"E" FOR ELEGANCE: 
DRESSING THE FRENCH WAY LIKE CARINE ROITFELD.

During this long lockdown period, we've focused our priorities on different themes other than fashion, and even the most fashionistas among us have adapted themselves to more sporty and less dressed-up styles, on our errands outside our homes. Now the seclusion has become less strict, but the warm season has not completely settled down, so I still don't feel like writing about beach-style outfits, that we aren't even sure to rock this Summer. That's why I'm going to write again about one of my favourite fashion themes, which is the Parisian chic, but this time, from the point of view of the simple, perfect style embodied in the French icon, fashion editor and stylist Carine Roitfeld, who is the inspiration to the post. As you can see from the following selection of pictures, she never puts a stylish foot wrong, and with a clear preference to clean colour combinations, pencil skirts and high heels she has taught every other woman on the planet how to be French and own up to it in a very unique and personal way, without over embellishments, but always with a touch of allure and elegance. Anyway, she's not the only one. I think there must be something in the water in France that makes those Parisian women so darn stylish. Short of moving to the French capital, I 've tried to sum up six steps to putting a little more 'je ne sais quoi' into your style:

1. Don’t look like you’ve tried to hard. If there’s one thing the French do well it’s looking like they don’t give a damn.

2. Don’t be a slave to trends. Know your signature style and stay true to it, adding a carefully selected edit each season. You’ll never see Carine in anything but her trademark pieces.

3. Get ready, then mess things up a bit. Carine’s messy hair and smudgy, black eye make-up is the key to her look. Think undone polished. See step 1.

4. A classic shirt is your best friend – find a style you love and buy one in every colour. 

5. Stick to what suits you. Carine knows her legs are her best feature and accentuates them with tight pencil skirts and leather trousers. Pick your best feature and work to your strengths.

6. Don’t be boring – classic doesn’t have to mean bland. Add a twist to simple separates with a statement coat or conversational handbag.  

Now it's up to you, dear readers, to try your own personal version of  "Parisian chic"!

1) C.R.'s version of F/W French style:

             2) C.R.'s version of S/S French style:

TWO-TONED COMBINATIONS FOR EASTER 2020 DÉCOR. 

Festivals bring joy and happiness in our life and in our entire family as well. We love to celebrate the festivals with our loved ones, and during this Spring 2020 social distancing, the only celebrating option available is to enjoy our times with only a few family members living under the same roof. So, this year, more than ever, we have a great opportunity to decorate our house especially for this occasion with easy, unpretentious items. 

To get some great ideas for Easter home decorations, you can take the help of internet. There are lots of websites that offer you ideas and tips for that special day, without crossing your budget. Easter is a great holiday, it’s warm, homey and very spring-like. Easter home decorations are very diverse and can serve in seasonal and everyday decor after the holiday is over. For instance, cute bright tableware and floral table centerpieces are just right for spring seasonal home decor but can also add to the Easter feel. Easter holiday attributes are Easter bunnies, colored eggs and flowers. The first thing to do for an easy home decoration is to pull out all the bright tableware and such accessories like light tablecloth and curtains. This will add spring feel to your home. If you don’t have Easter bunnies you can create table centerpiece with a plate or basket of colourful eggs and flowers from either your garden or the supermarket. Personally, this year, I suggest you to stick to a two-toned choice among the following fresh pastel-colour combinations:

1) Lilac + rustic neutrals

2) Blue + cream

3) Pastel rose + pale green

6 LOOKS FOR WORKING FROM HOME AND DOING OUR ERRANDS IN STYLE DURING NATIONAL QUARANTINE.

The world is a weird place right now. There are no two ways about it. We're all spending more time at home than ever before and the future feels very uncertain. Though, as a writer in "The Atlantic" so eloquently put it: "The most isolating thing most of us has ever done is, ironically, almost surely the most collective experience we've ever had in our lifetimes". Essentially we're all in this together, and if staying home is what it's going to take, at least, we can remain connected digitally through social media. 

With new posts each day, influencers, editors, and celebrities are showing us exactly what working from home and social distancing look like for them, and let me tell you, it's a lot more than just tattered old hoodies and jogging bottoms, especially if our daily routine schedules Zoom conference calls with office staff. Whether we’re working from the home office, desk, dining table or bedroom floor, these outfits which are basically in black, white and denim, prove that we can stay just as put together, no matter where our workspace may be.

1) Silky wrap top + pants / jeans + delicate jewelry

2) Turtleneck + jeans / skirt + minimal necklace

3) Floral /polka dots voile blouse + black jeans

4) Classic white shirt + jeans 

5) Silk blouse + jeans / Comfy dress + statement necklace 

6) Head-to-toe black off-duty outfit, with trainers & cap, which can be easily cleaned and sanitised, once we’ve arrived home, without forgetting surgical mask + protective gloves, for any errands outside our premises.

Waiting for better and more "coloured" times to come...🌈🌈

GLAM DETAILS FOR POST-LOCKDOWN BUSINESS ATTIRE: 
THE CÉLINE MICRO BELT BAG.

Looking forward to going back to office, after this long period of remote work and social distancing, I'm finally here with my review on the Céline Micro Belt Bag in Caramel colour, whose style I've always loved as a go-to office bag. I had been eyeing it up for around 3 years or so, since I was sure about the most suitable size to choose, but not so much about the colour, which I wanted in a light, refreshing and versatile shade to be worn mainly during both transitional seasons and in Summer. 

