Style Dtour: Rome, Italy

View from balcony of the Airbnb. Pantheon in the distance.

Since I already gave you a glimpse of my travel wardrobe, this selection of photos basically just serves to highlight the majesty of the city that is Rome.

Sweater | Eileen Fisher
Coat | Rebecca Taylor
Pants | Citizens of Humanity
Purse | J. Crew Signet Bag
Shoes | J. Crew x New Balance

That being said, here is an outfit photo. The jacket that I brought has zip-off sleeves, so I decided to put them to the test (and make sure they weren't just decorative zippers) and treat the coat like a vest. These photos were taken at the MAXXI, which is a modern art museum located in the Flaminio neighborhood of Rome. I would describe it as a little experimental for my tastes, but I'm glad someone is out there doing what they are doing. Also, the building design was really fun.

Villa Borghese Gardens

The gardens at the Villa Borghese were one of my favorite parts of Rome. It is nice to get away from the city and suddenly be in an enormous, serene park full of plants, dogs, and striking water features.

Altare della Patria

Since I was on vacation, and walking a few miles a day, I did get pretty casual with it once or twice. For better or for worse, there were quite a few other tourists also rocking their sweatpants. Although, I should also admit, for every athleasured American, there was also an incredibly chic and well-put-together Italian person standing nearby. 

More MAXXI

View from St. Peter's Basilica.

Lastly, a view from St. Peter's Basilica, made all the more speical because there are so few people in it. One of the definite benefits of jetlag is getting the city to yourself for a few hours in the morning.

Have you been to Rome, and if so, what was your favorite spot? Thanks for stopping by!

The Business of Travel Layering

Tank | Lanston
Jeans | Citizens of Humanity
Sweater | Everlane
Puffer Jacket | Uniqlo Ultra Light Down (read my review here)
Coat | Rebecca Taylor
Bag | J. Crew Signet Bag
Shoes | New Balance x J. Crew

I recently got back from a trip to Italy, and while I was out and about all day walking around and tourist-ing (not a word, but perhaps should be) light layers ended up being the way to go. I wanted to ensure comfort and temperature control, with temperatures ranging from the 40's to the mid-60s. This is a quick spin through my basic sight-seeing outfit. Also, since the AirBnB we were staying in had a washer/dryer (and also was really cute - that is where these photos were taken), I prioritized bringing machine washable items that would dry out quickly (leather/wool coat, obviously excluded).

Layer One

   I guess technically layer one is underwear, but this isn't that kind of blog. I started with my favorite pair of jeans, and a soft cotton tank, that provided a lightweight base that did not add unnecessary bulk. I prefer to layer tanks under sweaters, because sometimes with shirts, layering three different types/lengths of sleeves can be annoying. 
Layer Two

 Next up, a thin Everlane sweater, that I basically wear all the time. It is sadly no longer for sale on their website, and the amount I wear it makes me think I should have purchased two of them when I had the chance. 
     Also, I wanted you to know that I wore matching socks just for you, internet. I basically never wear matching socks. All of the socks I own are ankle socks, so I just keep them in a drawer and pull out any two, as needed. I think it is practical, but it definitely drives some people crazy when they see my mismatched socks.
Layer Three

 The above outfit is basically what I wore out on the slightly warmer days, if it was unlikely I would be wearing my coat, so I didn't have to carry it around in my arms. I had high hopes for this Uniqlo jacket going into this trip and it surpassed all of them. It is so light-weight, I could scrunch it up in my purse, use it as a pillow on the flight, love that the exterior pockets have zippers to add a little security when traveling, and love that it has two very functional interior pockets - great to store a boarding pass when going through security. Also, the color is nice and was a little more fun than just generic grey or navy (you know, like the rest of my outfit...).
Layer Four

Last, but not least, my Rebecca Taylor coat, which I adore. I definitely kept it pretty casual on this trip (i.e. no dresses or heels) but this coat made me feel a little more polished. I was in Italy, after all, and the leather sleeves help me feel more fashion-y. It isn't a generic black coat, which a lot of people were wearing, so it was nice to have something that reflected my personal style but was functional. I finished off the look with a crossbody purse (which I will do a separate review of) and sunglasses, and was ready for adventure.

How do you usually layer when you travel?

Oversized Cardigan: Two Ways

Today, I take a look at how I style an oversized cardigan, for work, and for leisure. This cardigan is 100% cashmere (it is heavenly soft) and by Rag & Bone. I bought it secondhand, and I'm honestly not sure if it was originally supposed to be a men's or women's piece. It is a size S, and I could definitely see it designed to be purposefully oversized on a woman, or just fitted on a man. The color and cut also don't really point one direction or the other, but whatever - it ended up with this woman. 

Cardigan | Rag & Bone
Sweater | J.Crew
Dress | Proenza Schouler
Boots | Coclico

 Even though it has been rainy and a bit chilly here, I decided to brave the cold in a skirt with no tights (it is actually a dress, layered under a sweater, but you get the idea) and then added this topper for added warmth. The neutral color fits in well with the color of the other pieces, and the print on the skirt is the highlight of the outfit anyway. I initially was going to wear black shoes, but liked the height of these boot to make my legs look longer and to make myself feel a little more dressed up. Even though this is a casual piece, I think that it is elevated to work-appropriate status by the silk dress, heels, and rich color palette. 

Unfortunately, I can't really pop the collar.

Cardigan | J. Crew
Sweater | Banana Republic
Jeans | Citizens of Humanity
Shoes | J. Crew New Balance 620

 I think a key part of keeping this cardigan from looking like it is swallowing my frame, is defining my natural waist. If I paired this piece with a longer tunic, it would be a lot of length and volume on top, and might make my legs seem particularly short or spindly. I'm not saying my legs aren't short or spindly, I'm just saying that isn't the theme of this particular outfit. 

     For hanging out on the weekend (and still recovering from a cold), jeans were the obvious choice. I paired this cardigan with my ruffle shoulder Banana Republic sweater, as pairing a thick, chunky knit with cashmere felt like the right move. 

    These sneakers, by the way, are from J. Crew, and are the New Balance 620. They were on sale in the recent J. Crew markdown, and I got them for over half off. They are currently no longer on sale, but I bet they will be again soon. I bought them just to switch up my "walk-to-work" shoes, and so far I like them. They run TTS, and aren't particularly substantial (I wouldn't run in them) but for walking around they are comfy and cute.

I could also see this piece on an old man...

Thanks for stopping by!