My FAVORITE trouser for Traveling Light

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!

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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.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide for Her

jcrew plaid vest  //  karl donoghue earmuffs  //  jamie oliver comfort food cookbook  //  h&m chunky-knit tube scarf  //  hunter high heel chelsea boots  //  madewell always turtleneck sweater  //  jo malone lime basil & mandarin home candle  //   jcrew plaid flannel pajamas  //  jcrew passport case

I hope everyone gets what they want this holiday season!

Cheers!

xx, Team Starnes

A Madewell Christmas— My Bratty 2014 X-MAS List

You can find ALLLLLLL of these items on Madewell.com.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am utterly obsessed with J-crew's bad-ass sister store, Madewell. SERIOUSLYYY. EVERY. TIME. I think about the fact that I reside on an island that doesn't have a Madewell, I die a little bit inside, but luckily for me—not my husband—Team Starnes is making a trip home for the holidays and I will soon be reunited with my old friend/"spirit-store."

I love everything about Madewell. The denim, the patterns, the fabrics, specifically the outerwear—it's just so damn cool! I would love to cuddle and hoard every. single. last. piece of their 2014 Fall and Winter collection, but with our upcoming move to Scotland, I am tryinggg to be practical. This year, I am looking for warm, wearable and utilitarian pieces. Obviously, there are many options to choose from, but in order to make this post "blog-friendly", I just chose the first things that jumped out at me. 

Creating this post was easy, but I will certainly have a much harder time making selections in the dressing room... I'm so antsy to see all of my old friends again! And I hope they still remember my name!

#myhusbandisveryscared

14 Pieces that are Essential to my Survival in Scotland

B a c k p a c k— For every day and off-the-road excursions with the hub.

C a s t   I r o n— Is it just me, or does Scotland just scream cast iron cooking?

P l a i d   B u t t o n - d o w n— Plaid on plaid on plaid on plaid on plaid. Got it?

S t r e e t   B i c y c l e— Because driving is hard.

P a r k a— A staple in every UK wardrobe. The "everyday" jacket: both stylish and functional.

C h e l s e a   R a i n b o o t s— Just because it's raining doesn't mean you get to skimp on fashion.

M i t t e n s— You can NEVER go wrong with shearling mittens or gloves. So, so warm! And the 'pop-off mitten top' makes them i-phone friendly! That's the most important thing, right?

t h a t ' s  M Y  m u g— Please don't touch my things.

U m b r e l l a— Correction! A sturdy umbrella. Obviously for the inevitable and torrential downpours that soon await me.

C a s h m e r e   J u m p e r— Isn't this cashmere poncho to die for?! Everyone should invest in this jumper for survival.

W i n t e r   J a c k e t— For the nights when you need to look like a marshmallow to stay warm.

H i k i n g   B o o t s— Perfect for getting out into the woods and exploring.

T r i p o d— Can be used for walking-stick purposes and selfie purposes.
B e a n i e— To keep my ears warm and also hide my three day old hair. #sorrynotsorry.

linked up with the Daily Diaries

9 Fabulous Fall Outerwear Options

1 | double cloth car coat
2 | ultimate leather motorcycle jacket
3 | sterling jacket
4 | draped coat
5 | short trench coat
6 | long flowy studio parka
7 | tokyo rider jacket
8 | poncho coat
9 | city grid coat

linked up with the daily diaries

Travel Light | Rome, Italy

Weather: High 75/ Low 57
Synopsis: Possible rain Saturday and Sunday. Need comfortable clothes and shoes for sightseeing, outfits that abide cathedral guidelines, and maybe a few options for dressier nights.

Channeling Roman Holiday | A Feminine Touch

J Crew hello tee / / Madewell biker jacket / /  Martin Grant long black tulle skirt / /  Zara pointy flat shoes / /  Madewell zip pouch / /  Forever 21 panama hat / /  J.Crew matte finish sunglasses / /  NARS Cosmetics lips makeup /  / Italian Photography; Rome, Cafe photography / / Starfrit Gourmet Double Wall Glass Coffee Mug 12-oz

Our Roman holiday is just over two weeks away and we couldn't be more thrilled to experience Rome with two of our very best friends. I've heard such amazing things about the Eternal City and how it is a magical place, I just can't wait to see it for myself!

Now begins the tedious and exhilarating process of figuring out what to pack! After researching the weather and cathedral guidelines, one thing is for sure, I will be putting a more feminine spin on my Roman attire. Obviously I want to be comfortable, but if Rome is such a magical place, I at least want to do my part to contribute to that image!

So, yes. I will be adding a bit more va va voom to this upcoming travel light series... Now if onlyyyy I could find that black tulle skirt for £2,455 less!

