Beach holidays must-haves

For those of us trapped in our office's walls, in the sweaty metro cars and the melting asphalt (ok, I'm being a bit dramatic), beach holidays are like a dream - even if, like me, we still don't know where or if we're going to the beach. But since it's a dream, this is what I would bring to this year's beach holidays:

Espadrilles

Because nothing says "it's almost summer" better than a pair (or several) of espadrilles!

Spring Colors

Fashion Week is in Milan and although the collections being presented now are for the coming seasons and I still haven't been invited to any front row shows, it will be Spring soon (hopefully!) so here is the Pantone for the colors of this Spring 2014:

Inspired by this Pantone I have created some sets using these color combinations, just to get an idea on what we'll be wearing this Spring:

Trends 2013

OK, so it's still freezing and the winter sales just started but it's never too early to start thinking about the trends for next season. What are we expecting for Spring 2013? Bright colors, neons and pastels (no shock, we still have something left from last summer, right?), the biggest surprise are the stripes, so we'll be having fun trying to mix them with all those colors - and we'll have even more fun watching how others mismatch them :)

Color Pantone:

Brights & Stripes:

20 clothes

Since fall has officially arrived, I came up with a list of the 20 basic items of clothing I should have for this season, then I started putting them together and 21 different combinations came out! so I thought of sharing them with you, enjoy!

Wine tasting weekend

Autumn brings wind, falling leaves and darker colors but also wine festivals and tastings all over Italy.
If you are planing a wine tasting weekend somewhere (Trentino, Tuscany, Franciacorta, Piedmont, etc.) you should be prepared. Besides studying the wine guides (like the Italian Sommelier Association, Gambero Rosso or any other), maps, accommodations and making appointments to visit the wine cellars, you should be dressed properly. For this once, leave at home your high heels and dress comfortably because you might have to walk through the vineyards, and perhaps after the fifth cellar (or the fifth glass, whatever happens first) you won't be holding your balance very well. Enjoy!

Mexican holidays!

From today on, I'm officially on holidays! And what better place to go on holidays than Mexico!

Promise to bring back lots of pictures!
xoxo
M.

Autumn colors

I've been hunting for nice summer clothes on the sales these days but the new colors are already in the shops... It makes me sweat only seeing those jackets and dark colors, and I know it will get worse in august because the windows in the shops will tell me that summer is over...
There's nothing I can do about it so I started my research on the next season's colors and styles. I must say that after a spring-summer filled with neons and pastels, I was expecting something a bit more colorful or at least less heavy, but you know what happens with fashion, when you see some new trend for the first time you don't like it but then you end up loving it (at least that's what happens with me :))
Anyhow, next season's trends are dark colors (grey, bordeaux, dark green, navy, etc.), the occasional pale pink and lots of textures: houndstooth (pied de poule), tweed, photo prints, snakeskins, chunky fabrics, all-over prints, etc.
Guess I'd better start updating my closet!

All roads lead to Rome

Hey there!
While you read this I'll probably be on my way to Rome, where we'll be spending this super-hot summer weekend, playing with our new camera, enjoying the views and surely eating some delicious food :)
Here's the look I'll be wearing on my Roman Saturday:



Promise I'll bring back lots of photos!
xoxo
M.

The quest for the perfect swimsuit

Summer is already here and I don't know about you but I'm really looking forward to spending some time at the beach (or even by the pool!) so let the quest for the perfect swimsuit begin!
When I was younger, I never had any issues when looking for a swimsuit but now that the signs of too much eating and no exercise start to show, I think I'll let my bikinis in the drawer and settle for a more covering model...
Since I know I'm not the only one having some issues with swimwear, here's a guide I made:

A) Pear shape: avoid skirted bottoms, they'll make your lower part look bigger. Go for fold-over bottoms to slim your bottom and full coverage tops to compensate the upper part.
B) Flat chest: Avoid bandeau tops, they flatten your chest even more. If you want bandeau you might want to try a ruffled one to add volume. Pair it with a bottom with strings on the sides to improve your hips.
C) Large chest: Avoid triangle bikinis which would only make your chest look bigger. Try instead an underwired halter top with fuller coverage.
D) Tummy: Avoid bulky swimsuits, they'll maker your body look big and shapeless. Go for ruches in the sides to slim your shape, and try a nice plungy neckline to take away attention from your tummy.

