30 Things To Do In Florence

I absolutely adore Florence.
Except for in July and August when it is searingly hot and totally overcrowded with tourists.
The other 10 months of the year Florence is divine.

I found this fantastic list of 30 Things To Do In Florence on a blog called This Is My Happiness a glorious art, culture and travel blog perfect to take some time, grab a coffee and curl up with.
Enjoy this list, and then check out more of her wonderful posts!

Things to Do in Florence: 30 Ideas

“Florence is NOT just the Uffizi, the David, and the Ponte Vecchio…” Those were the words of Claudio Meli, the general manager of the gorgeous hotel J.K. Place, but I heard similar sentiments over and over during my recent week in Florence, Italy. About 10 million people visit Florence every year, and if you’ve been there, you know that the historic center is not very big, making for a swarm of tourists crowded into its center much of the year.

However, there are many more things to do in Florence besides the most popular sights. Should you visit those, too? Of course. There is nothing like seeing the David in person, the Ponte Vecchio is beautiful, and the Uffizi Gallery is a must for art lovers or those who just want to see some of the “biggies” like the Botticelli room (and if you go to the Uffizi, get thisUffizi Art History Guide for a more interesting and rewarding visit).

After the positive reception of my “30 Things to do in Napa Valley” post, I decided to compile a similar list for Florence. I hope that these suggestions give you a better experience there, one that is filled with many meaningful moments that add up to a dream trip! Here are my 30 things to do in Florence, some of which are still on the beaten path, and some well off of it.

1) Arte al Sole day camp

If you’re visiting Florence with your family, consider enrolling your children in Arte al Sole, an art and cultural day camp located at Palazzo Belfiore in Florence. The kids love it because they get to explore Florence with their peers, and the parents love it because they get a little “grown up” time while the kids are in camp.

Children will explore the artistic and natural wonders of this beautiful renaissance city through exciting and engaging activities in art history, fine arts principles, nature walks, sketching and painting, collage, architecture, sculpture, craftsmanship, and science. Each session includes a cooking lesson preparing regional dishes and a fieldtrip to local museums and architectural sites. Find out more here.

2) Walk to San Miniato al Monte above Florence

First, walk down the Lungarno (the road that goes along the river) to Viale G. Poggi and take this winding walkway up:

Then stop briefly for the views at Piazzale Michelangelo before continuing up to the church of San Miniato al Monte:

The church is one of the oldest in the Florence area (from 1018) and a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. It’s free to go inside–highlights are the mosaics above the altar and the small chapel in the back right corner of the church. Walk around the outside of the church, see the cemetery, and take in the views of Florence and the surrounding countryside.

On your way back down, pop in the nearby Giardino della Rose (Rose Garden) at Viale G. Poggi 2.

3) Visit the Palazzo Strozzi museum.

This museum has exhibits of contemporary and historic art by both Italian and international artists. Stop in on a Thursday evening for free admission to some exhibits and the weekly social gathering in the courtyard. People hang out on couches and get drinks and snacks at the café–definitely the place to be seen in Florence on a Thursday evening. Also, check out the bookstore’s nice selection of gifts and books for adults and children. Learn more about this innovative museum here, and find out about the Firenze Card, the best deal for entrance to many of Florence’s museums.

4) Walk along the Arno River and watch the rowers.

Walking along the Arno River is a wonderful way to spend time in Florence–try going down as far as you can in both directions to see the architecture and get away from the crowds.  There is a rowing club (“Canottieri Firenze” from 1888) right next to the Ponte Vecchio, so it’s common to see them rowing peacefully down the Arno.

And walk the Ponte Vecchio early in the morning or at dusk.

This bridge does get packed with tourists, but it really is a special place that you should experience once. It is believed that it was originally built in Roman times, but the Ponte Vecchio that you see now was built in 1345.

It has always housed tiny shops, and now jewelry, especially gold, is sold behind beautiful old shop doors.

The views from the bridge at sunrise and sunset are beautiful.

