3 weeks ago, I indulged a shopping week end in Rome. No places to see. No museum to visit. No opera to attend. No Vatican to tour.  Only shopping for 3 days with my sweetheart. The trip got booked 5 months before at the same time I booked my Sicily get away (I’ll come back to that later).

In my endless lists of stuffs I’d have wanted to come back home with, there were 4 essentials :

1/ Italian boots (I’ll come back to that later as well). 1-ex-aeqo/ Italian biscottis. It’s a kind of very dry and sweet bread. I find some in Paris, but they don’t taste as good. another 1/ My summer sunglasses (yes!). And

Manilla Grace (last top 1 of the list). An Italian label I knew about 4 years ago while visiting Rome with my mom. The label was just one year old at that time. My mom bought one brown cashmere cardigan I’ve got until now. The fabric and the making are of fine quality  that does look better and better as time goes. It’s my warmest knit so far, so I use it all winter long. And I’m still complimented about it.

It’s unfortunate that I find Manila Grace only in Rome. Or maybe not: I am the only one around with this cardigan.

… and other bonuses, not really needed (from what my bank advisor said), but somewhat necessary for everyone who travels Rome: a new Max Mara coat (I am a fan since the first camel classic I offered myself at 20 (my entire summer job wage), pastas (you find so much fun a shape of pastas in Italy), leather goods (belts, a new wallet, gloves, bracelets), and why not some jewels (Italian craft is so different from Paris’).

But let’s talk about Manila Grace.

This time, I brought back home a cotton jacket and one cardigan … only!

At first sight, the cotton jacket looked sporty. I actually picked it it for that purpose: having a nice saturday jacket. It eventually serves right as an addition to any outfit I want to turn more casual whether it’s a strict pant or a girly dress. It’s my Friday favorite at the office eventually. And it adds a touch of elegance to my saturday jeans as well.

First (you see the first pic of the post?) the cotton fabric is heavy and looks luxurious. The zipper is just a bit goldy. That makes it casual chic. The whole jacket is lined with a heavy cotton under the core and a satin something under the sleeves. That makes it look structured, and I guess it’s part of how it looks so great with anything from my closet.

The cardigan is this grey seamless cashmere, all made of the same thread. Unfortunately, the thread was not properly stopped, and I have a hole under my armpit! It gives me a good reason to got to le Marché Saint Pierre, a giant 5-floor fabric and embellishments store in the North of Paris buy some thread and knit material.

The other pieces I liked and tried on are below. I wouldn’t have been on a limited budget, I’d have taken them all. Yet, I needed to make responsible choices (gosh, life’s hard). I picked the pieces above because they were in keeping with my needs.

I eventually hang back this knitwear top on the rack as it was too short on my lower back (I prefer longer shirts to keep it protected from the bitting cold we suffer here in Paris).

This deliciously asymetrical dress had a plissé in the back that made it fit the waist well. But it made me feel as if the dress was pulled back making me feel uncomfortable.

The checked shirt is a great fit with a pairs of jeans.

The large deep V collar sweater was laid back yet sexy. I’d been wearing it without the belt that disturbs the figure in my view. The wool neck, sold together with the sweater, added elegance. Manila Grace has some colorful pattern pieces. Winter collection are seldom that joyful. I like it.

A polka dot dress/ top. A must have for a few seasons now.

Hey! Hey! You can shop online in Italian or in English and get shipped worldwide.

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Author: Gaelle