Teri.....

Since this picture says a thousand words, alright maybe eight hundred, I shall stop right here.....

Ms. Galvez-Cleary in Verona

Layer and peel....

If I would have had to shop for my outfit for today, these would have been my choices and yes, they would have provided instant gratification!  My current fancy is to layer as smartly as possible - the scarf over the vest, over the jacket, over the long-sleeve shirt, over the tank top and then peel from the outermost layer (like an onion!) as long as the weather keeps switching from wet and cold to dry and warm and vice versa.

Items in this set:
Grapefruit Massachusetts Long Sleeve Top by American Vintage, 44 GBP
H&M Shop Online
Moto skinny jeans, $240
MONCLER SS10/4832150 780 NYLON/FEATHERS GILET, 230 GBP
Distressed Ankle Boot - Dark Brown, $765

I have a weakness for t-shirts by American Vintage, Majestic Paris as well as Michael Stars, Velvet and J.Crew.  They are perfect for layering, they withstand a normal wash cycle and do not shrink or lose their shape.   We now wear them tee-over-tee: long-sleeve over short-sleeve over tank-top, snug or loose, long (hurrah!) and layer-visible.  Similarly, Target's Tissue T-Shirts are a good value at $9.99 and are perfect for everyday wear.

Items in this set:
L'Agence Loose-fit jersey tank top, $130
Grey Mississippi Cashmere Mix Boyfriend T by American Vintage, 50 GBP
Acne - Tank top YouHeShe.com, 50 EUR
White Jacksonville Short Sleeve Top by American Vintage, 43 GBP
Fuchsia Massachusetts Tee, American Vintage, size: S, 44 GBP

And I think that CURRENT/ELLIOTT's legging jeans are the best complement to the layering story.  I like the look of ankle boots over them, or depending on the weather, ballerinas or thong sandals, although clearly, strappy heels are deliciously conspicuous and highly tempting! 

But the only shopping I did today was in my closet and this is what I have been able to put-together...

It worked too! 

More

I am surrounded by beauty....

Mustard blossoms are abloom in the Napa valley and the fields are blanketed in golden yellow... we are seeing more glimpses of spring and I am loving the gorgeous landscape of my new home.

A frequent destination, Castello di Amorosa, lucky me!

And because I am often there, you would think that I have by now become used to this breathtaking sight.  But no, my heart skips a beat a soon as I ascend the hill and the castle gently comes into view.  

A tour of the castle is so worthwhile not only because nothing has been spared in building this authentic edifice, it is also the mark of one man's extraordinary endeavor to turn dream into reality.  The tour culminates in the tasting room and after savoring the castle's exquisite libation and my palate is gratified (make sure you taste the IL BARONE and secure your vintage!) my eyes wander onto the royal gift items that surround me and they start feasting on the following......

These Maria Stashak venetian glass and Swarovski® beads bracelets are a reproduction of Edwardian and Victorian jewelry.  

 $80.00 - $189.00

A chunky gold-plated La Vie Parisienne (by Catherine Popesco) necklace with charm pendants.  

$120.00

A Moyna evening (princess?) bag.  

$92.00

Pashmina and silk scarf 

$85.00

French Berets! They never go out of style! 

$13.00 and $15.75

satin wine bags

$13.95

Am I in Florence? paper and stationery corner

 

and even when just for the moment, I feel like a princess.........

These boots were made for walking

Finally my current lifestyle allows me to go from boots to flip flops and only on rare occasions must I step into pumps or strappy heels.  I shall never be averse to the latter, in fact I love Christian and Jimmy but I see this as a fortuitous break, having had to wear "ouchies" regularly in the past after accepting early on in life that agony was non-negotiable when it came to looking good.

Although I now drive much more than I ever have in the past, I like walking as much as I like public transportation so I had been in constant search for footcandy that provided mileage.  I found them in my Sartore boots, my number one footwear of choice!  

A second generation company, Sartore was born in the south of France in 1959 but manufacturing was moved to Italy in 1997 when daughters Françoise and Catherine Sartore took over design and management.  There is no better leather out there, quality is foremost and the designs are western meets cavalier with equestrian details so distinctive - they can only ever be achieved by hand.  The caps and vamps do not tire and they keep their spiffy shape through wear.   The heels are algorithmically engineered but trust me, there is nothing "sensible" about these shoes!  

photo credits: Sartore

Sartore has corner boutiques at Le Bon Marché and Galeries Lafayette in Paris.  In the U.S. they are available at Barneys New York.  They can also be ordered online at YOOX.COM and occasionally there are good listings on eBay ®.

