My FAVORITE trouser for Traveling Light

24 Apr 2015


I've been practicing/attempting this whole 'travel light' mantra for over a year and a half now, and I've come to notice that one article of clothing is always first in my bag...


No, no, no. Unfortunately, this is not a sponsored post—god, I wish it was. I would actually know that I've done something with my life if I were writing sponsored posts for J Crew... Moving on! I've had these trousers for probably 4+ years now, and they still are my GO-TO trouser, so I figured I would share why I never go on holiday without them!

#1: T H E  M A G I C  I S  I N  T H E  F A B R I C .
These trousers are constructed with a 'ponte knit' fabric (spandex, nylon and rayon) which allows you the comfort of leggings while not sacrificing on style. Ponte fabrics hold their shape well, so you can wear them several days in a row and they won't stretch out. PLUS the spandex allows for a certain amount of "give" so you can truly enjoy your holiday and still easily move around! win, win!

#2: T H E   C O L O R   I S  C R I S P .
I've had my pair for over four years and I haven't noticed any significant color fading. They are fairly thick—thicker than leggings—so the deep black color continues to look chic even after 100s of washes.



#3: T H E Y   L O O K  G R E A T  W I T H  A N Y  S H O E !
Sneakers, flats of all kind, heels/wedges, booties, boots... The options are endless. I love the length—how they are slightly cropped—I think it adds an extra little something! Plus, they are the perfect length for booties, so there isn't too much scrunching at the bottom.

#4: Y O U  C A N  D R E S S  T H E M   U P  O R  D O W N .
These trousers are soft and comfortable, but also slightly stiff, so you can easily transition them from daytime to nighttime. Throw on a spicy heel, a blouse and some red lipstick to be ready for a night out on the town, or throw on a pair of trainers, a comfy jumper and your sunnies to run your daily errands... The choice is yours!



#5: Y O U  D O N ' T   H A V E  T O   C O V E R   Y O U R   C R O T C H  O R  B U M !
Okay.. I am super weird about this, so let me explain. 9 times out of 10, if I am wearing cotton leggings, I'm wearing a longer shirt or tunic to cover my crotch, bum or both. Cotton leggings are just not forgiving down there, and I'm always super self-conscious. Is the fabric is see-through? Or saggy, or too tight? The good thing is about these trousers is that with the thicker, stiffer fabric, you're less likely to accentuate every. single. crevasse of your body and you can rest easy knowing that you don't look over-exposed! HOLLA!

»»»

I hope you enjoyed this post! As you can see I am a pretty big fan of these trousers, and ponte fabric in general, so you will likely be hearing more on the subject in a future post!

*All photos were taken from JCrew.com either from their website or via Google Images or Pinterest.

Inside the winding streets of Courmayeur, Italy

12 Apr 2015


















I wish we had been able to spend more time inside the tiny picturesque town of Courmayeur, Italy, but after a half day of skiing AND lugging all our ski gear off the mountain and back to the bus stop, we were pretty well spent.

We did meander around a bit, but only long enough to realize that these winding rustic streets have a lot more to offer than meets the eye! Apaaarrrentlyyy, the word on the street is that this charming alpine village has somewhat of a wild side (aka happening nightlife.) I have zero proof on this matter—so don't quote me on this!—but if you happen to meet her wild side, do report back and tell! :)

We snuck across the border to ski the Italian Alps

9 Apr 2015


























JK JK JK! INSERT: crying-eyes-laughing-emoticon.

Actually, we just bought a bus ticket like everyone else and were chauffeured there. whomp whoooomp!
Losers, I know.

Courmayeur, Italy is a 45 minute bus ride from Chamonix, and it's really easy to book your ticket ahead online. I would reallyyy suggest heading over to this mountain. Even though we left Courmayeur to our last ski day—because we thought it had the hardest runs—we ended up doing our best skiing there! AKA: not falling as often! :)

Unlike a lot of the mountains in the Chamonix valley, there are several restaurants and rental places ON TOP of the mountain, so you can spend the entire day up there without having to leave the slopes. And I'm talking like real authentic Italian restaurants with delicious pizza, pasta to satisfy your cravings and carb-loading, NOT just snack bars with baguettes and beers.

Not that I'm complaining!

If you're looking for more intermediate runs, this mountain is your guy! You won't be disappointed!

Insane views from the Aiguille du Midi 3842m

7 Apr 2015






































The views from the Aiguille du Midi were breathtaking. Both figuratively and literally. At 3842m (approx. 12,500 ft), you get insane panoramic views of the Italian, Swiss and French Alps, an up-close and personal visit with the Alps tallest mountain, Mont Blanc and a bird-eye view of Chamonix valley.

I've never been one to say that I have a fear of heights—it's never really been my thing—but I definitely struggled/had a mini panic attack stepping out onto the exposed platform of the Aiguille du Midi. It was just sooooo open! After taking a few deep breaths, I pulled it together and I ended up really enjoying myself up there. I think it just took my body a little bit of time to get used to the altitude, but I was definitely holding on to the railing tighter than I normally would!
© TEAM STARNES. Design: Maira Gall.