Stripes• Summer

{ Summer Tan: Boatneck sweater, Striped shorts & Lace-up wedges }

June 7, 2016

I’m taking a day’s break from the last of my Parisian posts to share a casual look from the other weekend. I’ve been all about neutral outfits lately, and this summer ensemble is no exception.I like to invest more in shoes and handbags than clothing, and H&M is one of my favorite retailers for affordable fashion: purchased on sale, my sweater and shorts barely totaled $20, and both are well-made pieces (I wear this sweater all the time!) I adore the linen shorts for their cool fabric and comfy drawstring waist (just make sure to size up for a roomy fit like this). I dressed them up here with wedges, but they also look just as good worn with flats.
A little backstory on my wedges: I ordered the same size I usually wear in Stuart Weitzman, but the front strap was a little too narrow, making it difficult for me to get my foot all the way to the end of the shoe. I took them to the cobbler in my neighborhood that I’ve been going to since we moved here, and thankfully, he was able to stretch the leather. When I went to pick them up, they were still on the stretching machine, so I had to take a photo to share–isn’t it funky looking? Every time I go to the cobbler, I feel like I’m stepping back in time because the contraptions used to repair shoes look so old-school. Shoe repair is truly an art, and most cobblers here in Italy learned the trade passed down by their family members. I can’t recommend the importance of a good cobbler enough: mine has saved many a pair of shoes for me and continues to keep my favorites in tiptop shape.
Post-cobbler work, my wedges are now a perfectly comfortable fit (for the cost of only €5!)
As much as I love sweaters, I have a feeling this may be the last time I’ll be wearing one for awhile since it’s starting to heat up here in Rome. Thankfully, it hasn’t been as hot as it already was this time last year, so I’m hoping that means we won’t have another brutal summer!