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.

I hope you have the loveliest day with your family and friends.

Dress: Zara (old, similar here)/ Coat: Juliette et Justine (vintage)

Bag: Handmade / Boots: Deichman (alternative here)

December 25, 2019December 24, 2019

Allegra Caro1 Comment

Seven Days of Christmas Outfits: Day 3 The Covent Garden Festive Extravaganza

Few things compare to the joy you experience on a festive street market.

To me, they are spaces where you can embrace your inner child, see things through candid eyes again, and recover a bit of your original capacity to marvel. In this sense, I must admit London delivers a full magical experience: from crazy building decorations to outdoors markets, the holiday season is breath-taking all the way.

As you may have deduced from the post title, for day three of my Christmas blog installment Sebastian and I visited Covent Garden. I knew the place has been always praised for the amazing effort they put into tuning the festive spirit but I wasn’t prepared for the magnificence of the street decor.

Every shop decors its own Christmas tree with a given topic: fashion, perfumes, jewels, etc. (Which, by the way, are far from fairly represented in these pictures since the place was crowded and it was pretty much impossible to take decent snaps and avoid people at the same time. Sorry, all you get are some photos of me posing in the most isolated corners and my sincere apologies. If you in London though, please pay a visit. I promise it’s totally worth it.)

My favourite spot was Tiffany’s decor extravaganza. It included a snow-covered area, an ice rink, and a lovely giant snow globe—all coloured in the famous Tiffany’s pastel blue, of course. Unfortunately and to Sebastian’s despair, I spent a considerable time amount at their sales booth, trying to figure out what to add to my Santa list. But hey, this girl cannot just pass by an eye-catching festive Tiffany’s stall and ignore it (or not to become Gollum, for the matter).

But speaking about my outfit, just a few days before gift-giving day was the perfect occasion to pulling out all of my favourites. Burgundy and cream are such timeless colours, they effortlessly create the perfect holiday chromatic combo. By choosing satin and some gold notes, I added some more festive notes and packed a classic Christmas look.

So far this season, this is one of my winter best-loved outfits. This glorious skirt is a great find from last autumn, while the bag is a Japanese design vintage piece I found in Tokyo a couple of years ago. To add a bit of texture and interest, I also put on some snowflakes-patterned tights from Calzedonia. All the pieces are quite different but still work together, creating a unique look. When it comes to style, I am all about mix and match and creating interesting outfits you can’t find anywhere else. To me, finding your style is deeply related to treasure one-of-a-kind pieces.

And this has been all for the third day of my Christmas outfits week.

Let me know about what is important for you when it comes to festive style and in between…

Skirt: Primark (pink version here) / Sweater: Zara

Bag: Axes Femme (vintage, similar here)

Scarf: Thrifted (similar here) / Hair clip: Versace

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

Allegra Caro3 Comments

Seven Days of Christmas Outfits: Day 2 Christmas Afternoon Tea

In terms of Christmas activities offer, London remains unrivaled. Being one of the liveliest cities in the globe, its seasonal festive palette can be only described as vibrant—a never-ending sequence of street festivals, music concerts, drama plays, and parties. In my eyes and as an aspiring Londoner, this is a bit overwhelming sometimes: indeed, it feels like the city never sleeps. There’s always another event in the calendar, or another party to attend, which may be exhausting (not to mention not that great for your finances). Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change that for the world, but this much physical activity can take a toll on you. Hence, I am regularly looking for new ways to relax and recharge my batteries.

Undoubtedly, one of my favourite relaxing winter activities is Christmas afternoon tea.

The main reason is that it does allow you to shelter from the dropping temperatures and unwind while having a nice conversation over delicious food. In case you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you probably know how much I love a good ol’ afternoon tea. (I look at tea like Popeye looks at spinach, only without all that let’s-save-Olive mumbo jumbo. Sorry Olive but you’re kind of needy, and I have no time for this much drama, you know?) But where was I? Oh, yes, afternoon tea. Well, you get the point, don’t you?

