Playing dress up in Las Vegas

Hi Friends,

I’m freshly returned from a long weekend in Las Vegas, and I’m excited to tell you all about, specifically, what I wore!

I’m certainly not a fashion influencer, but I’ve always loved an opportunity to dress up. I still remember packing dresses for vacation as a kid, only to wear them to Olive Garden because that was our most special night out.

In addition to growing up with unlimited breadsticks and salad, my sisters and I were lucky to have a bountiful dress-up trunk filled with old dance costumes and even a few vintage pieces from my grandma. There’s definitely a version of me, in another timeline, who became a costume designer.

But in this timeline, I’m still playing dress up, and I love the idea that travel gives us permission to try things we might never wear at home. So, fueled by my childlike love of costumes, here’s what I wore and what I did. Most of my outfits came from my Rent the Runway subscription, and I’ll link everything else that I can.

🌈 Look 1: Wizard of Oz at Sphere

The assignment I took most seriously. 🫡

After weeks of deliberating over whether to dress like Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, one of the witches, an Emerald City resident, or the rainbow, I finally landed on the Yellow Brick Road.

I paired this beautiful gold dress with red sneakers and the most fabulous bag embroidered with poppies for one more Wizard of Oz wink.

🥞 Look 2: Brunch at Sadelle’s

This must have been a subconscious decision because I’d been to Sadelle’s before, but I somehow ended up dressing to match the restaurant.

Lots of robin’s egg blue, stripes, and greenery gave it a Palm Beach feel, like you could head straight to the pool afterward (which I absolutely did not do because it was 110 degrees).

I wore these flowy pants, this white camisole, and these sandals (which I’ve had for years and can confirm are incredibly comfortable). The poppy bag matched just enough, so she came along too.

🍝 Look 3: Jimmy’s Birthday Dinner at Carbone

This Rent the Runway dress pushed the edges of my comfort zone, but it matched the glamorous Italian vibes of Carbone perfectly.

I paired it with this necklace, those trusty sandals again, and gave the poppy bag another evening out.

🫖 Look 4: Afternoon Tea at Peacock Alley

I’ve held onto this Rent the Runway dress for a couple of months now and will probably keep it through the summer. It’s lightweight, easy to dress up or down, and I love the silhouette.

✨ Look 5: Birthday Dinner at Spago

I joked on Instagram that this Rent the Runway dress was basically the creative brief for my 43rd year: Fun, comfortable, fabulous, and unapologetically dynamic.

I paired it with this bag and those same beloved sandals, which I loved so much that I recently bought another pair in black.

☀️ Look 6: Out and About in Las Vegas

This top from Rent the Runway is something I rented several times last summer, and I love that it’s one of those pieces that can either stand out or blend in.

I paired it with jeans (which I actually purchased from Rent the Runway last year. One of the perks is that you can buy pieces secondhand at a discount), my trusty black crossbody bag, and those same sandals.

To break up all the neutrals, I added this multicolored necklace, which is the same style as the brown one I wore with my Carbone outfit.

I know that getting dressed can be a headache. It can be expensive, it can make you feel bad about yourself, and some days it can feel like one more thing to figure out. But it can also be a wonderful form of creative expression!

And speaking of dressing joyfully, your Italian Girl Summer Companion, a guide filled with inspiration for embracing a slower, more beautiful season, is officially published and available as a download for paid subscribers! If you’ve ever dreamed of channeling your inner movie heroine while eating pasta and pretending you’re on the Amalfi Coast, I think you’ll have a lot of fun with it. 🇮🇹✨ Find your download in this post after subscribing below!

When we recognize what brings us the most joy, we invite more of it into our lives. Here are five things that made me happy this week. Share yours below!

Here are a few more things we enjoyed during our week in Las Vegas:

1. On our first night, we popped into a cozy Mexican restaurant called Amaya in the Cosmopolitan just in time to watch the Knicks come back and win Game 4.

2. I have to give a special mention to my husband’s Wizard of Oz outfit, a look I affectionately described as “If Professor Marvel was hot.”

3. Looking for a daytime activity on Friday, we ended up at the Titanic exhibit in the Luxor. I can’t tell you how moved I was by the experience. We talked about it for the rest of the trip!

4. June is a big birthday month in our family, and my dad and I actually share a birthday. Even though we couldn’t celebrate together, we enjoyed a special FaceTime catch-up on Saturday morning.

5. At my birthday dinner overlooking the Bellagio fountains, they played one of my favorite songs, Luck Be a Lady, and shot off fireworks. Thank you, Las Vegas, can you please come to every birthday dinner?

Whether it’s a giant leap, a tiny to-do list item, a habit change, or something else, there is power in accountability, and this is a safe space to share your aim. Some weeks, we’ll fail, others, we’ll soar, but with support, we’ll always keep going together.

Until next week, get out there and make something beautiful.

Michelle

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If you’d like to keep hanging out, you can also find me:
🍿 Talking movies, food, and nostalgia on Film to Table
📼 Getting playful with memory and pop culture on Play Me a Memory
📷 Sharing bits of everyday inspiration on Instagram

And if this newsletter made you smile, think, or feel a little more like yourself, passing it along is always appreciated!

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