Hi, I'm European and I have seen your posts about not seeing many leggings in europe and that's true.. leggings are out this season.
The great hit this season are the opaque tights used in dark colors as grey, brown and black used with boots, shoes and even the peep toe shoe (a great hit this season).

Alecia, when I hit the link it only takes me to the photo of the red-haired woman.

Thanks for posting about the style in the cities you visited- I love hearing these reports.

And rute- even in summer?

Oops! Thanks, Sinead. I think I fixed the link now.

Yes.. even in the summer, especialy with summer dresses.

Here are some exemples:

http://odiariodeumafashionista.....15976.html

Ooh, thanks for writing this, Alecia! I love hearing about street style in other places.

I have never been to Vienna before (though I really should go, as my cousins live there), but I went to Prague about 5 years ago. I really loved it, but also remember not being overly impressed with the city's style quotient. Perhaps we were just in the wrong places? I do remember loving the architecture, food, and cheap, cheap beer!

Here in London, leggings and short dresses are still very much the word of the day, along with funky gladiators, tennis shoes and a retro sort of vibe.

Aren't you pretty! It is so nice to see your smile, and you have to tell us where you got the babydoll top - love!

I lived in Vienna as an exchange student at 16 years of age, and returned a few years back. That city will always be near-and-dear to my heart. The architecture, the music, the food, the wine, the people. Everything about it, I love (except the smoking in restaurants! yech). I have not been to Prague yet but it is on the list for someday.

Wonderful write up, Alecia! Hope you had a fab trip and have recovered from your LONG journey. My goodness.

Rute, where are you in Europe? I think the leggings trend depends on where you are in Europe. London and Paris are still FULL of leggings, it’s almost overkill (I have fashion forward family in London and a hotline to Paris). My German friend says leggings are everywhere in Frankfurt and Munich too. My Dad lives in the Netherlands and he even comments on how many people wear leggings (bless his 77 year old heart!). Very interesting. As it gets hotter though, people will move away from leggings all together.

Alecia, you and hubby are cuter than cute. Fab outfits!

Angie ... I think that's why I don't see it here.. I live in Portugal, sometimes I go to spain and I don't see there either.. but it's very very hot here.. it's difficult to wear leggings, cardigans, trousers or anything besides a bikini ..eh eh

I hear you, rute! Western and Northern European weather is very different to Southern European weather and it is reflected in the style of dress. I love Portuguese food. Now I’m hungry :0)

Very interesting write up. Thankyou Alecia.
You're so pretty and it is fun to see your smile.

Alecia, Thanks for the style report! I haven't been to Vienna but I've been to Prague twice. The last time was about 11 years ago and even then I saw striking red hair color and a lot of eggplant coloring.

Rute, I lived in the Azores for several years on the island of Terceira! We loved it there. The Portuguese people were so friendly and the island was so rugged and beautiful. I agree with Angie, the food is amazing! I miss the alcatra and fresh bread. The bread truck used to come down our street every morning with fresh bread!

Alecia,
Thanks for sharing your fab trip with us!! you are a fashion inspiration:) I love to watch your style evolve) You are lovely:)

Also.... love that yellow bag w/white top!!

Alecia! Yay- finally we see your face! You are so so cute and your smile is megawatt! I feel I know you better already.

What a fabulous trip. I'm really jealous. I've always wanted to go to Prague. I hear the architecture is amazing, and it's a very cafe-friendly city, with lots of intellectuals sitting around discussing important things. I think you look great in your pictures!

Alecia, thanks for sharing! It's always so much fun to hear how people around the world are dressing. Your outfits looked fab - I love that yellow bag!

Tara, I am laughing at your description of Prague - lots of intellectuals sitting around discussing important things. That's how I picture most European cities - well except in Italy where I think everyone's sitting around discussing the opposite sex. Now, I totally want to go to Prague and be one of the intellectuals - of course I'd probably be people watching and discussing what people are wearing. My husband was supposed to be going to a conference next spring in Prague - I am crossing fingers that he gets a job before then so we both can go!

Alecia - I love reading fashion posts in other parts of the world. I love the pictures and I love seeing your face. You are so *cute*!!!

Rute - where in Portugal do you live? I am about to visit Lisbon and Obidos in a few weeks.

Welcome back, Alecia! And thank you for the style report.

Thanks for sharing your lovely smile. I'm another fan of your fab yellow bag :) I also really like your skirt outfit.

Shiny, I found the babydoll top last year at nordstrom rack. I'm glad you like it. I was kind of feeling like it was too long. But I guess maybe not.

Ele, I'm glad to have my observations validated about the style in Prague. I wonder if the fact that the Czech Republic was under communist rule not that long ago plays into that any? I mean, the transition wasn't all that long ago (1989). I bet it takes a bit to get your style footing. But I could be all wet on that. Anyone have any thoughts on that theory?

Tara, that's a lovely fantasy. I actually thought there were many more cafes in Vienna than Prague. But both places had such wonderful fodder for intellectual inspiration. In Vienna music seemed to be the overarching focus. I loved Prague for its embrace of all kinds of artistic endeavors. I had the most wonderful time in Prague rereading "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," which challenged me to explore sweeping philosophical questions about the human condition while also giving me a bit of a glimpse into Prague's history. I, in fact, did spend an afternoon in a cafe beside the river with my nose in that book. Heaven!