With this said, for day two of my festive blog installment, I decided to spend a nice relaxing evening at Fait Maison. For those of you who don’t live in London, Fait Maison is a local chain of tea houses, well-known for its beautifully spiced food, fabulous patisserie, and dreamy venues.

In other words? The kind of heavenly place you will find me during a frigid mid-week December evening, sharing wonderful food with a friend. Case in point: I arranged a meetup with a new acquaintance from London and proceeded to spent a good part of a foggy (and otherwise miserable) Wednesday talking arts, London designer exhibitions, and interior design (she’s brilliant at the latest, by the way. Just check out her blog and don’t miss her bedroom renovation post, which is basically interior design goals to me!)

But back to track! Speaking of Christmas afternoon tea, I decided to dress up and channel the holiday spirit with festive forest green waterfall pleats and sparkling silver accents. The best about this outfit? Each part is a standalone statement piece and works wonderfully as separates. Win-win here!

When it comes to seasonal outfits, most people will go for a festive green and red or gold game, but I think black and silver accents give you that magical feel without being a total cliche. Also, black will enhance forest green and you can add some drama by creating volume and texture. (A light-weight petticoat did the trick this time, helping to add a bit of puff to my circle skirt.) Et voilá! A classic Christmassy outfit for afternoon tea or any other glamorous occasion!

And this is it for day two of my week of festive outfits!

Please, share your thoughts on your own seasonal traditions. Are you fond of Christmas afternoon tea?

Skirt: Chicwish / Sweater: Zara / Tights: Calzedonia

Shoes: Deichman / Bag and brooch: CHANEL

December 19, 2019December 19, 2019

Allegra Caro8 Comments

Seven Days of Christmas Outfits: Day 1 Christmas Shopping

Can I hear a hallelujah here? In London, the streets are packed with seasonal street markets, Christmas trees and fairy lights from mid-November, transforming the place into a Charles Dickens book—or into a giddy version of the Christmas spirit on steroids, depending on who you ask to. Being the festive equivalent of the cookie monster though, I can’t feel anything but pleased about the prospect of all the merry-making coming my way. November was a dull, long, rainy month so anything making the city look its best is more than welcome.

This year, I started looking at all those wonderful bloggers out there mastering Blogmas and it occurred to me that I should plan something special as well. Although I love the concept and December is one of my favourite seasons in terms of content, unfortunately, Blogmas does require the sort of time commitment I am unable to adopt right now, so I came with an alternative idea.

To celebrate, I decided to share with you a little glimpse into my holiday this year, and some inspiration in the form of an entire week of festive outfits (or Christmas-inspired outfits as I understand them, anyway).

Starting today, I will be covering every possible season occasion: from presents shopping to a soiree at the ballet, and from a glorious morning at the London Winter Wonderland market to Christmas day.

Help yourself with some eggnog and let’s get started!

On day one, Sebastian and I went out for some mandatory festive shopping. As it turned out—spoiler ahead—we didn’t even remotely finish shopping and I am quite worried it’s seven days until Christmas Eve and I still need to get a few things sorted. (Don’t judge me too hard, I am perpetually multi-tasking to get everything done in time and at this point of the year I always feel the days should have at least 36 hours if you ask me.)

But back to the topic, we needed to have a look at seasonal decor and gifts and London is nothing but the perfect place for that. In all honesty, you can’t go wrong by visiting Mayfair shops when in search of presents for your significant others. New Bond Street area is well-known for being home to some of the most luxurious boutiques around: Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, CHANEL, Hermès…—you name it. Even if you are just window-shopping, the place does deserve a visit since the festive decoration is stunning.

After paying a visit or two to our favourite shops (and adding some little recommendations for Santa to our wish lists in the process—blink, blink, Mr. Klaus, those Manolos would do no harm. I use a 39 in case you need to know, thank you!) we moved to the closest place for a coffee break in order to shelter from the cold.

