In general, I dressed pretty casually while we were in Europe. As much as I’d love to be one of those bloggers twirling in a couture gown in the Palais Royal, that’s not realistic for my current lifestyle, or our vacation style. It’s more moto boots than Manolos. That said, we planned a few fancier outings, working on our Michelin star collection, and I was excited to take the opportunity to dress up and swan around.
My mom is a couture seamstress, and in weak imitation, I’ve been trying to teach myself to sew. Inspired by Degas’ ballerinas, I got a bee in my bonnet about the perfect shade of blush, and went to town with my sewing machine. I really should have just bought it rather than DIY, considering the literal blood, sweat, tears, and wine it took me to turn a dozen yards of tulle and a few more of silk into clothing. And frankly, don’t look too closely, as it’s a bit janky in places, but everyone has to start somewhere.
Even the fancies needed to work within my travel capsule wardrobe (working on organizing that post for y’all), so I paired the ballerina skirt with my chambray oxford. My black wool cape was the perfect topper when the chilly breeze blew. I only took one pair of heels to Europe, choosing these suede t-straps for their neutral versatility, surprising comfort, and walkability on cobblestone streets.
I loved this comfortable yet ladylike look, and it’s so fun to wear something you made with your own hands. With all the elements being repeatable, it was the perfect outfit for a vacation date night, and I couldn’t help feeling like una princesa.
Shein cape | Old Navy chambray | similar skirts | VIctoria’s Secret suede heels | Kate Spade glitterbug clutch
loveRavayna