1) The design and details: What has always attracted me to the Belt Bag style in the first place is purely the design and how classy, sleek, minimal this model looks, while still remaining beautiful and stylish. It's been part of the Céline collection for many years and will remain a classic as much as their Luggage bag. As you can see, it has a top handle and a large, cool flap closure with a hidden circular metal component which slots into the runner to secure it shut. Moreover, a zipped closure under the flap keeps everything secure inside. It also features an outer zipped pocket on the back of the bag, an inner flat, a slip pocket. Actually, the flap can be quite fiddly to open in a rush, but a lot of people tend to leave it just hanging over the strap, which is really cool too! The great, stylish touch remains the belt that is knotted across the front, purely for aesthetic design purposes. Also the branding is minimal, as it is with all Céline products, so it only has a little gold stamp on the front bottom location of the bag matching with the hardware metal.

2) The sizing: There are 3 different sizes in total, starting at the largest which is actually called the Mini, to the middle size of the Micro and the smallest size of the Nano, so if you love the design of this bag but think it's too small or too big, you can opt for another size instead. This micro version is  9" in length, 8" in height, and 5" in depth, so it's quite a decent size and holds enough office essentials, such as my LV Agenda Personal size and my IPad mini, besides the usual stuff one puts in a bag. Luckily, this can be worn also cross-body style, since it comes with a removable, adjustable strap with a 21" drop. For me the micro is ideal, as it's small enough to be worn on my body without being overwhelming, but it's big enough for me to carry a lot of extra items that I can't usually fit into smaller cross-body bags.

3) The leather: The Belt Bag is made of grained calfskin so it has that drummed, matte effect to it. It's a really sturdy leather and it's strong, but it can easily get scratched. I've noticed that it's quite delicate, even though it doesn't seem treated or as smooth as my Céline Luggage bag. It features a calfskin leather as well, as you can see, and that's more of a suède type inside, or the underside of the leather, if you will. Céline bags are crafted in the most luxurious skins. These leathers are natural and unique, of extremely high quality, but it's necessary to protect your purchase from both humidity and overexposure to direct lighting or sources of heat and avoid contact with liquid, grease, perfumes and cosmetics as well as keep it stored in the dust bag when it's not being used. I'm really delicate with my bags anyway, but since this doesn't have any metal feet on the bottom, I'm very careful where I place it too, so as to avoid scratching the bottom. Since it's a classic, it's always an investment piece as it can be sold for almost the same price you paid. If you know Céline and adore the quality as much as I do, you will appreciate this one. The craftsmanship is outstanding!

4) The colour: there are several perfect neutral colours available for this model, but the Caramel shade I chose is incredibly versatile and suited to literally everything I want to wear, whether it's warm or cool toned outfits! 

5) Ways to wear the bag: this bag is also versatile in how you wear it, that it works for any occasion, thanks to the detachable strap: 
Cross-body, so it sits securely on your front, or back, however you choose to make it sit. 
Draped off one shoulder, which is my favourite, being really easy and stylish. 
On the crook of your arm, which is also very easy and chic with both dresses and jeans.
Hand-carry, so you can easily hold it down by the side, in your hand by the top handle, like either a true office bag or a perfect travel bag.

With that being said, I wanted to make sure I did it justice, shared the right photos with you, and wrote as much as possible about it to help any of you who might be wanting to make the purchase. It's worth it, if you love designer bags, and one you'll reach for regularly! 
Anyway, if you have any questions about it, please, just leave me a comment below and I'll answer.

FIRST PURCHASE OF SPRING : THE PEACH-COLOURED SATIN BLOUSE.

During this gloomy period of Coronavirus Disease spread and before the starting of a stricter quarantine in Italy, shopping was a healing remedy for low morale, especially since the heralds of Spring airiness are generally light-coloured, feather-light pieces. That's why my first purchase for next season was a glamorous cropped satin blouse and with a plunged back décolletage.

Satin style tops have always had a special place in my heart, and the one I chose was love at first sight, with its subtle peach hue that I find so becoming and a true "passepartout" for several outfits. Moreover, silk blouses are considered by many to be a staple of women's fashion and are never considered out. In any era, you simply can't go wrong with one of these versatile pieces.

Fashionable people have even been known to claim that a woman can go a long way with just a pair of jeans, a pair of slacks, a pencil skirt and an array of silk blouses in her wardrobe. What makes silk blouses such desirable commodities? Perhaps the reason is the fabric itself, which is soft, lustrous and has a subtle sheen. Then, there's also the fact that few fabrics drape as beautifully as silk does. 
Here are just a few reasons why a gorgeous silk blouse will never go out of fashion:

1) It's a timeless statement, showing the inherent taste in your choice of pieces that are always à la mode;

2) Incredible versatility, since it can be paired with both dark wash skinny jeans or sleek pencil skirts and tailored trousers;

3) It's comfortable, since it's capable of holding in heat during winter, but it's also breathable so that it can keep you cool in Summer. What's more, it has moisture wicking properties that keep you comfortable all day and all year long. No matter what the weather is doing, silk will keep you relaxed.

4) Endless variety of jewel hues, patterns, different cuts and styles.

5) Blouses as an investment, since trends may come and go, but great taste never goes out of style. any woman who has a collection of silk blouses will always have something amazing to wear, no matter the occasion.