The Mister and I had a night out together this weekend (thanks Grandpa) and we went to a local beer garden with some friends. I’m regularly not a beer drinker, but when in Rome do as the Romans do. Anywho, for the night I sported my favorite new souvenir from our recent trip to California- a t-shirt from Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa, California. While we were in Napa we made a special trip up to Santa Rosa to visit this brewery, which is one of the best in the country. The infamous brews didn’t disappoint, and it wasn’t until we got there that we discovered that the joint’s pizza was equally as good as the beer. Really though, I would go on a trip to Santa Rosa just for another slice. Okay a whole pizza but who’s counting 🙂 .
Some of my absolute favorite pieces in my wardrobe are treasures found on trips, so I’m always on the look out for special items while traveling. What I love about finds like this tourist t-shirt, besides the soft cotton and stellar shade of red, is that every time I wear it it’s more than just a piece of clothing, it’s a memory. Call me sentimental, but this simple t-shirt with a story is more valuable to me than any designer tee could be.
My leather bag here is another example. My mom and I took a trip to Greece a few years ago and I found this bag in a small leather goods shop. It’s a smaller cross body that’s very versatile and not too bulky to carry around, plus the rustic camel leather goes with just about anything. What’s best is that it’s one of a kind and every time I use it I’m taken back to the sights, sounds, and smells of the ancient city and the special time we had there.
Back to the tee, tourist t-shirts are a nice personalized and unique spin on the band t-shirt fad going on right now. I love a good band t-shirt, but if it’s not a band I actually like or a concert I went to the lack of authenticity takes away from the coolness of the shirt. I’m a huge fan of t-shirts and wear them on a regular basis, so there is always space in my wardrobe for new finds like this Pliny the Elder one. When looking for cool new pieces to add on your travels, I recommend going for classic accessories and styles in good quality materials. Pieces that you know you will love forever. Quality is very important because unless you’ll be making a return trip it will be irreplaceable and you want to enjoy it for a long time.
I’ve already delved into my fondness of this sweater blazer in a previous post, so to avoid sounding like a broken record if you’d like to read more about that piece please check out my Black, White, and Cabernet post.
Last but not least, the boots. Ankle boots are a true staple for autumn and winter. I don’t think you can ever have enough black boots (the Mister would disagree,) and this 2-inch block heel filled a void in my collection. I have the flat, Chelsea and high heel boots covered, but was lacking in between. In keeping with the Five Ways Motherhood has Improved my Style, my 3+ inch heel boots won’t be getting much wear anytime soon and I needed something with a lower heel that would be comfortable for nights out. This style is perfect for dressing up denim, or dressing down a cocktail dress or mini skirt. The block heel gets an A+ in comfort. More stable for walking (and dancing) which is especially helpful with cocktail in hand. I originally wanted these boots in a punchy shade of red, but they sold out before I could blink so I decided on the black. In the end, I think it worked out for the better because I will get loads more wear out of the black. So if you’re in the market for a new pair of ankle boots, On the Double highly recommends a 2-3 inch block heel always in black or maybe a snake print if your feeling spicy 😉 .