5) Eat at La Cucina del Garga

This place was recommended to me by a local, and I am so glad he suggested it because I loved this place and would eat there all the time if I could…excellent food, great atmosphere, friendly owner, and decent prices. It’s not far from the Duomo, at Via San Zanobi, 33. If possible, call +39 055 475286 to make a reservation and ask to sit in the “painted room.” For more restaurant recommendations, check out my friend Sucheta’s post “Florence Restaurant Guide.”

6) Climb Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower)

You should save time to climb either the bell tower or the dome of the Duomo for views of the city, but the bell tower may be the better option because it’s less crowded, cheaper, and gives you a close-up view of the outside of the dome. However, if you are particularly interested in the way in which the dome was constructed, choose to climb it instead and see Brunelleschi’s method of spreading the weight out with a herringbone pattern of bricks.

7) Go to the Mercato Centrale

If you love food markets like I do, this is something you don’t want to miss. The Mercato Centrale is an excellent place to see beautiful local food, have a snack, buy picnic supplies, or buy gifts. Learn more about it here.

8) Eat gelato!

I know eating gelato should be automatic when in Italy, but you may find yourself so busy in Florence that you’ll forget to leave time for gelato breaks! Some of the best gelato can be found at Vivoli, Perché No!, Grom, and Festival. This cone with persimmon and chocolate orange was from Perché No!

9) Visit Santa Maria Novella

In my opinion, this is Florence’s prettiest church. The façade is a lovely example of Renaissance shapes (except for the Gothic influence of the very bottom, which was built first). Pay 3 euro and go inside, where painted arches and an airy feeling greet you. The church is full of great art–worth a long look are Masaccio’s Trinity fresco across from the entrance and the Tornabuoni chapel behind the altar, painted by Ghirlandaio’s workshop including teenage Michelangelo. Read more about this church here.

10) Visit the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella 

This centuries-old pharmacy/herbalist/perfumerie is an interesting part of Florence’s cultural heritage. All rooms are beautifully decorated, even with ornate ceilings. There are so many historical objects related to the production of medicines, natural creams, and perfumes that it is also considered a “museum of tradition.”  It’s free, so pick up the information pamphlet, ask questions, and see a unique part of Florence’s history. Open every day 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and located behind Santa Maria Novella church on Via della Scala, 16.

11) Visit an artisan’s workshop

There are many artisan workshops that you can visit, most of which are located on the other side of the Arno River in the Oltrarno quarter. A great example is Bruscoli, a workshop that makes both quality leather products engraved with gold leaf and traditional Florentine paper. The owner, Paulo Bruscoli, is the 4th generation artisan who continues the tradition despite the fact that leather products are increasingly being made by factories. He speaks English, and visitors are welcome (8:30-1:00 or 3:00-7:00, Via Montebello 58). Fine leather products and items made with Florentine paper are sold at the front of the shop.

12) Eat pizza

Even though Florence is not as famous for its pizza as Rome and Naples are, the pizza is damned good! O’Munaciello (Via Maffia, 31, in the Oltrarno area) is quite an experience; I loved the 7 seasons pizza, which means that it was topped with whatever the chef wanted to put on it. Florens (Via San Gallo 40r, in the San Marco area) was a quick, modern, and inexpensive option.

13) Stay at J.K. Place

This hotel is gorgeous! The beautiful décor, central location, intimate ambiance, excellent restaurant, and friendly, professional staff earned this boutique hotel a spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 20 hotels list for 2012.

14) Buy chocolate at Venchi

I have fond memories of eating chocolate in Italy, so on this visit, I stopped in many cafés to buy chocolates and kept them in my bag for when I needed a little something. On my last day, I discovered this elegant shop, located near Piazza della Signoria. I bought a few bars to bring home for family and selected many small pieces that you can pick out from bins and pay for by the gram. Everything was excellent, even the fruit candies.

15) Drink cappuccino

Like gelato, cappuccino in Italy is an obvious choice, but a little reminder doesn’t hurt. When I studied in Florence many years ago, drinking cappuccino was such an important part of my day that I was crowned “Cappuccino Queen”! But the cappuccino in Italy is so good that even if you’re not normally a coffee drinker, you must give it a try. Remember that standing up at a café is cheaper than sitting down, and that Italians frown upon ordering cappuccino after about 11:00 a.m., when they usually switch to espresso.

