I think I can safely say that this is my final winter ensemble for the season. Thank goodness, because I am ready for spring. And I am sure I am not alone. I love this yellow coat and it certainly brightens up any winter look, but, I am ready to replace yellow wool for my navy gingham-lined trench.
Speaking of gingham, have you seen J.Crew's latest arrivals? It's a gingham palooza! I am trying not to go crazy, because nobody needs that much gingham in their lives. Hopefully, I can keep my touches of gingham strategic... we will see how long that lasts lol.
I have to give credit to these lace-up flats. Not only did they work with tights (hello, year-round versatility), but they are surprisingly comfortable. I wore them all day in DC and clocked some 10 miles with zero discomfort or blisters. You know how much I appreciate a comfortable shoe, I may to invest in another pair down the road.
Last Wednesday I hopped on a flight to DC to visit my cousin who is in his first year at Georgetown Law. My other cousin (his sister) also joined us for a fun long weekend of cousin bonding. Although technically my cousins, these two goofballs are the closest thing I have to siblings, and I missed them like crazy while I was abroad last year. The three of us are very much alike and had a fabulous time touring DC together.
Unfortunately, our timing wasn't great weather-wise. We hit, what will probably be, the last weekend of cold weather. I couldn't believe that it snowed Thursday night! I guess no one told DC it was March. Since we were spending most of our time outdoors sightseeing and exploring, I brought lots of layers. Despite the chilly temps, I still wanted to wear color (shocking, I know). I love the unique and vibrant colors of this skirt. I highlighted the skirt's hints of pink and red with my pink popover and red boots and purse.
On another note, I finally realized that I had my Snapchat set to friends only. So no one but my friends saw any of my snaps from Europe last fall. Total Snapchat fail. But I did figure it out, so you can now see my snaps. Although fair warning, when I am not traveling, it is mostly cat snaps (#sorrynotsorry).
I don’t know why, but gingham has always been one of my favorite patterns. And I am so happy that it seems to be everywhere this spring. When I fist saw J.Crew’s Chateau trench in the lighter khaki color and gingham lining, it was love at first sight. But my local store didn’t receive the jacket and based on the images online, I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to flatter my figure (#topheavy).
During my weekend in New York City, however, I popped into the J.Crew near Rockefeller Center while we waited for our Top of the Rock appointment. I couldn’t resist trying it on. And thank goodness I did, because as it turns out, I love the fit. This just goes to show that you should always try things on, you never know.
I was expecting to have to go a size up since everyone online has commented on the narrow shoulders of the jacket. But, surprisingly, I didn’t need to. I guess my shoulders aren’t big, just my chest lol. I also love the bright red/coral shade that it also comes in, but I decided to be more practical and stick with the tan color.
Fortunately, NYC’s weather decided to cooperate, and after a chilly start to my trip, we finally got warmer temps on my last day. I seized the opportunity to wear my adorable new trench for our walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
I must warn you though; if you are looking for a raincoat or warm coat, this is not the jacket for you. It’s cotton, although lined, and not waterproof. But it is a really flattering lightweight jacket, perfect for spring and early fall.
What a difference a couple weeks make. We took these photos my last Sunday in Florence. It was such a fun last day in my beloved city. Anna and I strolled our favorite streets, gorged ourselves on pasta, and had cocktails at the roof-top bar of the Westin Excelsior at sunset as this crazy fog rolled into the city. It was the best way to say farewell.
Coming home has been a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. I was so excited to come home and enjoy everyone and everything that I had missed, but I didn't really think about how much I would miss Florence, the archive, and my friends there, not to mention just how different my day-to-day life would be. Honestly, I feel a little overwhelmed and lost. Jet lag hit me hard and I have struggled to get into a good rhythm. In fact, I actually slept on the couch my first week back because it felt so weird to be home (strange I know). But each day gets better as my sleep pattern normalizes and I fall back into old routines.
On a somewhat related note, being home means I can break out the Lilly Pulitzer. And today is the big Lilly sale! I am sure the site will crash and the virtual line will be long. I like to skip the online madness and head to my local signature store. They match the online prices, you get to actually try things on, and everything goes home with you. I highly recommend it! I have my eye on this tunic dress, this tunic, and these shorts. Hopefully some of them will be included in the sale.
I have to admit that dressing for actual seasons this past year has been really fun, challenging at times for this Florida girl, but fun. This past week in Florence, the weather has been all over the place. It is so weird to me that you can leave your house in the morning and it is one temperature, but then you leave work for lunch that same day and it's actually colder! Or just yesterday, this thick and cold fog rolled into the city around 4 pm. It is crazy how quickly the weather can change here.
Thank goodness for blanket scarfs! Love or hate the trend, I have become completely addicted. They are so useful for unpredictable weather, I always keep one in my bag just in case. They are also amazing for travel in general since they can actually double as a blanket. I also love this comfy blue stripped tee from J.Crew. Stripe tops are super versatile wardrobe staples, and I love to mix them with all sorts of patterns, like plaid and leopard.
I honestly can't believe I have lived in Florence for almost a year. It seems surreal, like I just got here. It is crazy how quickly time can fly. While I am happy to be going home for a bit (I will be back to Florence to work this summer), I can honestly say I am going to miss dressing for seasons and bundling up!
I love getting dressed in the morning. I love trying on different outfits and mixing up my old pieces in new ways. And, I especially love experimenting and trying unexpected combinations, like this red lace dress and black pom-pom beanie. I think the juxtaposition between the dressy lace and casual wool beanie and windowpane scarf just works. Also, I was cold and need a hat lol.
I have also learned the trick for wearing your favorite knee-highs and thigh-highs in colder weather, simply wear them over nude tights. I have become so accustomed to wearing tights everyday, going home to Florida for Christmas is going to be so weird!
Sadly, this little red lace dress by Paul and Joe is sold out. But, I have found several great alternatives below because red lace is always a good idea and perfect for the holidays. And as you can see, red lace can also be dressed down.