London temperatures, you see, can be freezing at this time of the year, so I was grateful to be wearing a Heatech thermal top underneath my turtleneck sweater, as well as thermal tights and over the knee suede boots. Winter style can be truly challenging unless you learn to use layering and weather-appropriate fabrics to cope with extreme conditions. My absolute essentials at this time are tweed (just look how festive is this little red and white miniskirt, folks) and cashmere. I am still learning new ways to dress stylishly during the coldest months but is a fun process I am truly enjoying.

And that’s it for today! I know this post is shorter than my average article but I trust you will excuse me since there is a new post coming your way tomorrow. In between, stay merry and jolly.

Have you finished your Christmas shopping?

Sweater: Zara / Skirt: Similar here / Coat: Zara

Suede Boots: Deichman (similar at Aldo) / Bag: CHANEL

Beret: Collectiff

December 18, 2019December 13, 2019

Allegra Caro7 Comments

Reasons to love Autumn (even in the Instagram age)

Last Sunday, I convinced Sebastian to go for yet another autumnal walk at Regent’s Park.

Given the fact that it’s November now, you might think it’s not earth-shattering precisely (and that I must be a bit bored to make a weekly highlight from this), but the keyword here is YET. At least, that’s what he underlined when I asked him to spend the day outdoors on Sunday morning. “Are we going out for YET another autumn walk?”, he muttered rolling his eyes. No need to say that I did the only sensible thing—I ignored his comment and cheerfully proceeded to unpack my new tweed Zara coat, wrapping myself for that ignominious walk. (And totally feeling like a winner by getting all those #blairwaldorfvibes. Thanks Zara. We have had our differences but you really amended things with this beauty.) But back to the topic…

I don’t blame him, though. As a matter of fact, I totally see his point.

In case you have been a social media user for some time now, you might have experienced a certain Déjà vu just before the summer death: you are still wearing sandals while enjoying the last few days of your vacation but suddenly, your Instagram feed is full of girls enjoying their first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Temperatures are still over 30°C and scarves look like medieval torture instruments, but the Fall obsession is real. Every TV ad, internet pop-up, and tweet is solely focused on this.

By the time October arrives, you are bored of Autumn style—all the dull knitwear, tedious ochre and brownish tones, and Hypster hats. To sum up: you are sick and tired, praying for December to come so it’s over. Rest assured, you are not alone.

Disclaimer: The next confession might make you leave this blog and never come back, screaming in horror. Even so, I’m going to roll the dice and tell you my darkest secret. Ready? (Hitchcock music coming in three, two, one…)

Against all odds, I love autumn.

Horrific, right? I live in fear my family will find out, proceeding to disinherit me at once. Probably, after posting this, a raging mob will raid my apartment at midnight, armed with pitchforks and torchlights.

I know what you are thinking: “Allegra, dear. You started the post quite reasonably. And now you come up with this?” Well, I could apologize and blame all those films glorifying the autumnal season in New England. But instead, I prefer to tell you why despite all I wrote before, Autumn is still my favourite season (and yes, that’s a total cliché).

Reasons to love Fall

(even in the Instagram age)

01. Autumn Picnics

Everyone enjoys going for a picnic in July, right? Well, here goes my second confession today: I HATE it. Not only do I get sunburns easily and hate mosquitoes with a passion (I consider them to be my personal nemesis), but also my thermoregulation is close to non-existent. In Autumn, on the other hand, you can sit on a blanket under a tree with your thermos flask full of tea and a book, enjoying the landscape.

02. Outdoors Cinemas

I am rather peculiar about this too. I promise I am good person, though.

For most people, Summer is the outdoors season but very recently, I’ve enrolled an outdoors cinema where movies are shown from March to November. As a result, I’ve watched some of my favourite films in a garden, with a cozy blanket over my knees and a cup of tea in my hands. And let me tell you—there is something undeniably poetic in listening the words “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again” by an autumnal bonfire.

03. Fashion

And I am not referring to earthy colours and knitwear only. September is the date time for New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. Pinterest blooms with thousands of seasonal pins, and the new season collections are finally out. Besides, you can use black monochrome outfits and darker lipstick again with zero judgement from other people (welcome home Rouge Noir! We missed you so much).

