Weekend Travel Essentials

I don’t know about all of you but I used to dread packing. I know less is more, but it is really hard to come to terms with leaving home with only one pair of heels because they max out the weight limit. After this semester however I am pretty confident I have weekend packing down to a science. Of course, these adorable little notepads should probably take some of the credit.

First things first, when packing for a weekend getaway the most important element is the bag. If you’re flying this means a rolling bag is essential. Although I LOVE practically every weekend tote bag out there, if your rushing though an airport and tend to be an over-packer, this option will simply just break your back. There is nothing chic about those marks on your shoulder either.The key is to make sure your bag fits easily into the overhead bin, and is not too heavy to begin with since some airlines now make you check it if it is over 12 kilos. Wasting time at baggage claim when you should be exploring your weekend destination should be avoided at all costs. Tumi makes amazing rolling weekend travel bags that will last forever. One of their newest additions is this personalized lightweight alpha (and you know I’m a sucker for monograms!)

Tumi.

This navy version is pretty sleek and fun too…

Tumi.

And just for some eye-candy, imagine jetting off to your weekend destination with this lust-worthy Lanvin version.

Lanvin.

Next comes the hard part, actually filling the bag. Keeping socks and undergarments in separate cloth bags is a good start towards staying organized. And of course, the same goes for toiletries and electronics. I am OBSESSED with these canvas organizing bags from Anya Hindmarch.

Anya Hindmarch Lips and Eyes. Anya Hindmarch Gadgets.

As for clothing, I’d suggest beginning by choosing the neutral accent color you want to work with for the weekend. For example, by choosing brown suede boots as your neutral piece, you can easily eliminate that navy silk going out top and black sparkly clutch, as they won’t go with your shoes. Likewise, throwing in a mint cashmere sweater and a light brown messenger-style bag a la Proenza Schouler will make perfect sense.

J. Crew. J Brand. Jimmy Choo.

Last but not least, I would suggest saving a little space in your bag to accommodate for some shopping on your weekend trip.

Happy travels!

Gloves and Scarves

My ultimate favorite winter accessories are gloves and scarves. There is no better way to make a long black winter coat pop than by adding a colorful scarf around your neck. Likewise, gloves really amp up the style of any winter ensemble. Just imagine these beauties sticking out beneath a three-quarter-sleeved topper.

Asos.

I love this elegant scalloped pair by Sermoneta (perhaps in chocolate instead) and these simple cashmere ones with the adorable button detail.

 

Sermoneta. Johnston.

I absolutely need to have these. Either color will do. Leopard + Driving Gloves = the ultimate statement piece.

Both Agent Provocateur.

I’d pair them with a black cashmere top, trusty j brand jeans, and some sky-high booties a la Brian Atwood for a dinner out with the girls.

J.Crew. J Brand. Brian Atwood.

Moving onto scarves… I’m steering towards infinity scarves again this season. They are just so easy. No mirror necessary, just throw one around your neck on your way out the door. Here are some of my favorites (all on Shopbop):

Club Monaco. Paula Bianco. Missoni.

This one by Wool and the Gang on Net-a-porter you knit yourself, by providing you with the patterns, needles and thread! Great gift idea for the friend who wants (or needs) a new hobby.

Wool and the Gang.

But I can’t exactly argue those who like to stick with the classic wrap-around-or-tie-in-100-different-ways scarf. I adore this coral themed version. Add a navy coat and your ready to go. Same goes for the owl print below.

Artemis Wragge. We are Owls.

Keep warm everyone!

Monograms

As fun as buying a new bag can be, nothing makes it better than when it is personalized with your initials. Monogramming ensures your bag will stand out.

Goyard Personalized Bag and Trunks.

Goyard (which has been around for about 150 years) has been monogramming their bags for decades, and many other brands have recently jumped on the bandwagon. Louis Vuitton, for example, recently released their Mon Monogram Collection, which has made their sales soar.

And Louis Vuitton makes it so easy to create your monogram masterpiece on their website. Check out this video detailing the steps:

Tiffany & Co. has a whole section on their website dedicated to the Tiffany Alphabet collection. Monogram jewelry at Tiffany’s been around for decades. Who doesn’t remember the Elsa Peretti letter necklace every bat mitzvah girl had-to-have? The more lust-worthy diamond block letter necklace from Tiffany’s will never go out of style.

Now jewelry is trending towards larger monogram statements, like these uber-popular Jennifer Zeuner Large Swirly Initial necklaces which notably feature all three of your initials, not just one, making them even more personal.