Oh! I forgot to thank all of you. First, thank you for the very warm welcome home. Second, thank you for the inspiration to travel in style as opposed to t-shirts and jeans.

A special thanks to Shiny who unknowingly inspired my bag purchase. Ages ago, you mentioned getting an inexpensive purse for your Paris trip that you bought expressly so you wouldn't worry about something happening to it. I thought of that as I shopped for a bag for the trip. The yellow bag you all admired is a $20 bag from Marshalls that I love but wasn't worried if it got ruined. Thanks, Shiny.

Alecia, I visited the Czech Republic twice in 1997 and spent time in both Prague and Karlovy Vary. I agree with your theory. I don't remember much style to speak of at that time. I do remember seeing a TGIF Fridays and being surprised. I suppose western influence was starting to become more prominent.

My hotel was very spartan and the electricity would go out periodically for no reason. The food was pretty bland, not a lot of vegetables. I imagine that's changed now.

One of my most vivid memories concerns one Tara's cafes :) We spent a very pleasant hour in one and were shocked to step out of the door into a massive, but peaceful, labor demonstration in the main square. It was so crowded you couldn't move and then suddenly the crowd dispersed as quickly as it had formed. It was so surreal.

Thanks for bringing back the memories. I really enjoy the travel posts!

Ooh I love Prague! It's such an unbelievably pretty city! I visited the Czech Republic three times in the winter of 2007, twice to Prague and once to Olomouc. I don't remember too many specific things about winter style there but I remember being quite impressed with the style of women my age (19 at the time). These younger women were wearing skinny jeans tucked into boots, lots of texture, beautiful sweaters, etc. The shops there were similar to Kraków's where I was living at the time. You have a couple of sophisticated shops aimed at my age group but you also have some gaudy trashy shops aimed at this age group. One of the main examples of this is the huge 'New Yorker' (chain store local to central europe) on Weneclaus Square in Prague city centre. This really fits with the elements of Prague as both an intellectual city with one of the best European universities and world-renowned intellectuals, and as a party city where there are countless bars, clubs and parties. In Olomouc (on the Polish-Czech border), fashion was more laid back and casual but the general trends of skinnies and boots continued there.

Prague has came a very long way since the days of the early 1990s, thanks to economic development and involvement in the European Union. It is now one of the most visited cities in Europe. Western influence is quite strong there in terms of brand names, fashion and culture. I remember walking through the Old Square at 7am one October morning and being struck by the amount of advertisments boards around the city centre, something that was also very prominent in Kraków. Most of the bookshops carried American and English copies of fashion magazines, and when I was there, Robert Cavalli's H&M collection was being sold in the local H&M. However there also is an intermingling of Old Czech traditions and clothing with the modern Czech Republic as many women wear the older style peasant skirts, updated for the 21st century. I love Prague and I really want to go back there.

One of the scariest things during my visits to Prague was accidentally walking into a neo-Nazi/anti-Nazi clash of protests. That was just scary and a very common occurrence over there.

Sorry for the long post!

sihaya,

I live in Lisbon.. you will visit Lisbon soon? When? It's is so hot here!! And Óbidos is the most lovely ancient village, I went there last year with my husband and is very romantic, I will post a photo on Monday morning, because I have some photos of Obidos in my office's computer.

Debora,

You lived in Azores? Never went there but I'm planning to go there next year! Everyone says that is lovely!

Oh, Rute! You have to go there sometime!!! Yes, we lived in the Azores from 1987-1989 and the islands are breathtakingly beautiful and untouched.

We lived on the island of Terceira in the little village of Lajes. It was like stepping back into time. Many islanders still rode in donkey-driven carts and cows were herded past our house every day on their way to the pastures. The island was covered in stone wall enclosed fields of every conceivable shade of green extending to steep cliffs overlooking the ocean. It seemed liked there were miles and miles of hydrangea hedges and I've never seen so many rainbows in my life! The Portuguese people were so friendly and accepting. It was heaven!

I think I can honestly say that this is the most beautiful place I've ever lived. My only regret is that I didn't make it over to the mainland to visit Lisbon. Well, I'll save that for another time!

Thanks for posting your report, Alecia! I love reading about others' trips, especially that I can't travel much anymore. I haven't been to either city, but they are both on my list. Glad to hear you had a great trip! You look wonderful.

Debora,

We will visit Açores for sure.. everyone says it's gorgeous! Did you visit S. Miguel and the "Furnas"? All the hot water coming from the ground.. and they make a stue (a special dish) that is cooked underneath the ground..

You must visit Lisbon also.

Rute - I only got to spend one night in Sao Miguel on a layover to Madeira. We stayed in Ponta Delgada. Wish we could have spent more time there!

Alecia - I'm finding your thread fascinating. It's been so interesting to hear about everone's impression of Prague. What did you think of the food there?

Alecia it is lovely to hear about your trip and see your beautiful face. Your outfits looked stylish and comfy too - awesome!!