ADIDAS

I hate to have to admit this... but my Italian journey is rapidly coming to an end. Before I depart I have been going through a mental checklist of all the things I want to do in Florence and places I want to re visit before heading back to the states.

 I am definitely going to miss the convenience of hoping on a train or plane to go explore a new city or country only an hour or two away from home. Along with the fact that it is socially acceptable to casually drink some Tuscan wine or sip on Aperol Spritz all day long (my weakness) once you try one I swear you will understand lol.

 While walking around the city on one of my last days here I decided to wear this knit Adidas olive green dress that I got from a cute streetwear shop in Verona. I paired the dress with my new all white Adidas falcon sneakers. Similar to all the other sneakers on the market right now, the falcons are chunky dad sneakers but aren't over the top chunky like a lot of the ones I have seen lately. Lastly I spiced the look up with my YSL crossbody bag, which I haven't taken off since I got it for my birthday a few weeks ago.

 Even though I am sad to be leaving Italy so soon, I know I will be back in the near future. I am thankful for the insane life changing experience I have had while living here and all the amazing people I have met along the way.

Shop the look:
- Adidas dress
- Adidas falcons

Ciao for now, 

Jordan

OH WE TALKIN' BUSINESS?

  It's no secret that women are on the rise of taking over the world. Doing so in a posh pant suit makes it that much more empowering. The rage of the women's suit didn't just happen over night... the modern women's pantsuit originates from the 1920's when women were first stepping foot into the work force. The pantsuit arguably became more prominent in the 1980's when blazers with exaggerated shoulder pads for women were being spotted in every office setting. There was a time where clothing defined how you were portrayed as a person of power and to some extent that still exists, with boundaries of course. Today we are able to express ourselves through dress being able to be seen and taken more seriously when we stand apart from the norm. Women now choose to wear pant suits not to be taken more seriously in the workplace next to men but to now empower eachother, making us manifest becoming the boss bitches we are meant to be.

  Despite the rise of the pant suit in past eras, now more than ever the pantsuit has made a comeback.  We are now seeing the pantsuit worn in multiple settings whether it be in the office, at a meeting, on the runway or street style.  Pictured below I am rocking a dark grey double breasted blazer from Zara with matching tapered cropped pants. Paired with a light pink Off-White belt and black Public Desire booties.

Xo, Jordan

Shop the look:
 - Zara pant suit 
  -  Off White belt (similar colors)
  -  Public Desire sock booties 

ANIMAL PRINT

  I know I have been completely M.I.A lately but a lot has been going on! But I'm back and ready to fill you all in!

 First I did a little bit of traveling to Verona and Mantua, two of favorite little cities in Italy. After returning back to Florence I have been occupied with school work seeing how my final projects are all due the first week of December! Crazy to think that my four months here are almost up! They flew by way too quick.

  More recently last week I was out with friends and after leaving was walking to meet another friend. All of the sudden I realized I was being followed, naturally I changed directions and pulled out my phone to make a phone call so I could ward off the person following me. Before I could do anything the person came up to me and snatched my phone out of my hand. I tried running after them to get it but I knew it was safer to find the police and let them handle it. Fast forward 5 days and here I am with no phone. I honestly never thought I would be able to go this long without a phone but I am interestingly enough grateful for this happening. I have been more present, gotten more work done and am finding myself appreciating my surroundings more than getting stuck on social media for hours upon hours.

 With all that said, I recently did a collaboration with Motel Rocks. I have never ordered from them before this but saw that trusted brands like Revolve and Urban Outfitters also carry the brand. They are a brand that carries some killer everyday and party pieces to add to your wardrobe. I have been really into the animal print trend recently so I knew I needed this Kepsibelle Leopard Skater Dress. If you like this dress go and check out their website! They are always having sales and the prices are super affordable and good quality too!!

Ciao for now,
Jordan 

Shop the look:
- Motel Rocks Dress
- Jadon Dr. Martens

PARIS

  I have always dreamed of going to Paris and this weekend that became a reality! I hopped on a short 2 hour flight from Florence to Paris with some friends, for a quick weekend trip. Not nearly enough time to explore the whole city but I got to see some of the largest attractions in the world like the Mona Lisa at the Lourve, The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, the French Statue of liberty and the Notre Dame.

  One thing I could of better prepared for was the weather! Florence is a lot warmer than Paris is right now but luckily I brought my faux fur jacket which helped. I also wish I brought a pair of sneakers because it is tons of walking and ubering.

