise I jumped of joy when I found this gorgeous mustard one at Next recently. What can I say? I love a good old white collar over all that pumpkin/mustard knit. Don’t pretend you don’t! We all know you’re adding it to your shopping cart too…

3. The romantic ruffle trims Zara jumper

Guys, I swear God Zara is not sponsoring this post in any form, but every year around September, they start stuffing their shops with an exquisite selection of knitwear. Just to illustrate my allegation, check out this cute sweater. It’s chic, it’s classic, and pretty much the perfect off-white shade. Still in hesitation? According to their website, the material is made of recycled PET plastic (such as the one used in water bottles) to reduce the consumption of natural resources. I rest my case, your Honor.

4. The killer Elderflower halterneck Ted Baker dress

I don’t know about you, but the irredeemable curse of my fashion existence is never finding the right black pencil dress. Most of the time they can be too much, with an exaggerated cut/bold construction which will let very little to the imagination. I remember a dress I tried at home a couple of years ago and that made me feel… well, rather exposed, to say the least. And isn’t it stupid spending about a hundred pounds just to look naked? Yeah, I think so too. This dress, on the other hand? It’s CLASSY. It looks fitted but still not too revealing, with a gorgeous halter neckline and tie-bow to underline the smart look. As for the floral skirt pattern? Simply delicious. I am adding this dress to my closet as the perfect choice for an office day (with a nice cardigan), or a dinner date with the husband—style versatility is dirty talk to me…

5. The amazeballs H&M pink trench

I think we all agree trench coats are such a seasonal must-have. However, I find that we tend to buy the same colours over and over—mostly, for the sake of versatility. Don’t get me wrong: I believe in buying pieces that will work with your existing wardrobe is a style key, but we can be a bit more creative without sacrificing convenience. Case in point, this gorgeous pale pink trench from H&M. I am all about colourful trench coats but this particular shade of dusty pink works as a neutral as well, which will make styling far easier. Extra points for a recycled material lining.

And this is my Fall 2020 shopping list! Everything on it is stylish and will be adding to your wardrobe for the seasons to come.

I would love to hear everything about the news in your closet! Tell me everything about it. What are your latest purchases? Any seasonal recommendations?

(Now, if you excuse me, I will roll back to my Gollum state while online shopping…)

October 7, 2020

Allegra Caro16 Comments

The Killer Outfit Formula That Works Every Time (Even When You Have Nothing To Wear)

Fashion-wise, a few things are as annoying as waking up early on a Monday morning just to find yourself stuck in front of your closet for half an hour, with absolutely nothing to wear.

To me, that used to be a periodic drama I would represent every week—rain or shine. As time went by, this daily habit became a toxic routine which would make me feel nothing but anxious. Actually, the mere idea of getting dressed on a working day had the power to give me headache in about five minutes. Please, rise your hand if you’ve been there too… Yeah, I thought so.

I am not going to lie to you: it took me a while to recognize I was in desperate need of help (and by “a while” I mean a few years, really…) All things consider, I am kind of surprised my husband did not call for an intervention. Guys, it was THAT bad.

I truly got sick of it: sick of the morning coffee getting lukewarm while I stood there, wrapped on a wet bath towel after shower, stressing myself out over yet another #firstworldproblem. At some point, I started feeling like I had no energy for this. After all, Monday sucks even without all the fashion drama.

All I usually do when I encounter a style dilemma, I asked myself what would my favourite fashion icons do but it was far from helpful. (We all know Blair Waldorf would simply go for a shopping spree in Paris which is not very realistic here, is it?) So, I did the only sensitive thing—I trusted my fate to Google gods. After ~~a bit~~ a few weeks of online research about styling tips, I mixed the most useful advice and, as time went by, I developed my own quick-fix styling rules.

Let me tell you a secret: ever since I started using this outfit formula, the amount of time I spend dressing every morning has decreased dramatically.

This provides me with a time window to start my day more relaxed, have a nice breakfast, and get my day started smoothly. As this has been one of the life-changing adjustments I’ve made over the last six months, I decided it could be nice to share it with you all.

So here you go: the ultimate outfit formula that grants you always have got something to wear.

1. Choose a statement piece as the axis of your outfit

Ever time I start planning what to wear, I will select a central piece for the rest of my outfit to gravitate around. It might sound a bit strange, but it makes sense to choose a relevant piece to help you build the whole style for the day. It could be anything, basically—a dainty dress, a textured skirt or a nice tailored pair of trousers. It all depends on the occasion as well as the vibe you are going for. The important principle to keep in mind here is the piece should provide some interest to your outfit. Once you have made up your mind about it, the next step will be a no-brainer.

