Outfits

Found the Holy Grail of Flats: Introducing You to VIVAIA Aria 5

(Disclaimer: this post contains a PR gifted item)

A long time ago, during what I like to call the B.L. age (a.k.a. Before London era…) I used to be one of those women who would wear ridiculously high heels everywhere. And by that, my dear friends, I mean everywhere: to the college, to work, to dinner dates, and even to go grocery shopping. Yes, pals, I was THAT girl. What can I say? (I have told you before but I will again: if you look for extra in the urban dictionary, my picture will come probably across…)

But then, I moved to the UK and was introduced to a terrifying new concept that still sends shivers down my back: London commuting. (If that’s not a horror story, I don’t know what is. I am fine with real crime TV shows and Stephen King books, but talk to me about London commuting and I’ll start shaking uncontrollably… ) Coming from a modest-size city, where commuting translates into a twenty-minute walk, I found myself trapped for hours to no-end in the underground system. And I can tell you one thing: that is a helluva amount of time! So, I said goodbye to high heels and got used to always carrying with me the most comfortable pair of flat shoes I could find.

Let me add, that was easier said than done. Yes, heels could be saved for the weekly office meetings and the occasional dinner date, but finding the perfect pair of flats is far tougher than I first thought.

Vivaia Aria 5 the most comfy flat shoes I have evert tried

While heels will hurt your ankles and feet when worn for long hours, ballerina flats can be hard on your back and feet’s sole. This is a lesson that I had to learn the hard way, though. I have mild scoliosis but after wearing the inappropriate type of flat shoes for a few hours, my back will start torturing me and there are days in which I only want to lay down. And that’s never fun, is it?

Over the last couple of years, I tried different things. I wore silicon soles to reduce the impact and help support the feet, I tested half-a-dozen shoe brands, and I even visited a physiotherapist to give me some advice but nothing was working for me. The last resource seemed to be giving up and wearing sneakers, which is quite a logical conclusion. Only, I HATE sneakers with a passion.

Actually, scratch that. To be more specific, I hate sneakers with the fire of a thousand suns!

(Before you all come on me, let me add there’s nothing wrong with wearing trainers. They just look terrible on me, specifically. When I dare to wear them, I look like a scrawny professional tennis player aspirant who never made it to the Wimbledon Tournament but still wears sporty clothes… Yes, it’s that bad. So you can now feel my pain when I say trainers were the last option available.)

The most comfortable flats in the market. Aria 5 by Vivaia

I was starting to feel quite hopeless at this point, and investing an insane amount of time browsing the internet and looking at shoe stores in search of the perfect pair of ballerina flats that would be fit for the job. I started feeling like Cinderella, only trying a thousand different shoes that were not the cristal slipper⁠—well, a modern Londoner version of her, for the matter. One with little patience for nonsense, bad hair days, and too much coffee in her system…

And then the miracle happened! A few weeks ago the good people behind Vivaia contacted me asking if I’d like to test their newest shoe model: The Aria 5, also known as the “sneaker flat”. I had never heard of them before but they caught my attention when I read they are an ethical shoe company, based on sustainability. As you may know already, this has been a topic concerning me for a long time now, and I’ve changed lots of my shopping habits as a consequence. Hence, I was genuinely interested in trying the shoes.

When I finally received them, the first thing I noticed is all the packing is recycled. Also, the shoes themselves are made out of more than six plastic bottles, which is quite impressive in my book! However, they are still washable, as the 3D knitted material is super resistant (which I could test when I accidentally hit a bin in the streets with no visible imperfections on the flats whatsoever).

The first time I wore my Aria 5, I realised the shoes are designed for increased arch support and the memory foam both in the heel padding and insole felt amazing.

But let me make present my case. I wore the shoes from noon to eight in the evening. Sebastian and I went out with a visiting friend and walked through the Bank area to Spitalfields Market, and then to Brick Lane, London Bridge, finishing with a cocktails night at Bōkan in Canary Wharf. By the end of it, my feet were still feeling great and even most importantly, I had no back pain at all! Can I hear a Hallelujah here?