04. Netflix pre-Halloween marathons

Many people might have their say about admitting this on a style blog, and it won’t make me look like the most sophisticated person ever but to be fair, I don’t consider myself very chic. So who cares, really? I LOVE horror movies and to me, October is the perfect time to plan endless home evenings, catching up with AHS or any of your favourite horror classics in Netflix. Yes, I just broke the fashion bloggers rule by saying that. Don’t worry, I will return my badge to the fashion police…

05. Landscapes

I left my favourite part for the end, as I usually do. Please, if you can, take the chance to have a walk after work, or maybe just go in the weekend. Enjoy every single seasonal colour. There’s something about all those red, gold and rust tones that deserves to be contemplated once a year.

In the Instagram age, seasonal clichés have certainly doubled and at some point, we have all gone a bit extra with the number of seasonal pictures we over-share with our friends and family. However, our personal preferences and tastes (whether we’re speaking about autumn walks, that very-much-hyped beauty brand, or photos of cute kitties) should be respected at all times. At the end of the day, they are a part of our identity too.

Coat: Zara / Blouse: Zara (last season, similar here) / Headband: Zara

Bag: Metamorphose (vintage piece, similar style at Dune)

Skirt: H&M (sold out, alternative at & Other Stories)

Boots: Deichmann (alternative at Aldo)

November 14, 2019November 15, 2019

Allegra Caro25 Comments

The Knitwear Edit: Why we all need statement jumpers this season

Certainly, not me! I’ve always thought it’s funny how people find fall fashion a bit depressing, really. They see it as the beginning of a long soulless season when style must be sacrificed in favour of the weather demands. Goodbye sundresses, hello old coats. As for me? Nothing could be further from the truth.

As a matter of fact, I find dressing in summer challenging: yes, you have all those beautiful light dresses but depending on the hot temperatures (and remember that I am Spanish, so I know a thing or two about that) any outfit easily ends up on a sweaty mess. Chic, right? I have lost track of the times my perfectly planned summertime outfit had to be replaced by some random natural cotton dress which would allow me to breathe and not to bake in my clothes…

Cooler weather, on the other hand, leaves some room for creativity. There is that awesome trench coat you love so much and the occasional playful pattern; there is the softness of velvet and the statement coat you can’t live without.

But knitwear is what really makes me squeal of delight.

The second October hits and the weather chills a bit, I devote myself to the sacred mission of unpacking the jumpers: all that gorgeous cashmere, angora and chunky wool sadly packed away during the warmest months. Also, it’s time for my yearly wishlist!

Two days ago, Sebastian frowned at the sight of my (always expanding) knitwear pile but said nothing. Then, he found me sitting in front of the laptop, happily adding about 40 sweaters to my shopping cart. “Just to be clear”, he stated with a concerned tone, “you’re not shopping ALL of that, are you?” I simply looked at him, Regan McNeal style bloodshot eyes, and gave him a quick yet unconvincing “Just researching for the blog” reply, which seems to be my personal motto these days. Actually, I repeat “Just researching for the blog” (or J.R.F.T.B. from now on, if you please) so much, I am afraid they will use that as my epitaph… But I digress here.

The whole point is, knitwear can be not only a sartorial need but also FUN.

Everyone from couture designers to high-street brands seem to agree since this season is full of statement pieces. Forget about your neutral colour old-school jumper: Autumn and Winter will be dominated by jewel tones, rhinestones, lace, textures and more!

But do we really require statement sweaters this season? In my humble opinion? We do. Maybe, one of the reasons why most people loathe autumn fashion is its apparent monotony—its hardly arguable tedium. Maybe, all we need is introducing a stroke of colour, an unexpected twist.

Since I truly believe fashion—above all the things—should be fun, I am sharing some of my favourite seasonal knitwear today. All the statement styles and all the budgets. No matter if you are a Chloé fan or a New Look lady: I have you covered.

