Monday, December 22, 2014

Look Mama, No Coat!




I was wearing:
Fedora: BORSALINO
Track jacket: ADIDAS ORIGINALS
Tee: SUBDUED
Necklace: TIFFANY
Belt and bag: FURLA
Biker Jeans: J BRAND similar here
Leather boots: PRADA

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Puppy And Bread & Butter






High Boots: MIU MIU
Leggings: WOLFORD
Tee: ONE-T-SHIRT by IL DUCA D'AOSTA
Jeans jacket: PARASHUCO
Fur Vest: CARDIFF VARESE

Snake print bag: FURLA
Gloves: PORTS 1961
Fedora: BORSALINO
There is a joyful new addition to my extended family: cute puppy Mike! Here some shots from our first walk together, I was happy and a little awkward, as you can notice... Mike was excited about this new adventure and continued to spin around my legs...

As far as my look, I went for my off-duty "bread & butter" staples  in this time of the year: high boots* and leggings. Easy, comfortable but feminine, as in my style. If you are not comfortable with wearing just leggings you can add some shorts or a mini for extra coverage. I then layered up my outfit in order to stay warm and free to move:  adding one of my fav tee, a jeans jacket, my fur vest and a fedora and gloves for extra warm (and style). 

* Actually I'm planning to buy higher boots than the ones I'm wearing, thigh high, but I haven't found so far a "reasonable" option in my size , maybe with the next sales. If you like them and they fit your body type, they are really edgy and super-trendy.
C'è una bellissima new-entry nella mia famiglia estesa: il piccolo Mike. In questo post alcuni scatti della nostra prima passeggiata insieme. Ero felice e un po' imbranata, Mike e' super vivace e curioso, come tutti i cuccioli, e continuava a ruotarmi attorno, eccitato per questa nuova avventura. 
Per quanto riguarda il mio look, indossavo due cose che stanno bene insieme, come il pane e la Nutella: stivali alti** e leggings. È uno dei miei abbinamenti preferiti in questa stagione, facile, comodo e caldo, ma femminile, come piace a me. Mi sono poi vestita a strati sopra, non è ancora troppo freddo e volevo essere libera di muovermi e camminare, aggiungendo una tee-shirt, un giubbino in jeans, la pelliccia smanicata e infine guanti e cappello (per un'aggiunta di calore e stile).



** Ne sto cercando da tempo un paio più alti, fino alla coscia, ma non ho ancora trovato nulla che mi piaccia e sia abbordabile, chissà, magari coi prossimi saldi... Se vi piacciono e pensate vi stiano bene, sono una scelta sicuramente d'impatto e super trendy. 


Thanks for visiting my website/ Grazie per aver visitato il mio blog.


Spikey V.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Woman in Red




Fedora: SUBDUED
Coat: ZARA
Sweater: LAUREN MOSHI
Leggies: WOLFORD
Boots: PRADA
Shoulder bag: GIVENCHY

Photo by MG

Woolen coats are classic winter staples and a must-have for this season (winning over duvets and other outerwear). You can actually choose from a variety of styles, fabrics and colors. I recently went for a double breasted coat by Zara, with a classic fit. Oversize coats are super fashionable too, but I wanted something more feminine, as in my style (I'm pretty tall and with some extra-bulk I risk to look a little like big Shrek or his wife, Fiona, not good... Sure, oversize are pretty cool when left open/wraped over your shoulders*, but I wanted something more practical to keep me warm). I went for a bright red, a little different from the usual grays/camels, to increase the feminine look of this garment. Red is one of the more sensual colors and one of my favorites, it brings a lot of visual interest.

Some style tips:

  1. *For extra glam and femininity: wear the coat over your shoulders rather than fastened (as Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn or many fashionistas).
  2. For a cool off-duty/urban look: pair your coat with your sneakers and casual staples, such as  (here)
  3. Camel is also a great and super trendy choice, it brings an instant luxe, well-made feel to any item.

