Thursday, March 15, 2012

City Chic Parisian style

City Chic Parisian style

Here are some suggestions for creating my look from the post below.  I love these Phillip Lim boots.

Navy and Soft Grey - Sporty Classic






This Balenciaga skirt with a maxi-zipper is my favorite.  I love the length and volume, and it's so beautifully cut and finished.  Soft grey with navy blue is very classic, but my Hogan bag and boots make the outfit more sporty and springlike.  Perfect for my coffee break in San Eustorgio park!

What I'm wearing:

Cardigan: Marina Yachting
Skirt:  Balenciaga
Sleeveless turtle neck:  Camaieu
Bag + Ankle boots:  Hogan
Sunglasses:  Chanel
Necklace:  
Tights:  Calzedonia

Milan for Women - "Weekend Donna" 16-18 March

 Just one week after Women's Day, this weekend there is a special event dedicated only to women, "Weekend Donna", at Fieramilanocity.  Three days showcasing everything from beauty products to fashion, burlesque dance workshops to gastronomic delights, and there's even babysitting on site to allow mothers to enjoy the day worry free.   See you there!

March 16-18 Fieramilanocity, Pavilion 2, Viale Scarampo.   9:30-19:30.  Tickets € 12.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Urban Cavalier - Lux & Low Cost






I love this H&M horse print, and it is actually long enough to wear as a little dress with leggings, but here I preferred to pair it with a leather skirt.  These are some of my favorite colors, maroon, caramel, chocolate brown, burnt orange.  I also tried to focus on mixing textures and materials, warm tones and cooler ones, and some of my favorite low cost items with pricier accessories.

What I'm wearing:
Button-down shirt + Skirt + Tights:  H&M
Jacket:  Max&Co.
Bag:  Jamin Puech
Boots:  Ralph Lauren
Belt:  Zara
Sunglasses + Watch:  Chanel

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Now you can also follow me on Bloglovin'

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3569031/the-chic-trotter?claim=qbuzz6wuzkb">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Neutral Nuances - Understated Elegance




I love neutral colors, especially taupe.  Warmer than grey, less severe than black, more seasonably versatile than white, these shades convey a sense of understated elegance.

What I'm wearing:
Top:  Paola Frani
Bag:  Chloé
Shoes:  Baldan
Jeans:  Zara
Belt:  vintage
Sun glasses: Ray Ban

Marni at H&M - Chic Spring Silk




Last week I managed to buy some items from the beautiful collection, Marni at H&M.   This sale turned out to be quite an adventure.  I arrived at the H&M near Milano's Duomo at 10am to discover that people had been waiting outside the shop since dawn to get a numbered bracelet that would allow them a mere 15 minutes of shopping.  There were crowds of people desperate to get in somehow before everything was sold, and I realized that I probably wasn't going to be buying any Marni.  In a last-ditch effort, I blurted out, "I guess the only way to get in at this point is by bribing someone!".  Little did I know that this comment would introduce me to my fashion guardian angel.  After chatting for a little while in line, fellow fashion blogger  www.ilariaginevra.com very kindly gave me one of her two entry bracelets.  Thank you Ilaria!  I'm thrilled with my purchases.

What I'm wearing:
Top:  Marni at H&M
Jeans: Zara
Bag:  Gucci
Shoes:  Ralph Lauren

Rock Chic - Urban Edgy


What I'm wearing:
Jacket: D-Type
Leather leggings:  Drome
Shoes: Pierre Hardy
Bag: Chloé
T-shirt:  Mason
Hat: Divided

Pantone - Defining the Spring 2012 Color Palette

Let's start the spring 2012 season off with a little clarity.  What will this season's most fashionable colors be?  Nobody knows color better than Pantone.  This NJ based company has thoughtfully given us the international industry standard for every imaginable shade of color.  Perhaps you did not know that they issue their own color report each season that reveals the current trends.  

Spring 2012 will be bursting with Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, and Starfish; partying with Cabaret, Cockatoo, Margarita, and Sodalite Blue; and lazing about with Sweet Lilac, Bellflower and Driftwood.  If you lacked the proper name for the colors on the left, now you know.

But don't just take it from me or from Pantone.  Have a look at O.P.I. or Dior's new nail colors, or look at the runway picks below.  How's that for coordination?  We're up for a colorful change of season, and with today's trickling rain, I can't wait for spring's flowers to bloom.


From left to right: Vera Wang, Tibi, Rodarte, Tory Burch
Via www.fabsugar.com





Monday, March 5, 2012

That's Vapore - Light, Fresh Lunch Near Milan Duomo




This new restaurant is a short walk from the Duomo and Via Montenapoleone, and offers a refreshingly healthy lunch near at the reasonable price of around €12-15 Euros.

The real novelty of this restaurant is that all the dishes are made inside of special little steam ovens and served up in attractive little bamboo wood baskets with a paper lining.  These boxes contain a selection of vegetarian, fish/seafood, and pasta dishes.  You can also get a freshly-made soup, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, dessert and one of the best made coffees in the area.

The service is surprisingly good, and you are usually given a quick explanatory tour of the That's Vapore concept before you are seated.  Only open since December, but beware...there are already lines out the door at lunch.