I also love the Jennifer Zeuner Initial Signet Ring. It reminds me of those retro class-rings, and would look so chic with a navy blazer, white skinnies, and some animal flats in the spring (yes, I am already dreaming about spring outfits as the weather gets colder and colder).

  

Jennifer Zeuner ring. SMYTHE blazer. J. Brand jeans. French Sole flats.

What is your favorite monogrammed piece?

Rainy days

It is currently pouring rain in Barcelona, which makes me want to sit inside beneath a cozy blanket, like this gorgeous cashmere one in cream by Ralph Lauren (which comes with a matching eye mask and pillow, and can be monogramed – the perfect present) and watch endless episodes of Grey´s Anatomy and one of my new guilty pleasures, the Ringer. Sarah Michelle Gellar looks so great on the show, and her closet is filled with so many lust worthy items…. including those Sergio Rossi Peep-Toe platforms that are so popular right now and a seemingly endless supply of jaw dropping statement necklaces. See my last post for my favorite statement necklace picks.

But when you must venture outside in the rain, I find much easier if you love your rainy day outfit (then at least you have some incentive.) My three essentials for a rainy day are: (1) waterproof wellies, (2) a classic trench, and (3) a fun umbrella. The key to surviving a rainy day is to avoid essentially anything beginning with an S: silk, suede, skins, speeding, and the list goes on…

Plastic haviannas in the rain do nothing more than move all that dirt on the street onto the back of your outfit, so I always brace a storm with a pair of wellies. Hunter’s rain boots are so classic, and perfect for a casual rainy day outfit. I go bananas over the “Original tall” version in yellow (but they also have about 15 other colors). With a pair of skinnies and a flowy cotton top you can’t go wrong.

 Joie. J Brand. Hunter.

Plus, hunter now makes a ton of fun liners, which they call “cuffs”, for their boots, so you can play around with the 25 or so options to make these plastic boots soft and warm.

Hunter.

For rainy days that require fancier attire, I love the rain boots by Aigle that look exactly like riding boots. Just as you could throw on a cute LBD with your black riding boots, you can swap those for a waterproof version when the rain is pouring down.

Aigle.

Sidenote, I wear my rain boots in the snow too. In a city the snow turns to slush very quickly, and those cute snuggly suede boots with fur lining will not keep your toes dry! Waterproof is the way to go.

Next comes the jacket. A classic beige trench is just as timeless as an LBD. I wear mine every chance I get. After seeing this scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s I needed to have one…

There are tons of trench coats this season in practically every price range. Some of my favorites are below.

Gap. Burberry. Topshop.

Not-so-secretly craving this super impractical version by Burberry…

…A girl can dream. And if your artistic, WhoWhatWear outlines how to make this stunner on your own.

And finally, with such a classic rainy day outfit put together, the place to play is with your umbrella. I recently found an incredibly cute, frilled version at Zara. Yes, I agree, frills are for young ballerinas and Halloween costumes. But this girly umbrella is just mature enough in forest green to counter the negative connotations surrounding frills.

Zara.

And finally, for a serious, yet not-so-serious umbrella, I love the black umbrella with clouds on the inside that they used to sell at the MoMA store. Here is a practically identical version that is still on the market.

Stella Brella.

Rain rain go away!

Versatile Vests.

Its still in the 80s everyday here in Barcelona, so naturally I’m dreaming about the days when I can take out my leather jackets, and maybe even buy a cape…. nothing too warm, and even paired with shorts due to the never ending heat…. as you can tell, I can’t wait fall to come!

For those craving layers, but not able to fend off the heat in a leather jacket just yet, I’d opt for a vest. To make a pair of skinny jeans and a white button down a little more edgy I’d add a moto/cargo/trench-y vest, in a light color.

  

All Saints. Equipment. J Brand.

I also have been lusting after fur vests for a while… likely prompted by seeing one of my style icons, Olivia Palermo, sporting one black version in so many different ways that I could justify the splurge.

(Olivia Palermo all around NYC)

This season there are also so many faux options for the frugal and feline-friendly fashionistas…

BB Dakota.

Or a cream style…

Velvet.

And if these fuzzy vests don’t appeal to you, how about a a slimmer shearling version?

Vince.

Or a leather style to make a simple tee a fashion forward outfit?

Plastic Island. Improvd.

Or what about the classic puffer?

J. Crew. (Also in Navy, Army, and Black)

It’s time to invest in a vest!