16) Experience beauty at the Palatine Gallery

If you want to see beautiful art but don’t want to deal with the crowds of the Uffizi, try the Palatine Gallery instead. Housed inside the massive Renaissance Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno River, the Palatine gallery has works by some of Florence’s masters, including Raphael and Andrea del Sarto, as well as non-Florentines such as Caravaggio, Rubens, and Titian.

17) Go to the Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens are one of Florence’s better known sights, but I am surprised how many people show up in Florence not knowing about them. The gardens are really not to be missed, especially on a sunny day. The sweeping views, endless paths that take you past grand fountains, and surprising grottoes make for an unforgettable outdoor space. You can enter with your ticket to the above Palatine Gallery.

Keep walking to the very top and back of the garden for views of an olive grove and the countryside that surrounds Florence, and pop inside the small but lovely Porcelain Museum.

18) Find tranquility at the Bardini Garden

The Bardini Garden is not nearly as grand as the Boboli Gardens, but it is also much less known. When I visited late in the day in November, I was the only person! The garden offers exceptional views of Florence, and the flowers that were not blooming when I was there must make it very beautiful in the spring and summer. There is also a restaurant and cafeteria with a deck.

You can access the Bardini Garden either from the street in the Oltrarno quarter (Via de Bardi 1r) or by leaving the Boboli Gardens and walking a bit (see the map given to you when you enter the Boboli Gardens). Entrance to the Bardini is included with the Boboli Gardens.

19) Get off the beaten path in the Oltrarno

The Oltrarno is the area of Florence across the Arno River that includes #16-18 above. This neighborhood is less touristy and definitely worth a day of your time for a few reasons. Besides the above-mentioned Palatine Gallery and Boboli and Bardini Gardens, many artisan workshops are located there (see #11), and you can wander the streets just looking for workshops to peek into. Also, the area has many nice small shops, all less geared towards tourists, that make for great window-shopping (or real shopping!). Finally, this is one place where you can experience a bit of the “real” Florence, where you can see the life of the locals getting early evening cocktails with friends, eating snacks at a tiny bar, or sitting in Piazza Santo Spirito. If you like markets, visit the one at Santo Spirito in the mornings (except Sundays).

20) Go for grandness in the cafés on Piazza della Repubblica

Splurge a little and relax in one of Florence’s grand historic cafés. If you don’t want to pay to sit, order at the bar. The cioccolato caldo (hot chocolate) at Paszkowski is to die for.

21) Visit the Bargello National Museum

The Bargello is one of Florence’s best museums but is sometimes missed by tourists who are not aware of its collection or who miss it because it doesn’t exactly look like an important museum. The building dates from 1225 and used to be a prison. Inside you will be treated to a great collection of art, mostly notably sculpture by the best sculptors of the Renaissance, including of course Michelangelo and Donatello. Seeing sculpture in person is powerful, and these are ones not to be missed.

22) Visit the Pazzi Chapel

The Pazzi Chapel is a place few tourists know about, but it is one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture. It was built by Brunelleschi, the same genius who designed Florence’s dome, and showcases the important Renaissance principles of geometric shapes and spatial harmony. It is adjacent to the church of Santa Croce, so pop over after checking out the tombs and frescoes of Santa Croce. Read more about Renaissance architecture here.

23) Peruse the food shops found on just about every small street

We all know about the quality of food in Tuscany, from its cheeses and salami to fresh produce and olive oil. Why not make a little time to visit some of the city’s tiny food shops and pick up some things to try? With shops this inviting, it’s hard not to stop.

24) Step back in time at San Marco

San Marco provides a more serene way to experience the art of historic Florence. It is an old monastery that you can tour to see the monk’s cells and the frescoes on the cell walls. Fra Angelico, a monk and early Renaissance painter, painted these frescoes to decorate the monks’ cells to give them with something holy to concentrate on while praying.

25) See the Early Renaissance at the Brancacci Chapel

This fresco cycle, located in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine in the Oltrarno quarter, is probably the best place to see the innovations that took place in the early Renaissance. It is stunning, but you have to make reservations (even on the same day), well worth the effort if you can plan ahead a bit.