Saggy jeans....

Let's face it, were it not for my teenage son, I wouldn't be listening to JayZ on my way to yoga and pretending to be Alicia Keys in my car belting out the lyrics "these streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you..." 

And there is reason to ponder the question as to whether fashion trends start on the runway or on the  streets.  Parents have gone as far as campaigning publicly against the way teenagers wear their jeans - slung very low on the hipbone and fastened with a shoestring!  Where exactly this trend came from is still being  debated but I'd like to think that teenagers have a right to wear their style the way we wore our bell-bottoms, midribs and neon-colored lycra leggings in the 70's (oh, and I forgot the big hair!) 

My teenager has gone from saggy tight to saggy baggy jeans and although he does not require my blessings, he still needs a chauffeur to drive him to Zumiez.  These travels have been educational for me and I see now where street precedes runway.  Where does "functional" come from? "Tough as nails chic?" "Retro?" "Put-together? ""Deconstructed?"  The point is, style is individualistic - you need to make it work for you and then be able to pull it off!  And where better to test that than live en la calle?  So the next time I see those saggy jeans, I will think skatepark or library?  And yes, right now, I'm listening to Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert!

on the street in Rome

Hoodie, Beanie and pre-California jeans

photo credit:Teen Vogue

New Era baseball cap, earphone in one ear

teenager jeans, Uggs

pre-IPad backpack?

Evolution

photo credit: bhs.co.uk

Sonia Rykiel pour H&M, oooh lala....

It wasn't so long ago when I not only eliminated bright colours from my wardrobe but also did away with prints and patterns.  And although the walls in my flat were painted Provençal lavender, Schönbrunn yellow, ivy green and sky blue, my closet looked like the pallette of a Long Island house of beige, white and heather grey. Black suits and jackets occupied an entire separate rack - they were functional and served their purpose.  When necessary, the shawl looped around loosely provided the splash of color and print, the jewelry signified the mood of the day, the bag and shoes were arm and foot candy respectively.

Towards the end of summer last year, I was actually looking at an extravagantly colourful dress at a small shop in town appropriately called "Napaloha," where, sensing my hesitation, the helpful shop associate said "you shouldn't be averse to wearing bright colours because by doing so, you also brighten the day of those who see you!"  I thought that that was a good line and even though I did not succumb then, I think that now, as we say in German "es ist soweit......!"

Colours are big this season, stripes abound, flower prints are present and bows are all over.   And very momentous, there is Sonia Rykiel pour H&M!

photo credits: H&M

The story goes that since Casa Rykiel has been constantly plagued with the dilemna of the Swedish retailer's copying their wares, they decided to get it over with and approached H&M for a fruitful collaboration.  Nathalie Rykiel was quoted as saying "if you can't beat them, join them!"  

Due at select stores on February 20th.  Don't know about you but I am there! 

My Dress state-of-mind

My current dress state-of-mind finds me debating between Issa and Milly.  If my husband were to ask me to pack "vite vite" une robe for a quick getaway I would most likely cheat and take both!   

Issa is the creation of the Brazil-born Daniella Helayel.  Based in London, she brought out the label in 2001 and those lucky enough to have been able to garner her early collections fell in love with them instantly.  Classic Issa is the yet elevated to a higher plane iconic wrap-dress sans VPL's.   The silk jersey creates a silhouette so becoming, it emboldens you towards dangerously flirtatious.  You put the dress on and instantly feel like Charlotte in "The Woman in Red."  For year-round wear, I am looking at these classic-styles...

Solid grey silk dress

Buy it at  mytheresa.com

Photos: mytheresa.com

Silk Jersey Dresses

Buy at joseph M

Photos: joseph M

Kate Middleton wearing Issa 

photo credits: News | Mail Online

When I grow up I want to do like Michelle Smith did!  She created Milly through ardent pursuit of her design in life, keeping with the geniuses in fashion and achieving day into night, functional, prominent and striking dresses.  Wear Milly and the only thing you"ll need to touch-up for cocktails after a day in the boardroom is your mascara.
left: Ruffle-sleeve Dress

right: Chain-link Dress

Buy at Net-A-Porter 

 left: Belted matte Jersey dress 

Buy it at Nordstrom

right: Black Candy Cocktail Dress

Buy it at mytheresa.com 

I love this black ruffle coat (left) which I believe was from her 2008 A/W collection.
And the hunter green soft wool ruffle-collar coat (right) was from her 2009 collection.  I hope she brings it back next  fall.

Bon weekend!