The Knitwear Edit

Jewel tones opulence

Zara Christopher Kane Gabriela Hearst

I tried to convince myself that I was looking at these three beauties as a part of the J.R.F.T.B. process but let’s be honest: we all know they will end up in my closet sooner or later. I mean, rich colours, rhinestones, and velvet? Who could resist that? Surely, not this girl! I guess I will have to figure out a way of smuggling these into my house while dodging the attentive surveillance of Sebastian (a.k.a. Hercule Poirot). I should start watching Peaky Blinders to get some fresh ideas…

Feminine neutrals

New Look Zara McQueen

This Fall, neutrals are not boring anymore. Just look at these astonishing specimens. Sometimes, the use of simple elements such as an interesting neckline, some cute ribbons or a frilly cuff can make all the difference between plain and stunning. Personally, I rarely go for neutrals when it comes to knitwear but this year may be the exception. Both the New Look and McQueen pieces can be easily added to your professional wardrobe with zero effort: try pairing them with some nice tailored trousers or a nice statement skirt. Plus, they are classics so they will add value to your collection in the long-term too.

Embellished beauty

Dolce & Gabbana Self-Portrait Red Valentino

I have left my favourite sweaters at the end of this post. What can I say? They are nothing but pure perfection. I love every single detail in them: from the amazing silk flowers to the bell-shaped sleeves. And although I know their price tag may look a bit intimidating, I firmly believe the number of times you will wear something made with high-quality materials will balance the cost-per-wear. Sometimes, it’s not only about the design but also about the piece’s lifespan.

This is all for today’s post. As for now, I will add a few more striking pieces to my shopping chart (feel free to send me any links you consider relevant).

After all, I am just researching for the blog, right?

Jumper: Stradivarius (last season, similar here) / Shorts: Old Zara (New version)

Bag: Michael Kors / Tights: Calzedonia

Boots: Deichmann / Scarf: Natura (similar at Burberry)

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019

Allegra Caro20 Comments

The best Satchel in all the land: Michael Kors Mercer Gallery Leather Satchel

Do you believe in soulmates? Personally, I don’t but I do believe in bag mates.

Bag love is totally a thing: when you find the one, you know it. In my opinion, it is pretty much a long-term commitment—if you are lucky enough to choose the right piece, the relationship may last a lifetime. And I am being quite literal here. This cutie is nothing but solidly made!

My love story with the Michael Kors Mercer Gallery Medium Leather Satchel began last August. During my annual birthday trip to Budapest, I went for a shopping spree at Andrassy Avenue. Once I entered the local Michael Kors boutique, I spotted the Mercer immediately. It was love at first sight. Do you know when your average romantic comedy girl sees her love interest for the first time, the time slows down and all of a sudden, she hears Tom Jones music playing in the background? (Ok. Maybe not Tom Jones. But it is MY romantic comedy, right? I shall have my sip of absurdity, thank you very much.) That’s how I felt, anyway.

Continuing with the burgundy theme I have adopted lately and which I don’t plan to put aside any time soon—if you were expecting me to stop this monochromatic madness once Fall is over, you’re going to feel very disappointed. Sorry about that…—I had to go for the oxblood colour option, obviously. It is classy, it is timeless, and it elevates any Autumn outfit instantly.

The Mercer Gallery Medium Leather Satchel is a luxury handbag specifically designed for the twenty-first century cosmopolitan busy girl. As a matter of fact, it’s one of my go-to choices for mostly every occasion: from long weekend plans to hectic working days packed with endless business meetings. In these pictures, I am wearing the middle size and let me tell you that I feel like I found the Mary Poppins bag. For a satchel of its size range, its capacity defies physics. It is THAT good. Generally, I’d never expect something this stylish to be also functional, but Michael Kors cracked the code with the Mercer bag.

The interior is divided in three sections: a zipped compartment with pockets for your more sensitive personal belongings (wallet, phone, keys and the such), and two more for the rest of your stuff. Believe it or now, I usually carry a cardigan and an emergency scarf since the extra room is so generous. The zipped space includes a key leash. No more digging through your bag to find your keys! Genius.

