I did all my shopping before I left; it’s just too expensive to shop in Europe. Nevertheless, in this photo-driven world that we live in, it was important for me to look the part while in Europe. I wanted each of my outfits to be reflections of my personal style and the countries I was visiting. To start, I researched the traditional and/or stereotypical looks of each country. I then tried my best to imitate:
When I think of…
- London, I think preppy, I needed a trench coat
- Paris, I think romance, I needed a beret, soft colored outfits and black
- Venice, I think nautical, I needed stripes like the Gondola guys
- Rome, I think of a historical metropolis, I was thinking something along the line of gaudy Donatella Versace
- Barcelona, I think excitement and liveliness, I needed bright colors
- Amsterdam, I think Kydee all the way…Boho-hipster
For fashion inspiration, I resorted to magazines that illustrated European influenced styles, specifically Harper Bazaar magazine and clipped out tons of photos that fit the looks I was going for. Now I needed to shop:
- Thrift Shopping: Thrifting was the best. I got a lot of European styled skirts and shoes that set the tone for some of my looks
- The Fashion District: The garment/fashion district in NYC was my go-to spot for D.I.Y projects. I was attempting a tutu skirt and tassels on my heels
- Zara: If you know me, then you know that my favorite store since I was 15-years old has always been Zara. I found some really cute things including leopard pants that were expensive ($70) but cute.
- Forever 21 + H&M: I got a lot of accessories, leggings, shirts, and sweaters from these stores. I also got my walking shoes.
- Banana Republic: I found my trench coat and blazers here…perfect for the conservative looks.
Ky’s Style Tips:
- Take pictures of your outfits before you pack them. It’s great for memory and keeping track of what you are actually taking
- No pictures? No problem…just use an excel document or the reminders app on your iPhone as a checklist
Travel By Ky 