Recently, my husband and I got the chance to escape without the kids for an hour or two to spend some time at The Huntington in Pasadena! We’ve been several times before and love it! The gardens are BEAUTIFUL and it’s such a nice escape from the city. We usually go during the day (and with kids) so it was fun to explore the grounds in the evening with the sun setting.
The Huntington museums may be closed due to Covid but you can still roam the outdoor gardens! You just have to reserve tickets in advance online and wear a mask while you are there. (I took my mask off for photos but the rest of the time I wore one). Since the gardens are so large it’s pretty easy to avoid people if you want to. The staff also takes your temperature when you arrive so overall it felt very safe. My husband and I decided to become members since the membership cost will pay for itself in three visits. I have a feeling that we’ll be going back a lot this year!
An Evening at the Huntington
This outing gave me the opportunity to wear a pretty dress and take my new Milaner bag out for a spin! (Remember the days when we got dressed up and used out bags and shoes??). I honestly felt like I was a character out of a Jane Austen novel in this GORGEOUS Damaris Bailey linen dress.
Because this bag was handcrafted in Europe I thought the perfect setting for photos would be the European gardens at the Huntington. Admittedly, this is a section of the Huntington that I usually don’t spend a lot of time in. But this trip had me changing my mind. It was so relaxing to hang out at the fountain, sit on the marble benches, and roam the extensive grass lawns. Since most of us can’t travel right now this is such a nice escape!
The Rose Garden at Huntington
I wish I had gotten more pictures of the landscapes because it’s absolutely gorgeous here. The roses were still in bloom and the sun was setting. I would have stayed there for hours if I could but we had to get back home to the babies!
Outfit Details:
Damaris Bailey Dress
Everlane Espadrilles c/o
Kin the Label Hat
Milaner Bag c/o
Madewell Scarf
Kinn Jewelry Necklace c/o
What’s in My Milaner Bag
The Milaner Elena bag was the perfect tote to carry all the essentials for an evening stroll. Milaner is a luxury brand that works with French and Italian artisans to create beautiful pieces in an authentic and sustainable way. After getting to see the Elena bag in person I can tell you that the craftsmanship is top notch. You may be thinking – “do I really need another tote bag?” – and the answer is – “yes, yes you do!”. This bag is handcrafted in Italy out of 100% Vachetta leather which will develop a gorgeous patina with wear. It’s an investment piece that just gets better with time! I love that this is a tote bag that I don’t necessarily have to be gentle with. The woven design and the type of leather used will hide marks and scratches really well. The leather is also supposed to have a “lived-in” feel and those types of marks actually make this bag more special. I’m using the Classic size but it also comes in Mini and Travel!
I think the Classic size is the perfect everyday tote. It has A TON of room but it doesn’t look too big or overwhelming when you are carrying it. For this trip I made sure to pack the essentials (wallet, keys, sunglasses, lipstick), a water bottle, my polaroid camera, and even a change of clothes! Yes, this bag even fit an extra dress so that I could get more outfit photos (you’ll be seeing those soon!).
You can see more of this gorgeous bag plus what else I can fit inside in my Milaner Unboxing Video!
The garden is so beautiful, I love your dress!
xoxo
Lovely
http://mynameislovely.com
I purchased the Classic Elena in taupe suede. Its a beautiful bag. I did not start to carry it until a few weeks after it arrived. The first time I did I was headed to a meeting in black pants and a black shirt. By the time I arrived, I thought I had the worst case of dandruff ever. Come to find out it was the suede shedding. I reached out to Milaner. They instructed to wipe it down with a dry cloth and after a few more wears, it would not shed. I did this. I actually kept a dry cloth in the bag. Months later it continues to shed. I can not carry it with any dark colored clothing. I have reached out to Milaner again simply requesting a replacement. It has been denied. They even went so far as to say that the bag should not be shedding months later.