26) Tour the Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio is the old town hall of Florence, built in the 14th century. Its grand interior, which has seen such a fascinating history of events, has beautifully decorated rooms and courtyards with ornate ceilings, wall tapestries, carved doors, and fine art including works by Michelangelo, Vasari, and Da Vinci (this one was recently discovered behind one of the Vasari walls in the Salone dei Cinquecento).

27) Check out Florence’s door knockers

Seriously? Yes. The door knockers of Florence are impressive but are easily overlooked with everything else there is to gawk at. Try to find a favorite–you might be surprised how many cool door knockers (and doors) you see!

28) Day-trip to Fiesole

Fiesole is a small town in the hills above Florence. Going there is a great way to spend a nice day, or even half a day. You can get there by taking Bus 7 from the Florence train station or at the stops at the Duomo and San Marco in Florence. The town was founded around 800 BC as an Etruscan settlement (the Etruscans lived in this part of Italy long before the Romans), but it was conquered by the Romans in 283 BC. Etruscan and especially Roman ruins are still visible. There are also nice churches, a monastery, and a square where you can enjoy sweeping views of Florence and the surroundings. The tourist office map shows 3 walks around the town and along the Etruscan walls–choose the one that’s best for you and soak up a bit of Tuscany!

29) Pop into Santa Trinita

This unimposing church just off the Arno River is worth popping into to see the work of Renaissance master Domenico Ghirlandaio. Inside the church, the Sassetti Chapel was frescoed by Ghirlandaio and his workshop–it is interesting to note how he used the look of Florence and local people to depict scenes from the Bible. The altarpiece, “The Adoration of the Shepherds,” is one of my favorites from the Renaissance. (The church is free.)

30) Walk the city at night

The city center is so small that you can easily walk to dinner, then out to have gelato, then for a walk around the main sights before going back to your room. Historic buildings are lit, making for dramatic views, especially of the Palazzo Vecchio:

Italians don’t seem to like to go home early, so why not join the fun and spend some time outside at night? You can warm up at a café, and if you’re lucky, you may even run into a night market or other outdoor event.

So there you have it: 30 things to do in Florence. Of course there are more, especially because I intentionally left off the city’s biggies: the Uffizi, the Accademia, the Duomo and Baptistery, Santa Croce, and the Palazzo Medici-Ricardi. What suggestions do you have for things to do in Florence? 

13 Rarely Seen Photos Of Marilyn Monroe

Isn't it interesting how fame works? There are so many actors who do great work and then disappear into oblivion, and yet others who remain timeless and intriguing.

I love looking at images of Marilyn. Iconic Marilyn Monroe.

I  found this on MSN.

Marilyn at at Yankees game with then husband Joe DiMaggio, April 11 1961

Marilyn with a very aggressive looking Tony Curtis in 1958

Marilyn trying on wardrobe August 1960

Marilyn Monroe January 26 1952 at the first ever Hollywood Foreign Press International Film Festival

Marilyn with then husband Arthur Miller in 1956

Marilyn in March 1955

Norma Jean Baker circa 1941

Marilyn signing an autograph for a serviceman in Korea, 1954

Signing an autograph for a U.S. serviceman in Korea in February 1954.

Marilyn being helped into her coat by Ciros's restaurant owner Herman Hoover, 1957

Marilyn at a press party in her home, March 3 1956

Marilyn in a New York restaurant, March 1955

with then husband Arthur Miller, July 1956

reading in Los Angeles, August 1950

11 Celebrity Bridesmaids

It's an honor to be asked to be a bridesmaid. 
And it's kind of fun to think about celebrities stepping out of the spotlight and taking a secondary position to be a bridesmaid for someone they hold dear.
This is a repost of an article from RomanceBeat.com about 11 celebrities who gorgeously walked down the aisle as bridesmaids for their close personal friends and family in the most recent years, without missing a step.

1- Our favorite heiresses, Paris and Nicky Hilton, were dressed pretty in pink for their cousin Brooke’ s wedding in Cabo San Lucas.