Assembling A Spring Wardrobe: 16 London Essentials

My favorite task is always at the changing of the seasons where I go through my closet with a fine tooth comb and take inventory of what I have and what I don't have for the upcoming season. I personally find this to be very therapeutic and I always get super excited when I'm able to bring an old item back into rotation or find a straggler in the back of the closet that I had forgotten. This is how I get a good visual of what I currently own.

I am a firm believer in a uniform. I rarely deviate from my comfort zone regardless of the season, that's why I am able to re-wear so many pieces year after year. You won't find me going crazy with the bright spring colors or any off-the-wall trends, I like to incorporate "spice" into my wardrobe in the form of accessories.

We are almost halfway through Spring here in London, but the weather has yet to catch up. (That's why I am just now getting around to doing this task.) The above sixteen items are pieces that I currently own. With these staples in my closet, I really only need a few extra pieces to round out my Spring wardrobe. Maybeeee a tea length skirt, a new chambray button-down, a lively scarf, a silk t-shirt? I think that might need to be another post... 

What are your 2014 Spring essentials?

TRAVEL LIGHT TO BARCELONA

via

Weather: High 65/Low 55
Synopsis: Warm Days, Chilly Nights. Pack breathable clothing that can be layered from day to night.

stripes | white button down | grey sweater | cream sweater | white long sleeve | green jacket | leather jacket (similar) | silk jogger pants (similar) | black jeans | boyfriend jeans (similar) | skirt | booties | sneakers | snakeskin flats | cross body purse (similar) | necklace | sunglasses | scarf | scarf | fedora (similar) | beanie (similar) | camera

DAY ONE: Outfits for comfortable travel and sightseeing and a casual dinner.

DAY TWO: Outfits for a full day of sightseeing and a nice dinner.


DAY THREE: A comfortable outfit for an excursion outside the city.



DAY FOUR: A comfortable travel outfit.

COVET CLOSET: HATCH COLLECTION

For a few years now, I have been absolutely, (kind of secretly) obsessed with a particular clothing line due to its Parisian-chic, laid back feel. Though I do not own any pieces from this designer, I love how they have mastered the art of flow and draping, and their silhouettes are perfect for someone like me who is uncomfortable when clothing fits too snugly across her midsection. Well, the fact of the matter is, I'm obsessed with a maternity line. Yes, I said it. And I'm not even pregnant. 

Hi. My name is Alexandra and I'm a closet maternity line stalker. Alright, so before you go all judgey-judgey on me, the premise of the Hatch Collection is that you can wear these pieces before, during and after your pregnancy. And that's exactly how I am going to have to spin it to James because their prices are pretty steep!

With every season that passes by, I wait eagerly to receive my email that the new collection has gone live, and I manically shuffle through all the outfits and dream of one day owning a piece of my own. Am I a lunatic? Not sure yet. I mean these designers know what their doing. Their stuff is amazing! My only saving grace is that I do fall into one of their categories, (Before, obviously) so I guess I'm not that far off to be coveting this line. Maybe I should start collecting now, so I have a super stylish maternity wardrobe for when we do eventually decide to add to the team... What do you think, hunny??! ;-)

The recent weather here in London has everyone's mind on Spring, so here are a few my favorites from the new Spring/Summer 2014 Collection.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |

How effing cool do these "mamas" look?! Can't you see me frolicing around London or Paris in any one of these outfits? I hope I can look that cool when I'm a soon-to-be mama, or hell, even now since I want these outfits on my body immediately!

Alexandra, xoxo

TRAVEL LIGHT TO AMSTERDAM

We are leaving for Amsterdam today and I couldn't be more excited. I wasn't able to focus on anything else this week, so I am sharing my 'travel light' experience with all of you! 

I am new to all of this "traveling light" stuff-- this is coming from someone who would pack for a long weekend in multiple laundry baskets. yeahhhh, not that organized. Traveling light is a constant struggle for me because I am a planner and I like to be ready for anything. All the what-if's kill me-- i.e. What if I only pack one shirt for Friday and a bottle of ketchup explodes all down the front of me?  This could happen people!

James and I are traveling Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, so we will almost have three full days of touring with a couple of dinners in between. For our three day/two night stay in Amsterdam, I packed one dress, two sweaters, one coat, one pair of black jeans, three pairs of shoes*, one cross body bag and a few accessories. 

*I am no longer bringing the rain boots due to the weather's cooperation!

