First, I just wanted to share my little recipe for an all black summer look. But then, as you can see, the look turned out to be not only an all-black-for-summer outfit option but a style hack for looking chic and smart while you’re actually 200 percent casual. Think beach glam and the city. Finally, I wanted to tell you about two of my favourite green spots in London, perfect for weekends.
The look and the style hack
So, the basic piece is a strappy swing dress, loose and long enough to feel totally comfortable. I layered it with a cotton tank top. Yes, spaghetti strap dresses have a way of exposing too much around the armholes, the front or the back. The sandals are of the sporty kind but I picked mine in black patent leather with a T-bar that makes you look almost smart. Summer hats are a great way to elevate a casual summer look, I can only recommend them. Here I’m wearing a black straw hat with a tiny military touch. I paired it all with oversized feminine shades and a smart bag. Don’t forget the nail polish – for me, minimal is the best: dark choc only 🙂
A lifestyle choice
Sometimes, it’s the best thing ever to spend a beautiful summer day outside. However, hitting the greens when the weather is nice is something I only do in London. True, the City Park in Budapest is amazing but in London, the list of what you can do and the number of places you can visit is practically endless. I never get tired of it – I just found myself outdoors until it became part of my lifestyle.
I’m not quite the one for hiking or outdoor sports, but one just can’t not appreciate London’s best green spots. One of my favourites are Regent’s Park. Visit the zoo, take a boat down the canal or simply walk by the water, then ‘accidentally’ end up in Camden Town. Another fave is Hampstead Heath. Here, instead of passing out in the grass like normal people, just keep on (which passes for hillside hiking, for that matter) until you reach Spaniards Inn.
Spaniards is a genius of a place, by the way, a must visit if I find myself in Hampstead. I love a good ancient pub with its different rooms and cute little corners in any season. However, this beauty boasts an incredible back garden, an amazing shaded summer spot where you can have dinner, try all the ales or just sip on Pimms until life slows down and you realise this is the most perfect moment ever. Yep, I have had that feeling a few times, a rare thing too, and the last time it happened, well, it happened right here. Why are the best moments always connected to summer? Let me know if you have an answer to that 🙂
xx Gabriella
dress: Topshop
sandals: Clarks
sunglasses: Topshop
hat: Urban Outfitters
bag: I Am
