Travel Diary; Capsule Wardrobe in Milan

Remember this dress from my fall capsule wardrobe? The cozy sweater material is a dream to wear, and this taupe color matches with so much, including pink and burgundy tones which I incorporated into this look with a scarf. Neck scarves like this have always lent a European vibe to an outfit in my opinion, and they are back on trend right now so I had to try out the look while in Italy. It's kind of nice the way they replace a necklace and act almost as jewelry while adding a touch of color to your look. 

I also love that while the dress is a long midi length it has a high slit up each side that adds a sexier flash of skin. I usually am careful to wear a heel with midi length skirts to balance the length, but somehow this dress looks awesome with flat sneakers too. And believe me, sneakers were necessary for a day walking in Milan!

We had a blast finding local street food for lunch after a morning of shopping. I had seen Spontini pizza on Instagram before the trip, and knew I just had to try it. It was SO worth it! (We even went back the next night to pick up slices for dinner!) After our Spontini slices we headed a few streets over to a spot my mom had heard of called Luini that serves mini fried calzones, which again were amazing. Talk about an indulgent pizza lunch!! And since it was my mom's birthday we had to top it all off with fancy gelato cones. Yum, yum, and more yum!
For dinner that night I dressed up this outfit by changing into these lace up flats, also from my capsule wardrobe, and we headed out for another delicious meal.

Shopping is cardio, I deserve this pizza.

Outfit // Dress: Ruche. Jacket: Zara. Neck scarf: vintage. Sneakers: Keds. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Lip: BareMinerals "Cherries on top."

Spontini Pizza at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Double fisting fried calzones!

We found this cool courtyard with interactive colored circles all over.

The entryway to our Airbnb apartment building had such a tiny door! 

xoxo, CC

Travel Diary Milano; Playing Tourist

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

The second full day in Milan was spent exploring the Duomo of Milan and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping center, which are both stunningly beautiful structures. I was particularly struck by the beautiful mosaic floors in both buildings and the intricate detail put into each element. It is hard to see all the carvings and statues that make up the Duomo, but their numerity and intircacy is astounding. We had a touch of blue sky and sunlight which lit up the stained glass windows of the Duomo and the glass ceilings of the Galleria for a stunning effect. 

I wore this grey ruffle tee, which has been a favorite of mine for years (see here) and luckily is totally on trend with the recent ruffle comeback. Seriously, have you noticed how ruffles are everywhere suddenly! I love it! I also finally broke out these awesome glitter-toe sneakers that I purchased for the trip, and I was so thrilled with how comfy they are, not to mention that they matched with so many marble monuments and mosaic floors that lead to great photo ops. This casual look was perfect for a day of walking around and sight seeing.

That night we had an incredible dinner at La Maniera di Carlo, which featured delightfully inventive food served over multiple courses. Everything was presented with such care and creativity it made the dining experience very exciting, and it was all very tasty. I loved the presentation of one appetizer served nestled in a bonsai tree, made to look like tiny apples fallen from the tree. How cute is that! 

Outfit // Top: H&M (similar). Jacket: Zara. Jeans: 7FAM. Sneakers: Lipsy London via Asos 1/2. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff.

The Duomo

A stained glass window cast colofrul light into the Duomo.

Inside of a pretty pink church next to the Duomo, part of their museum. 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele left, the Duomo, right.

Inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

These floors though! 

An appetiser at La Maniera di Carlo - rose ricotta inside a cripsed pasta.

Cheese stuffed cherry tomato "apples" fallen from the tree.

This dish served in a jar releases a plume of smoke when the lid is removed!

xoxo, CC

In Bloom

What's the best way to spice up a white on white look? Floral sneakers of course! I have been all about finding that balance between dressy and casual lately, by pairing pretty tops with comfy sneakers (like I did here). Adding a belt in the middle of this look ties together the dressier top and the more casual bottom half. I wore this faux leather and chiffon jacket last week as an indoor layer, but today it was finally warm enough to wear it as my outdoor jacket! I love the way it looks layered over a white chiffon top, almost as if they were a set.
The grass is green, the trees are in bloom-- spring is definitely here in the city! I wasn't originally excited about the fence in the background of these photos (I really just wanted the pretty flowering trees!), but I actually don't hate the way they came out since it adds a grittier feel to the scene that fits well with the outfit's casual meets girly vibe.

I also tried out a new makeup kit by Mally, and I really love the way the eyeshadows look! They are darker than I typically wear so I was a little apprehensive, but I ended up loving the look. It is subtly smoky so that it is still appropriate for daytime wear. The kit includes two eyeshadow sticks, a mascara, foundation, and a lip gloss. I am wearing the full kit plus a little bit of blush in these photos :) 

Top: Zara (old). Jacket: Fate. Jeans: H&M. Sneakers: Gola (similar). Belt: J. Crew. Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters. Earrings: Gorjana. Makeup: Mally 'The Good Life' kit in Fair.

xoxo, CC

Sporty

Making a total 360 from last week's classic & feminine look...

One word that I would pretty much never use to describe my style is 'sporty.' Yet, once in a while when I want a casual and comfortable outfit sportswear starts to creep it's way into my look. I have always struggled with finding shoes that are comfortable, since I have really sensitive feet, and recently I have been on the hunt for comfy sneakers that I can mix into my usual outfits without compromising my personal style. 

I found this pair of sneakers online and I like that they are both sleek and neutral enough to match with easily, yet far from boring with the neon pink accents and a touch of forest green. I love throwing them on with jeans when I'm going out to do errands since they feel less like running shoes and more like a conscious fashion choice. Today I wanted to dress them up even more with faux leather and edgy style. I chose the leather leggings since they too are a glammed up version of a sporty style. On top a simple tee and cute jacket provide a neutral background to let the printed bag pop. I had to join the furry pom pom trend this winter, I think they are so cute and a fun way to jazz up your bag game. 

This outfit would be so chic with boots, but with the sneakers it's more relaxed and casual while still fitting my style. 

Jacket: Nordstrom (similar 1/2/3). Tee: Michael Stars. Leggings: Lysse. Sneakers: New Balance (on major sale!). Bag: Kate Spade. Fur Pom Pom: similar 1/2/3/4. Bracelet: J. Crew. Necklace: Dogeared. 

xoxo CC