Kelly and Alex’s Trip to Carmel, California
Hello there! Alex and I are back after our long weekend trip to Carmel and Monterey for a friend’s wedding. We had a wonderful time and it was really nice to see the California coast again – love the fog rolling in over Monterey Bay! Alex was a groomsman at the wedding so we had a few nights of fun, catching up with old friends and making new ones. So today, we are sharing a little bit of our Trip to Carmel, California.
We are doing something a little different today; instead of focusing on my outfits, I want to focus on what Alex wore for traveling, to the rehearsal dinner, and to the wedding. I will share what I wore, but today let’s look at some fall outfits for men.
TL;DR
Kelly and Alex share Fall Outfits during their trip to Carmel
The outfits are shoppable via text and image widgets
Kelly and Alex’s Trip to Carmel, California
Travel Outfit
I shared my travel outfit with you last week with my Fall Travel Outfit. Alex opted for fashionable comfort too, with a denim-on-denim look. The Polo Ralph Lauren Sullivan Slim Jeans come in a variety of washes, which is great because just like for women, when men find a great-fitting pair of jeans, it’s worth getting them in a few different washes. A simple white v-neck tee and Denim Western Shirt top things off.
The always-in-style Red Wing Classic Chelsea Boots are the perfect travel boots because not only are they comfortable and slip-on, but they won’t take up space in your suitcase!
Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner was held at a cute, rustic event space called Hacienda in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The grounds consisted of a covered area with picnic tables, fun outdoor games and activities; and a few interesting sculptures, including a sand sculpture of a horse!
Since the rehearsal dinner was pretty casual, Alex went with the same Polo Ralph Lauren Sullivan Slim Jeans in a lighter blue wash and a green buffalo check flannel shirt. Another favorite tee, the Split Neck Tee from Vince.
My outfit for the rehearsal dinner was comfortable and perfect for the warm evening. Cashmere Sweater Set from J.Crew and a Faux Leather Pleated Skirt. This outfit was easy to pack and is great for our trip to Carmel during their Indian Summer.
Shop the Outfit
Wedding Day
The groomsmen were asked to wear navy suits for the ceremony. Luckily, Alex wore a navy suit to our wedding, so no new suit was needed! His suit is Canali, we bought it at Nordstrom for our wedding in 2019. It’s the Solid Kei Trim Fit Suit. He is wearing Cole Haan Grand Derby Wingtips, which look a bit dusty because the wedding was on the beach!
The wedding ceremony was right on the beach. The bride and groom were married under a chuppah decorated with shower bouquets of white flowers, and sheer fabric draped beautifully from the chuppah frame. The weather was perfect – not a cloud in the sky! A light breeze and temps around 75º F. It was wonderful! The reception was at Carmel Fields by Wedgewood Weddings.
I wore the dress featured in my post: Summer Wedding Guest Dress for Petites. The dress is no longer available, but for a summer item, it went perfectly for a California beach wedding in October. In the original post, I didn’t have a metallic handbag. But I did find this metallic peach-colored box clutch that went perfectly with the peachy tones in my dress!
Carmel-by-the-Sea
The day after the wedding, Alex and I spent the afternoon walking around Carmel-by-the-Sea. We had a wonderful lunch at a sushi restaurant called Toro. I have only had sushi once since we moved to Athens (and that was in Charleston, LOL!), so it was such a treat to find a great little spot to enjoy our favorite sashimi, rolls, and ramen.
After lunch, we meandered about, toured art galleries, consignment shops and enjoyed the ocean views.
The fog was rolling in and out, so we donned our sweaters. Alex is back in his Polo Ralph Lauren Sullivan Slim Jeans and the Vince Short Sleeve Henley, with a Fair Isle Cardigan. Alex's cardigan is Ralph Lauren from last year, but there is an almost identical version at Nordstrom by Schott NYC.
I wore the Shapely Shell Top from Frances Valentine. The rose print is sold out but the Regatta Stripe pattern is super cute too! My cardigan is so many years old, but the oatmeal color really does go with everything, so I find myself wearing it a lot. I found a similar version at the Gap. Black denim is always good to bring along on a trip because it’s so versatile. I am wearing AG Ankle Straight Jeans. Then of course, because I just can’t get enough of them, I am wearing the Gold Fisherman Sandals from J.Crew.