And the golden rule: choose a swimsuit in which you feel comfortable!

Enjoy your summer and wear sunscreen!

Air Travel

Here's my ideal air travel outfit, the secret is to be comfortable but also fashionable!
And don't forget to drink liters and liters of water and use loads of moisturizer!
Enjoy the flight!

Early bird

As any respectable traveler (I consider myself one), I have already booked, last month, my holidays for the summer. I believe in the "early bird catches the worm" saying, I prefer to book my travels well in advance in order to have more time to do research and prepare every aspect of my trip.
Want to know where I'm going? Here's a hint:

My first 30's!

Here's a little collage I made to symbolize my first 30 years in this world...

... and if the next 30 are as great as these were, can't wait!!!

Obsessed

I've been feeling really creative these days! Perhaps is the spring or the excitement for my coming birthday, believe it or not, I am excited to become 30! So here's a collage of one of my favorite things: shoes, every color (almost), every shape, every height!
And what can I say about bags? The most important accessory in every outfit, can't get enough!

 

Packing list: Dubai

Tonight I'll be leaving for some days of holidays in Dubai. This will be my first time there and I can't wait! I've been to Arab countries before but I'm sure I'll be amazed by the contrast of desert and luxury of this city.
Since I managed to get my hands on some nice things from the Marni for H&M collection yesterday, I'll be bringing them along, obviously nothing too revealing because Dubai has some rules regarding dress codes and as I'm a good traveler I know I must not violate them so no bare shoulders, no over the knee skirts or shorts and no cleavage showing.
Promise to bring back many photos and stories!
XOXO
M.

Marni @ H&M

Feelin' blue

Some years ago, when I thought my thirties were far, far away I discovered the Birkin bag (Hermès). It was on Sex & the City, an episode in which Samantha explains that she was going to get a Birkin because that meant she had reached success. So I thought: "I want a Birkin when I become 30, that'll mean that I'm an adult"... But here I am, almost 30 and almost penniless :)
So the other day, when I saw on one of my favorite blogs the next best thing, and a more affordable option: the Birkin printed on a canvas bag, I decided I had to have it, as my birthday present. I couldn't find the Banane Taipei that the blogger had, but I found the Pomikaki (in a shop called Valios in Corso Italia 11, Milan), they have them in several colors and they are numbered and come with a pretty turquoise foulard. Here's the one I chose:

And here's the Polyvore set I created:

Feelin' blue

Pinterest-ED or Pinspire-D?

Who hasn't heard of Pinterest or Pinspire these days??? They're like the new social networks that are actually not social networks, it's like your good old desk board, you know, the one behind the desk in which you used to pin the important papers, photos or images together with post-its, etc. Well, Pinterest and Pinspire are like an image database in which you find that, images, which you categorize in Boards and share with the world. For example, take mine:

As you can see, I divided my boards in 7 interests: the clothes, accessories and hairstyles I like are in "Style", the words of wisdom I often refer to are in "Quotes", the delicious recipes I will one day try are in "Food", the places I've been to or wish I could are in "Places", my favorite books or the ones I want to read are in "Books" and I have also added some images to the database, they're in "My Polyvore Sets".
The board "Ideas" is where I keep some ideas for my drawings (yes, another of my hobbies), right now I'm drawing a mexican-inspired Tree of Life and I've found many bits of different images that I'd like to add to my drawing so, what better way to keep 'em all in one place without printing or filling up the Bookmarks?

You can search for people with your same interests or whose images you like and start "following" them, you can re-pin their images or just "like" them (that's the social approach). Oh, don't forget to follow me!

On Pinterest

Or Pinspire

Viva Mexico!

I've just started getting my first spring items but, according to the latest fashion trends, Mexican prints are gonna be hot this summer... can't wait!

Guide to pastels

All this cold and snow make me long for spring so much! Can't wait!