On Sunday they have a special brunch offer that's worth trying out for between € 18-21 per person.

A pochi passi dal Duomo e Montenapoleone, questo ristorantino luminoso offre un pranzetto leggero e salutare al prezzo ragionevole di €12-15 Euro.

La vera novità è la presentazione in deliziosi cestinetti di bamboo e la cottura al momento in forno al vapore.  Si può scegliere tra una selezione di primi e secondi vegetariani,  a base di pesce e con pasta cous cous o riso.  Ci sono anche delle zuppe buonissime, centrifugati di frutta e verdura, dolci fatti da loro e uno dei migliori caffé della zona.

Il servizio è buono e la prima volta che vai ci tengono a spiegare al volo il concept dietro That's Vapore.  Attezione, è aperto solo da dicembre scorso, ma pranzo ci sono già delle code piuttosto lunghe.  Da provare anche il buonissimo brunch che costa dai € 18-21 a persona.


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Shopping at Anna Ravazzoli - Chic Fix in Milan



Anna Ravazzoli has been a fixture in Milan since 1970 and has made her mark by carrying some of the most exclusive luxury brands in two her tiny boutiques, across the street from each other.  One is dedicated primarily to clothing and the other exclusively to accessories.  The selection is not hugely vast, but it is fabulously contemporary and on the edgy side.  The sparse design of the shops helps to give a sense of exclusivity to the pieces found inside, which are beautifully showcased.

Brands include Givenchy, Balmain, Lanvin, YSL, Chloé, Valentino, Ferragamo, Céline, Giuseppe Zanotti and many more.



Located on Corso Genova 16/13    Tel. +39 (0)2 8323088
(conveniently nearby Biffi...so why not stop by both while you're in the neighborhood!)
www.annaravazzoli.com

My Style - Farewell to Winter



What I'm wearing:

Coat:  Etro
Skirt: Max&Co.
Bag: Jamin Puech
Sunglasses:  Chanel
Boots: Storie  Gloves: H&M  Hat: Motivi
Scarf:  Pashmina  Tights: Calzedonia

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Ballerina - Classic Chanel Nail Color

Photo Eric Cassini
Photo Via Allure.com


When you go to a modeling job, it is usually expected that you will go there put together and ready for hair and makeup.  That means (and this clearly isn't obvious to all, since they often remind us the night before jobs) with clean hair and no makeup.  It is also a good idea to go with your nails already painted with a delicate, neutral, clean nail color, since that is what is usually what is required for 90% of the jobs, unless the client decides to go with a statement color.  I've discovered that many makeup artists don't have a great basic color in their kits, so I prefer to go with my favorite color already on.

As it is with applying perfect "natural makeup", it is surprisingly difficult to find a nearly universal neutral color.  It took me a very long time to discover this beautiful color by Chanel, Ballerina.  I love it for my nails, and found that it works on most of my friends too.  It is a very delicate pink, with just the right balance between transparency, opacity, and color pigment.  One coat looks super natural and pretty, two coats show the petal pink more, but without getting heavy or candy-like.  The finish is nice and glossy, and resists chipping quite well.

One tip for long-lasting manicures: clean your nails off with nail polish remover prior to applying nail color, since any skin cream or oil on the nail before applying will make the bond with the nail polish weaker.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Beautifully Bushy Brows - S/S 2012

Derek Lam S/S 2012 - Estee Lauder Makeup Photo via http://fora.mtv.ca
 Donna Karan S/S 2012 - Photo via Allure.com
Beautifully full, bushy brows continue throughout this spring and summer.  These brows are maintained through careful, understated plucking, and defined with eyebrow pencils and shadows, and then brushed and set with eyebrow gel or hairspray.  While these brows look quite natural, it is a relatively high maintenance look.  Not everyone's brows grow out perfectly, especially after years of more aggressive plucking, so some care and make up will be necessary to get the best out of your new, fuller brows.

My Style - What I like

Photo by Sandro Brant

If I had to define my style, it would be feminine chic.  Perhaps it would help to say who I typically dress for...women first of all, and then for people who appreciate the little details.  I prefer sensual to sexual, sophisticated to knock out, feminine to femme fatale.  This isn't to say I don't like to wear a dazzling neckline or show a bit of skin, but let's just say that I like to keep it reigned in just to the point where men on the street might whisper an appreciative comment, but wouldn't think of whistling.

I like frills, ribbons, sparkles, textures, materials, transparencies, and layers.  I love flowing silks, well-tailored or perfectly fitting clothes, solid colors, stripes, carefully chosen prints, and I have a weakness for skirts and summer dresses.  Of course, accessories are what brings everything together and show a distinctive flair...so I'm slowly hoarding shoes, bags, belts, scarves, jewelery, sun glasses, and hats.

I decided several years ago ONLY to buy clothes that fit me (almost) perfectly in the store, no more massive alterations.  It's fine to shorten a hemline or slightly modify the waistline, but altering it drastically to make it work for me means that I'd be ruining the original intent.  A piece of clothing should suit me, by enhancing my stronger features and cleverly concealing my weaker points. This is what makes an article a classic.  If it makes me look and feel better, then I will be wearing it more often and with the casual ease that ensures that I can "carry it off" rather than looking like I'm playing dress up in my mom's closet!