2. As as rule, tone it down with a basic

Style—as anything else in life—is a question of balance. That means you will need a muted/more basic piece to balance the whole thing gracefully. Let me explain with a simple image: imagine you go for a flamboyant pink tweed dress, you should avoid matching it with an over-the-top jacket, unless you want to look like an out-of-context modern Marie Antoinette. I am sure you see my point. For instance, if you choose a silky skirt as your axis, then you should select a simple top to tone things down a bit. This provides you with a nice contrast and is more wearable on a daily basis.

3. Add a piece you don’t need

When I want to upgrade a given outfit and unless I am in a real hurry, I will always add a clothing piece I don’t need. This way, I get sure the outfit makes an impact. It may be a hat I love, or a nice pair of statement designer stocking. Whatever it is, the key here is to put on some interest and relevance to your look.

4. When accessorizing, stick to one metal colour

This might be one of my personal pet peeves but I believe that sticking to one chromatic choice when adding metal accessories/jewelry, will provide some cohesion to your outfit. Once I am dressing up—and with the only exception of my wedding ring—I will figure out what colours match my clothes better (silver, yellow or rose gold) and then stick to it. This, of course, depends on your personal taste although sticking to one colour only gives uniformity and keeps things neat.

5. Double check before you leave

Just before leaving the house, I usually take thirty seconds to look myself in the mirror. This last step is my ultimate mantra. As Coco Chanel famously declared once, it is good practice to take one thing off before you go out. This simple exercise is designed to keep things simple and nice—especially if, like me, you have a tendency to go a bit over-the-top. Trust me here: there’s no need to look like a Christmas tree, is there?

As a last tip and while getting familiar with this styling system, I would recommend putting your outfit together in the evening, while your mind is clear and you can take a few extra minutes to sort things out.

And that’s pretty much it! Simple, right? No more morning drama!

September 30, 2020September 30, 2020

Allegra Caro18 Comments

A Pastel Fall Transitional Outfit

When people say time flies, you would normally assume they are exaggerating. At least, that’s what I thought until summer 2020, when the normal fabric of spacetime proved to be defective and decided to pack and go home—also, it gave us a finger on its way to the door, because that fellow dropped the mic and is not planning to come back any time soon…

A pastel colours autumn transitional outfit

Metaphores aside, that is how my summer felt, anyway. In other words, it was such a short period of time (partially, due to the lockdown restrictions starting to ease in mid-June and partially due to the weather going to hell about late-August, which barely gave us a month and a half of an enjoyable outdoors summer experience), I am not even sure it happened at all.

Here in London, one day we were wearing sundresses and going out for the very first time, and the next it was colder than a witch’s tit. This left us not only with a very strange feeling, but also with the unavoidable fashion dilemma of what to wear.

With most mornings over 20 degrees and temperatures dropping below 15°C in the evenings, dressing was indeed far from easy. Mid-season is always a challenge in terms of styling. This September, though? This September was like Attila the Hun and Lord Voldemort had a child (he took no prisoners).

Seriously, what can you do when all your summer wardrobe plans crash and you need to come with an emergency plan? I’ll tell you what: you go for a pastels autumn transitional outfit.

Case on point, these gorgeous Zara trousers I bought in the sales last year and which I only found an occasion or two to style then. This year, on the other hand, they are pretty much all I want to wear. They are the perfect shade of dusty pink, truly comfortable, and more important—the perfect piece to build an awesome autumn transitional outfit.

Because I don’t know about you guys, but I am NOT ready to say goodbye to the warm season overnight and anything creating the illusion of a longer summer is more than welcome. With that said, I will always defend pastel tones as the perfect transitional hue: add some knightwear to the equation and you will be decently dressed for the mid-season weather while still feeling those summery vibes. Isn’t that something?

Don’t get me wrong, I could totally live in burgundy, forest green, chocolate brown, or rusty orange for the rest of my life, but at the end of August I was not ready for that AT ALL. (Indeed, my annoyance about the early season was so acute, at certain point I HATED seeing all those Pumpkin Spice Latte advertisements out there. Don’t worry, I am visiting a therapist about it now and feeling much better. Mr. Fall and I are working hard in our relationship, and I am glad to say is getting better by the day…) But I am digressing again, where was I?… Oh yes, the trousers!

In order to dress them up a little—and we all know I am on the dressy side—I went for heels. These pink-undertoned beauties came from Asos a couple of years ago, but you can find the classic Rockstud leather pumps by Valentino here. Seriously, I could buy them in every single colour and finish. That’s how gorgeous they are! (I am not sure Sebastian would be that happy though, since the home space my shoes occupy verges on absurdity. Actually, I live in constant fear one of these days I will open the closet door and you’ll need to send the rescue helicopter to recover my body from the avalanche…)

But going back to the accessories, I love Vivienne Westwood and the subtle rock vibe of this necklace (you are lucky, there are some sales at the moment on their website up to 60% off!). Finally, and to round things up, I also added my Chanel Boy Bag to the equation. I ended up with an urban look with some rocky vibes and that’s all I need in autumn, really.