Being the kind of person who will carry everything but the kitchen sink with her, I am truly amazed about how much you can fit in this bag. On a regular day out, I can easily fit my wallet, ebook, phone, keys, transport card, makeup pouch, emergency manicure set, flats, cardigan, umbrella, headphones and snacks in the Mercer satchel. Not bad for medium size, right?

Oh, and did I mention you can monogram it too? I learned about this option too late, but will definitely go for it when I get my next Michael Kors. (Hello, Nouveau Hamilton! I am looking at you, gorgeous thing…)

Definitely, this is one of the best additions to my bag collection so far, and I am sure more Michael Kors goodness will arrive to my closet soon. (But I can’t promise it won’t be bugundy too…)

What is the latest addition to your own bag collection?

Blazer: Axes Femme (sold out, alternative here) / Bag: Michael Kors

Skirt: Zara (old, alternative here) / Shoes: Primark

Cashmere scarf: Thrifted (similar at Burberry)

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Allegra Caro10 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, what have I learnt so far?

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Blazers are not for office only

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

5. When in doubt, just throw an oversized jumper

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

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

Fashion Find Alert: This Must-Have Fall Skirt Is More Affordable Than You Think

The very moment September hits, I start hoarding all things burgundy.

There’s no denying my Autumn closet is mostly monochromatic: from the deepest shade of mahogany to the richest currant tone, every single burgundy hue is represented there. And while I am always happy to test other tones in the seasonal palette—mustard, forest green, and gingerbread are some of my favourites—I owe my loyalty to burgundy.

For some reason, I find this colour to be universally flattering: It looks great on almost everyone, but also looks great with mostly everything. It is the ace in the matching-outfits card game. Think a second about it—burgundy pairs well with forest greens, navy blues, rich browns, jet blacks, and even some shades of pink! To be frank, it never stops to amaze me how much wear I get out of it.

Hence, it is no shocker I fell in love instantly with this must-have Fall midi skirt.

But let me tell you the story from the beginning.

When we first landed in London four weeks ago, my luggage was packed with sundresses, perky shorts, and sandals. Unfortunately, I didn’t consider that the weather here in London was “slightly” cooler than the 35 ‎°C we were experiencing in Timișoara at the time. (And by that I mean my legs turned blue on the first attempt to leave the house in shorts. You can call me Smurfette from now on.) As a consequence and until our belongings arrived seven days afterwards, I found myself with nothing to wear. Fun times, right?

Obviously, I did the only sensible thing: Shopping!

After a couple of hours at the closest mall, a nice pair of leather trousers and some decent knitwear made it to my shopping cart. Then, I went to Primark looking for inexpensive velvet hangers and was absolutely amazed when I spotted this glorious satin skirt (I know! Who could have guessed?). It was the perfect wine shade and the fabric felt surprisingly nice to the touch.

I have always been an advocate for stocking up on the items you know you’ll wear on repeat. Once you know your style inside and out, you can easily recognize those items you’ll wear to death. In the past, for instance, I have told you about my personal obsession for slip dresses and this totally extends to satin skirts too (I am a total sucker for delicate fabrics). In my experience, the price range for decent quality pieces goes from 30 to 60£ or more. This beauty was less than 15£ though! C-R-A-Z-Y. Since I could already predict I would restyle it countless ways (for cool Autumn evenings, I love to layer satin and silk with a good chunky sweater and ankle boots, while a nice blouse and blazer is my to-go choice for office), I didn’t give it a second thought.

Because let’s be honest here: there’s nothing that gets me more excited than finding a luxury vibe item with an affordable price tag. This perfect satin midi skirt not only delivers that decadent expensive look, but it’s also burgundy. Win-win situation here!

After a few weeks of anticipation, I finally decided to wear the skirt and guys, I am so glad I bought it. For our first visit to Notting Hill (the first of many to come, surely) I went a bit over the top by pairing the skirt with a lovely high-neck sheer top, and the most comfortable Mary Janes on Earth. To finish things off, I am wearing Dior Rouge in Fifth Avenue, my beloved Gucci belt, and the newest addition to my bags collection: the Michael Kors Mercer bag!