I wanted my picture taken in front of the Hog’s Breath Inn because I have some fun memories of going there when I lived in California. While it’s no longer owned by Clint Eastwood, it still has all its funky California charm.
In Case You Missed It
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WOW! Both of you look so good for the trip and wedding in Carmel. Carmel is such a beautiful and fun destination for pleasure and a perfect place for a beach wedding. I hope you had some time to explore and shop in Carmel. Were you there just for the weekend? By the way, just wondering if your husband teaches at the university in Athens, GA.
Thanks so much, Michelle! Carmel is lovely, we were only there for a few days. We did enjoy walking around Carmel. A lot of shops were closed because it was Sunday, but we managed to pop into a few art galleries and consignment shops. No, Alex is not a professor at UGA. Thanks so much for stopping by! xo Kelly
Can you share the size you wear in the sweater set? I usually wear a Small but I recently purchased a sweater from jcrew and had to downsize. I’m 5’ 118 lbs.
Thank you. Debbie
Hi Debbie, I have the sweater set in xs. I could have sized up if I wanted a slightly looser fit in the sweater tank, but then I think the cardigan might have been a bit long in the sleeves. I would say it’s TTS, I certainly wouldn’t downsize for this sweater set though. Thank you so much for your question, Debbie! xo Kelly
Thank you Kelly.
Kelly, thank you so much for sharing your trip to California! This New Yorker loves the Monterey area too! My favorite pic is of you and Alex and what you both wore to the wedding. Beautiful!
Kelly, love that floral dress! You both look great. Carmel-by-the -Sea is on my to Travel list. Where did you stały? World you recommend it? Enjoy your posts! Robin
Hi Robin, Thank you for stopping by! We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course. We stayed there because that’s where the wedding party stayed. It was nice, it’s a resort type of environment because of the golf course. It’s about 10-15 minutes to Carmel-by-the-Sea. I would recommend/consider staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea if you want to be within walking distance and in the center of things. Hope that helps and that you make the trip!! xo Kelly
So glad you had such a fun weekend in CA, and what a cute couple you are! It’s nice to see some menswear showcased (many of us buy all or most of our husbands clothes for them). I especially like the RL Sweater Alex is wearing and the current one at Nordstrom’s is a good one as well
Thanks so much, AJ! You know it’s true, I do a fair bit of Alex’s clothes shopping, but he’s become quite the shopper for himself! I was really happy to find that similar cardigan because it’s such a great men’s cardigan for fall and winter – Alex wore it so much last year. Thanks so much for stopping by! I will let him know you appreciate the menswear, maybe he will be up for another post in the future! xo Kelly
Kelly – this was a great post! You both looked great and Carmel is so charming! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for showing some Men’s casual looks! It was nice to see both your looks on vacation and Alex’s. Very much appreciated!
Glad you liked seeing some menswear, Laurie! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment! xo Kelly
Thanks so much for stopping by, Lynn! xo Kelly
Hi Kelly,
You two are such a cute couple! I love going to Hog’s Breath Inn as well, even though Clint doesn’t own it anymore…still a fun place. Glad you had a nice time! I too enjoy you sharing some men’s clothes. Loving the Cardigan and would make a nice Christmas gift for my new boyfriend. Can you give me Alex’s size or stats if that’s not too much to ask please? Thanks, Melanie
Hi Melanie, that’s fun that you’ve been to Hog’s Breath Inn! The cardigan is a great Christmas gift; he is wearing a size large. Thanks so much for stopping by! xo Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Carmel is a very special place and I have enjoyed my visits there—so glad you shared your lovely weekend with us! You and Alex looked super-sharp for the wedding and it was fun to see him featured. Thank Alex for being such a good sport! I absolutely love how you reply to your readers’ comments and answer their questions. I know it is time-consuming, but it makes your connection very special. They are always so warm and friendly—and appreciated. Thank you!
You’re so kind, Janet. I take very seriously the connections we make on Style at a Certain Age. It’s important for me to cultivate a supportive and connected community here. I appreciate your thoughts and thank you so much for stopping by! xo Kelly
Beautiful wedding outfits. That picture of you two is great! Love Carmel. That place holds special memories for me, so thanks for sharing!