Here is one of my favorite Paris looks!

Xo, Jordan

Shop the look:
Beret: HM
Coat: Cupcakes and Cashmere (same brand, similar)
Boots: Stuart Weitzman

FIORUCCI

  Other than getting an outfit shoot in, more importantly todays agenda included searching for the perfect pasta dish! I happened to find a delicious vegan pasta with vegetables option paired with a Italian mojito!

  Since moving to Italy, I have been amazed at the amount of different shooting locations there are. Every corner is different and so unique, perfect backdrops for outfit pics! Being in Italy, I thought it was only right to sport one of my favorite Italian designers, Fiorucci! Dating back in time to 1967 FIorucci was first founded in Milan, Italy. One of the first designers of the area to become known for London and American classics, Jeans, T-shirts and Sweatshirts like the one I am wearing! Their clothing is so effortlessly chic and not to mention so soft and comfortable! I paired the cropped sweater with my favorite I.AM.GIA pants that literally go with everything. I also decided to break out a pair of my favorite booties that haven't got much use while I've been here. The roads here are practically all cobble stone which doesn't typically go well with a bold heel lol. 

 Hope everyone has a good week!!

XO, Jordan

  Shop the look:

 - Fiorucci crop sweatshirt

  - Lack of Colors hat 

  - I.AM.GIA Cobain pants

  - Tony Bianco booties

NETWORKING 101

Lazy days in bed always get me thinking.. and today happened to be about networking.  Networking is not only exchanging information from one business person to another but it more importantly opens doors for you that you may of never come across in your daily routine. In this post I'm going to break down the pros of networking, properly presenting yourself through social media and how business cards will change your life.

First... lets start with the PROS: 
- Generates exposure for you and your business or personal brand
- Can lead to down the line business partners or collaborations with brands 
- Become recognized and influential in your industry
- Helps form and maintain a strong contact base 
- Meeting like minded people in the industry who you could potentially collaborate with or just support each others vision 
- Learning tips from people who have experience in the industry  

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING WITH BUSINESS CARDS:

1. Never leave home without them.
 I won't lie... this is where I struggle. I always try to keep a few in my wallet or at least I always think they are there but when I go looking to give them out they are suddenly missing! You never know who you will run into on the streets so to be safe always keep a few on you at all times. 

2. Sell yourself right.
 You may be excited when they first come in and want to hand them out to everyone you see, which is understandable. Stop yourself and pick the right people to hand them out to, people who could provide connections for you or someone who is genuinely interested in checking your website or business out. 

3. Returning the favor.
  Making connections with someone is a two way agreement. They help you out, and in return you try your best to help them out as well. Always remember to ask if the person you are connecting with has a card as well. If not, get information about their business endeavors. 

4. Choosing the right design for your business card.
  Keep it simple, clean and appealing to the eye. For a blogger I think the most important pieces to include are on one side a picture or two of your work so people are able to see what you look like, how you present yourself and so they can grasp your style. On the other side obviously the most important thing is the name you brand yourself with and below your social media handles, email and website. 

  Including social media is definitely important but if it is not up to date with your website I wouldn't include it. You should make sure both your website and social media outlets are coherent with each other so the person looking at them can easily see that you are serious about your work and keep up to date with creating content. 

 Overall, networking can only better your career. It leads to new opportunities, connections, success and building business relationships which will all only help you in the long run. I purchased my first batch of 300 at Zazzle. This website was extremely easy to navigate and gives you the freedom to design your cards exactly how you want them.

GOLDEN HOUR ROOF CHRONICLES

  As I'm sure you are all aware... animal print is in high demand this season and when I found this Cupcakes & Cashmere faux fur jacket I knew I couldn't pass it up! Since the jacket is long enough I wore it as a dress with my blush Off White industrial belt around the waist and Stuart Weitzman black knee highs on my feet.

  For this shoot I had a little bit more fun in finding a location. For my fashion photography class we had an assignment of coming up with editorial shots, so my friend who is amazing with the camera (@s.a.n.t.i) came up with these amazing shots! This class is really something I enjoy because not only is my teacher the head photographer for Vivienne Westwood and has also worked with icons like Marc Jacobs and Victoria Beckham. It is also is a class that I am excited to learn about because it will be beneficial for me in taking my blog to the next level once I am able to apply all of the tricks and tips I am learning about the camera and shoots.

