Well, my stylish readers, I'm finally back in the USA! We got back earlier this week, and I can I just saw how awful my jet lag was?! I feel like I'm just now back to normal.
I truly loved our trip--I loved the rich history of every place we visited, the historic architecture, and the culture. I'm sure you want to hear everything, and I'm planning on sharing pictures from each city in due time. Also, upcoming posts will include what I packed, and outfit posts from the trip! But today, I'd just like to keep it simple and share five style & fashion lessons that I learned in Europe.
1. Less is more when it comes to makeup. At least in the places we visited, I did not encounter many people sporting a ton of fake-looking makeup, unlike what you'd find here in the States. I picked up on this, and stuck to the simple routine of just CC cream, eyebrow gel, mascara, and a little bronzer on a daily basis. And I loved it!
2. Comfort matters when it comes to shoes. The Germans are truly my people, and not just because I have German heritage! Just a couple days into the trip, I developed a little Achilles Tendonitis on my heel, so we made a point to find me some comfy shoes without backs (all the shoes I brought had backs/back straps, which was exacerbating the problem!). I settled on a wonderful pair of sandals I found in a great shoe store in Wurzberg, Germany, which were so comfy yet stylish! Every pair of shoes in the stores we passed all throughout Germany managed to blend style with comfort, something I think the majority of shoes sold in the States are lacking. I have always been of the mindset that feet need to be taken care of, and with a high arch I always go for comfort.
The Germans know what's up!
3. Pops of color add interest to neutrals. Across the board, I noticed that many locals were sporting a base of mostly neutrals, but with pops of color. It might be the most simple of fashion tricks, but each outfit designed in this way managed to catch my eye!
4. Simple, classic shapes are always a good choice. Aside from occasionally in Paris, the shapes & cut of clothes I saw was very simple and classic in nature. I saw no crop tops, no crazy prints, no outlandish shoes. Both on passer-bys and on the racks in stores, classic shapes were made fun with details, like a simple tank I saw in paris with quilted shoulders. But the simple cuts didn't mean boring outfits--instead, they worked together like a well-oiled machine to exude confidence and class.
5. It's all in the little touches. A great scarf, a classic jean jacket, a structured bag... while inherently simple, these pieces seemed to always pull an outfit together, taking it to the next level.
I can't wait to share the rest of my trip with you!
--Caroline
