Category: Dressing for Summer

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EVERY OUTFIT I WORE IN ITALY

It’s official – I’m having a Sophia Loren summer. Full skirted dresses with fitted waists, red lips, straw bags, hair scarves.. give me all of it. Of course, it’s not far off from how I typically dress – but after leaning in further for our trip to Italy, I’m excited to continue the pattern for the warm weather months to come. And you can bet I’ll be rewearing everything I had packed. For the sake of fitting in a carry-on, I stuck to easy cotton and linen dresses for day, walkable block or wedge heels and a simplified color palette of black, white, tan, red and green (a bit of a nod to the Italian flag!). Below – everything I wore on our trip.

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(Above): This vintage 1960s cotton eyelet dress felt like it set the tone for my whole suitcase. Very Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley.. my ultimate summer style icon! Paired with old faithful sandals from J.Crew plus a new to me leather and wicker bag.

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This dress reminded me of one of those classic Italian painting, all curves and draped fabric. And the green felt different for me – but very appropriate for emerald Taurus season! Worn for my favorite dinner of the trip. And can I give a shout-out to these raffia wedge heels? They went with half the outfits I packed and were so walkable and comfortable. 10/10.

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Off the plane (and the trains and the water bus) we quickly freshened up to grab our first dinner of the trip in a nearby piazza. I love this polka dot slip skirt and linen vest – already worn to work since we’ve been back! And this particular little rose embroidered straw bag is my very favorite – a souvenir gift from Adam, bought on a trip to Paris two years ago.

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Now this was a fun one. The cutest cherry print dress (going to run around New York City all summer in this), lace-up red sandals – practical thanks to a low block heel but they really pack a punch – a vintage bag, Adam’s sunglasses and my late Nan’s rings around my neck (she didn’t get the chance to travel the world so I like to ‘take her with me’ when I go someplace like this that I know she would have loved).

This red dress was the first thing I bought for our trip – I think back in February! It might have been before we even booked the flights – dress for the vacation you want, right? It’s a bit on the pricier side but it’s the most beautiful weight linen with a great structure and fit. Very much a forever dress. And I’ll tell you, it felt perfect wandering through Verona, sampling food from the local markets and stepping onto “Juliet’s balcony” in this. Very Sophia Loren summer coded.

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I wore this on our last morning in Italy for a quick breakfast before we headed back to Milan to catch our flight home (don’t worry I swapped the sandals for sneakers to go to the airport!). I always say I want to invest in more tops and this short sleeve linen one is going to get a lot of wear this summer. Worn with my favorite jeans and a vintage silk scarf in my hair.

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Date night, personified. I love this little black dress so much, the square neck, the wrap skirt. It’s easy and comfortable and can easily be punched up with accessories – like these veryyy fun cherry earrings, a sleek little bag and red sandals.

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There’s something so timeless about a linen shirt dress – I love the sort of oatmeal color of this and while I think it would look great with brown or tan accessories too – I loved the contrast of the black raffia belt and sandals here. Paired with a favorite vintage bag and I felt like a postcard from Italy circa 1958.

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Saved one of my favorites for the last night of the trip – a sunset boat ride and a delicious dinner tucked away in a beautiful little courtyard outside of the Opera house. This dress got delayed in shipping and I was certain it wasn’t going to arrive in time for the trip, but then miraculously landed on my doorstep the day before we left. It’s made from the most beautiful heavy cotton (almost like a light canvas) so it really keeps it’s shape and wears so well. Hoping to find another occasion to wear it soon!

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CASUAL NEUTRALS + 2ND HALF OF SUMMER PLANS

I knew at the start of this year that it was going to be a big one in terms of my full time job – with the busiest season being this summer. Which can make it hard to feel as carefree as the rest of the world seems to with restrictions finally loosened up and summer vacations in full swing. That being said – I’m excited about the work I’m doing and am trying my best to squeeze in some fun moments wherever I can.

Day trips out to the beach. Hopefully making it back to the lake. Working my way through my summer reading list and making time for my new embroidery hobby. Planning a weekend getaway with my sister for late August. Basically eeking out any spare moments I can during the rest of July and August for a bit of relaxation and enjoying summer weather. And I expect to be wearing this simple, button-front midi dress for much of it. It’s light as air and smocked in the back so it’s super comfortable.

If you’re reading this and are in a less busy season of life – savor summer for me, will you?

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A WEEK OF REAL OUTFITS: 5-21-21

I’m sure a lot of you felt the same, but this spring – after a year of pandemic life – my usual interest in putting together outfits was all but gone. And then last week I took a few days off work, the weather hit a consistent 75 degrees and all of a sudden I was excited to get dressed again. The results were 7 days of outfits that I couldn’t wait to put on and go out into the world wearing. Talk about a mood booster. Hoping you all have a sunny weekend ahead and are inspired to dust off some real outfits of your own.

These outfits are a mix of things already in my closet and a few new pieces. In the case that something is no longer available, or vintage, I linked a similar item.

WORK FROM HOME DAY:

Beach Boys T-Shirt, Vintage Skirt, Statement Earrings, Sandals

MARGARITA HAPPY HOUR:

White T-Shirt, Bag (old from Anthropologie), Polka Dot Shorts (gifted), Sandals (old from Marc Fisher)

MID-WEEK ZOOM CALLS:

Cardigan and Shell, Jeans, Gingham Heels (old from Talbots)

PICNIC IN THE PARK:

Dress (gifted), Bag (old from Talbots), Stud Earrings, Sandals (old from Talbots)

FRIDAY DATE NIGHT:

Earrings (old from Lulu Frost), Vintage Silk Top, Jeans (old from H&M), SJP Heels

AFTERNOON AT THE MUSEUM:

Suede Jacket, Grey T-Shirt, Printed Midi Skirt, Sandals + Bag (Old from Talbots)

DINNER AL FRESCO:

Black Dress, Hoop Earrings, Leopard Heels

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NAP DRESSES AND THE START OF SUMMER

I took a couple of days off of work for a long birthday weekend – which just so happened to coincide with the nicest stretch of weather we’ve had so far this year. Coupled with the new vaccine mask mandate and it really felt the whole city was outside celebrating alongside me. Which made it easy to cross quite a few things off my post-pandemic bucket list. Explore the Upper West Side, visit the Natural History Museum, eat at the Central Park Boathouse and get a mani/pedi – check, check and check!

On Saturday we spent some time picnic-ing in Washington Square Park and it really felt like the start of summer. I was happy to break out this new blue dress for the occasion. Blame it on Bridgerton’s Regency-era costumes and Hill House’s infamous “nap dresses” – both well timed for a global pandemic audience – but these smocked, empire waist, puff sleeve dresses are everywhere this summer. This floaty version is from Few Moda – an online retailer that sells clothing made in the same factories as brand’s like Reformation and Zimmerman, but offered at a fraction of the price when you subscribe to a membership. I was a little bit skeptical but they sent me this dress and I can attest to the fact that the quality is great and I would have gladly paid $54 instead of the $200+ that those other brands would charge. Especially on items like this that are a bit trendier. And if I just so happen to be able to wear it from for a picnic and also for a nap? All the better.

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MY SPRING/SUMMER WISHLIST

I know I always say this but I really can’t believe it’s almost May. Isn’t it still 2020? Time is funny these pandemic days. I have a lot to look forward to this month – my second vaccine shot, my birthday, warmer weather, a couple of days off work, a weekend at the lake. All in all it feels like high time I dusted off my ‘real wardrobe’ and added a few new pieces, to be mixed and matched from now through August. Below, what’s caught my eye.

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