Hula

Can I dedicate an entire post to one outfit? Of course I can! Look at this outfit! Ooof, I'm in love. That pull over is such a thing of beauty. It's made of hula skirt plastic & mohair - how rad is that!? Sadly it's long gone & I'm sure cost a pretty penny, but if I ever stumble across it I'll be in trouble. Not to mention that adorable little bucket hat, sleek grey jeans & crisp white bag. This feels like the perfect outfit for a grey like today.

via Simple Lovely & Maryam Nassir Zadeh

Minimal Mies

One of my favorite places in Barcelona was the Mies van der Rohe pavilion. On a grey afternoon it looks just perfect. In 1928 the pavilion was commissioned to represent Germany in the upcoming 1929 International Exposition (a.k.a. The World's Fair). The hope was that the space would give "voice to the spirit of a new era" during the recovery period after World War I; that it would embody a new "democratic, culturally progressive, prospering and thoroughly pacifist" Germany. Sure, this is a rather heady goal for architecture, but somehow, that calm is perfectly encapsulated. 

sunglasses: vintage // sweater: Old Navy // t-shirt: F21 // jeans: Massimo Dutti* // boots: Aldo // jewelry: all vintage

The space is completely open seamlessly blending indoors and out. Such a cool concept.

In addition to acting as a beacon for the "new" post-war Germany, the pavilion was constructed to house simple,  purpose driven furniture. Cool, crisp lines, bright white marble and dramatic red drapes are the perfect environment for the now iconic Barcelona chair. Now these Bauhaus beauties can be spotted all over the place and are still sold today by Knoll. If only I could snag afford one of these babes!

Never intended to be a permanent fixture, the original building was torn down in 1930. Thankfully, this gem of Modern architecture was resurrected by a group Spanish architects and rebuild according to original plans in the mid '80s. Such a gem.

*BTW, have you guys heard of this shop Massimo Dutti!? I guess everyone across the pond has discovered this gem, but it was completely new to me. It's kind of like Zara's cooler big sister. Think perfect buttery leather jackets, tailored trousers, soft sweaters .. ack! It's pretty great! Rumor has it we're getting one stateside (in NYC) later this year.

Rainy day.

A rainy day in exploring the neo-Gothic Barcelona Cathedral. The moody weather offset the cathedral just perfectly.

Versailles

Paris Packing

Two weeks abroad and only a 20" carry-on back to hold all my duds - conundrum, big time. With 40 minutes between flights and a mandate to pick up and re-check bags (damn you Canada layovers!) that hefty suitcase was instantly nixed. So I really had to flex (ok, strain) my editing muscles. And unlike Austin, it's still a tad chilly in Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam so some cozy space eating sweaters are a must. Big boxy numbers are kind of my jam, so this J. Crew babe is definitely coming with. A lighter cropped sweater will make for nice layering over gauzy t shirts (double points for sleepwear!). Some beat up boyfriend jeans are obviously a must. I like the idea of them with some polished leopard loafers for a bit of a twist. Those leopard babes will team up with just about everything - how about some power clashing with those floral trousers (granted mine are some Corey Lynn Calter's I snagged on sale at Anthro months ago). Leather jacket, jean jacket, ankle booties, a few more bits .. BAM done! And all crammed into one tiny, tiny suitcase.

These pieces are going to be my true work horses. Heavy lifting required, booties - though sadly mine are not the coveted Dickers, but half price Aldo will do just the same. Something about a white blazer seemed very spring-in-Paris so my vintage one got thrown in last minute (not that Gucci dude up there) along with some magenta suede brogues I finally tracked down at the Gap (seen on Jules here) for a pop of color. Let's hope my duds make it through the abuse.

Stripes and Spots

Glasses: Lookmatic // Necklace: Olive + Ernie // Top: H&M // Rings: vintage // Bracelet: Forever 21 // Trousers: Lilka via Anthropologie // Shoes: Faryl Robin

What a weekend! Korean BBQ. Karaoke. Surprise parties. Swimming. Backyard grilling. Mad Men premiere (complete with martinis, of course)! Yesterday afternoon was spent lazing around the house and grilling in the backyard. Granted, heels aren't the most practical for cooking out but I had to throw on something a tad fancy for Don.

Paris Practice

Glasses: Lookmatic // Jewelry: vintage // Sweater: Urban Outfitters // Tee: Forever 21 //  Trousers: Target // Boots: Aldo

I can't believe that this time next week I'll be somewhere over the Atlantic en route to Paris! I've never been so when the hubby & I saw cheap tickets we pulled the trigger. I can't wait for a week of impeccable bread, pistachio macaroons, briney oysters, dreamy flea markets, aimless wandering ... you get the picture. Dreams come true.

Ordinarily when prepping for a trip I'd grab all my wildest outfits; brights, platforms, crazy prints, y'know, fun stuff, but Parisian girls have such a restrained perfected look. They have an innate knack for making basics look so chic and edgy. These slouchy khakis grabbed my eye when I was wandering Target this afternoon grabbing tiny Dr. Bronner's, travel toothpaste and the like for the trip. They looked effortless, a bit chic and, to me, very Parisian. Let's hope I'm right.