2- Eva Langoria attended the wedding of her personal friends’ Alina Peralta and Manuel Gutierrez in Spain. She also served as a bridesmaid for her friend Bonnie Rodezno’s wedding. I guess it was to return the favor for when Bonnie served as a bridesmaid for Eva’s wedding with basketball player Tony Parker, who she divorced years later. Girls always stick together!

3- Lady Gaga becomes closely familiar to weddings as she plans her own (which we can’t wait for!) and still has time to serve at a New Orleanais wedding for one of her closest friends. She also served at a Cabo wedding for her best friend and former schoolmate, Bo O’Connor.

4- Our favorite former Disney star and newly Broadway star, Vanessa Hudgens, served at her “High School Musical” costar and close friend’s wedding, Ashley Tisdale.

5- We had a “The Hills” reunion at the wedding of Maura McManus where Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth attended, in which Conrad served as a lovely bridesmaid.

6- Sarah Jessica Parker served as a bridesmaid of her friend and former assistant, Melinda Relyea and James Kearns.

7- “Hunger Games” star, Jennifer Lawrence, served as a bridesmaid for her brother Blaine and her new sister-in-law, Carson Massler. It was a wedding that even Martha Stewart approved of.

8- Mila Kunis served as a bridesmaid for her brother’s wedding in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her date was her fiancé and former costar, Ashton Kutcher (another wedding we are so excited to see!)

9- Lena Dunham looked awesome in a grey bridesmaid dress for her best friend.

10- Rihanna was also a lovely bridesmaid for her own person assistant, Jennifer Rosales, who is like a big sister to the singer.

DIY How To Get Thicker Brows With 3 Simple Ingredients ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week #28

Buongiorno!
I'm in the south east of Sicily now in the beautiful baroque area of Ragusa, leading the Corinna B's World Glam Italia II Tour.
Are you following us on Instagram ? I'm also posting on Facebook, so check us out there too!

I will be posting some fabulous travel stories from the trip when I get back, so stay tuned.

Today however we have a little DIY remedy for eyebrows.
Specifically eyebrows that need thickening, or that need to grow back.

DIY - How To Get Thicker Brows With 3 Simple Ingredients

PHOTO: taylormariehill.com

Were you an overzealous plucker as a teen? Leave kids alone long enough with a magazine and they’ll start experimenting to look like their favorite celeb—#thingsweregret. 

Some of these bold beauty adventures leave behind permanent effects in the form of thinned out brows, or worse—blank spaces. Even if we manage to refrain from waxing, tweezing and threading for a bit, some hair just is not growing back—on its own. 

According to eye specialist and esthetician Denise Wilson at Sublime Eyes, a walk-in brow bar in Hollywood, there IS a solution. You can promote hair growth in these otherwise “lost cause” areas by following a fairly simple nightly routine—no pricey products required. 
According to Wilson, “Apply a mixture of castor oil, vitamin E, and argan oil each night by rubbing it into the brow with a Q-tip or your finger, and keep it on until morning. 

Pay attention to the areas where you are no longer growing new or thick hair. It’s an old beauty secret we’ve been using at the salon to help clients achieve a fuller brow and even out hair. Clients usually see results in a few months.” A few months is a small price to pay for getting your brows back!

If you’re in Hollywood, stop by the salon; it gives away a free vial of the oil combo to all clients. 

Otherwise, shop for organic cold-pressed Poppy Austin Argan Oil($22), Greatfull Skin Vitamin E Oil ($30), and Organic Castor Oil ($19) to DIY a potion at home.

Have you tried applying cold-pressed organic oils to promote brow growth? Did it work? Sound off in the comments!

This story was originally posted on Byrdie.com

10 Things NOT To Do In Italy

Being that I am in Italy at the moment leading the Glam Italia II private tour, I thought this blogpost from Fodor's was particularly pertinent!

You can find more fabulous travel tips and ideas on Fodors.com

The more time you spend in Italy, the more you'll notice that Italians love telling you what to do...whether you ask them for advice or not. Try this wine. Try it again. Pass that semi truck—you can do it! Wear different shoes. Change your hair; you're not eighty. Loosen up. Mangia, mangia! For a change of pace, here's a list of things NOT to do in Italy—a country as beloved for its passionate people as its natural beauty and delicious cuisine.