The people at Vivaia were so kind as to sponsor this post by offering this beautiful natural peach Aria 5 pair but, as we speak, I am already looking into their website and adding another pair in black to my shopping cart. Guys, I am serious when I say these flats have changed my life for the better.

So if you are looking for a shoe designed for the modern, professional woman, head to their website now and thank me later.

Are you a flats kind of girl? Or still a heels person? Let me know in the comments!

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022

Allegra Caro7 Comments

How To Look Polished Without Breaking The Bank

As a frequent fashion forums reader I realised that, for years, the internet has been plagued with never-ending threads on the topic of how to look sophisticated on a budget.

At this point, it’s a bit like the sartorial version of the Saint Grail, and anyone trying to answer the question ends up trapped on a quest. Actually, I think we could change the title of this post to Indiana Jones And The Last Fashion Crusade and call it a day.

From my experience, I learned that looking at the big fashion magazines or the top influencers’ content will not help. These days, you can easily feel it all comes down to the latest IT bag, the thousand-pound shoes, or that super exclusive beauty treatment that will cost you the blood of your firstborn and can only be applied by seven fairy virgin maidens, under a blue full-moon… You get the idea, don’t you?

Fashion advice on how to look amazing on a budget.

But what happens to the average professional woman? Should we all throw a potato sack coat, hide our heads in a paper bag, and live unhappily ever after? As I wrote before, I don’t enjoy tragedies other than Shakespeare. So, I spent some time over the years looking at Pinterest, reading fashion bloggers, and small specialised publications, looking at high-end, high-street, and vintage stores. Eventually, I started drawing some conclusions. Then, I tried them all and I failed miserably. (Sorry to disappoint you but, with me being me, we all know chances of doing something successfully on the first attempt are… well, let’s go with minimal here).

So I decided to start from scratch again by experimenting a lot and this is all I learned. These are my top tips on how to look polished without breaking the bank.

Neutrals are the to-go formula for success. Guys, I love a colourful outfit. And by that, I mean I consider myself the human form of a sassy chameleon. But with that said, bold colours are not always the easier to pull. If you want to project confidence and a subtle aura of elegance, your best shot is going for neutrals. Cream, beige, camel, black, or grey are an easy way to look presentable without having to overthink it. If you still want to add a bit of interest to your outfit, play a bit with the accessories and pick a colorful bag or shoes. Believe me when I say it’s a fool-proof recipe style. Not even I can spoil it!

2. Hair is far more important than makeup (and than any designer pieces, for the matter). A lesson I had to learn the hard way from my younger days is a good hair day is far more important than a good makeup day. On most occasions, you will be fine with a touch of concealer, mascara, and a natural-looking gloss. But bad hair, on the other hand? That will ruin even the most carefully curated outfit. Instead of investing in the hundredth red lipstick you don’t need, be sure you have got all the haircare and styling products you need. All I can say it’s Oraplex has made much more for my appearance than any of my designer bags…

3. Better quality materials (meaning natural fibers) will automatically elevate any outfit. Do you know what beautiful, fuchsia colour, fluffy jumper you got at Zara a couple of seasons ago and that got ruined after two washes? Please, make yourself a favour and throw it away. Even better, kill it with fire (but in an open space or you will suffocate with the toxic polyester fume). Yes, sister: I’ve been there. And that’s the reason why I am telling you this from the bottom of my heart. You do NOT need another mindless shopping spree on the sales. What you need though, it’s investing in a few good-quality pieces (think natural cotton, linen, silk, alpaca, or cashmere). Those fabrics will make you look effortlessly chic and they will be good for your wallet in the long run too.