I cappotti sono tornati di super moda da qualche stagione e stanno avendo la meglio anche sui classici piumini (sara' anche l'effetto "Report"...).  Se ne trovano in moltissime versioni, materiali e colori. Recentemente ho scelto questo cappottino di Zara a doppio petto, molto asciutto e femminile, come piace a me, con altezza al ginocchio. Esalta le forme e non le mortifica, come le versioni over, adesso molto trendy (io sono piuttosto alta e con dei volumi troppo ampi rischio di sembrare un piccolo Shrek, meglio evitare, in generale non credo che i volumi troppo ampi donino veramente a nessuna donna... si' certo, ci sono dei modi per bilanciare i volumi ampi, tipo usare una cintura, o soprattutto portare questi cappotti aperti/sulle spalle (vedi sotto),  ..., un modo molto fashion, ma non così pratico in inverno).  Ho scelto un colore rosso acceso, un po' più  insolito rispetto ai soliti grigi/cammello, per esaltare l'aspetto femminile di questo capo. Il rosso e' uno dei miei colori preferiti.


Alcune dritte:


  1. Se vi piace un effetto molto  glam e femminile: e' molto attuale portare cappotti e soprabiti appena appoggiati sopra alle spalle (come la bellissima Michelle Williams nel film su Marilyn o molte fashioniste/vip/socialites).
  2. Per un look casual/chic/metropolitano: abbinate il cappotto a sneakers/felpe/abbigliamento casual, un po' da rapper o modella in libera uscita...
  3. Il classico color cammello e' un'altra opzione molto interessante e super-trendy,  da' un effetto lusso/sartoriale a qualsiasi capo.

Thanks for visiting my website/grazie per aver visitato il mio blog.


XOXO/ Baci

Spikey V.


Sunday, November 30, 2014

The Cowgirl Goes to Town

Snake print booties: ZARA
Leggings: WOLFORD
Frayed handbag: IMPERIAL FASHION
Golden cardigan: LIU JO
Wool and fur poncho: PINKO (some seasons ago)
Fedora: STYLIGION (last season)

Photo by MG


As in my previous post, fringing, ponchos, brown leathers, cowboy booties... are very trendy. This weekend I had fun trying a new cowgirl-goes-to-town outfit, mixing Wild West details with some little more sophisticated/urban vibes.  So, I mixed some items I already had, like the wool and fur poncho and the large fedora, with my recent Zara booties, that I already showed you, and a brand new frayed bag by Imperial Fashion, relatively inexpensive* but very cute (I like a lot the visual effect of the fringes flowing around my hips as long as I'm moving).

Come vi ho raccontato nel mio post precedente, lo stile western con le sue frange, ponchos, pelle color cuoio, stivaletti da cowboy... e' uno dei trend più  attuali della stagione. Questo weekend mi sono divertita a provare un nuovo look, sempre in stile "Western", ma in chiave più "cittadina", come piace a me. Per farlo ho combinato dei pezzi che già avevo (un poncho in lana e pelliccia e un cappello a tesa larga) con i miei nuovi stivaletti di Zara, che vi avevo mostrato, e una nuova borsa con le frange che ho trovato da Imperial Fashion, poco costosa**, ma molto carina secondo me (mi piace molto l'effetto delle frange che fluttuano seguendo i miei fianchi, mentre cammino).

Thanks for visiting my blog./ Grazie per aver visitato il mio blog. 

* All the items you can see on this blog belong to my personal closet, they are not some advertising merchandise offered by Fashion brands, unless otherwise stated. So, in particular for bags and shoes, I generally prefer to invest in some statement/more expensive items in more classic styles, that can stand the test of time, and go for cheaper options for more fashionable items.

** Tutti i pezzi che indosso nel mio blog appartengono al mio guardaroba personale, non sono offerti gratuitamente dalle case di moda a fini di marketing, se non espressamente dichiarato. Per questo motivo, cerco di trovare un equilibrio tra il mio desiderio di esplorare i nuovi trend che mi piacciono e la relativa spesa. In particolare per borse e scarpe, mi piace investire in qualche pezzo classico, anche costoso, ma da poter usare per più di una stagione, e scegliere invece dei pezzi meno costosi per seguire le mode del momento.

XOXO/ Baci

Spikey V.

Let's Sparkle...



Rock version - Photo by MG
Chic version - Photo by YLS

Golden pumps: ZARA - other designers' option here or here.
Zip Tights: WOLFORD
Faux-leather skinnies: MANGO (last season)

The Holiday Season is approaching and golden pumps can be a great accessory to sparkle in your Christmas and New Year parties. Actually they can be a more versatile item in your closet, than just shoes for parties: you can sport them with more casual outfits to add some extra glam to your day look, matching them for instance with jeans or some leather/faux leather skinnies, as in my picture above.