DON'T....

HEAD TO VATICAN CITY IN A TUBE TOP

We know the desire to charm the Italians with your spaghetti strap sundress might be overwhelming, but visitors in skimpy clothing are forbidden to enter holy sights. If you can't bring yourself to wear a top that covers your shoulders, tuck a scarf or cardigan into your bag, and use it to make yourself presentable when you're on holy ground.

PARK INSIDE THE YELLOW LINES

Or the pink ones, if you're eating for one. Or the blue ones, if you want to save a few euro. Few things are as gutting as heading back to the parking lot and finding a parking ticket on your rental car, or worse, a stark gap where your car used to be. In an Italian parking lot, the white-lined parking spaces are free, the blue-lined are paid, the yellow-lined spots are for disabled motorists, and the pink spots are for expectant mothers. As for potential parking spots that have no lines at all, be sure to look for Zona di Rimozione (Tow Zone) or Divieto di Sosta (No Parking) signs. Or just do as the Italians: cross your fingers and park on the sidewalk. Sideways.

EXPECT THINGS TO HAPPEN ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE

One of the first things any visitor to Italy will learn is that there's time...and then there's Italian time. Italian time is elastic (don't be surprised when your 4 p.m. Colosseum tour starts at 4:30) and so are business hours. Many businesses—even, bafflingly, restaurants—shut down for lunch and will also be closed two days a week, days which vary from business to business. Double-checking business hours is crucial unless you enjoy making empty treks. Public transportation is also often "out of order" or delayed, so give yourself ample padding between travel connections.

GET FLEECED BY A GONDOLIER

Taking a gondola cruise in Venice might seem like the most romantic thing on earth until you get the bill. Surprise: a gondola ride can cost upwards of $65 per person (!), and even more if you have a shady gondolier. If a $65-$130 boat ride isn't in your budget, but you still have your heart set on floating along Venice's canals, consider hopping aboard a traghetto—one of the water taxis used by Venetian locals when they want to cross the Grand Canal. The ride will be much shorter, but the traghetto boats are exactly the same as the tourist gondolas and tickets will cost around $5.

TAKE THAT GOOGLE MAPS SHORTCUT

Should you be renting a car to explore the country, you'll probably be using a GPS or Google Maps. You might be tempted to save on autostrade tolls by taking one of the outlined shortcuts. But the farther south in Italy you go, the worse-kept the roads tend to be. Razor-narrow passages, huge potholes and an absence of streetlights can make navigation difficult for a traveler unfamiliar with Italian motorways; the SS7 (Via Appia)—a mostly-unlit winding coastside path running from Rome to Brindisi—is particularly perilous. You might have to pay a bit extra to take the autostrade, but at least they're well-kept.

GET YOURSELF PSYCHED FOR AUTHENTIC SPAGHETTI ALLA BOLOGNESE IN NAPLES

In Italian restaurants outside of Italy, all of the boot's many regional cuisines are slapped with the giant umbrella title—ITALIAN FOOD—so you'd be forgiven for not knowing that pesto was invented in Genoa and Limoncello is from Sorrento. But you wouldn't head to Los Angeles hoping for the best barbecue of your life, would you? Do yourself a favor and stick to local foods on your Italian trip. A (very) quick cheat sheet: Genoa for pesto; Naples for pizza; Bologna for bolognese sauce and filled pastas like ravioli, tortellini and lasagne; Milan for risotto alla milanese and ossobucco alla milanese; Rome for spaghetti alla carbonara, spaghetti all'amatriciana and lamb. Gnocchi, bresaola, polenta dishes, and the ultra-popular Italian dessert tiramisù are found all over the country, but are native to the northern Italian regions like Lombardy and Veneto. Prosciutto—or Parma ham—is most commonly associated with central and northern Italy.

TIP EVERYTHING THAT MOVES...NO MATTER WHAT THEY TELL YOU

Tipping is not obligatory or common in Italy. However, tourist-savvy service people may have heard that Americans are genetically programmed to tip everything from waiters to performing rabbits, so the cheekier ones might try to work you for some spare change. Unless they gave you the best service in the history of the planet, resist. They're getting a living wage.