4. Take care of the details. When was the last time you polished your shoes? And what about your manicure? The way we present ourselves is sometimes not as much about the lavish brands like the way we take care of ourselves. Keep yourself hydrated and nourished from the inside for glowy skin (and yes, this comes from someone who spent her university years feeding on pizza up to a point my husband started calling me Supermario. So I do know, what I’m speaking about here). Sleep enough, make some exercise. Fix those loose buttons from your favourite blouse. It’s about the small things, mostly.

5. A good quality bag doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Ideally, we should all have at least two good-quality handbags—one for winter, one for summer—,three if we have another one for work. I am not going to be that picky here. Forget about the four thousand pound designer bag. It’s great if you can get that one, of course, but I can tell you it’s not always about the big name on the tag. Let me illustrate with an example. In the last year or so, I fell in love with a Scottish brand called Strathberry. They produce luxury craftmanship leather bags for a fraction of the price you will pay at the big names (and you know what? when you compare quality, you can tell no difference). So my advice here is, make a bit of research, find a brand you like that makes long-lasting bags and you will never regret it.

And these are my top tips on how to look polished without breaking the bank. Now tell me, what are your tips for me? Any advice you wish to share with our lovely community over here? (Scroll down for my outfit details.)

How to dress elegantly in an affordable way.

– OUTFIT –

Jumper, Coat, and Trousers (Zara) | Sunglasses (Chloe) | Shoes (Dorothy Perkins)

February 16, 2022February 15, 2022

Allegra Caro3 Comments

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

Getting Rid Of My Fear OF Trousers: Shopping For The Most Beautiful Autumn Pants Out There.

I think we can all agree the pandemic has changed many things for us: mostly our daily habits and the way we interact with others, but also the way we dress.

Before February 2020 and the successive lockdowns, we had a rigid dressing etiquette. We knew what to wear to the office or the school drop-off, and it was crystal-clear at all times. Nowadays though? Well, not so much. With the implementation of remote working and a rare social life for months, the lines have blurred since the start of the pandemic, and style guides seem to be almost outdated. Before 2020, the idea of wearing yoga pants at the office, for instance, would have made most of us cry with laughter. These days, on the other hand, nobody raises an eyebrow while working from the comfort of the living room in their gym clothes.

Hear my unpopular opinion here: I don’t know about you, but I think this has made things more complicated. My formerly all-purpose closet seems a bit too much now, and I find myself guessing twice about what to wear (even for the most mundane daily errands). Like, is it still OK to wear a pencil skirt dress to the office? Or should I be toning it down? Because these days, it feels like EVERYTHING needs to be toned down. Dresses are suddenly too much, and so are high heels, nice suits, and tailored skirts. I feel like I went to bed in 2019, and then I woke up the next day in a world where trainers and track pants seem to be the only acceptable policy and the content of my closet should be set on fire.

And OK, it’s not like an angry mob is going to chase me around the block with forks and torches for wearing a skirt and my Manolos—although that is nightmares material to me and also, the plot for a Hallmark movie nobody would pay to watch— but it does provide me with a new inadequacy feeling I did not need. (I already feel inadequate and self-conscious most of the time without all this post-pandemic fashion nonsense, THANKYOUVERYMUCH…)

So, what is the solution here? Should I burn down all my clothes and start from scratch? Well, that would surely be a solution, but if you are anything like me and earning the average professional salary, chances are you can’t afford to throw away the entire content of your wardrobe and move on. Plus, that wouldn’t be very ethical or sustainable, would it? Instead, you might end up working with what you already have and building on it.

For months, I’ve been thinking about creative solutions over and over. I am not gonna lie: I am NOT your casual kind of gal. Rumor has it that if you search for extra in the urban dictionary, my picture will come across… So, no, I will not fix the issue by getting myself some sporty clothes. (Sorry to disappoint you if you thought this post was heading that way.) Sure, shifting to a more casual style would make my life easier, but it would also make me miserable. And I think 2020/2021 was bad enough without adding a self-esteem crisis to the equation.

