La Dolce Vita
The view of the island from Capri's town center.
My Italian honeymoon has come to an end, and it was more perfect and beautiful than I could have dreamed. Now that I’m back in the States, my current obsession is transporting all that inspiration back home so I can experience a taste of Italian romance every day. To give an idea of the abundance of style we’re talking about, here are a few of my favorite things from the trip. Over the next few posts, we’ll show how to take this Italian inspiration and translate it for real life.
1. The colors of the Mediterranean
View of the Mediterranean along the Amalfi Coast
I’ve heard descriptions of the Mediterranean, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight of the deepest blue sea set against a cloudless sky. Sheer natural beauty.
2. Caprese Salad
Capri is the birthplace of the Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella triumvirate.
Or for that matter, Caprese pizza, Caprese pasta… nothing is simpler than these summery flavors, and with the juiciest tomatoes and creamiest buffalo mozzarella, nothing could be better.
3. Handmade Leather Sandals
My handmade leather sandals from a shop in Capri.
Capri is famous for it’s handmade leather sandals, and there are quaint shops on every street with sandle-makers crafting gorgeous custom creations. These are my soft brown leather ones… I plan on wearing them nonstop this summer.
4. The scents of Jasmine & Bougainvillea
Terrace at the Caesar Augustus hotel
Carthusia is Italy's most famous perfumery.
The entire island of Capri carries the intoxicating scent of flowers, due to the colorful jasmine and bougainvillea that cover every wall, column, and building.
5. The architecture of Positano
View of Positano from our boat
With it’s terraced white houses set against a rocky cliff overlooking the sea, Positano is one of those towns that looks like a postcard from every angle. With groves of lemon trees, abundant flowers, and couples strolling with cones of gelato, I immediately fell in love with this slice of paradise.
Stay tuned for my favorite things in ROME on the next post. Think fresh pasta, ancient architecture, and high fashion. Ciao!
Hmm…I obviously need to visit Capri. I LOVE anything caprese (though I’m sure I’ve never had anything as tasty as what you experienced there), I’m totally digging natural leather sandals (I LOVE yours!) and I’m designing trellises in my backyard for jasmine and bougainvillea. Pretty stuff, great post, congratulations and welcome home.