ASK YOUR WAITER FOR PARMESAN CHEESE TO PUT ON YOUR SEAFOOD PASTA

Unless you want to see a grown adult cry, that is. One of the holiest commandments of traditional Italian culinary etiquette is that cheese and seafood never, ever mix. Only very recently have certain cheese/seafood pairings cropped up—i.e., ricotta with sea bass, gorgonzola with clams—but this is considered very avant garde (the elder generation won't touch such dishes). Regardless of your age or level of sophistication, mixing parmesan cheese with seafood remains a cardinal sin, so don't even ask. And for the love of Saint Peter, don't let an Italian see you cutting your spaghetti with a fork and knife.

KILL YOURSELF TRYING TO FIT ROME INTO A CROWDED ITINERARY

Twenty regions, so much to see! Most visitors enter Italy throughRome, but if you plan to enter via Sicily or Milan and can't bear the thought of missing out on Roman ruins during your trip, take heart: the Romans were a busy bunch. Spectacular Roman ruins can be found throughout the peninsula, namely Volterra in Tuscany, Villa Jovis on the Isle of Capri, Pompeii and Oplontis in Campania, Piazza Armerina in Sicily, Verona in Veneto, and Mediolanum in Milan. Use the money you'll have saved on extra flights to fill up on wine.

PLAN ON CONDUCTING YOUR ENTIRE TRIP TO ITALY IN ENGLISH

Yes, the movies would have you believe that any time you travel, your host country will be chock-full of citizens who speak your language perfectly, albeit with a charming accent. But Italy consistently earns moderate to low proficiency rankings on English proficiency indexes—among the lowest-rated in Europe. You'll do all right at hotels, historical sites, and restaurants in heavily-touristed cities like Rome and Naples, but set foot outside of those perimeters and, well, in bocca al lupo.

P.S. That means "good luck" in Italian.

Photo Credits: Get Fleeced by a Gondolier: Thats where I live by Saurabh Thakur Attribution-NoDerivs License; Park Inside the Yellow lines: blue like the line by Emiliano Attribution License; Get Yourself Psyched for Authentic Spaghetti alla Bolognese in Naples: Trattoria Anna Maria by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License; Ask Your Waiter for Parmesan Cheese to Put On Your Seafood Pasta: Getty Images/Hemera; Take That Google Maps Shortcut: Appia Antica by ChrisSteph LewisBoegeman Attribution-NoDerivs License; Head to Vatican City in a Tube Top: Lisja | Dreamstime.com; Kill Yourself Trying to Fit Rome into a Crowded Itinerary: Shootalot | Dreamstime.com

How To Buy Vintage Handbags

I love vintage handbags.
A great vintage bag, in a style you can no longer find, can be the most chic alternative to any season's "It" bag.
I often find them in village markets in Italy, taken from old estates that have changed hands. They don't have second hand stores in Italy, nor do they have Goodwill, so local markets are an amazing resource for finding incredible old furniture, collectibles and on a good day, vintage handbags.

One time at an arts market in my Italian home town of 
San Gimignano I found a lady selling a cache of  Louis Vuitton bags from the 70's. The bags were well worn but still in enviable condition. I pored over them, looking for every conceivable sign of a fake, but they were indeed the real deal.

If you are a lover of vintage handbags, or if you are seeking out a second hand Louis Vuitton, Chanel or any other major designer handbag, it is important to know how to spot a fake and how to identify an authentic bag.

Here in the USA everywhere you look there are girls sporting fake Louis'. I don't think people realize how disgusting the trade in fake designer bags really is. It funds terrorism, involves child labor and human trafficking - it is deplorable. Before you even think about buying a knock off Louis or Hermes (or any other designer) make sure you read this article from Harpers Bazaar magazine about 
The Fight Against Fakes. 
One of the paragraphs that has haunted me for years, and that comes to mind every single time I see a girl cruising along with her counterfeit Louis is this:

Then I read the following passage from my book, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. "'I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags,' an investigator told me... 'The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend. [They] did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play.'"

It's barbaric.

So now that we are clear on why we should never, ever buy counterfeit handbags, lets look at an article I found on The Zoe Report on how to buy an authentic vintage designer handbag.

