Spring Shopping Diary: Three Countries, One Week

When I sat down to write this morning something felt off. Writing never feels like a chore and having the space and time on a Sunday morning after an annoyingly busy work week is something I crave. And yet I couldn’t seem to get settled in. This led to a jaunt to the tacky fast food emporium across the street from my house and now here I am with large McDonald’s iced coffee and not one, but two donuts, and the words are free flowing. Does this happen to anyone else?

When I last left you, I had documented an embarrassingly excessive pre-travel shopping haul and today we pick up in the charming coastal town of St Andrews, Scotland. When we dropped off Daughter 3 in September she was a bundle of nerves and uncertainty (as were we!) and we were laser focused on finding necessities for her like a shower caddy and wellies. This left no time for Actual Shopping so it was thrilling to be back. Also, she has not worn rain boots a single time, inexplicably preferring to tromp through daily rain puddles in her Adidas.

In St Andrews, I was delighted by two darling retail boutiques: Spoiled Life and Oliver Bonas. The former is a charming cafe at the front and even more charming boutique in the back and down the stairs. They have a small but beautifully curated selection of UK brands like Damson Madder and Toast and the two standout items during our visit were these Purplish/Brown (very Ring 3) ALOHAS flats and this Silfen bag. I left both behind since I knew I would want to buy every little thing in Italy and France but I’m still thinking about the flats. The latter, Oliver Bonas, is so cheeky and distinctly British. Colors and patterns and the most adorable knits you’ve ever seen! Not my style per se, but a lovely and happy shop I will visit every time I’m in town.

On the vintage front, there were hospital/charity shops around every corner. Daughter Three picked up a few cashmere sweaters which are always in season in Scotland but other than that, the vintage was lacking which was FINE. There was so much more to come.

On the cocktails and dining front, we had the coziest, most delicious meals at The Criterion Pub and The Adamson, lovely cocktails at the Bow Butts Bar at the Seaton House and several rounds of late night cider and card games at the Dunvegan. I ❤️ you St Andrews!!!!

And then we were off to Italy at the crack of dawn via bus, plane, and train.

Things started off badly in Edinburgh when Stupid Ryan Air forced me to check my Brand New To Me aluminum Carry On which was ridiculous to the tune of sixty pounds. I was furious, but what can you do when you are boarding a plane in another country on an airline without status. Plus one does not want to act like an Unhinged Airline Passenger in this day and age. I pledged to write a strongly worded letter.

The passport control line in Rome was From Hell (damn you Brexit) but once we arrived at the lovely (!!!!!) Hotel Santa Maria in Rome, all was well. We ditched our waxed canvas coats and soaked up the sunny 70 degree spring weather and sprinted to the Trastevere shops. Our first stop was SeryMoon vintage which was a tiny, super high end designer vintage boutique with frilly feminine Valentino, Versace, Dior, etc. etc. etc. and one teeny tiny dressing room.

Prices were high and we left empty handed. Lovely though. Not even ten steps away on the same street, Via Vittoria, we stumbled into Lesley Luxury Vintage which was filled to the brim with well priced Things I Love. The merchandise condition was hit or miss but the price was reflective and fair and I tried on a million things. Balenciaga, Prada, Hermes, yes yes yes! I left with a quilted coat (unbranded), Soeur flats, Hollywood Trading Company (made in Italy) and studded brogues (and I don’t even like brogues, but maybe I do now).

After a quick refueling with spritzes and charcuterie, we made our way to a pop up market of vintage/artisan vendors (it perhaps called Alcazar? I was so overstimulated I did not take pictures) where Daughter 3 picked up her own quilted coat and I scooped up a vintage 70’s eel skin clutch (divine). I left behind an incredible Jim Morrison vintage concert tee and this is your REMINDER TO BUY THE VINTAGE WHEN YOU SEE IT.

The next morning we got up early and shopped the Porta Portese Market until we had to (literally) run for our train to Viterbo. This flea market was a vintage shopper’s dream come true!!! Rows and rows and stalls and stalls and piles and piles of t-shirts, Levi’s, bags, sunglasses, tablecloths, did I mention Levi’s, and so on. Daughter 3 was hellbent on finding Levi’s which proved impossible because we were not dressed to do flea market public try-ons (rookie mistake) and I was looking for t-shirts. Imagine my surprise, therefore, to be waist deep in a pile of mostly t-shirts and to pull out A PRADA DRESS!!!!

I thought I was hallucinating but allora, it was indeed a Prada dress at the bottom of the pile.

Other purchases included sunglasses, a dozen or so scarves, and some silky nightgowns that may or may not be able to be day gowns this summer. Thank you Trastevere for a magical shopping experience. I am breathless just writing this.

• David Sedaris is married! How chic to keep it a secret. Listen, I get it. Just saying the word, “my husband,” gives me the ick. It’s like saying “my Mercedes,” and if could just say “my boyfriend” I would be much happier. More about my parasocial relationship with David Sedaris here.

• Speaking of words that make me shudder, I cannot handle the word “gal.” It’s in the same family with “slacks” and “pampering.” My favorite word of all time is “frankly” because something good always comes after it.

• Speaking of that person to whom I am married, we had a spat about toilet paper usage yesterday. I stomped down to the basement demanding to know why I am seemingly the only person in the house who is capable of replacing the toilet paper.

  I was shocked to be told, “You use more toilet paper than anyone I’ve ever known so that’s why it’s always you.”

  This set me off. “You’re, like, keeping track of how much toilet paper I use? What is the appropriate amount of toilet paper if we are rationing???”

  “Two squares,” said my better half.

  Later in the day he mentioned that he had a work trip to Hawaii coming up and did I want to come along. “I’ll be working long hours, so you’ll be on your own a lot.”

  “Even better,” I said in my head.

• My very special essay about My Husband (gah!) that was published awhile back by my hero Jane Pratt.

• Add toilet paper to the list of words to stop saying.

• I finally own a pair of Belgian Loafers! I’ve wanted to try them for years and I have been worried about buying them resale because the sizing is so complicated. I decided to go for it on these well priced cuties on TRR and they are so cute. I like the idea of wearing them with the vintage Levi’s I sourced in Paris that I will be featuring in the continuation of the European shopping series.

• Speaking of TRR, wouldn’t you know that three days after I gave up on my year long search for Jamie Haller jean shorts and bought a (very good) alt, the Jamie Haller shorts appeared on TRR. It’s like the universe is reminding me to be a Patient Polly, which I am not. I’ll share a review soon. They look cute with the Belgian loafers obvi.

• I tried on all the Tibi summer I could get my hands on this week at my local boutique. I will be sharing try-ons soon. There were hits and misses.

• I was so honored to be included in Xue’s piece that included so many writers/creators that I deeply admire.

• I am a such a fangirl of Outfit Notes. Molly has so much style. I want to copy all of her looks!

  Thanks for reading!