I know the Spring is officially here, I know you'd all like to be daydreaming about Spring style and warmer days, but let's be realistic. In most of Europe and the better part of the Eastern North America it is still cold. I'm not talking freezing (unless of course you're in Canada where snowstorms are still happening this week), I'm just saying it is NOT open toe shoe weather yet.
Thanks to a recent Netflix interview with Modena's own Massimo Bottura (one of the top 3 chefs in the World, and quite possibly the most influential chef on the planet), I've seen non-stop tourists in Modena. Last week I met 6 tourists in a row who had just arrived from New York and I'm sad to say many of them were in open toe shoes and freezing their tootsies off!
This is Italy, it is not Jamaica! We have all four seasons, a real winter (with snow if you're near the mountains or foothills), a real Spring (with rain), a real summer (with unbearable heat that drives droves of people to the beach) and a real fall (filled with incredible colors, especially in the mountains). It is not "hot" here year-round.
Today I thought I would share a look with and without my coat, since in the sun it is warm enough to be in a t-shirt these days, but in the shade you NEED a coat and closed toe shoes, people! I thought I would share a few of these cold/warm looks since the transitional seasons like the Spring and Autumn are what Italians refer to as "la stagione dei mal vestiti" - "the season of the inappropriately dressed", and I'm proud to say I'm finally getting the hang of it!
Over The Shoulders
Layers are the key to dressing for the half seasons. Another trick I've been loving lately is bringing a heavier coat with me and wearing it over my shoulders when the sun is out and I'm hot. This way you don't sweat, however our back is covered so you don't catch a chill. Besides, it is such an easy way to get a stylish vibe at no cost what so ever. This is the trick I've used to avoid a bronchial infection, mega-cold and viruses (all things that Italians seem to get regularly!)
The Barber Shoppe
As much as I'm not a hipster (nor desire to be one), I appreciate many aspects of the "movement". As a side note, I really think that we'll refer to "hipsters" the same way we refer to "hippies" of the 60s in 15 - 30 years...and no I'm not kidding!
Recently, I've had many interesting conversations with my husband about the origins of hipsters, how to define them and where they come from....I will spare you our thoughts and I'll just jump into my favorite culture-changing aspects of the movement.
Music, pushing the boundaries of "acceptableness", a return to craftsmanship and artisanal items (even to the point of nausea), and my number one favorite aspect - EMBRACING THE BEARD! I love men with facial hair, and the hipster movement has brought so much attention to men's beards, their care, and good old fashioned barber shops!
Italy has such a strong barber shop culture, and in Modena there are many historic places to get your beard trimmed and cut, while looking at car magazines and talking about soccer, but this new place near my house caught my eye. It opened just a few months ago and has this nice retro feel without trying too hard or going overboard.
One day, walking home, I noticed it and just knew that it was for my son's first haircut, and that I would be creating a long relationship for my son between him and his "barbiere" - "barber". In fact, tonight after school I'm taking him for his second visit to get a long overdue trim.
So as much as my almost 36 year old self missed the boat on the tattooed everything, yoga practicing, organic obsessed, garden growing realm of hipsterdom, I'm still on the cusp enough to appreciate so many "revivals" that the purple haired mothers and fathers of the movement have brought on.
What I Wore
My coat is a special Tuscan wool, and in the fall as part of the new collection I will be offering CUSTOM FIT coats in 28 different colors that are made to measure as part of my new collection. If you are interested you can e-mail me here: reasonstodress@gmail.com to pre-order. They will be priced at around 260 euros including SHIPPING and custom measurements for all of my tall, plus-sized, petite, pear, apple and eggplant shaped women!
My top is a vintage cropped top that I bought online from Depop. Depop is an online app where you can buy and sell your clothes with a huge vintage section. I also sell on Depop (email me if you want my selling info!) and I LOVE IT, for interesting one of a kind pieces that are practically impossible to find in stores.
Lately I keep looking for ways to keep my wardrobe on trend but not EXACTLY the same as everyone and everything else. Fashion is no fun at all if you feel you need to wear the same thing as the next fashion blogger in order to be considered "stylish". Style is a personal expression of who you are to the outside world, each outfit a new character.
On this occasion I wanted to be very feminine, a woman, a mom, an country-living aristocrat, put together, high society but rustic...these are the things that went through my head when I got dressed that morning. I was not thinking about being on-trend which I find tiring, boring and stifling. Am I the only one that approaches getting dressed like this? What goes through your mind?
I LOVE these boots because they are semi-OTK (over the knee), and perfect for petite women who want the over the knee look without having their boots come up to their thighs (as sexy as that is, it is also uncomfortable).
I am also coveting this pair by the brand Vince! Have you heard of Vince? They are one of Italy's FASTEST rising stars, an Italian brand that focuses on quality, made in Italy and very sleep minimal designs. You can find the Vince Spring and Summer 2016 collection online at Shopbop. If you love this pair, they are currently on sale for $208 down from almost $700!
My bag is by the Modena artisan boutique La Vacchetta Grassa, you can read about them in this feature article as part of my "HAND MADE - THE ARTISAN" Series. They create artisan goods in cowhide with an undeniably rustic feel contrasted with refined finishing.
This week I am so proud to share:
Jill is one of my favorite everyday style bloggers and I love her practical and yet stylish outfits, in fact she was featured in the first issue of the RTD Magazine as one of my style bloggers to watch in 2015. She is also an incredible member of the fashion blogger community and hosts her own linkup on Thursdays. Her favorite types of posts are how to style an item multiple ways, which I LOVE since my own philosophy is to get as much wear out of the things that you own, check out this post on how to style a camo t-shirt three ways! Be sure to stop by her blog to introduce yourself today (if you don't already know her)!
#REASONSTODRESS DRESS TO IMPRESS FASHION BLOGGER LINKUP
Welcome to the #REASONSTODRESS DRESS TO IMPRESS LINKUP for fashion and style bloggers!
This linkup is hosted by REASONS TO DRESS - An Italian lifestyle blog about an expat-Canadian married to an Italian leather artisan. Part of this new linkup is sharing up and coming style bloggers and we're always looking for fabulous co-hosts who will be interviewed and featured - email reasonstodress@gmail.com for info!
REASONS TO DRESS - An Italian Lifestyle Blog About Fashion, Travel & Life in Italy
DOUSED IN PINK - A Fashion & Lifestyle Blog!
THIS WEEK'S BANNER / INSTAGRAM IMAGE :- PLEASE : Linkup your STYLE related posts, new and old! Or Linkup a FASHION related picture from Instagram with the hashtag #REASONSTODRESS
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