Packing for Paris: Part One

Well, it is official! I'm going to Paris! And even though it will be my third trip, this time around I'm also going on a short excursion to London. Plus, I get to spend a whole week with my best friend in two of the most vibrant and stylish cities in the world. I'll be visiting in early Fall, and with the unknown weather a major factor along with a desire to look as fashionable as I can on a budget, I've already started planning my wardrobe.

Starting with the toes and working my way up, the next few posts will be a run down of what I think are essential pieces that will not only work for a traveling gal like myself but also keep me looking chic for less.

First up is the bootie. I initially thought it would be better to buy a pair of knee-high riding boots, but then I started seeing all these fun booties popping up everywhere. They reminded me of a pair of black Nine West booties I owned in the late 90s. Unfortunately, I gave them away sometime in the early 21st century because I thought they were passé. Which reminds me, NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! Like the saying goes, "what goes around comes around"... especially when it comes to fashion.

So with the desire of reigniting those 90s memories and maybe feeling as though I'm in my 20s again, I've decided to buy a pair of booties for my European vacation. Here's a sample of various booties with prices ranging from a very reasonable $59 to a more guilt-filled $345. Which ones do you like?

1. Speartint Booties, Aerosoles, Macy's $69 (plus 20% off); 2. Krando Booties, Madden Girl, Macy's, $59 (plus 10% off); 3. Becky Ankle Booties, Sole Society, $79.95; 4. Billie Boots, Madewell, Shopbob, $228; 5. Quasar Bootie, Franco Sarto, Piperlime, $129; 6. Leoda Flat Bootie, Coach, Bloomingdale's, $345.

Tomboy Chic

As this photo can attest, I was a bit of a tomboy growing up. Although I didn’t mind wearing dresses and could rock a mean jean skirt with rainbow suspenders, I also enjoyed boy-inspired attire – most notably replicating my Dad’s knee-high socks and trucker hat look. That kind of mix and match of masculine and feminine has stayed with me today. And while I may enjoy getting all dolled up in a pretty dress or sophisticated ensemble, I am just as comfortable – if not more so – in a t-shirt and shorts. I don’t wear a lot of makeup or jewelry, and I don’t care about how well my nails are manicured or if I should bother with the latest skincare treatments. I do love though to dazzle people with fancy footwear and stylish duds every now and then.  And for me that combination between tomboy and chic girl is what epitomizes my style.  It isn’t so much an homage to masculine/feminine wear, but a melding of casual and chic, unfussy elegance, and a little rugged individualism with a dash of bourgeois refinement.

It’s pretty easy to replicate this style. Quite a few retail stores offer pieces that play on the masculine/feminine dynamic. Gap, J.Crew, Madewell, and Club Monaco are just a few of them. Basically, it is all about the mixing of casual with elegance and simplicity with a dash of edgy fashionista.  Here’s a sampling of what I would call my Tomboy Chic style…

 Pink dot top and skinny jeans, Gap; White button-down top and polka dot skimmer pants, JCrew Factory; Polka dot boy shirt, pencil skirt and bow tie, JCrew; Striped sweater, navy print shirt and jeans, Madewell; Parka, sweater and cropped print pants, Club Monaco; Terry moto jacket, Gap.

In Memoriam: My Grandma

It has been a very difficult month for me and my family. We lost my grandma this week after a month-long struggle after a bad fall. She was such a huge part of my immediate family, and I will miss her dearly. Ultimately, though, I've found comfort in believing that she is in a better place where she is pain free and at peace.

As difficult as this week has been, I was blessed with the task of compiling old pictures of my grandma for a video montage I put together for her funeral. It was magical looking at the pictures of her from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. She had such style and presence -- she was certainly demure looking, but also quite vivacious  -- and she always looked fashionable even though she lived her earlier life in small town America.

In many ways she reminds me of myself. I'm shy and reserved, but my more bold fashion sense usually makes up for it. Like my grandma, I, too, love clothes and accessories, and boy oh boy can I find a good bargain -- a special trait definitely passed down from generation to generation.

So, in honor of my beautiful grandma, here are some pictures that show her style and presence -- two aspects of her that I know will continue to be a part of who I am and who I will become.

I love you and miss you, my dear grandma.