3 Italian Fashion Brands You Need To Know

Happy Sunday!! I hope you're having a great weekend so far! My week has been super busy, lots of things going on, especially the classes and the studying has been a lot. I still have to find a good routine that works for me, to balance my free time a little bit. But I'm happy it's still weekend because they always pass by so quickly haha. Today I would love to share some Italian fashion brands that you need to know, or maybe have heard of them once but forget about them. I love the fashion in Italy and also in France, the style is very different from here in Holland. I would say more sophisticated and classic. Let's get right to it!

Manfredi Manara

If you want to feel and look like a real princess or queen than this shoe brand is a perfect choice! I absolutely love all the shoe designs! They are really feminine and classic and make a simple pair of jeans or a simple skirt complete. The shoes are of course handmade and detailed with embellishments. I think the fine details make the shoes romantic, especially because the designer uses velvet and satin in almost every shoe design. Manfredi launched his first shoe line in the Spring/Summer of 2017 with great success. He now collaborates with other shoe brands and lives and works in Milan. My favorite pair of shoes would be the pair on the left above, with the red velvet and soft pink bow. They are really cute, also very expensive, but if you save long enough it's worth it! 

Fracomina

This is a very old brand with a long history. It first started in 1931 as a textile distribution company, and many years later it evolved into a fast-fashion business. What I really like about thsi brand, is that the products are unique, not the typical clothes you can find anywhere. The items are all carefully made and the details make the difference. The aim of Fracomina is to design clothes that affordable as well as stylish. Their clothes are classic, with a touch of an international influences. The clothes are casual as well as chic, so with the right accesories you can even wear your outfit to work or a more formal event. I love the jeans of Fracomina, especially with the flower details and the ankle length models are cute! 

ViCOLO

Out of the three brands, this is probably my favorite! How cute is the sweater with ciao bello?! The brand has a lot of praticle wardrobe staples for coming autumn and winter. I also love the checked skirt with the beige sweater combined and the light brown coat. Even the ciao bello sweater looks cute in combination with it. The brand is perfect if you don't like to be ordinary, but like to mix different style and love bolder patterns for a trendy look. They have clothes for any occassion, from a party, to a gala to easy casual outfits to wear during the week.

Thank you very much for reading my post! I hope you enjoyed it! There are still so many cool new Italian brands out there, too much to write them all down. 

What is your favorite Italian fashion brand at the moment?

Have a lovely day,

Isabella ❤

Hollister Workout Outfit Inspiration

Can you believe it's actually September?! How crazy does that sound! Sometimes time does fly by too fast for me. I'm proud because I survived my first week at Uni. Today I would love to share an outfit post here on my blog. Hollister has always been one of my favorite brands. For cute summer dresses, handy t-shirts, basically anything that's classic and casual. My style did change a bit over the years, and I do buy less at Hollister now because most of the clothes are with big logos. Sometimes I feel like the brand has a lot of the same things every season. But it's still my go-to store for jeans and for fitness wear. Now that summer is almost over, it's the perfect excuse to start looking and to go on a shopping trip for new activewear. I always feel more motivated to sport and also more confident when I'm wearing a new outfit aha. 


Hollister Outfit
Recently I told myself when I'm shopping to buy something as a whole, like a complete outfit so it doesn't stay in my closet forever because I have nothing to combine it with. Now that I'm thinking, I really need to reorganize my closet anyway, because half of it are summer clothes, and in Holland, the summer is not coming back soon. I went to Hollister and saw this very cute sports top with the legging. It's really handy because it's going to get a bit chillier and long leggings are perfect for that. They are high-waisted and both the top and leggings are in light grey. They are super comfortable because of the stretch too! Really love them, and I combined it with my Asics running shoes, my favorite brand for shoes etc. I like the blocked detailing on the bottom, makes the leggings look cool and casual, and the white stripe on the top.

What is your favorite brand to buy sports clothes?
Have a lovely day,
Isabella❤

Paris in 72 Hours

Recently I've been to Paris for the first time, and I loved it! August is the perfect time to visit the city because all the people who live there are on holidays. There are almost only tourists walking around and just a few Parisians. That makes the city really quiet and nice. Paris is a little bit like in the movies, the architecture is beautiful, everything is very photogenic and you can take a picture in any corner and it still looks good. Grab a cup of tea and get ready for some practical tips and to see what I did in Paris in 72 hours! 

Place Joachim-du-Bellay

I was visiting a friend who is a Parian himself, so I was quite lucky to have the opportunity to stay with him for a couple of days and to have a personal (and a free aha ) tour guide. I stayed in Antony, a suburb in Paris. It's a very quiet neighborhood and I think the perfect place to relax from the busy city and to study as well. A lot of students have a room there because in just 20 minutes you're in the city center. Because I was there just for three days, I did want to do some typical touristy things because it was my first time.

