5 CLASSICS TO READ, WHILE SELF-ISOLATING.

If you need to find a silver lining in this current situation, and during this social distancing, which is going to last for at least three weeks longer, now it's a great time to catch up on some reading — after all, this national quarantine probably means you've got a little more time on your hands. And if, like me, you've committed yourself to finally checking off a few texts from your literary wish list, you'll at least emerge from this period having cultivated a little more culture or having learned a thing or two. But if you're not quite sure what to read next, don't worry: I'm sharing the books I'm re-reading while self-isolating (and explaining the reason why I picked them up again in the first place) to offer you some ideas for your next literary adventure. While some people regularly tear through texts at a rapid rate, many others struggle to find the time — which can often seem like a luxury in itself — to sit down and relish reading material without distractions. But now it's an ideal season to do just that. When you're not working from home, levelling up your kitchen skills, squeezing in a quickie Instagram workout in your living room, or entertaining yourself in other self-soothing ways, picking up a good book can be a productive way to escape stressful and anxious thoughts for a bit by briefly immersing yourself into another world, whether by way of a fictional narrative, the memoir of someone you admire, or an informative non-fiction book that lets you dig deeper into a subject you're dying to know more about (food, fashion, art, psychology, or self-help, for example). And for those of you who could use a suggestion or two, see ahead for four selections of unforgettable classics, straight from my bookshelves, obviously in the original languages, which are perfect for re-reading from a different perspective and diving deeper into their meaning and style, once our attention is not concentrated mainly on the plot.

1) "Tender is the night" by F.S.Fitzgerald: during particularly emotional times, I always turn to fiction to distract myself, and Fitzgerald's books provide a dreamy, parallel world where to live for some moments, with his sophisticated, evocative descriptions of the French Riviera and glittering atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties, 

2) "The end of the affair" by Graham Greene: set in London during and just after the Second World War, the novel examines the obsessions, jealousy and discernments within the relationships between the three central characters, and is considered among the author's best novels since it also an astonishing, painfully moving interrogation of the contradictions in a Catholicism he couldn't live without but struggled to live with.

3) "The English patient" by Michael Ondaatje: in case you're one of the few people who have never read the book nor seen the movie, , the novel centres around an Italian villa towards the end of the Second World War, where four variously damaged characters come to terms with the past, and among them the English patient, who actually is not  of English nationality, but a Hungarian desert explorer on his deathbed, recounting the story of his doomed love affair with a married woman, member of his last expedition. The book is to be savoured in its richness of adventure, re-read for its sensua l descriptions  of the desert, which is a character in itself and to be remembered for the richness of the author's writing style, rich in well-timed silences and ellipses to speak volumes. 

4) "Out of Africa" by Karen Blixen: an epic, romantic drama inspired by the Danish author's memoir of her life in British East Africa in the early 20th century, which is also a powerful, lyrical meditation on her coffee plantation and a tribute to some of the people who touched her life there, and to the landscape she fell in love with.

5) "Mrs. Dalloway" by V. Woolf: an example of the author's stream of consciousness narrative, thanks to which the reader gets thrown into the female protagonist's mind and her world, creating a sense of intimacy with this high-society Englishwoman during post-World War I London.

And if these books succeed in fascinating you to the point of becoming emotionally obsessed by their plots and entangled in their exotic settings, you can also soak up their atmospheres by watching the successful film versions, since all of them have at least one... Enjoy!

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.