This is a casual style I love, and I am not planning to drop it anytime soon. As the weather gets cooler, I am simply adding more layers. My favourite at the moment is an old-good biker jacket on top to keep me warm during all those crisp autumn evenings. And there’s a vintage black Fedora hat in my closet which will join the game very soon.

At the end of the day, I might be missing the summertime but autumn is such a gorgeous season anyway. And well, everything is better by adding some pastel pink brushstrokes, isn’t it?

Tell me about you: are you embracing autumn fashion at the moment? How are you dealing with it?

– OUTFIT –

Trousers | Zara (last season, similar Reiss trousers here)

Sweater | Zara (last season, beautiful alternatives at La Redoute and Topshop)
Shoes | Asos Design (old, get the original design at Harrods)
Bag | Chanel Boy Bag

September 23, 2020September 29, 2020

Allegra Caro40 Comments

My 2019 in Outfits: Developing my Style Sense

High priestess fashionista Iris Apfel once famously declared that, while fashion is something you buy, style is something you possess. ‘The key to style’, according to Apfel, ‘is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style.’

Since I first read these words during my university years—a long time ago in a galaxy far away, dominated by the dark forces of cheap rosé and poor fashion choices—it’s been a long road, but I’ve never stopped believing in the truth of this creed. The wisdom behind Apfel’s words lies in her interpretation of style as a part of the identity construct: ultimately, it’s not about the hottest trends or the latest IT bag but about who you are.

Self-discovery process can take months, years, and sometimes, even an entire lifetime—hence, for most of us, the style evolution goes hand in hand with this learning curve.

In this sense, 2019 wasn’t any different for me. Certainly, it’s been a long year packed with big vital decisions and scary changes which were all part of my own personal development. In parallel, my style has been changing too, while taking a new interesting direction. I am not going to lie: it has taken a considerable amount of trial and error to figure things out for me (whoever says adulthood is a piece of cake is nothing but a blatant liar). Fortunately though, with age comes some wisdom and I like to think I’ve got quite a clear vision of my life (and style path) at this point.

Style-wise, 2019 was the year when I learned to appreciate bold colours—as well as keep growing my unconditional love for jewel tones—, to love designer pieces and start adding to my expanding collection, to stop being afraid of experimentation. But let’s do this recap one month at the time.

This was my 2019 in outfits!

January

January always feels like the longest, gloomiest month of the year (hello January Blues, how you doin’?) but last year was a bit of an exception since I was in Spain for a holiday. During 2019 Summer, I started adding some designer pieces to my closet and January was the month I got my first major investment item: the CHANEL Boy bag! This babe had been in my bucket list like forever, so it was really nice to see it landing in my wardrobe, finally. Read the full original post here.

February

February was quite an interesting period. Sebastian and I booked a city break in Bucharest, where we lived for a couple of years since it still keeps a special place in our hearts. It felt nice to be back and visiting all our favourite places—the national art gallery, the hotel where we stayed during our wedding weekend, and the best antique market ever (where I hunted for some fabulous little accessories). A few people know that Bucharest is called Little Paris, but it is totally true and does deserve a visit.

March

March was quite a busy month, packed with work and events: consequently, it was quite exhausting and I had very little time left to relax. In the end, I got sick due to the lack of rest and spent an entire week feeling rather poorly. I am not keen to be confined at home, so I might or might not have spent a crazy amount of time online shopping… (Read the original post here.)

April

To me, April was the month to rule them all: I finally fulfilled the long-awaited dream of visiting Vogue House and having a glimpse inside Condé Nast well-oiled machinery. As an articles writer (and also as a reader) CN publications have been always an editorial reference—as well as a source of inspiration for me. In April, not only did I manage to study one of their journalism courses, but I also met some wonderful new friends. In other words, I had the time of my life. I documented the whole experience back in April, so please feel free to read bout it.

May

May felt a bit like a hungover, really. For most of it, I tried to regain something of a normal routine both at work and personal life, which left little time or energy for fun. However, I did enjoy some time relaxing over the weekends and got ready for all the major changes coming our way in June…

June

June was the month we finally came to learn about our next destination: London! In all honesty, this change was something we had been craving for long enough and it felt surreal to see it was happening. As some form of self-indulgent celebration, we spent most of June back in Spain with our families and friends. No need to say this was just what we needed and the beginning of a refreshing start.