I went for a budget version by Zara, pretty inexpensive but cool. If you like this style you can also go for some gold killer heels by luxury designers, even more sophisticated (and pricey).

Thanks for visiting my blog.

XOXO

Spikey V.





Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Cowgirl Chic Trend




Leather print booties: ZARA
Jeans skinny: SEXY WOMAN
Denim Shirt: MANGO
Necklace: ZARA
Sunnies: CHANEL

Photo by YLS
If you are a fashionable kinda girl, like me, you like exploring new trends, right? 
The Wild West is actually one of the hottest trends of the season (from Chanel to the main-street retailers, which readily followed this trend with lots of denim, fringing, ponchos, aztec print knits, prairie skirts and blouses, brown leathers and, of course, cowboy boots).

Well, after buying my new (gorgeous) Zara printed leather booties in Barcelona, I thought they were perfect to try a "cowgirl chic" outfit, a little different from my usual go-to Fall-Winter looks, which are more urban/rock-chic, based on black accessories. I matched these booties with some denim skinnies and shirt plus a large rhinestone necklace (also by Zara) dressed over the collared shirt* et voilà ... I like to keep things clean and simple. 

Btw if you like this trend, you can find many interesting items at the Spanish Fast Fashion giant: ponchos, quilted bags, knits, fancy collar necklaces ...

Thanks for visiting my website.
XOXO

Spikey V.

*Denim on denim and necklaces over the shirts are quite trendy too.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

How to Sport Animalier Prints

Hat: Subdued
Leather jacket: Balenciaga Perfecto
Leopard Print Dress: Liu JO
Leggings: Wolford
Leopard scarf: Louis Vuitton
Tote: Chanel Shopping

Photo by YLS

I'm technically a sucker for animal prints... it seems I just can get enough about these prints, which are an evergreen in Fashion* and really fashionable in the current seasons. Many women love animalier prints, some others think they are a bit "too much". Actually there are many ways to use leopard and animalier prints with style, balancing their inner sensuality and sexiness:


  1. Toning it down in colder shades, such as the gray leopard print I'm wearing in this pic, which I find pretty modern and easy.
  2. Matching it with "less aggressive" accessories, for instance black leggings/jeans instead of nylons.
  3. Another trick is avoiding super short and tight dresses or covering your top, if you are showing your legs, or vice versa, as many stylists suggest.
  4. Limiting this print to one/two pieces for outfit (like the dress and scarf in my outfit)
  5. Matching the leopard print with blacks or whites, also red and electric blue; another really fashionable way to sport leopard prints is to mix them with other prints (i.e. stripes, another fashion basic).

Thanks for visiting my website.
XO

Spikey V.
It was Christian Dior in 1947 that first used leopard as a print.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Barcelona for Fashionistas and Urbanites

Barcelona is a real  open-minded and forward-thinking city, an amazing mix of traditions and modernity, which is attracting many urbanites from the globe.  Here my ten must-do in Barcelona for fashionistas and urbanites* (in no particular order, from my recent trip there):

1.   Don't know where to stay? One of the coolest hotel and scene of Barcelona night life is the W Barcelona Hotel and resident Eclipse Bar,  just in front of Barceloneta Beach.
Blazer and leopard print dress: Liu Jo
Stockings: Wolford
Pumps: Zara

2.   Barcelona is a Zara addict paradise: the density of Zara stores is the highest on universe in the city center (around Plaça de Catalunya), the merchandise is fully available in all styles/sizes and prices are a good 20% less than in the rest of Europe. Same applies for  Mango and Desigual. I couldn’t miss to buy two new pairs of Zara heels, ops...  :-)
Zip tights: WOLFORD
Golden Pumps: ZARA


3.    Passeig de Gràcia is the luxury shopping area, where you can find the Chanel, Saint Laurent, Prada, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik stores.... For the shoe lovers like me: here you can find a detailed list of shoe brands and stores  in Barcelona (International and Spanish, such as Castañer, Bibi Lou, Pura López, .... )


4.    Best tapas in town (no tourist trap, just be ready to queue):  Cerveseria Catalana, close to Passeig de Gracias


5.   Antoni Gaudí is the visionary artist and architect who shaped the city late 19th and early 20th century culture and landscape, his creations are a unique mix of fantasy, art, religion and technique...



