Somewhere in Northern Italy

After seeing the movie, Call Me By Your Name, I knew I had to visit the town where it was filmed. This mysterious "Somewhere in Northern Italy" is actually the town of Crema. It's just about an hour train ride from Milan and if you're a pop culture fan, like me, definitely worth the trip. It is a small somewhat sleepy town where they close down shops from 3-5 but it's just as beautiful as it appears in the movie. There are people biking around and stopping for an afternoon drink just like Timothee and Armie did that summer. 

    

I was surprised to see that the table where Elio and Oliver stopped for coffee was roped off for pictures, something I found very funny. But also, perfect for finding what a lot of tourists come for. Had I stayed for longer I would have loved renting a bike and exploring more of the countryside, something a lot of locals do. 

Top: Madewell      Skirt: Madewell (Similar)      Bandana: Madewell

I honestly took some inspo from the movie for my outfit. With the flowy cotton button down and summery bandana in my hair, I felt like a true scene out of the movie. 

Crema was a whimsical, summery dream!

xoxo

Hanging with George and Amal

Top: Free People      Skirt: Pull and Bear      Earrings: Madewell

So no, I didn't actually see George and Amal Clooney. However, I did visit Lake Como for the weekend! It's just a short 30 minute train ride away from Milan making it a weekend destination for locals. 

      

I decided to wear this super cute and summery midi skirt from Pull and Bear with my absolute favorite go-to summer basic, this Free People cami. For the feet, I wore my Michael Kors espadrilles from 2 summers ago because I knew I would be walking a lot and wanted to be comfortable. Also, my color scheme seemed to perfectly match Como.

While in Como we had a delicious lunch on the water and then decided to take the Ferry boat tour around the different towns. The nice thing about the ferry is that once you buy your ticket, you can get on and off the boat as you please. We explored all of the different cute towns, of course stopping for gelato along the way. 

      

     

  After exploring the various towns, my friends and I headed back to the main town of Como for Aperitivo. We went to Loft, which had the coolest rooftop bar to enjoy an Aperol Spritz and a buffet of the best Italian foods. It was also only a 15 minute walk from the train station making it super convenient. Writing this has me wishing for warmer weather and lake days!

xoxo

Ciao Milano!

Ciao!

I am back! If you have been following along on Instagram, then you know that for the past 3 months I have been studying abroad in the absolutely amazing Milan, Italy. It has been a whirlwind of a semester exploring the city, traveling around Europe and Italy, and studying all things Fashion and Luxury. With just a few weeks left of this incredible experience I wanted to start sharing some of my favorite moments with you on the blog. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for all things fashion, travel and of course food!

For now, here is a little post about my settling in during my first few days :)

Luggage: Calpak      Passport Cover: Cuyana      Joggers: Athleta

I left from D.C. for my adventure on September 2nd. This was my first time traveling to Europe so I wanted to make sure I would be comfortable (yet stylish) for my plane ride. These joggers from Athleta are literally amazing. They are so soft and comfortable but the slim fit and the mesh tuxedo stripe down the side dress them up. They also have a wide, high waistband making sitting in them (for 9 hours to be precise) ultra comfy. 

Also, how cute is this luggage? I got this rose gold set from Calpak. They have tons of sizes, colors, and textures. I'm obsessed with their black marble set too. The suitcase fits so much and maneuvers so easily. Of course, I had to match my passport with my luggage (and nails)! I got this mega soft leather passport cover from Cuyana. They monogram their leather accessories which is such a cute and personal touch. 

Once I arrived to my apartment in Milan I was blown away! It was so much nicer than I expected a college study abroad program to provide. It's in Brera which is the cutest little area in Milan. Also how great are these massive mirrors? I seriously take an OOTD pic everyday.. 

Jeans: Madewell       Blouse: Madewell (Similar)

So of course everything did not go perfectly. My big suitcase didn't make my connecting flight (cries). You can imagine how upset I was making my first appearance in the fashion capital of the world without my full wardrobe! Luckily, I had packed a few outfits and necessities in my carry on (contacts, underwear, socks, PJs) so I was able to put together 2 days of cute outfits. When traveling abroad I would definitely recommend putting enough to survive in your carry on because I've heard of so many people whose luggage got lost on their trip. Luckily I was only without mine for 2 days and the only major thing I was missing was my makeup. 

I hope you enjoyed this brief catch up! Follow along for more Simply Holly Abroad posts! And of course, follow along on Insta if you don't already!

@simplyhollydaily

xoxo

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

   

Dress: Revolve      Shoes: J.crew (Similar)      Clutch: J.crew (Similar)

This past week I headed into the city to see Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at the Kennedy Center. It was SO incredible. The show had me dancing and clapping along from start to finish. The actors had incredible voices as well as dance moves. I mean they could MOVE. It was such a fun production I wish I could see it again. I've definitely been listening to my fair share of the Temptations since I saw it (talkin' bout my girrrlllll). 

I pulled out this dress by J.O.A from Revolve for a pop of color and dressed it up with some old J.Crew gold and cork wedges (and a matching clutch.. both stolen from my mom hehe). 

