Well….this past trip to Lijiang, China was absolutely fantastic! Don’t get me wrong. But in terms of being stylish, this is one of my least successful Style Stories. I thought I had packed well, but in the end I was just freezing most of the time, scraping together all my layers just to stay warm. It had been a long time since I’d seen snow–which was really fun, but during the whole trip I kept thinking about my long white puffer coat in storage back at home. I also couldn’t believe I didn’t pack my favorite, most comfortable boots! They are super warm, like crazy warm, they are comfortable–like walking on pillows, and they’re stylish too. Anyway, there were a couple of cute days/moments, and then there were a few more where I couldn’t believe what I was wearing, but I just didn’t care at the same time. We were traveling together as a family experiencing new and exciting adventures. These Style Stories are very vain; I realize that. But, these reflections on my style are enlightening me to how much I really do care about what I wear. For me and my day, if I feel like I’m dressed well, I think I actually walk differently. I feel better. I feel confident. During this trip, there were more days when I just felt really cold!
Day 1: Travel Day, 5/5
The week started out stylistically strong. I traveled in all black. Wearing all black makes me feel sleek and comfy all at once. It’s a no nonsense look and so easy to throw together. I had plenty of layers to add or take off. I wore my Vince leggings with my black lace kimono. I threw on my studded black booties, and I felt ready to go–literally! This was a good day.
Day 2: Biking, 3/5
I was definitely comfortable in this outfit, but maybe a little too cozy. This is probably too much information, but I didn’t shower this morning waiting till after we exerted ourselves with exercise. We hadn’t quite settled into the hotel room that would be ours for the stay, so I didn’t want to mess with my suitcase. Anyway, I love these boyfriend jeans that I cutoff into shorts. For biking it wasn’t too bad of an outfit, but then we did bike to a village and walked around; it was then that I wished I looked a little cuter and not so laid back. I know… funny and silly, but just the way I am.
Day 2: After A Nice Hot Bath, 4/5
Ahhh, I felt so cozy in this outfit. There’s something about my grey, oversized cashmere sweater that I just adore. It’s like a blankie! The pants are also quite comfortable even if they aren’t that flattering. I was very happy to have this blanket scarf; I definitely used it. It’s a special scarf to me–the gals in my library gave it to me as a gift last school year. I was like, How’d you know I’d been wanting this blanket scarf!? Anyway, in this outfit we had just moved into our glorious room with a fire and bath and both had just been enjoyed. I may not look it, in wrinkles and all, but I felt like I was radiating!
Day 3: Horseback Riding, 5/5
Since we were going horseback riding, I definitely got into it. You can’t see them, but I have my little brown booties on. To provide warmth, I wore my furry white sweater (with a few layers underneath!) which I kept on all day. For cowboy accents I wore both jeans and my sleeveless jean jacket. I had a fun scarf on as well with bright colors and my favorite, cheetah. I was feeling pretty cowgirl chic on this day.
And Kevin, well, he was just so excited to wear his zipper pants. You see, these are not only pants: zip off the bottom half and Kevin’s in shorts. Of course, I can’t stand these pants for obvious reason, but Kevin, oh he loves them! I even got a pretty good pose from him as you can see below:
He definitely gets a 5/5, don’t you think!?
Day 4: A Visit to Jade Mountain, 2/5
It starts to go all down hill from here! I pulled out all the layers here: long johns under the pants, Seahawks official player socks, heat technology under cashmere under cashmere under my own coat, and then the red puffer. That red puffer coat….it’s a rental! It’s so cold at this mountain that you can actually rent a coat. I did not think twice! Oh, and I’m wearing three scarves! Did I say it was cold?
Day 5: A Travel Day with Stops Along the Way, 2/3
This was by far my low in the style sense, but I was super comfy. I usually only wear sweats around the house or to exercise. By this point however, I just wanted to be warm, and since I was in all black, I thought, Oh well! I would normally never wear something like this to travel in, so I did feel a little weird, but on the other hand it was kind of liberating to throw style out the window. For a day anyway…And look at those kiddos! They’re so cute, but in shorts!! WAAAT!??
Day 6: Shangrila and Buddhist Monastery, 1/5
Ok, this was by far the coldest day! I was FREEZING! And we were seeing such a neat place, but I tell ya, I was not into it at times because I just felt so cold. There were no options to rent puffer coats at this site either–that probably would have helped. The outfit is nothing to mention: it’s just as many layers that I could put on. On this day I was especially mad that I hadn’t packed my own puffer coat or the best boots ever. However once it did stop snowing and a peep of the sun came out, I did start to enjoy myself a bit more as seen in this couple’s capture below–but see, even Kevin is cold!
Day 8: Another Travel Day, 5/5
That boho vibe that I just love and magnate towards was in Lijiang’s alleyways full force. On the first day there I picked up this colorful wrap/fringe sweater. It was one of those moments where it caught my eye in a little shop, I entered the store, I mentally named the price I’d pay in my head, the lady met that price, and I walked out with it being mine. I love it when that happens! This was another travel day by car, and I tried to dress it up a bit more this time. Yes, I have on many, many layers, but I felt waaaaaay better than the other travel day in my sweats. (Stay tuned for a rooftop post with this sweater;)
Day 9: Travel Day Home: 3/5
This was a tricky day to dress for. I knew ultimately we’d end up in Hong Kong, so I wanted some layers underneath. But, again, at the start of the day I was too cold; I should have worn that wrap coat that I love so much. A good friend gave it to me as a hand-me-down which makes it not only a stylish and warm piece but a sentimental one too. Luckily after the first flight it started to warm up, and bit by bit the layers came off. And I wanted them too because I love this tee: Be you! What a great message. I’ll try…
So….this week’s Style Story wasn’t my best, but that’s ok! Once you see next Thursday’s travel post, what I was wearing doesn’t actually really matter. We had an amazing time together as a family traveling through Lijiang and Shangrila County in China. We usually travel to beaches, so this adventure travel trip was really fun just like last year’s trip through Yangshuo, China.
For sure come back to next Friday’s Style Story. It will be 10 days of outfits in Pantone’s Colors for the year–and a return to lipstick. Oh, I missed lipstick that was replaced by lip balm on this trip.
*This post has been linked up to Fashion Friday, Brilliant Blog Posts, What I Wore, and Whims Wednesday.
*I didn’t include any shopping links this time around since it wasn’t such a stylish Style Story!
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