When I look through my archives I occasionally notice some funny little occurrences. Such as this dress; I nearly always seem to wear it on overcast, miserable days. The first time I wore it out it rained and rained. The second time I wore it was on a dreary day in spring when the weather felt more like winter. Is this dress provoking terrible weather?

I am loving so many pieces from Ruby's A/W 2011 collection and the styling for the lookbook is topnotch as well. The collection draws inspiration from the the 1960s, but the color palette and ease of the separates is thoroughly modern. The mix of soft and hard elements in the styling is especially appealing; so much inspiration for fall dressing although we're just beginning summer here!images c/o Ruby

On our second day in Barcelona, my friend and I took a little, Gothic walking tour of the city. It was really marvelous to follow around someone who knew the history of the city in depth and we learned quite a bit as we wandered down the narrow cobbled streets. Our guide also had an eye for the modern and pointed out a little Space Invader mosaic along the way. I like that mix of old and new. I enjoy graffiti on archaic wooden doors; streetart on walls older than the country of my birth...

I promise to not flood the blog with too many tourist-y posts of the sights I enjoyed in Spain and Italy, but this is one building that required prominent placement. Although construction is still underway on the outside, a step across the marble threshold beckons you into an otherworldly setting. No amount of crowds can detract from the sweeping lines and attention to detail showcased from floor to ceiling. We arrived at sunset and the golden light streaming through stain glass windows was magical. I wanted to dance between the columns and spin in the rainbows cast upon the ground, but I did refrain.

I am back from my little Euro-trip. Traveling is definitely one of my number one passions; probably even more than fashion. I'd like to explore at least one new country every year...but we'll see how feasible that plan is as time progresses. This was my first visit to Spain (which was fantastic) and my second time to Italy.

So, if you've been stalking me through various channels (Twitter, Facebook, etc), then you know I'm in Europe! I can't recall a single blogging break I've taken since I began in 2007 (who takes a break from what began as a hobby anyway?), but it's official for one week I will not blog...Instead I will have guest bloggers! I've asked a few of my favorite ladies to share their style here while I'm away eating gelato. I hope you enjoy their posts and I will certainly be sharing my adventures when I return stateside.

I recently ventured forth from my moat of solitude to find some spring foliage. The beach is a lovely place, but there is definitely a lack of color there. Thankfully, a Botanical Garden isn't too far and we made the trip just in time to see the last of the azaleas before they wilted away in the heat. The flowers were quite lovely and it was nice to have a change of scenery. With everything I do online I don't venture out often lately. I do spend time outdoors, but it's usually within walking distance of my home. Soon I will be going on an even greater adventure...

I received an e-mail from AY Not Dead awhile back and lookbook is fantastic. I really enjoy the way they've updated certain basics and the styling of each outfit makes the looks pop even more. I mean how fantastic does a stripe tee look with a leopard collar and lips brooch? The overall dress is probably my favorite piece; so demure and even expected from the front, but a unique and edgy back. I don't usually like overalls, but I want that dress!
all by AY Not Dead