Gaudi - Casa Batlló


6.    There are many ways to move in Barcelona: you can of course walk across the city main streets, full of people and things to be seen (Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gracia, the narrow streets in El Barrio), take the modern metro or one of the frequent bus tours, that you can get on and off all day long to stop visiting the places you prefer (these bus include an audio guide to the city and wi-fi access). There are actually many other pretty cool and even more flexible options to discover Barcelona at your own pace, i.e. renting an eBIKE connected to an iPhone with a built-in GPS device with GPS, a go-cart , a Twizy (a two-seater electric vehicle), or other eco-friendly vehicles.





7.    Barceloneta Beach is one of the liveliest and coolest area in the city: you can stroll, run, skate, bike, play tennis, tennis, paddle tennis, beach volley, waterpolo and actually surf …. Prior to the 1992 Olympic Games, Barceloneta was one of the worst areas of Barcelona (an ugly industrial zone , known as 'The Catalan Manchester') .


November in Barceloneta Beach

All pics are mine, except this one by Oscar.

8.    From the Montjuïc Cable Car you can  enjoy the best panoramic views of Barcelona (another amazing spot is the Miramar Hotel terrace at sunset).

9.  Barcelona offers a full variety of cuisines and restaurants. We were suggested by some local friends to try Roig Robi': "traditional Catalan cuisine, enhanced and adapted to suit modern tastes". We liked it.


10.  La Bouqueria Food Market. In the mid of Barcelona Ramblas: "At the Boqueria people eat, shop and gossip together doing what the Spanish excel at, living life well and enjoying a sense of community."  Best place for a quick, informal lunch sitting at the market stalls and tasting jamon serrano, embutidos and other local specialties.


When visiting this city, I'm sure you'll build easily your own must-go list... Enjoy.

Thanks for visiting my website. XOXO

Spikey V.

* Urbanite = A person who inhabits one of the major cities in the world, not necessarily defined by age, but by commonalities.  An urbanite is an affluent consumer with an optimistic outlook on life that is very different from those who live in "small town" or rural areas. Urbanites are both a subculture and a contemporary lifestyle. They have 6 key characteristics: Time-poor, city-proud, media-literate, brand-centric, trend-sensitive and culturally-aware. Read more




Monday, October 27, 2014

It's All About The Fur Vest... And The New Girl Power




Suede booties: Casadei
Fishnet stay-ups: Wolford
Fake leather shorts: Liu JO
Fur vest: Cardiff Varese
Jeans shirt: Mango
Necklace: Zara
Sunnies: Chanel
Beanie: Imperfect

Photo by YLS

The fur vest is a key statement piece for the cooler season, it's more fresh and young than the traditional fur coat and it adds extra-chic to any look. You can play layering it above a simple shirt, a wool sweater or a leather jacket for more warm. It also helps to show off your legs (if you like it): the bulky and soft volume of the vest it’s great to make your legs look longer and thinner by contrast…and to show them off even in the coolest season (I don't mind to have almost bare legs even in winter, as far as my middle stays warm).  As you may have noticed and Vogue recently summarized: "minis are (once again) very, very hot.  From the front row to the street, the coolest girls, from Alexa Chung to Rihanna to Jennifer Lawrence are showing their legs and celebrating girl power with a chic, modern twist." I like this style!

Un gilet in pelliccia e' un pezzo base molto interessante e di super-moda per la stagione più' fredda: e' più giovane e attuale della classica pelliccia, e rende piu’ glam qualsiasi look. Un altro vantaggio, come si vede dalle foto, e’ che il volume abbondante e soffice della pelliccia fa sembrare per contrasto le gambe ancora più lunghe e sottili… e permette di metterle in mostra anche quando fa freddo (io ad esempio posso andare in giro tranquillamente con le gambe scoperte se ho la parte centrale del corpo, pancino e schiena, ben coperta). Come avrete notato e ha sintetizzato bene Vogue qualche giorno fa, le mini sono di nuovo super, super trendy e molte celeb famose hanno adottato questo trend, scoprendo le gambe in chiave di un femminismo moderno*.


Thanks for visiting my blog. Grazie per aver visitato il mio blog.

* Ecco, su questo punto potremmo ovviamente una discussione molto più approfondita...

XOXO/ "Baci e abbracci".

Spikey V.