Once we took some pictures in the neighbourhood, we moved to Portobello market for brunch and I couldn’t believe the number of compliments I received on my skirt. In all honesty? I felt like a million dollars.

I am a firm believer in the Anna Wintour philosophy of mixing-up designer and inexpensive pieces. It gives your outfit some flavour and you prevent the risk of looking like a living brand advertisement. So now you know: when looking for a versatile skirt to add your Autumn closet a bit of glamour, pay a visit to the closest Primark shop. It will only cost the price of a Costa latte and muffin. You’re welcome!

What is the last amazing fashion find you have made?

Skirt: Primark (available in stores only, pink version here)

Sheer Blouse: Asos (sold out, similar at Nordstrom) / Belt: Gucci / Bag: Michael Kors

Mary janes: Deichman (sold out)

September 30, 2019November 12, 2019

Allegra Caro11 Comments

What to do in Budapest: Designer shopping at Andrassy Avenue

In the many years we’ve been together, Sebastian and I have started a bunch of family traditions: there is the one about the Christmas Day pancakes extravaganza and the one with my youngest sister staying with us for holiday every Summer. Three years ago, we visited Budapest for my birthday and we enjoyed the experience so much, it became a tradition of its own automatically.

Usually, we take the chance to go for a long city break, spending about three-four days in Budapest. In case you are not familiar with the Hungarian capital and its many charms, let me tell you it is worth a visit — the food is delicious, with a plethora of high-end, Nouvelle cuisine, and traditional restaurants to choose from, and don’t even make me start about the beauty of the urban landscape.

But the thing is, you can already read about it all out there, since there is plenty of information online. Instead of telling you how much I love the sunset by the Danube or writing another endless post about visiting Budapest Castle, I thought it would be much more interesting letting you know about other not well-known activities. Let’s talk shopping, for instance.

In Budapest, one of the best kept secrets is the quality and variety of the local shops: from luxury to vintage, and from handcrafted to the high street, you name it. Every year, I pay a visit to my favourite boutiques religiously, in search of one seasonal bargain or two and the city never disappoints.

Of course, this year was no exception. On the second day of our trip, we had a late breakfast at Muvesz Kavehaz in the opera district, and then proceeded to go for some window shopping at Andrassy Avenue — hello, did someone say shopping awesomeness?

Unfortunately, the Gucci and Burberry shops close on Sundays but LV, Pinko, and Michael Kors open to the public on the weekends. By mid-August many of them were still holding seasonal sales (now, that’s what I call a birthday present), which was the perfect excuse to splurge on something nice. Who can say no to a beautiful designer bag on sale, after all?

At the time, I was looking for a good quality leather bag in burgundy or wine to complete my Autumn collection so, as soon as I entered Michel Kors and saw this beauty, I was sold to it (do not worry: there is a proper bag review coming your way). I asked to the very nice shop assistant to let me try it and then I knew it was the one. Sebastian, on the other hand, said it was quite obvious the bag was going home with me based on the way I was holding it and mumbling “My Precious!”, which totally sounds like me to be fair…

Once we left the store, we had a nice long walk all through the neighbourhood. Sadly, the Opera House was closed due to some renovation works on the façade, so we skipped the planned visit and enjoyed the rest of our morning wandering around. And let me tell you that, every single time, we are amazed on how gentle and warm are people around the luxury district, specially while comparing with more popular destinations like Paris: we can only say good things about the working staff in most shops, who are really helpful and welcoming. Definitely, Andrassy Avenue does deserve a visit while in Budapest.

Shortly afterwards, we left the district for our booked tea time appointment at the Four Seasons Hotel but that is another story and shall be told another time…

Have you ever visited Budapest?

If so, what are your favourite shopping locations?

Dress: Poema (sold out, skirt version here)

Shoes: Zara (old, similar at Gianvito Rossi)

Bobby pins: Anthropologie (sold out in their website, some stock here)

Other accesories: Off brand

September 11, 2019September 12, 2019