fashion blogger

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

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

The Cloud Bag review: What I Got for Christmas

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

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

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

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

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

The Cloud Bag by The Cambridge Satchel Company Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 29, 2020December 28, 2020

Allegra Caro10 Comments

Should you be dressing up these Christmas?

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

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

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

Should we dress up for Christmas this year?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 14, 2020December 13, 2020

Allegra Caro10 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 1, 2020November 30, 2020

Allegra Caro14 Comments

My 2019 in Outfits: Developing my Style Sense

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

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

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

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

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

This was my 2019 in outfits!

January

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

February

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

March

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

April

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

May

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

June

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

July

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

August

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

September

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

October

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

November

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

December

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

How was your 2019?

January 27, 2020January 26, 2020

Allegra Caro8 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!