Roman Holiday: Lori Packs for Italy

OK. It's really more like "Milano Holiday," but that just didn't have quite the same ring to it. Lori left for Milan for the fall buying shows. We helped pack her bags with some of our favorite spring shoes and accessories. Below are the outfits we put together after raiding Ms. Andre's capacious closet. We wanted day and night looks, and shoes that could maneuver between the two to save on space. We built some crisp, structured looks and more casual-chic soft and flowing outfits. The result, we hope, is a suitcase of versatile pieces that can mix and match to meet the occasion.

Shoes: Pour La Victoire Irina • wristlet clutch by Deux Lux • Rebel Designs cuff

Shoes: Boutique 9 Ildra • bag: Christopher Kon 645 in Blue

Shoes: Pour La Victoire Irina • bag: High Fashion 4106 in black • Chain Cuff

Boots: Boutique 9 Jarn • bag: Christopher Kon 645 in blue • spring scarf

Booties: Boutique 9 Bacchus • bag: Latico • assorted bangles

Shoes: Pour La Victoire Irina • clutch: Whiting & Davis 4078

Shoes:Jeffrey Campbell Ripple • bag: Latico • assorted metal cuffs

Report from Padova

A Brief Stop in Padova on the Way to the Milan Shoe Shows.

As Lori travels toward Milan and the shoe shows, she sent us an update from a sojourn in Padova.

"Right now in Padova vintage is happening. Vintage gym shoes, vintage clothing ... the more worn out, the better. The styles seem pretty young and aggressive. Lines like Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren are popular here, as well as Guess.

"I am seeing a lot of oxfords on heels and boots – all sorts of boots. We are dead on with the styles that they are showing in the stores in Florence. Janet & Janet and Vic Matie have a strong presence here. Milan will be a different story. Milan tends to be more high fashion and extremely trendy. I will be interested to see what they are showing. My guess is yet more gladiators with ornamentation and styles similar to the Laura Brandon [tall, foldover gladiators] style from last year.

"Buona notte,
L"

Save Some For Us: One of Lori's many new dishes.

Report from Fiesole

Overlooking Fiesole outside of Firenze in Tuscany.

Lori has been reporting from Italy where – in addition to shopping the trends, learning Italian and apprenticing in local kitchens to perfect her Mediterranean cooking – she will be walking the Milan footwear shows to track down the next wave of trends. Herewith, her report from Tuscany:

"Well, I have to be honest and tell you that I am enjoying my experience in Florence immensely. I have been studying Italian every morning for four hours – total immersion. When I am not studying, I am cooking at the restaurant. I normally get home around 7:00 PM and hang with my friends, study Italian and then finally lay my head down about 1:00 AM in the morning.

"Yesterday I took a stroll around the Duomo and saw a lot of the same styles that we carry. They even held over styles from last year like the man-tailored looks. They are showing a lot of short cowboy and oxfords on heels. In terms of the natives, they are just returning from Ferragosto and you don't see many of them around. (It has been nearly 95 degrees everyday so no one is wearing fall.)

"I am staying in a sweat box. No fans here and obviously no A/C so I don't want to hear anyone complain when the air conditioning isn't working for a day!!!!"

Being on-trend with our Italian counterparts during a big fall season? A/C or not, no complaints here. :-)