The Ladybug on how to wear a vintage kimono at the office

When I traveled to Japan last summer I finally got the chance to buy a couple of vintage kimonos.  This piece has always been iconic for me: the kimono has an oriental vibe that feels like wearing history and culture from another world; it is incredibly fashionable and stylish and it can add the “great touch” to any outfit, even the most boring one! I had a couple of vintage kimonos in my wardrobe, mostly bought during my vintage trips in Europe, more precisely in Brussels and Madrid but the chance to buy a vintage kimono in Japan was priceless!

As I told you during my Japanese chronicles, I found a couple of beautiful vintage shops in Kyoto and Tokyo where I bought three kimonos, one of them is the one pictured here, a beautiful vintage piece that I found in the most incredible vintage kimonos shop that I saw in Kyoto (I bought two pieces there). Kimonos are quite pricey in Japan, that’s why buying a vintage piece can be the best option also for those who are not that much into vintage! The prices for vintage kimonos are fair (this was around 30 euros) and the most pricey ones are real pieces of art (the second one that I got there was indeed more expensive but it was an hand-painted silk piece that stole my heart at first sight!)

My friends were asking me why I was buying kimonos as it was such a difficult piece to wear! Difficult? At all! It is a very versatile piece, quite easy to wear, with almost everything, both dressed-up and dressed-down. I answered that it was so easy to wear that I could also wear it at the office! They were not convinced so I accepted the challenge and once I came back home I prepared this easy look to wear at the office. No need to say that they admitted my victory!

No jokes, the outfit was simple yet stylish for the office, I just wore something very “smart” (an handmade white shirt and black Dixie culottes) and put my pale blue kimono instead of a boring blazer! That’s all! I added a tiny vintage belt that I bought in a lovely vintage shop in Osaka and, as I like it to push it a little bit I paired with golden accessories: a pair of Dune London golden ankle boots, brass earrings and ring from Metalica Creazioni.

My colleagues were impressed and they loved the outfit, what do you think? Would you wear it at work?

The Ladybug’s golden shine!

Last summer during the very last days of seasonal sales (usually during the same days of my birthday!) I decided to treat myself with a last birthday present (the biggest one being my trip to Senegal!): a pair of amazing pointy golden boots from Dune London with killer heels at a super reduced price!

I was a bit scared because I read many different opinions on these shoes but when I received them and started using them regularly I was very satisfied with my new babies!

They for sure look good but they are also super comfortable as I can wear them all day without having my feet sore. Some people complained about the material (also on my Instagram) and the fact that the zips broke very easily but at the moment I am pretty satisfied and I used them quite a lot.

I also like the fact that I can wear them during summer or winter, night and day, causal and dressed up, they fit every outfit and they add a glowing touch that I like a lot.

This time I wore them casual (…very casual!) with an oversize clear blue shirt from Topshop (another summer bargain at the very end of the seasonal sales!) and a pair of skinny black jeans from Acne Studios.

Another golden touch: my adored Fulani earrings from Africaialha on Etsy.

The Ladybug on how to wear a vintage piece for a summer walk

Let’s be honest, when we are on holiday we just want to relax, at least that’s what I look for! Once I land, I stop using make-up, watches, and other things that I feel useless during my holidays. I just bring a few clothing pieces and even less accessories just to make sure that my suitcase is light enough to make me feel light too! Fresh, simple and casual pieces are in my luggage, one pair of shoes other than my flip-flops and just a few pairs of earrings: that’s all that I wear when I’m not wearing a bikini or a sarong!

But well, I am still a vintage lover and I can’t help putting a vintage piece in my holiday suitcase.

This time I brought a vintage embroidered cotton blouse, easy to wear and super fresh and I used it for a lovely walk with a friend of mine among the palms and pink houses of my hometown and  I just couldn’t help taking pictures!

I wore my candid white blouse with peach chino pants from Please, leopard print slippers from Dune London and Michael Kors bucket bag.

I added my new Max&Co sunnies (my colleagues’ present for my birthday!) and a pair of statement African handmade earrings that I bought during a fair. They also matched perfectly the beautiful pink walls!

The Ladybug and the forbidden apple in Milan

Most of my outfit posts starts exactly like this: during a walk, an aperitif, a dinner or any other event, if I see something that I like or a nice place for a little shooting, I ask poor people who are with me to take pictures of me. I don’t prepare them in advance, because I like for them to be spontaneous and to reveal the real way I wear my daily outfits.

This is what happened for this one too. It was an hot Sunday afternoon in Milan and I was enjoying a walk and a cold beer with a friend in Parco Sempione when I saw – again – the famous Apple created by Michelangelo Pistoletto especially for Expo 2015. The 8-meter apple completely covered by grass and reintegrated with the famous missing piece with a metallic stitch, represents the possible connection between nature and artifice and was already exposed in Piazza Duomo in May. I was surprised to see it here again and it inspired me an outfit post!

That day I wore suede shorts from Topshop (from a few seasons ago) and a simple white tee from Cos. I added my animal print espadrilles from Dune London, an handmade necklace that I bought last summer in a Singapore market and a vintage 70’s leather bag with metal handle from Cavalli e Nastri in Milan.

The Ladybug is a Photogenic Lovebug in Verona: Visiting the Gordon Parks Photography Expo

There are really a few cities in Italy that have a magic sound to me: cities I go to because I am a victim of their enchanting sound and atmosphere.

One of these cities is Verona. Maybe it’s because of the romantic aura of the place, maybe the beauty along the river, or the arena, the amazing food… maybe all of this, but now that I’m not too far from it- I try to get there as often as I can.

I was in a sort of abstinence from Verona, so when I read that Gordon Parks’ photography expo “An American Story” was showing there, I decided to go and have a look (also because I missed it when it was in Milan last year). The expo was AMAZING: I am in love with Parks’ work and it was very well displayed and curated… definitely an expo to see if it happens not far from you.

Of course I also took some time for shopping (at Lazzari, of course), eating  some of the town’s deliciousness and hanging around like a tourist!

Here are some of the pictures that I took there! I am wearing a Zara floral shirt and orange mini skirt that I paired with a vintage ’70s tangerine handbag that I bought in a vintage shop in Florence a few years ago.

I added my new favorite pair of espadrilles, animal printed and soft leather from Dune London.

My frames, also vintage, are from L’Opposto: a find from Reggio Emilia vintage fair last year.