One Dress, Two Ways: A Slip of a Thing

I am awful at packing for summer holidays. I am terribly indecisive, and therefore always end up with about ten dresses too many. This year, for example, my Amalfi coast kit consists of fifteen dresses, even after two meticulous edits. 

That being said, I am learning to be a smart summertime shopper, buying pieces that will work both home and away. Sure, I love a sweeping grecian gown as much as the next girl, but try wearing said maxi in Victoria station during rush hour. You may fall down the stairs, lose a stud on your sandals and split your toenail. Not speaking from experience or anything...

A smarter option this summer is the slip dress; a foolproof summer staple. Classic, elegant and comfortable, my pick is this Whistles Nell style in silky french navy. Falling just on the knee ('cause I'm classy like that), the spaghetti strap dress skims the hips with a slightly dipped hem, making it particularly flattering for boyish frames. The colour is a welcome change from black, and the simplicity of the dress makes it perfect for work or play. 

Holiday Wardrobe: Monterey Bay

Our last stop in California was Monterey. While I did enjoy myself, it must be said that Monterey reminds me a little too much of home. How so? It’s cold. SO cold.

We stayed in an ocean-facing suite in the InterContinental and were able to enjoy a few days of relaxation before embarking across the country to New York.

Our time in Monterey was charming, of course, but the highlight had to be the famous Monterey Aquarium. It has otters, hammerheads, jellyfish, turtles – you name it, they have it. I mean, they even had Dory and Nemo swimming together… I still don’t get how it took anyone so long to find him- his signature look is rather eccentric.

Following our morning of marine mania, we headed out along the 17 Mile Drive towards Carmel. Carmel is a pretty little town with incredible boutique stores and some glorious galleries and stylish spots to eat- it is far more to my tastes than Monterey.

En route, we made a stop at Roy’s at Pebble Beach. Based on Hawaiian cuisine with a strong Asian influence, the menu at Roy’s was too good to resist. My father and sister opted for teriyaki chicken Bento Boxes while my mother had Mahi Mahi soft tacos and I had a vibrant sashimi selection.

WHAT I WORE:

When in Carmel, I had my first real look around a J Crew store and I was rather impressed. Gleaming statement necklaces, chic staple dresses and lots of basics: it’s little wonder that J Crew is making waves internationally.

While I did have my eye on a white t-shirt with a golden pineapple print, the store did not have any in stock (they have it on sale here if you want to race me to it?), so I settled for a fine-knit cornflower blue sweatshirt, a striped fit-and-flare ponte dress and a dazzling crystal necklace.

For dinner that evening I was ever so tempted to wear my new dress, but instead opted for the weather-appropriate option in my new J Crew sweater paired with a neoprene floral skirt from Zara (sold out but this Oasis one is an equally lovely print and a more forgiving fit) and my jewelled anklet pumps, also by Zara.*

*try a low-cute nude leather ballet pump with a couple of antique-inspired anklets. 

SIMILAR STYLES: 

Holiday Wardrobe: Blue Blooms

My last evening at the Solage resort by Calistoga was a very sad one indeed. Can I just move there, please?

No more lounging by the crystal clear pool, no more Mojito scented mud wraps and no more tranquil morning yoga classes. Oh, to be back there!

For our final evening at Solage, we decided to dine in their Michelin starred SolBar restaurant.

I must admit that from day one I had doubts about SolBar and it's Michelin star status. Despite only sampling breakfast and bar snacks in the restaurant, I couldn't quite fathom that such a relaxed dining spot could have attained a coveted Michelin star.

However, I stand corrected, as SolBar does have a Michelin star and once I tasted the food I understood why. The atmosphere is unpretentious, a rarity in fine dining establishments, and the cuisine is artfully considered and carefully balanced.

The menu was split in two with one side featuring virtuous, lighter dishes and the other featuring hearty but refined American classics. I opted for two lighter courses with a pancetta wrapped Sardine for starter and a glorious steamed halibut filled served with almond butter and golden raisins as an entree.