“What, then?” I can hear absolutely no one asking! Well, the logical conclusion is this: I need to add some pieces that feel a bit more everyday-friendly and can be easily styled for casual occasions but still feel like “me”. Easy, right? Oh, my sweet child of Summer! If only! But this is easier said than done. A quick look at my wardrobe is enough to see I am a dresses and skirts lover, with a soft spot for formal clothes. Trousers, on the other hand? Yeah, I don’t love those so much—and that, guys, is the understatement of the century because the truth is I HATE most styles with a passion. Like, dress me in jeans and I will cry for three days, probably (I wish I were joking here, just ask Sebastian about it…)

I don’t know why I feel so bad about trousers (and more specifically jeans), to be honest. It might be that you HAD to wear them every day at my high school to stop drawing unwanted attention from the local teenage bullies. Or maybe the fact they don’t always look great when you are as thin as me. Whatever the reason is, I have never liked them. To me, trousers have always been the clothing equivalent to the Boogey Man, if you please.

However, I do own a few pairs of trousers. And for some reason, I always gravitate towards them when looking for something a bit more down-to-Earth to wear (especially during the coldest months). Now, that’s a plot twist, isn’t it? So yeah, I tend to avoid wearing jeans at all costs, but I have one or two pairs of nice trousers that I don’t completely hate. Mainly, to look less high-maintenance—and also to feel like a normal human being. With all of that in mind, I took a conscious decision: I would get rid of my fear of trousers and add some more to my collection. (But not jeans, people—I do have boundaries, after all.)

So last September, I spent a couple of idle mornings wandering through the city centre, consciously looking for some alternatives that would suit my style. The first stop was Zara, where I was reasonably successful in the past by adding some basics to my wardrobe. After visiting a shop or two in Oxford Street—and after an epic fail while trying on pants that would make me look like Betty Spaguetty doll—I finally found a pair I truly liked. It was a classic cut, high-waisted, and had some coat of arms style button details that made them feel special. Actually, these trousers gave me Chloe vibes immediately, and they were a fraction of the price too, so I decided to give them a go and visit the fitting room. And guys, I am so glad I did.

The trousers (as you can see in the picture) are the perfect shade of beige you can mix and match with almost any colour palette. I am all about pastels in Autumn as you might remember, so I paired it with this lovely dust pink blouse (also from Zara). I feel they are super easy to style, especially for office attire. Throw a nice shirt and heels and you are good to go! Also, they hug my figure in the right places and don’t make me look too slim. Win-win, people! So for once, I am wearing some pants that I don’t just tolerate but I truly like! How great is that? As a matter of fact, I like them so much I am already looking for similar alternatives in different colours. And I mean, for someone afraid of trousers, that’s a huge achievement, guys. So please feel free to send any nice alternatives to me! Anything with a similar cut will do.

In case you have got a similar problem, or you are simply looking for some nice trousers to wear this Autumn, I took the liberty of looking for the most beautiful pants to shop on the internet. See my personal curation below and let me know if anything catches your attention!

Pretty trousers this way: have a look here, here, and here. Let me know what are your favourites!

– OUTFIT –

Trousers and Blouse (Zara) | Bag (Strathberry) | Shoes (Dorothy Perkins, last season)

November 4, 2021November 3, 2021

Allegra Caro4 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

Five Things Saving My Sanity During Lockdown

I think we can all agree 2020 was a helluva year. Happily, and as far as we know, in 2021 things are looking a bit better. The vaccine is finally here, most vulnerable people are receiving immunisation, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel (and guys, let me tell you that was a pitch-dark, long, ugly tunnel).

However, we are still in the middle of that last effort before things turn for the better. We are experiencing what will probably be the last big lockdown but we still need to deal with a lot of time at home. At this point, even couch potatoes like me are starting to feel it’s all a bit too much and run out of ideas on how to get ourselves busy AND sane.

