Bright Blue Pants a Make Her Dance

Okay, so maybe these pants don't make me "dance" but they definitely make me feel great. And that's what clothes are supposed to be about right? Right! 

I came across these gems at a vintage designer store down the street from my apartment. As you might know I'm living in Milan, Italy this summer so quality fashion picks are not hard to find but... finding them at a reasonable price is the kicker. The little store is tucked in the Brera District, traditionally known for great boutiques, and is called Il Cameo. The mother-daughter duo who own it have an eye for some of the best vintage Chanel, Gucci, Prada and YSL I've ever seen. For weeks I was lusting after a Chanel sweater shell from the 60's but had to talk myself off the ledge. Fortunately, the Il Cameo duo has taken a liking to me and my constant drop-ins and kindly knocked down the price of these pants to a steal! Go me and my decent Italian language skills!

To keep the focus on the star of the show, I like to pair these palazzos with a simple black top. The halter cut of this Banana Republic top {similar here, here, here} balances a little skin with the weight of the pants to keep this outfit cool both in temperature and in style. While these pants might not pair with everything, a simple black halter looks great on everyone and is super versatile. It's a great staple to have in your closet and if you don't own one already click the links above and invest!

Even with a big print, small details are everything. I'm carrying my Kate Spade color blocked crossbody that's the perfect size to fit everything I need for a day of traveling, dainty jewelry including one of my favorite Kate Spade Saturday necklaces (RIP) and simple black wedges. Would you believe me if I said these were Dr. Scholls? I couldn't believe it either! They're simple, stylish, match with everything and I've survived miles of Italian cobblestone streets in them. I've been super impressed. Go Dr. Scholls! 

{Top // Banana Republic (similar, similar), Pants // (similar), Wedges // Dr. Scholls (similar, similar), 

Purse // Kate Spade (similar, similar), Necklace // Kate Spade (similar)}

Do you have any prized finds from a local vintage store? And how about these palazzos? Are you a fan of the wide legs and bold prints? 

Emily 

Keeping it Simple with Free People

{Dress // Free People (similar, similar), Sandals // Nine West (similar, similar) , Purse // Cole Haan (similar)}

High 70's is something that I definitely can't complain about. Nor can I complain about the breezy dresses that are coming with it. We decided to explore a little bit yesterday and with a few hours of walking around, my favorite Free People dress came in for the win. A simple effortless slip dress is something everyone needs and FP has it on lockdown. I bought this dress a few years ago and it's seen everything from concerts to formals to art galleries. I'm loving the FP layered style but I'm not sure if I'm gutsy enough to pull it off yet. For now, I'll just admire their Instagram {dying over these looks} from afar and keep it super simple with a pair of metallic sandals that never let me down. There's something to say about investing in a great brand of sandals. I love my Target knockarounds from my post yesterday {view here} but these ones really step up the quality a notch and last longer than just one season. I'd say the same goes for a go-to cross body. You can never go wrong with a simple metallic that fits all of your essentials. 

Roaming around we came across this not-so hidden gem of the Ringling family art collection. Their gallery was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the incredible art that was inside! Follow along with what I saw over on my Instagram @emilyanddot {link here} where you can see more pictures of this pink palace and my pink sunburn!

Loving it!

Emily

P.S. Had to include the brother on this post because this kid keeps me on my fashion toes. 

Dock Days in Florida

{Dress // Springfield (similar here), Shoes // Target (here), Sunglasses // AJ Morgan (here)}

Well I'm definitely already digging our time spent here in Florida. Salty hair and sandy clothes are a cure for absolutely anything and after a busy week of finals, Christmas and the on-set of winter, escaping to Florida was just what we all needed. The weather is absolutely beautiful, the beach is right outside our door and I have a clear schedule for 7 days. Life. Is. Good. A break from school is always great but there's never anything like the relaxation that you get from the beach. I'm more than happy to be here. 

As you know, I'm a sucker for taking photos of anything and everything and I've actually already taken 697 photos in three days (actually laughing out loud). Make sure to follow along on my Instagram @emilyanddot {link right here!} to see everything I'm up to on the trip! These photos were snapped while we were waiting on the grill to fire up last night for dinner. 

Here I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses I snagged from a store while I was abroad in Belgium. It fits similar to my favorite J.Crew Factory dress and there's even a similar color {here, here}! 

I've been running around on the beach in these sandals but honestly, where haven't I worn these? These are $20 Massimo sandals from Target {here} and they're my absolute favorite. No blisters whatsoever and they have stayed together after the cobblestone streets of Europe, outdoor summer concerts and now walking to and from the beach. I'm not lying when I say that I have four more pairs waiting for me in my closet for when I walk right through these. Love them. 

Last but not least, these sunglasses from AJ Morgan {here}. I grabbed these from my favorite vintage store this past summer and I've been obsessed with the entire brand ever since. AJ Morgan isn't vintage but they make reasonably priced ($12!) glasses in all different shapes and colors. Check them out if you haven't heard of them already!

Hope everyone else is having a great rest of their breaks and stocking up on all kinds of goodies with these post-Christmas sales! What are you all doing for break?!

Emily

My Go To's + Marley Lilly Houndstooth Plaid

                        

I talk a lot about my "go-to's" on the blog. Those pieces that you know you can throw on when you're running late, they will match with everything and they're going to look great every time. Well here are my top five go-tos, all in one outfit and topped off with this fantastic scarf from Marley Lilly!  

Shirt: {J.Crew} Pants: {Gap} Vest: {LandsEnd} Boots: Pink & Pepper {Similar Here} Scarf: {Marley Lilly}

The Go-Tos:

1. Chambray // I love a good chambray shirt. It's one of the best investments you'll make. It can be worn through all season and gives any outfit a casual yet modern twist. 

2. Black Pants // These are my all-time favorite pants. They are Gap city pants and they are a great mixture between structure and stretch. The slight crop allows me to roll them easily for ankle boots or have them fall right above a great pair of flats. 

3. Vest // I'm a firm believer in a great vest. They keep you warm on breezy days and provide a little pop of color over a simple shirt. A cozy down vest goes a long way and LandsEnd did it right here!

4. Ankle Boots // I bought these Pink & Pepper ankle boots about a year ago and I've gotten so much use out of them! A neutral ankle boot will go with anything, a skirt, a dress or jeans and gives you just enough heel to add height but to still comfortably walk around in all day!

5. Scarf // A handful of scarves are always a great resource to have in your closet and I'm so happy to be adding this one to my collection! This Marley Lilly Scarf is so precious! I love the pink contrast with the classic houndstooth print. This little pop of color easily brightened up my neutral look and helped me bear that December wind! Throw this on top of a chambray shirt, a shirt dress or even a t-shirt on the way to the library! These scarves are a great gift idea! Check out more on the {Marley Lilly site here}!

What are your 5 go-to's in your closet?

Emily