The Eiffel Tower At Night
I absolutely loved all the lights! It's just for 5 minutes that the lights are on, but so worth it. It's very romantic and you can lay in the grass in front of the tower until it starts. I also didn't think that you could come that close to it. Paris is the city of light, you really start to believe it when you're standing there next to it. My friend told me that if you're planning to go here, don't take the stop that says Tour Eiffel, but one stop by train after. It's much closer and not a lot of people know that.

How cute are those little puppets in the right corner!? ;)

The Sacre Coeur
This is another of those typical tourist places you just have to see once in your life. It's a whole climb upstairs, but so worth it! The view is really pretty, you can see all of Paris, the famous churches, and buildings. To go to this place, you have to exit at Saint-Michel. Then you see a really busy street in front of you and you almost can't miss it. It's a lovely street, with Amorino, ice cream in the shape of a flower and some other shops.

The Louvre Museum
There were a lot of museums I wanted to go to, but it's impossible to visit them all in just three days. The Louvre is, of course, the most famous museum, so I went there on a hunt to find the Mona Lisa aha! After a while, I saw a big crowd and somewhere at the very end, the painting. It's beautiful to see it in real life, not only the Mona Lisa but also other paintings. Next time I want to visit the Rodin and D'Orsay.

Practical Tips
-Download the app called RATP. It's really handy because you can find all kinds of maps on it, including nearby stations. When I was in Paris I often needed to take several trains and metros, so finding out where to go next makes it easier with this app.
-Walk as long as you can. You see much more above the ground and you can always take the metro when you get lost. On your way, you can stop, go to a cute cafe, sit in a park or shop. If you're staying longer in Paris than a long-term pass might be more convenient instead of buying packs. (Navigo Pass)
-Try speaking in French to people first. That makes a much better impression than starting in English right away. Plus French people always great each other, in the shops, the hallway. If you think they are being unfriendly, it can be because you didn't greet them. A simple Bonjour or au revoir does magic.
-Definitely, eat a crêpe in Paris!!
-If you want to experience more of the French culture than August might actually not be a good time for you. Most boulangeries and restaurants will be closed because the people who live there are used to taking a month off in summer.
-Paris has so many cool museums, not just the Louvre. Centre Pompidou is for modern art lovers and Musee Rodin with the beautiful gardens and sculptures. (do it on a sunny day)
-Don't go to a museum or any attraction without skip-the-line tickets. I bought my ticket online and you can go inside directly instead of having to wait at least half an hour.

Paris is a lovely city, in three days I couldn't do all the things I wanted to. I'm definitely going back soon! The city also has many cute shops and little cafes, like the one above. When I'm traveling to a new city, I always want to try to not look like a tourist, but experience the local culture as much as possible. If you want that too than staying for at least one month will help. 

Have you ever been to Paris?
Have a lovely day,

Isabella ❤

Keep Calm And Brush Your Teeth

Dental hygiene is one of the most important things to maintain. Sometimes the importance can be forgotten. I can blame myself for that too. (Oops, I know!) In some countries, people only go to the dentist when they have pain or when something is wrong with a tooth. Prevention is always better than to cure is what I try to remind myself. Going to the dentist just for a check-up is good at least once every year. 

If you're traveling a lot for work, or are a student abroad in the Netherlands or an expat, you can't have the same dentist as back home. It can be quite difficult to maybe find a good dentist in a different country. There is a dentist in Amsterdam called Tandarts Jordaan. I like the location a lot, it's a lively and nice neighborhood and easy to reach.

Tips for choosing the right dentist as an expat

*The first point would be to inform if the dentist speaks in English or can even speak your native language. This is, of course, a must have to avoid any misunderstandings during appointments and treatments. 

*Is there a dental hygienist available? For me, this is also very important that you don't have to go to different places. It's a lot easier when everything is under one roof. And a dental hygienist is definitely essential to healthy teeth. The Tandarts Jordaan in Amsterdam does have a hygienist, which is a big plus! 

*Maybe you're just like me(and lots of other people) and always dread going to the dentist. Just thinking about it gives you chills. This can be because you had bad experiences, or maybe you've heard the experiences of others or the noise during the treatment. In Amsterdam, the team will try their best to listen to your needs and take their time to know how you feel to make you feel at ease. Communication is key! They have a special fear dentist available. 

I think I'll never really be a fan of dentists aha, but having someone who you trust is key to motivate yourself to keep going to the dentist. 