Weekender Bag (Madewell), Fedora (J Crew), Dress (Zara), Sweater (H & M), Jeans (Zara), Purse (Marc Jacobs), Coat (Gap), Scarf (Zara), Black Boots (Madewell), Brown Booties (Urban Outfitters), Watch (Michael Kors), Sunglasses (Madewell)

Extra items not shown: three pairs of socks, bra/undies, pajamas (leggings and long-sleeve t-shirt), extra white long-sleeve shirt and sweatshirt.

Friday Outfit: Travel & Sightseeing 

(easy, comfortable, warm with a hands-free purse for lots of picture-taking!)

Friday Night Outfit: Dinner & Drinks

(lose the fedora?, change shoes and add lipstick for pop of color)

Saturday Outfit: Museums & Sightseeing

(cute, comfortable, warm and transitional enough to wear to dinner)

Sunday Outfit: Sightseeing & Travel

(easy for touring and traveling in comfort)

Everything I packed is easy, comfortable and broken-in, ANDDD the most important aspect is that everything can be mixed and matched. That, my friends, is key to traveling light.

TRAVEL LIGHT TIPS:

• Packing is less stressful if you stick to a uniform or a theme for your trip. All of your clothes should be interchangeable. You want to be able to mix and match everything! This saves you space in your bag and gives you more clothing options.
• Always check the weather forecast the night before or morning of your trip and pack accordingly. (Umbrella, rain boots, etc...)
• Have an idea of your daily activities and pack accordingly. James and I are only planning on one nice dinner and "night-out", and the rest of our time will be spent walking, touring and eating low-key meals. All of my clothes are warm and comfortable for walking and then I will spruce up dinner outfits with fresh hair, accessories and make-up.
• Only pack items that you KNOW you feel comfortable in. I wouldn't suggest packing items that you haven't worn before. If you haven't worn it in your hometown, you probably won't wear it in another city.
• Always check with your hotel to see what complimentary items are in your hotel room. Our room has a blow-dryer, so it's one less bulky item for me to pack.
• Be strategic with your extras items. I packed a pair of black leggings that double as pajama bottoms or back-up pants and two long-sleeved t-shirts that double as pajama tops or back-up tops.
• I live my everyday life wearing a fedora around town, so it's a no-brainer for me to travel with one, but bringing a cute hat or beanie along can save you a lot of time getting ready in the morning and it will free up space in your bag from all the hair products you don't need anymore.
• Don't go overboard with jewelry. Traveling with jewelry is dangerous and it's heavy. Accessorize with lighter items, like a scarf that also doubles as a blanket on the plane.
• Wear your bulkiest items (boots, coat, etc...) on the plane to conserve space in your bag-- plus, your coat will double as a pillow!
• Ladies, leave your duffel bag of makeup at home and narrow it down to just the basics; concealer, mascara, bronzer and lipstick are my most important items.
• Travel size products are a necessity when packing a carry-on bag. Since they are expensive, I am always looking for miscellaneous bottles and containers to use for my products. Contact lens containers and old hand sanitizer bottles are some of my favorite to use.
• Stuff socks and underwear in shoes/boots to conserve space.
• Don't forget your passport!
• Don't forget to pack your converter!

Easy peasy?? I'll let you know in a few days! Hopefully I have everything I need for an enjoyable Amsterdam trip. 

What are your tips, tricks or hacks to traveling light?

See ya later, London! xo

I'm linking up with the Expat Diaries with Postcards from Rachel!

WEEKENDER

I've been on the hunt for a weekender bag for a few years now, but I haven't found the right one to make an investment in. Since our move to the UK, and the likelihood for weekend getaways, the search is back on.

Many of these bags, especially the leather ones, can be particularly pricey so it's important that I make a level-headed decision. I frequently justify purchases to my husband as something being a "lifetime investment." Though he has come to view my justification as very skewed, I think we both can agree that the CPW (cost-per-wear-ratio) on this one will be well worth it! right babe?

This is what I am asking for Christmas, and even though it might take longer than Dec. 25th to find the right one, I am hoping to narrow it down to a couple good options around the beginning of the year. If anyone has any other suggestions of weekender/carry-all/holdall bags, please send me link!

xoxo,

AC

Here are some pictures of bags that I have come across recently.

photo cred: http://de-smitten.com/2013/12/09/december-list/

I came across the above picture of a Rag and Bone Bag on DeSmitten. I think it's pretty perfect except for the fact that the owner got that bag at a sample sale in NYC, it's nowhere to be found on the Internet and it's probably $$$$. sigh.

Madewell

I actually purchased this duffle from Madewell.com while it was on sale for 30% off. I think it could definitely be a winner, but we will have to see when it arrives.

Here are some other options that I've seen around London and online.

left: Brics      right: Longchamp

left: Mulberry      right: Billykirk

left: Frye      right: Paul and Joe

left: Herschel      right: Marc Jacobs