Now, I am a hundred per cent aware I am one of the few privileged people who were able to keep working from home full-time through the pandemic and who didn’t even have to experience the added struggle of balancing work and home-schooling. To all the people out there who had to go through furlough or take care of children without the extra-support of school, nursing, or parents all I can say is this: you are heroes. Period.

But even being in such a good place, this experience has been hard to an extent I couldn’t have predicted when things went wild last March. I have already written about all the ways this has been difficult but I thought it could be positive sharing all those little things making the whole lockdown, if not fine, at least slightly more bearable. Like in, “Hey, at least I did not shave my head or something” kind-of-bearable.

So, let me share with you five things saving my sanity during Lockdown.

01. Daily bubble baths

I know, I know. It sounds like such a cliché. However, it works for me. Usually, I am tired and anxious after a long workday stuck in the house and I need something to make me switch from work-mode to personal life-mode. Through this year, bubble baths have proved to be a simple way to unwind at the end of the day. I love choosing a nice essential oil, get a book or magazine, and the occasional glass of prosecco. It is like magic—especially during wintertime when it’s pitch-dark about 4 in the afternoon and far too cold to venture for a walk.

02. Practicing ballet at home

January last year, I started attending ballet lessons for adults at a local dance studio. Learning classic ballet had been on my bucket list forever so I decided to give it a go as a part of my 2020 New Year resolutions (and will you Universe let me complete at least one of those once in a while? Thankyouverymuch…).

Unfortunately, London went into lockdown in March, meaning all the gyms and dance studios closed temporarily. This was something that truly took a toll on me: dancing was my weekly ritual to release all work the tension and socialise (not to mention it was the only actual exercise I practiced at the time). So I found myself stuck in the house and not exercising at all. I could see things going down the plughole in a blink and decided to stop it.

About mid-April I found a couple of nice Youtube channels teaching ballet lessons for beginners and transformed my kitchen counter on a ballet barre. And let me tell you that’s probably one of the best lockdown decisions I have ever made. It is crystal-clear I’ll never become an Anna Pavlova but I feel great. So morals are simple here: practice exercise. Any exercise. I think we can all agree we need as many endorphins as we can possibly get at the moment.

03. Stopped wearing yoga pants all the time

I already wrote a blog post about the time I ended up yelling at my yoga pants but to sum it up, wearing the same clothes over and over will make you feel like you are wearing a prison uniform. These days, I will occasionally wear comfy clothes while staying at home but most of the time, I try to make an effort and wear proper work attire. It makes me feel good, it increases my productivity, and it also creates a sense of separation between the working day and my spare time. Win-win situation here.

04. Thematic Netflix marathons

Let me tell you something about the lockdown: we’ve been milking our Netflix subscription like CRAZY. In the beginning, we would just watch random stuff. In the last few months though, we have organized a series of thematic marathons. Let’s say we feel like watching dystopian fiction. We look for a list of genre movies from the Netflix catalogue and then organize them in terms of author, actor, or year and watch them. In the meantime, we love to comment on them (yes, we are THAT kind of people… don’t hate us) and even make a list giving them star points. I don’t need to mention the type of nerds we are, do I?

As silly as it sounds, organizing these little marathons has been our weekly highlight and a lovely way to entertain ourselves while avoiding cabin fever. Popcorn anyone?

05. Online socialising

This year has been the one with all the online socialising: weekend Zoom catch-ups with friends, Sunday morning and mid-week evening Skype coffee dates with family, daily Instagram community chats—you name it. To me, Internet has made the difference between feeling lonely and having a taste of a normal social life (even if it was a socially-distanced one). I can say it has been the one tool saving my sanity during the pandemic and I can’t even imagine how things would have been without an Internet connection. I will neever be grateful enough about that.

So tell me: what are your secret weapons for well-being during lockdown?

Any tips you want to share?

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

Allegra Caro6 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

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