How To Buy Vintage Handbags

Red Flags To Look For

"Luxury brands will always use quality leather, so expect an even and consistent skin. Red flags include crooked stitching or lettering and gold flaking off the hardware. Dust bags, boxes, and authenticity cards aren't always included, but this doesn't mean the bag is a fake. A few examples of other authenticity markers are Chanel always has a hologram sticker listing the serial number, and for Hermès Birkin bags there is a special stamp embossed into the leather strap."

• c1990's Chevron Stripe Crossbody Bag, Chanel $1900

Coveted Styles Will Get Top Dollar

"The rarest and most coveted bags are the Hermès Kelly and Birkin. For Birkin bags, styles made of exotic skins are the most sought after, while Kelly bags from the 1970s are also constantly in demand."

• 1978 Box Calf Kelly Handbag, Hermes $5900

Only Consider Bags In Good, Excellent or Mint Condition

"Most reputable vintage dealers are highly selective. For example, at Resurrection we only carry bags that are in excellent-to-mint condition. When shopping, we recommend following our standard checklist: Make sure the bag has no stains, tears or rips; that the lining is unstained and intact; and that the hardware has no scratches or tarnishing. The corners can sometimes have slight wear, but that can always be easily fixed."

• c1970's Speedy Bag, $395

Beware Of Deals That Are TOO Good

"Always buy from a reputable source and do your research to make sure the seller has an authenticity guarantee. A common mistake is someone buying a bag online for a price that is too good to be true. Usually, it turns out the deal was too good to be true. Most vintage bags will go for around the same price across the board. If you see a Chanel bag for $200, and it is in perfect condition, be wary."

• c1970's Tote Bag, $530

All Images courtesy of The Zoe Report

Before purchasing a vintage designer handbag you can also google how to spot a fake for that brand.

If you are in Europe and are thinking about buying a knock off handbag from a street vendor (or anyone else) make sure you are aware of the penalties for doing so. They do look out for counterfeits at the airports.

A few years ago an acquaintence told me she was stopped at JFK

because traces of cocaine were found on her counterfeit Gucci handbag. She had a hard time explaining that she knowingly bought a counterfeit handbag from a street vendor in Florence, and found herself in a world of trouble.

How To Tell If Short Hair Will Look Good On You

Have you been wanting to chop off your locks and go for a short, sassy haircut, but are not sure if it would look good on you?
You want to make a change, you're ready to take the plunge and make the cut, but what if it's a colossal mistake?

Julian d'Ys cutting off Linda Evangelista's long hair in Peter Lindbergh's studio, 1988

When one of my favorite models of all time, Linda Evangelista, cut off her long hair back in 1988, there was an audible gasp in the fashion world, and she went from being a popular model to an absolute superstar, literally overnight. 
Could the cut be the making of you??

Check out John Frieda's secret formula from this fantastic article I found in Redbook. All you need is a ruler and a pencil...

It's a question hairstylists and reliable friends are often asked, "do you think short hair will suit me?" and thanks to the legion of celebs recently liberating their locks with crops, bobs and lobs, we've never meant it more.

Well the question of flattery has a short answer: The 2.25" (5.5cm) rule.

The magic measurement was discovered by hairstyle trendsetter and product innovator, John Frieda and "it's all about the angles" says Senior Stylist at John Frieda Salons UK and International Training Director of Color Wow, Giles Robinson.

"John studied faces and saw that the angle of the jaw bone determined whether or not someone would look best with short hair or long hair". They say the result is a trusted, easy but exact, measurement that indicates whether a face (any face) is suited to short or long hair.

To try it, position a pencil or pen under your chin horizontally and then place a ruler under your ear, vertically. Take your measurement from the intersection of the pencil and ruler. Less than 2.25" and you'd look amazing with short hair, and if it's anything more long locks will be the most flattering choice for you.

It works well with Michelle Williams and Kim Kardashian (pictured), and when you think of other obvious examples such as Audrey Hepburn next to Sarah Jessica Parker it becomes crystal clear. Those faux bob hair-tuck selfies are a think of the past…

Find more articles like this at Redbook.com