If you are in the area I really would recommend a dinner here.

WHAT I WORE:

I picked up this Zara dress ages before my holiday and almost forgot to take it with me! It is sold out now, but you can find a similar silky style here. I wore it with a Zara floral jacket (I love this cute Topshop version which will be much better suited to A/W) and my staple Zara heels (sold out but these Kurt Geiger ones are even nicer... Damn.)

I paired it with some drop earrings I picked up in St Helena, but I am afraid I cannot remember the name of the store. I actually bought them as they reminded me of these lovely Isharya ones.

 SIMILAR STYLES:

Holiday Wardrobe: Little Black Playsuit

While I am a more than prone to a little black dress (or eight, at last count), this Max & Co playsuit is the one little black number that has truly stood the test of time.

In silky smooth crepe de chine, this simple draped black playsuit is universally flattering.  It falls to the mid-thigh, ideal for work or evening, and the loose fit is perfect for skimming over the odd food baby.

I picked up this style in Siena a couple of years ago, and am still wearing it regularly. It is wonderfully versatile and very well made. You can find a similar black playsuit here, and this cross back Missguided one is a slightly sexier take.

This holiday outfit was my option for dinner at Calistoga's Jole restaurant. Jole was the one restaurant I was particularly looking forward to, having been told to expect a menu similar to Nu in Girona (the best restaurant I have been to in a good while- find out more here). Unfortunately I was disappointed.

In fairness the food was well suited to me, given the smaller portion sizes, but my family were not overly impressed.

Given that I can't remember what I ordered, and that I didn't even attempt to instagram it, suggests that the meal was pretty forgettable.

For this so-so dinner I wore the playsuit with my favourite Zara two-tone heels (these Kurt Geiger ones are just as gorgeous- in either nude or white), an & Other Stories cuff and carried my Mulberry mini Alexa- the perfect size for evenings. 

Holiday Wardrobe: Sonoma Dining

Firstly may I excuse (again) my lack of blog posts over the past few days. The last leg of our USA holiday was in New York city and- as you can imagine- I was really in my element. So much so that I hardly touched my laptop.

I also hardly touched my emails- sorry, folks!

Anyway, I shall rewind a little and share with you some more outfits from the glorious Sonoma in Napa.

As I previously mentioned, we stayed at The Lodge at Sonoma. For our second evening meal we took a trip out to the delectable El Dorado Kitchen in the town. 

El Dorado is a hotel by the main square in Sonoma and the "farm-driven" restaurant is renowned among locals for it's sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere. We visited on a delicate balmy evening, perfect for sitting outside in their pretty patio garden. 

A rather chic dining spot, this slightly experimental kitchen offers contemporary Californian fare with the most seasonal ingredients. I tucked into a vibrant Ahi tuna tartar. The chopped tartar sat proudly atop a salad of sweet asian pears, avocado and coriander with a light soy dressing. The true gem, though, was the powerful wasabi tobiko which crowned the dish. 

For main I took the plunge and ordered the dreamy Petaluma Duck Breast & Confit. This rich dish was served pink with spring onion purée, earthy endive and turnip and sharp local cherries. Though i'm not much of a pasta fan, I really was taken aback by the accompanying chickpea tortellini. A million miles away from mushy hummus, fresh chickpeas are more like broad beans and made for the perfect filling for these little pasta pillows. 

Finally I was able to crack out my little floral Zara sundress. A bright jade green floral with a dipped hem, this loose strappy dress is an easy-breezy piece for holidays. It is rather low-cut with long straps, but I pinned it at the back to stop any indecent exposure over dinner!

The dress has now sold out, but I love this bright pink camisole dress with strappy back from Topshop. In fact, had I seen it before my holiday, I would probably have purchased it for New York. Such a gorgeous lipstick pink shade and a universally flattering fit. 

I paired my flirty dress with my futuristic Zara sandals in white patent (sold out but I love these and these stunning studded sandals) and golden accents.