Overall, Dutch dentists follow refresher courses on a regular basis and keep up with the latest. You'll be in good hands in the Netherlands for dental care, it's just that you have to look at a few points to choose the right dentist for you. If you happen to live in Amsterdam than this clinic could maybe be a good option for you! 

Question time - What is your experience with dentists? 

Have a lovely day,

Isabella ❤

Zara Summer Shopping Haul

Zara is one of my favorite brands! The brand always has so many cute things and is actually affordable as well. For me, the clothes don't have to be very expensive. Often after wearing something like a skirt the whole summer, next summer I'm not that into it anymore. Do you recognize that? I feel like this summer I for sure have experienced the sunniest and warm days compared to the past summers. But that means a good excuse to buy more cool clothes aha. I'm currently in Florence and I couldn't come home empty handed of course with so many shops here. I would love to show you the items I bought, let's get comfy and right to it! 

I bought 3 things at the Zara in Florence. I read somewhere that the Zara in Spain and Italy, don't know about other southern countries, that it's about 10% less expensive. And it's true, especially the jeans or t-shirts are cheaper, so that's always a plus! They already have the autumn/winter 2018 collection in store, and maybe you wouldn't think it, but the items are from that collection already. I was looking for a longer skirt for summer, something different than denim skirts. I loved this one! The buttons are really cute, and it's high waisted with an open split in the front in a dark yellow/orange. The split in the front does go quite high, so I prefer to wear it to the beach with a bikini underneath. I combined it with a striped colorful top and has some glitter too. It has the same shade as the skirt and some darker colors. You can also wear this top in combination with a pair of jeans and sneakers. Or you can make it less casual buy wearing heels and other accessories for an outfit to go out. 

This is the second outfit, the same skirt but with a different top. I thought it would be handy to buy 2 tops and 1 skirt. I love that the top is white and the zipper has colorful stones in it, in the color of the skirt. It's perfect for warm summer days, with no sleeves and it's made from really thin fabric. You can also again wear this top on a denim skirt, jeans, shorts. It has a more sporty look and maybe it'll even look good on a pair of sweatpants. 

Thank you for reading today's post! Summer goes by soo fast! It's almost mid-August already. Hope you enjoy your summer and have a nice day! 

Question time - Do you buy new clothes every summer? 

Have a lovely day,

Isabella❤

Tous, A Stylish Spanish Jewellery Brand

And it's almost August! Can you believe that?! Sometimes it feels like I'm living in a movie, because of how fast the time goes. I'm currently in Florence taking Italian classes, just arrived yesterday evening. Florence is one of my favorite cities, it's not too small, not too big and just perfect because everything is walking distance. Before this trip, I went with my family to Valencia, another one of my favorite cities. Everything is so relaxed there and the city is just beautiful. I always go there to the hairdresser Tony & Guy, it's cheaper than in the Netherlands. But also the style and how they cut your hair is different and I like it better. And the two nail polished you see in the picture are from the supermarket called Mercadona, which are super good! But I'll write a full review on that in another post soon. 

I stayed at the Illunion Aqua 4 hotel in Valencia, which basically is above the Aqua 4 shopping mall. Perfect for shopping! You have all kinds of shops there, from the Zara to Calzedonia, to Home decor and beauty stores. I have a high prescription, -5 for my glasses and plus the frame often makes it really expensive. So I tried and went to the local optic store and I came across this pair of glasses from the brand called Tous. I never heard of the brand before, but it's a famous Spanish jewelry brand. The frames they have are all square or round and are really comfortable. I also bought the lenses with it, and I'm super happy because you pay half of what I pay in the Netherlands. And besides that, the frame is just so cutee! Tous also has bags, watches, necklaces and much more things. Some of the things they sell are I think a little bit more for your girls, but you just have to choose the right items. I don't know if they have Tous glasses at the Corte Inglès, the big warehouse. But I'm sure they sell them at every optic store. For the jewelry and other accessories, you can easily find them at the warehouse.

The case for the frame is also cute, in soft pink. I could choose from a variety of colors, blue, green and pink. But, of course, I choose pink to go with the pink/purple frame!  The logo of the brand is a tiny bear, which is also visible on the sides of the frame and on the back of the case. If you're looking for a pair of glasses and for a new brand, than I would definitely recommend Tous.