It is always such an great evening at the Kennedy Center, feeling extravagant for the night... especially when it is accompanied by such a fantastic show!!

xoxo,

Holly 

Coffee Please

 

I am ALWAYS on the lookout for cool coffee spots so I was super excited when I saw that Joe & the Juice opened in Bethesda, MD. The vibe is so unique with the vintage feels coming from the art and decor (typewriters, old books, etc.). The menu doesn't stop at the yummy coffee but also includes tons of juices, shakes, and small bites (Avo toast, my FAVE!!). 

Bodysuit: Free People     Shorts: Madewell (Similar)      Jacket: Madewell     Sunnies: Free People     Sneakers: Nike

I decided to also dress the part with this vintage inspired outfit. As someone who needs 2 drawers to fit all of my jeans, I am never shy to pair denim with denim. It used to be a common rule that you could only pair denim as long as they were different washes however now that rule does not apply. With denim being so popular and people loving the 'boyfriend' trend, there is no reason to have to pick one! I mean who doesn't want a little Britney Spears/Justin Timberlake moment. 

I ALWAYS go to Madewell for my denim fix, not just because I work there (lol) but also because they truly have the most comfortable jeans I have ever worn. 

This Free People bodysuit is so cute and perfect for summer (and comes in 10 colors!). The ties on the shoulders add a really fun touch too! And what better way to top off a vintage inspired look than with some cat eye sunnies. As I mentioned in my Funky Pants post, these Free People sunnies come in 5 different colors and are super on trend right now!

As always, comment below or email me with any questions!

xoxo,

Holly 

Saturday in the Park

Overalls: Madewell      Sweater: Madewell (Extra 30% off sale price)      Sunnies: Madewell

One of my favorite summer evening activities is heading to Gravelly Point for a golden hour picnic.  Located right on a bank of the Potomac River, Gravelly Point Park has the perfect view of planes taking off and landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The planes are so close overhead making it noisy at times but creating the most exciting rush.

I went with Sydney of Prepped In Plaid and we packed the cutest picnic. Salads from Sweet Green, La Croix, Ramona, and homemade cookies. I wore my favorite overalls from Madewell (because what is more picnic-esque) with a cozy bell sleeve sweatshirt underneath since it can get chilly by sunset. And don't forget a cute picnic blanket!!

Definitely a DC summertime must!

xoxo,

Holly 

Funky Pants

Pants: Free People      Sunnies: Free People

If you know me, then you know that I love to have fun with a good funky pant. It took one pair of Need Supply pants to get me hooked on the funky pant trend. The nice thing is that they make putting together an outfit so easy because all you have to do is pair them with a neutral tank or tee. However, the outfit is still trendy and out there because of the pants alone. Right now there are tons of summery and flowy funky pants in stores that are perfect for the summer heat or even a dinner out if you dress them up with sandals and a denim jacket. 

I wore this plaid pair from Free People for a typical Simply Holly day in Georgetown. I got lunch at my favorite spot in the city, Chaia. You MUST try their new asparagus and goat cheese taco because it is a whole lotta yum. I then grabbed an iced coffee from Bluestone Lane, a new to Georgetown coffee shop. And of course, no outfit, or trip to the city, is complete without a pair of sunglasses. I threw on these colorful cat eye glasses from Free People (they come in 5 other colors!!). 

Below I've linked some other funky pants I am loving to get you started shopping!

 Madewell  Madewell  Need Supply

 Free People  Urban Outfitters  South Moon Under

Let the fun (pants) begin!!

xoxo,

Holly 

Quirk: A Destination Hotel

As many of you know, I go to the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA. Richmond is an absolute hidden gem in VA. I grew up in Northern Virginia yet had no idea how cool and trendy RVA was. Every Spring my mom and I have a 'girls weekend' and stay at the cutest hotel ever, The Quirk.

From its bright pink interior, to the ~quirky~ art, and unique bedrooms, the hotel is a destination within itself. Staying here makes me wonder why there aren't more pink couches in this world!!

In the lobby of the hotel there is a cute coffee shop, a delicious restaurant, and a small gift shop known as the Quirk Gallery where you can find art, cards, and any small gift you could desire. And don't let me forget about the rooftop bar with the best view of the city, perfect for any summer night get together with your gals. 

    

Of course I did not forget about the food!! In the surrounding area there are tons of options for foodies. My mom and I always eat right across the street at Graffiato where we get tons of veggie sides and a delightfully fresh pizza. Just down the block is the cutest ice cream shop, Charm School RVA. The best part is the toasted marshmallow fluff they offer as a topping... I mean TOO yummy. 

There is also an amazing walking route from the Quirk down to the Belle Isle area right over the James River! Don't forget your walking shoes!

If you are ever in Richmond and in need of a hotel, definitely pick the Quirk for an unforgettable stay. 

Richmond, VA - Quirk Hotel

@quirkhotel

(Writing this post made me miss RVA so here's a pic of me in front of one of the many RVA murals!!)

xoxo,

Holly