My Italian Adventure: Part III

This blog is primarily fashion focused, but I have to admit that next to fashion my other burning passion is for food.  Yes, I am a "FOODIE".  As you can imagine for a foodie, traveling to Italy is a dream come true!  To me, there is not a better place on earth to sample the local flavors.  The pizza, pasta, pastries, espresso and of course wine and cheese.

Like a true food enthusiast would, I made sure to capture some of the delicious things we ate on the trip.  There were waaay too many photos to choose from, so I posted the ones I thought were the most visually appealing.  As I am posting these I am salivating remembering every delicious bite...

 {cheese ravioli with sage butter}

{Porcini mushrooms at the local market - beautiful color!}

{Italian doughnut}

{Pizza, pizza}

{fresh meringues}

{creamy cafe latte}

{Assorted Italian cookies - delish!}

{And of course...the famous gelato}

How hungry have I made you?

XOXO,

Sorellina

Desperately Want: A Bicycle

{I took this photo on the streets of Florence.  How chic is this woman?}

During my recent travels I found it so fascinating that so many people in Europe travel by bicycle.  What is even MORE fascinating to me is how people were dressed - not in your typical, casual “biking attire”. These style mavens were dressed to the nines – perfect outfit, hair, makeup and of course stilettos to boot!  Many had little dogs or this season’s latest designer bag popping out of the front basket.  So photo worthy if you ask me.   I caught a few stylish ladies on their bicycles, but the photo above was my fav.  Now I desperately want to purchase a cute little bike to cycle around town.  Here are a few I have my eye on…

{Bianchi Cortina bike}

 

{Electra Townie Bike}

{Fendi Abici Amanta Donna bike}

obviously too expensive for me, but how lovely?

And the front runner...

{The Republic "Plato" bike}

XOXO,

Sorellina

My Italian Adventure: Part II

While touring the beautiful, medieval city of Siena we stumbled down a quiet street and at the the end of it discovered a large outdoor pavilion well stocked with old books, watches, jewelry and handbags!  As you can imagine, a huge rush of excitement came over me.  There is nothing that gets me more jazzed than vintage duds - especially when they are designer!  I took some photos to document the treasures we saw.  Note the vintage Chanel bag in the second photo.  I am almost positive it was REAL, but you never can tell with these things.  It was a dark muted navy, only slightly worn - probably from the late 70's or early 80's.  It was about 300 € - about 412 dollars US.  An AMAZING buy if you ask me considering a real new one is about $3,000!!  I left the market to go "think" about the purchase and when I went back to get it, it was GONE!!  Yes, that's right.  Oh well, I keep telling myself it was not meant to be...I did however purchase a vintage Gucci inspired necklace which I will post about soon.

{Lovely vintage Dior sunglasses}

{Vintage designer handbags galore!}

{Was in love with this rhinestone antique number}

{Sunglasses. ALL VINTAGE. amazing}

{Gorgeous statement necklaces}

XOXO,

Sorellina

The Box Clutch

{clutch photo c/o Asos website}

After discovering this beautiful box clutch on the Asos website, I knew I had to have it!  I would style this with a white tee, light grey skinny jeans and killer black stilettos - done!  With a piece like this, you really want it to speak for itself and stand out with the rest of your look.  Here are a few other box clutches that are just to die...I can't wait to get my hands on one!

{from left to right, top to bottom}

1. Gold Clutch-Peep Toe 2. Ottoman Clutch-All Saints 3. Silk Clutch-Matthew Williamson 4. Framed Clutch-Moschino 5. Studded Clutch-Alexander McQueen 6. Gold Lame Clutch-Moschino 7. Knuckle Clutch-Hot Topic 8. Tortoise Clutch-Louis Vuitton 9. Pink Silk Clutch-Peep Toe

XOXO,

Sorellina

My Italian Adventure: Part I

{taking in Lake Como}

It is soooo hard to be back from what I can say was one of the best weeks of my life (besides the week I got married).  There is something about Italian culture that is so (for lack of a better word) PERFECT.  I absolutely love everything about it.  Here is a list of words that describe my most adored aspects of Italy as a whole…

pesto – vine ripe tomatoes – creamy cappuccinos in beautiful cups – chocolate croissants – spritz cocktails – paper thin pizzas – vintage bicycles – effortless style – leather – buzzing vespas – afternoon siestas – gelato – tiny Italian cookies – vino – pecorino romano with honey and pears – stilettos on cobblestones – salty bread soaked in olive oil – breathtaking views – vintage fiats – gondolas – nautical stripes 

For those of you who have been to Italy, what do you love most about it?  For those of you who have not been – you must go soon!

Stay tuned for more on my Italian adventure including photos of an amazing antique market we stumbled upon in Siena, a full re-cap on the ridiculous food we ate, and of course a roundup of the fun items I brought back with me!

{fresh olives right off the tree}

{enjoying an afternoon cappuccino}

{gondolier in Venice}

{Ti Amo Venezia (I love you Venice)}

{shopping for leather goods in Florence}

{cute old  man on his bicycle in Florence}

{the Duomo in Florence}

Ciao for now,

Sorellina

Her version...My version

Guest Blogger :: Laura Naples of NEAPOLITAN (Sorellina's older "Sorella")

Many months ago, I spotted designer Catherine Malandrino's shortlist of 12 Things [She] Can't Live Without in Elle Decor. This black pearl ring, pictured left (which happens to be her engagement ring that she wears on her pinkie - how incredibly chic is that?) stood apart from the rest of her glamorous picks. I've kept a mental image of that gorgeous ring, so I was pleasantly stunned to find a lookalike version at none other than Topshop, pictured right. While I wish the pearl was the same black color, the scale and details can't be denied - it's an absolutely clever take on Malandrino's vintage Van Cleef & Arpels bauble.

(Another thing Malandrino can't live without? Her signature citron color, used to "grid" the layout here - Pantone 395.)

Top image and black pearl ring image from Elle Decor. White pearl ring image from Topshop.

Style your shelf

Guest Blogger :: Laura Naples of NEAPOLITAN (Sorellina's older "Sorella")

The perfectly placed objects on this bookshelf, designed by prop stylist (and recent HGTV DesignStar winner) Emily Henderson, create a little oasis of personality, warmth, and intrigue. I love the idea of having a place in my home where the eye can happily feast on a collection of favorite things - from books to vintage ceramics to jewelry - that feels both styled and a little spontaneous.

Below are pictured some eclectic vintage and handmade pieces that I think would work beautifully in a Henderson-inspired "shelfscape".

Clockwise from top left: Black and brass bird; White pitcher; Gold paper bowl; Aged glass candleholder; Agate paperweight (sold); Wishbone; Vintage teapot; Horse marble bookends; Black scalloped bowl;  Bone square box.

Of course, a bookshelf wouldn't be complete without reading materials. But as Henderson shows, books appear as beautiful objects themselves when offset by other works of art and even favorite accessories. Why not enjoy your display-worthy pieces everyday?

Clockwise from top left: Faceted bracelet; Gold dictionary; No Sleep Till Brooklyn bangles; Vintage re-covered book; Painting People; Bone inlay box; Horn watch; Chad Wys landscape; Clear sunglasses.

So here's a peek at my bookshelf - always evolving. My current favorite things are the silhouette portrait of my daughter, the huge gold (vintage) American Ballet Theatre book and the tiny Jonathan Adler owl, given to me by my little sis.