What is your favorite jewellery brand? ❤

Valencia Travel Diary // Budget-Friendly Places

It's already the third time for me here in Valencia. I love the city a lot! I've never really had that with any city, well, except Florence. It was already the moment we arrived again at the airport that we felt at home here. And knowing the way to your favorite spots helps a lot too. (My sense of direction isn't the best;) Valencia is very photogenic, a lot of colorful buildings and cute cafes are ready for a picture to be taken off. I was afraid it was going to be too hot here, and it is very warm, but doable. Taking a siesta in the afternoon after lunch is the best you can do. I usually prefer going to the beach or really early in the morning or in the evening as the temperature is not too high yet. I'm here with my family for a week, but tomorrow is already my last day here. Sometimes I feel like the time just goes way too fast! But that makes me appreciate the moments here even more. 

Paella At The Beach 
Rice isn't my favorite food, but I heard so many good things about the paella here in Valencia that I couldn't just go home without having tried it. I searched online for some good restaurants to eat Paella. Oh, and did you know paella is typical Valencia?! Restaurante La Pepica at the beach Playa Malvarosa was the place where we ended up eating. The restaurant is specialized in paella and they are super good! There are many different sorts, paella made of seafood, vegetables, lobster and many more. They are all made fresh and are really nice, definitely recommend this place! You also have a relaxing view of the beach. You can order it starting with two persons, or if you want to order just for yourself you can choose the complete menu but it's more expensive. The neighborhood is El Cabanyal, you don't have a lot of supermarkets and bars there. So if you want to eat something good and affordable, the best thing you can do is to go towards the beach or to a shopping mall.

Hotel Near Ciutat De Las Sciences 
The first time we were in Valencia we stayed at Hotel Neptuno, a hotel on the beach and really lovely.  This time we choose the hotel called Aqua Illunion 4, a 4-star hotel very close to the famous Ciutat de las Sciences.  If your room is at the right side than you can actually see the parc from your window. I definitely want to go back to this hotel next time, because of the location. You're kind of halfway, around 5 min by taxi to the beach and 10 min to the historical center and the famous town Rusafa. The staff is very friendly and the hotel is above the shopping mall Aqua. If you love shopping then this hotel is at the perfect spot for you. Also, you can find here supermarkets, restaurants and basically everything you need at walking distance. We often go to the Mercadona, this supermarket has a big beauty section(I lovee the gel nail polish) and it's budget-friendly.

A Yummy Breakfast
There are so many places to go to for a nice meal or breakfast. Pans and Company is a restaurant and cafe which you can find at the beach of Malvarosa or in the historical center. I ate with my family, we are with three, in total for under ten euros. You can get croissants, toast, muffins, fruit and many more things. I've never eaten such a delicious croissant as here, compared to in Holland. I usually choose an integral croissant with a cup of tea or fresh orange juice for breakfast. Trying to eat healthily! You can also have lunch or dinner here. They have different kinds of toats and baguettes and small menu's.

Ciutat Vella is the part of Valencia is love the most! It's the oldest part of the city and you can find everything from Theatre's to bars, to typical local Spanish shops and the Mercat Central. (Huge market hall) Famous squares are the Placa del Ayuntamiento, Placa de la Reina, and Placa Rodonda.


Have you ever been to Valencia? ❤

Collistar Profumo Di Benessere Body Aromatic Water Review

Collistar is one of my favorite beauty brands. The brand always has good products and I especially love their nailpolish a lot! But I need to stop buying them, I have way too many already...  Now that it's summer, we don't need that much makeup as during winter. Just some mascara and lipgloss is most of the time enough. While walking in my neighborhood, I came across this body aromatic water. It's a refreshing body oil and I think is perfect to use after a day in the sun to take care of your skin. 

The last time I body a shimmering body oil with a light self-tanning. But this time I wanted to try out a different type of body product. The beauty product is called Collistar Profumo Di Benessere aromatic water. It's from the line Benessere, all with oils and aromatic plant extracts. It sounds like something they use at a spa and when you use it definitely also feels like that. With the right products you can create a relaxing at home spa. 

The product contains pure and natural oil extracts from the ginseng and gingko biloba together with the oils that make your skin feel super soft. It hydrates and also tones your skin a little bit. When I use it it does make you feel relaxed and I love the scent! You know, sometimes you try products and the scent is way too overwhelming, but this is very refreshing and not to over the top. Both men and women can use it. The scent lasts for around a few hours. 

It's very easy to apply the body oil. You just have to spray it over your body or apply it on your temples or wrists to get the full effect. The packiging from Collistar always looks luxury and expensive. I bought it for €28,95 for 100 ml. Overall, if you're looking for a good body oil or something that refreshes and takes care of your skin, than the one from Collistar is really good! I don't really have anything bad to say about it. I'm happy I tried it and every time I come out of the shower, the next step in my routine is to use a body oil. 

Have you ever tried a product from Collistar? 

Have a lovely day,

Isabella ❤