July

I am not going to lie to you: July was a savage party which I spent paying daily visits to the closest swimming pool club and eating my weight in gelato. Since we were preparing our international relocation, I dealt with any stress by means of frequent outings and Summer events. This situation lasted for the whole month and it was extended to August. I consider last Summer the best I enjoyed in quite a long time and I am very sorry adulthood doesn’t look like that more frequently. Ces’t la vie, I guess!

August

August was nothing but the best period last year: it was time for my yearly birthday trip, as well as the moment when we moved to London for good. Our stay in Budapest was a bit of a grand finale, really—the golden brooch to a great Summer, which was one of the most precious for us both. You can read more about our adventures here and here.

September

In September, we started calling London our new home. The transition was slow and, at certain times, also difficult but we worked so hard to make this project happen over the last five years, we are nothing but grateful. As mundane as it may sound, September mostly consisted of running errands, completing an endless sequence of paperwork, and leisurely getting used to the hectic city pace. Back then, we spent quite a lot of time exploring around and falling in love with Notting Hill and Portobello again (where I might or might not be secretly planning to buy a house at some point…)

October

Autumn was such a fuss! October started with a good deal of problems related to a certain domestic accident. This involved a burst pipe which made our lives miserable for a while. For starters, we found out that water extended all under our apartment pristine floors, flooding the air cameras underneath with the resulting trouble of wet walls in every house room… I am not gonna lie: it was a bit of a nightmare, really. Unfortunately, it could not be solved from our side since the water was running from our neighbours’ place. We experienced this problem for a month and a half until the works next door were completed, which made October and November a stressful period I barely remember about. (See the original post featuring a review of the Michael Kors Mercer Gallery Bag here.)

November

Domestic accidents aside, November was rather pleasant. The fall season shone in all its decadent rusty glory and we made the most of it by taking as many days outdoors as possible. This only positively, affected our moods, since we were engaged in seeking for brand new positions in London and anything distracting our busy minds was welcome at the time.

December

In the big scheme of things in 2019, December was a magnificent period when we finally started feeling at home. Most of the adaptation process was completed, including but not limited to finding new jobs, making the most of our brand new apartment, and establishing new and enriching relationships. Since life finally started feeling normal again, we were able to relax and enjoy the festive period. I can´t wait to see what 2020 will look like.

How was your 2019?

January 27, 2020January 26, 2020

Allegra Caro8 Comments

Seven Days of Christmas Outfits: Day 4 The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel

Every city in Europe has got Christmas traditions of its own: Vienna shines at festive markets, Paris dazzles with its choir singing concerts at La Madeleine, and Rome makes quite an impression with its nativity scenes.

When speaking about London, the list looks endless. I will save you the details since I wrote about many of those local traditions before and I don’t wish to bore you by repeating myself. Today though, I’d like to tell you about one of my best-loved ways to celebrate—with a festive cocktail on a five stars hotel! (If a delicious Bellini won’t make you feel extra-festive, I don’t know what it will, honestly. I mean, socially sanctioned afternoon prosecco? Count me in.)

On Saturday afternoon, we headed to St. Pancras railway station where the Renaissance Hotel is located. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the place, it occupies much of the former Midland Grand Hotel designed by George Gilbert Scott which opened in 1873. Nowadays, the hotel contains 244 bedrooms, two restaurants, two bars, a health and leisure centre, a ballroom, and 20 meeting and function rooms, all of it wrapped in Victorian style extravaganza. In other words: Amazing.

The reason why I love the place so much is the exquisite classicism of its architecture, combined with the seasonal decorations. To me, visiting feels pretty much like living on a Charles Dickens novel. (Er… one in which you aren’t a poor orphan, obviously. Because that would spoil the fun, right?)

Another thing I love about St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is the fact that you’re allowed to take some pictures in the main hall, even if you are not registered as a guest. Over Christmas this is especially nice since you can go there for a drink and then enjoy the pure awesomeness of the seasonal decorations. This year, they put two impressive natural trees up—both carefully garnished with garlands, bubble and ribbons. I love the way the whole hall smelled like fresh spruce and spice. Simply delightful!

For this traditional celebration atmosphere, I went for a forest green and brown outfit. The coat was a lovely acquisition from my last trip to Tokyo and totally suited for the festive season (I don’t know about you but brocate is the ultimate Christmas fabric, to me). The silky afternoon tea gown, on the other hand, makes a nice texture contrast. Last but not least, to wrap things up I added a handmade velvet bag and some gold accessories. Et voilá: Christmas spirit served with a Victorian vibe. Anyone said carols?

And this is it, for day four of my week of Christmas outfits.