Shop the look: 
- Same brand (similar jacket)
- Thin retro sunnies

I hope you all find some fall inspiration from this outfit! 

Xo, Jordan

 

POP OF COLOR

  In between visiting museums today I ran home to grab an outfit I have been wanting to shoot and went on a hunt for the perfect location. I stumbled upon this cool street art graffiti that I thought matched well with my jacket!

  This Opening Ceremony jacket is my new obsession. I love track jackets and when I found this one with this unique blue and yellow color combo, I knew I needed to get it. I was able to find it on sale for a good price from Nordstrom. Unfortunately it is currently available from Nordstrom.

  Another thing that I have been into recently is the whole biker short wave. I got a pair for cheap from Fashion Nova that fit perfectly and feel so comfortable on. They are perfect for walking around Italy all day long! Since it has been so hot here, I decided to pair the biker shorts with a black sports bra under the jacket.

 On another note, I can't believe I started this blog one year ago this month! Fashion blogging has been a creative outlet for me. It allows me to test boundaries, innovate new looks and always keeps me on my A game for coming up with visually creative ideas for shoots, creating images that tell a story without using words. I can't wait to see what the future with fashion blogging holds for me and hope you all have enjoyed following along so far!!

Xo, Jordan

STREET WEAR

  I have had my eye of the Off White industrial belt for quite some time but never could decide on which color I wanted. After popping into some stores across the river today I saw this blush pink one and immediately fell in love. I love how versatile this belt is! You can dress it up with a black blazer dress and tie it at the waist or for a street style vibe, you can put it over a oversized tee like I did here to show your figure off a little bit more.

  So I'm sure you've all seen your favorite style icons rocking a pair of biker shorts. I decided to grab a pair from Fashion Nova and they are actually so comfortable and easy to throw on with an oversized tee like this Nirvana one from Urban Outfitters. I have also been dying to style them with a black sports bra and oversized track jacket.

  Can we talk about this hair style though!!! I was worried moving to Florence that I would have trouble finding the right salon, and one that spoke some English too. Contrasto Aveda Salon is amazing. I have been going weekly to get an amazing blowout, and a dope braided hair style like the one below! The crazy thing is that haircare is so much cheaper over in Italy. 20 Euro for a blow out, sign me up. I will never get used to the no tipping rule here though, so I naturally usually throw in a few extra euros.

Hope you enjoyed this street style fit!

Xo, Jordan

 
Shop the look:
- Off-White belt
- Nirvana Tee
- Biker Shorts

MOTO JACKETS

  Moto Jackets are by far my favorite fall/winter piece. Stylish. Warm. Versatile. Moto jackets cover it all. This one I was unable to find a specific link to, probably because I have had it for years, but it is from the brand Belle Vere. You can really find a Moto jacket at any store these days. If you are looking to do a little shopping splurge, I would definitely suggest investing in a Moto jacket! They last for years.. I'm not exaggerating and will also never ever go out of style since they are a classic!

  I paired my Moto jacket with a pair of Redone Levi's, my go to pair of denim. Always. This Lack Of Colors hat is my favorite hat I own. The color is perfect for any hair color and also it is perfect for those days where you didn't have time to fully do your hair... that was me today lol.

XO, Jordan

Similar Moto Jackets:
- Topshop moto 
- BLANKNYC moto
- ALL SAINTS moto

CINQUE TERRE

  This past weekend I visited three of the most beautiful little towns in Cinque Terre. Manarola, Riomaggiore and the cutest beach town, Monterosso. Fun fact!! Pesto originated here in Northern Italy so naturally I had to stop at the famous pesto pizza shop to have a taste.

 The ride was about 2 hours away from Florence. Even though I had to wake up at 5am, the breathtaking views made up for it. The middle of September in Italy is stifling!! While packing, I didn't really think it would be this hot, so I brought more of my fall wardrobe. Such a mistake lol but a good excuse for some shopping!

  I stayed as cool as possible in this floral print Brandy Melville wrap dress which was easy to throw my bathing suit on under for some tanning! I paired the dress with my go to Nike Jester sneakers, perfect for walking around all day.

 The little Opening Ceremony backpack is perfect for carrying everything you need for a day trip. I was able to fit my portable charger, camera, wallet and a few little things like lip gloss and gum in this tiny little thing.

Shop the look:
- Opening Ceremony Backpack
- Brandy Melville Robbie Dress

Xo, Jordan