Little Flowers

My jewelry style doesn't usually go beyond Tiffany & Co. silver studs and Alexis Bittar gunmetal hoops—simple, understated, etc. The craziest I get is stacking a tiny diamond ring with a very fake Chanel ring that I once discovered behind a drawer. These shots, though, have me pining for embellishment. Flower details are oversized and quirky, striking a sweet balance between ladies-who-lunch and straight-up gaudy. I could most definitely use a gem-studded cuff paired with... wait, are those zippered tweed gloves?

Things you don't need but really want and are probably going to hunt down anyway, no. 578: zippered tweed gloves.


[photo cred here and here]

Skirting Around

It's been so hot around here that I've completely abandoned pants for skirts. I'm obsessed with really breezy, feminine numbers as of late—chiffon and leather with pleats and tucks. I'm currently pining after this Robert Rodriguez crinkled chiffon skirt (does it ever get better than crinkled chiffon?) though my wallet isn't.

I spent my weekend curled up with my AC unit and occasionally wandering out at night to explore the Lower East Side. How are you beating heat? I would do terrible things to have access to a pool right now..

[photo cred to 1 and 2]

Note to Self

Don't forgo a little polish in the morning...

...because you never know when you're going to find yourself in Goldie Hawn's apartment, having a conversation with Melanie Griffith and sipping lemon water. When I interned at Allure, whipping out my favorite Nars lipstick in Flamenco became second nature. Now, I'm lucky if I can get clothes on before I tear out of my apartment, Tasmanian Devil-style, and run to the office/a meeting/an event. I realized today, while sitting on Goldie Hawn's couch and thanking God that I didn't wear an old Theory dress that totally has a stain on it, that I just feel more confident and put-together when I swipe on a bit of makeup (and don't wear clothes that are in dire need of a dry-cleaning). Hi, red lipstick. Hi, mascara. Hi, primer. Hi, laundry detergent/dry cleaner around the corner from my apartment. Let's play.


[photo cred here]

Paris Chic

I have such a massive crush on Erin Fetherston's Manhattan apartment...if only mine resembled this! I used it as an inspiration for my room and have an intricate curlicue vanity, white ruffled curtains and a pink ruffled (I couldn't help it) bedspread. Pictures will be coming soon, I promise!

[photo cred to Claiborne Swanson Frank for Vogue]

The Club

My first full week of work made me realize that I still dress like a girl who just graduated from college. A ribbed tank may have snuck into my outfit on a desperate Friday, around the same time I discovered that while I own piles and piles of jeans and casual tees/tanks, they will do me no good at the magazine. So we decided to cool things down for a bit. There were tears involved, as well as promises to visit on the weekends. I love you, jeans and tees. I'm your girl!

However.

I got over the separation pretty quickly when my mother and I went to Club Monaco. Hello pale lace, swingy silk pleated skirts, soft tanks, and one stellar embellished-tee-that-is-completely-work-appropriate-I-promise (I couldn't go cold turkey). I adore the fall lookbook, which is all warm neutrals in wispy fabrics and retro, ladylike silhouettes. And with a student discount (cough cough cough cough cough maybe I chalked my student ID cough cough), I can't go wrong. How was your weekend?

Lunch Dates

I like having lunch dates with myself from time to time. I pack lunch as often as I can and, since it's too depressing to eat alone at my desk, I wander over to Bryant Park to sit in the shade. Sometimes, when it's crowded and I don't get a table in the shade, I melt. The sun radiates heat and the ground radiates heat and I think I'm in hell. Other times, I people-watch and eavesdrop (one lawyer had to take the bar exam four times before he passed it). Most of the time, I read a book.

Whenever I get bored of Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck (which is surprisingly amusing, complete with imaginary conversations), I take advantage of the Bryant Park Reading Room. There are books + it's free = no reason not to go. The best part? If you show up at about 5:30 PM, you'll get a good view of corporate men in suits playing ping pong. It is delightful, mostly because they seem so out of place. And because I like men in suits.


[photo cred to Vanessa Jackmen for Grazia IT and Jenna]

Monochromatic Magic

Two things that these stylish ladies have in common: enviable hair that I can't pull off and the successful execution of monochromatic outfits. The trick to a one-color ensemble is to tinker with the shades of a neutral/almost-neutral color (AKA, orange may not be the easiest choice). The outfit on the left has a varying gradient of tan, while the pants on the right have the perfect tinge of grey, which interrupts the stark white blouse and flats. I can't wait to try this with an navy ombré skirt and a paler blue tank. Which shade would you go for?

[photo cred to 1 and 2]

Brand New Start

I've realized that I've reached the point where black tees and denim short-shorts are no longer appropriate for everyday wear. I have to dress like a professional now (says my mother). However, dressing like a professional does not mean a life filled with starchy fabrics and uncomfortably-high collars. My staples for office-wear (which I perfected last year at Allure) are light chiffon dresses and colorful pencil skirts. They're breezy yet grown-up and, most importantly, they won't make you sweat like a pig that knows it's dinner.

This week is going to be incredibly hectic for me, as I start my new job and move into the city to get a taste of urban living. On the bright side, I'm legitimately excited for work and so pleased to be moving in with my best friend from Northwestern. I've already begun fielding texts from her that say things like "I have a toilet brush and a Pope John Paul II mug" and "Thoughts about me bringing kimono fabric that I once used to make a toga?" (The answer to which was a resounding "YES").

[photo cred to 1, 2, and 3]

Say Yes...

...yes to the pursuit of happiness.

Yes to macaroni salad and potato salad and egg salad.

Yes to kitten heels...

...and white lace.

Yes to the glow of city lights in the evening.

Yes to Chanel's own catgirl (I love you, Carine).
Yes to frolicking at the beach.

Yes to a long and lovely holiday weekend!

[photo cred here]