Lazy Layers

Today's post is perfect for a Thursday since we're throwing it way, way back—back to the days when the trees didn't look so depressingly bare!

These pictures were taken around mid-October; looking at them, it's hard to believe the trees were still changing in the city and I was warm enough to go without a jacket and not have goosebumps (although if you look closely enough, you'll notice I have my favorite military-inspired Zara jacket tucked in my bag for after sundown). These pictures have proved perfect inspiration for this week, though, as I'm really feeling the lazy-but-layered approach to dressing for NYFW this season. I always care about February a little less, because to be honest it's just too damn cold and the days are too long to give a sh*t. Today's in-real-life look? Ripped Rag & Bone boyfriend jeans, a light blue cashmere sweater and my favorite Loeffler Randall boots with minimal accessories, which is ideal for the in-and-out office lifestyle I've got going on today.  

Unfortunately, the temps this week are going to be a bit too cold for me to pull off the dress-sweater combo I wore endlessly in the fall (adding tights just runs the risk of me looking like a crazy person with all of my limbs covered and flow-y layers added on top—very Man-Repeller and hard for me to pull off, honestly). It's all good, though, because I've been counting down the days to spring somewhat obsessively and you can bet as soon as we hit highs of 50 I'll be bare-legged and quite possibly forgoing coats during daylight hours. For now, though, I'm RSVP'ing yes to everything NYFW with an open bar...alcohol is supposed to warm you up, right?

wearing: Acne Studios Dania Sweater

The Lady & the Sailor T-Shirt Dress

Vince. Slip-On Sneakers (size down 1/2 size)

Botkier Bag

Gerard Yosca Earrings

Warby Parker Baxter Glasses

Bite Beauty Lipstick in Violet

Layered

Every fall/winter season, I seem to pick one styling technique and subconsciously stick with with for several months. Two years ago, it was tights under dresses and skirts, last year it was dark wash jeans with chunky sweaters, and this year I'm all about sweaters over dresses.  

I snagged this pretty printed Madewell dress on sale about a month ago, but the temps had already dropped too much to wear it alone. I didn't want to give up on it completely for the season (because there's something that feels so great about wearing new clothes for the first time, too) so I scoured through my current sweater collection until I came across this cropped black one, last seen here. The fitted knit fit perfectly over the looser, flowing silhouette of the dress, and I've since repeated it with another Madewell dress (I guess I shop in pairs!) and a similar, hi-lo sweater.

That's all I've got for today…still a little time to kill before work, and I haven't packed a thing for London! I head out tomorrow night, so stay tuned for some across-the-pond coverage in the coming weeks, and make sure to follow me on instagram for (somewhat) real time updates!

P.S.—to whomever shouted "I love your blog!" out a car window while I was shooting these, if you actually do, thanks! If you just though I was Blair Eadie since it was the West Village and I have long blonde hair, I'm equally flattered.

525 America Sweater  c/o Zappos || Madewell Printed Shirtdress || Sole Society Boots (similar)

Otte New York Alexis Hat || Botkier Bag || Bite Beauty Lipstick in Tannin

Superhero

Happy Friday! Or, as I'm starting to call it, the start of the weekend where I try not to lose my mind. Just over a week from now, I'll be hopping on a plane home for 12 days—which sounds relaxing, but the reality is there's a lot I have to accomplish before I go (the least of which are laundry, packing, and cleaning up my apartment!), a bridal shower and bachelorette party that I'm hosting 12 hours after I land, and the start of NYFW 36 hours after I get back to NYC. Which is why I'm all about moments when I get to step back and relax for a minute...

I took my last summer Friday of the year last week (which makes it feel even more like fall in my head than this cooler weather we're having right now) and headed for the UES to grab lunch with Ashley. We headed to a quiet restaurant with tables lined up in the shade outdoors and spent some time just catching up, de-stressing from the week, and walking over to get some fro-yo after and meander to the park, where we nabbed a bench in the sunshine and gabbed a while longer. And, yes, I'm wholly aware I just used the words "meander" and "gabbed" in the same sentence…my brain must already be on Iowa-mode, ha!

Funny little story about this dress…I saw it at the beginning of the season when I was browsing new arrivals, but it faded from memory til last month when it popped back up on MAJOR sale on most sites. I kept debating whether I wanted to pull the trigger since it was still a tad pricey, but got an email one afternoon from the only site that still had my size in stock saying their sale section was ending that night. I got home shortly after midnight and hopped on my computer 20 minutes later…but the sale section was gone! So, naturally, at one a.m. I was writing emails to their customer service and even called when I discovered they had a 24-hour customer service line, but there was nothing they could do. A deeper Google search finally lead me to the last site to have just ONE in stock, in my size. Fate, right? Especially when it was $20 cheaper than everywhere else I'd seen it!

My co-workers have taken to calling it my "superhero dress" thanks to the cape-like overlay on the back. I personally love it for the simple fact it's a little unique and incredibly flattering. I've dressed it up with a chunky heel, and wore it like you see here to work last week with an edgier ankle boot.

J. Brand Lonsdale Dress || Schutz Ankle Boots (old) || Botkier Legacy Satchel (small version)

Italia Independent Sunglasses || Sequin Jewelry Necklace || Michael Kors Watch

Photos: Ashley Manfred

Blue and Yellow

 I know it's only Tuesday, but does it feel more like it should be closer to Friday to anyone else? Somehow the first half of this month has already flown by and the second half is completely packed full—I won't even be in NYC for the upcoming two weekends (follow me on instagram if you want to see where I'm headed). By the time all that's done & over with I'll be another year older and summer will pretty much be upon us! I don't really have words to contain my excitement, but I do hope that I can get a little color on my ghostly white legs before then—and hopefully avoid another incident like yesterday, where I slipped crossing 7th Avenue and banged up my knee pretty bad....while flashing everyone on the street because I was in a dress. Happy Monday, right? 

Thankfully, these photos were taken before drinks with a friend after work last week—no ghostly white legs or bruised knees in sight. Oh, and if you want to see why I'm laughing so hard in the third picture...scroll down to the bottom for a little gem.

Zara Coat (there's a blue verison, too!)  || 7 For All Mankind Coated Jeans (similar) || Madewell Linen Bike Tee

Botkier Legacy Satchel (smaller version) || Sole Society Shoes 

My friend Ainsley & I had been talking about how I'm always making stupid faces or waving my hands around when my picture is being taken...so she managed to snap this gem, looked at it, and proceeded to laugh, loudly, at me while telling me I looked dumb (and because of the guy we managed to get passing me). Ensuing laughs on my end happened, too!