Relaxed City Style

Normally by today, I'd be grumbling about how it's only Tuesday and thinking about how to make the weekend get here faster…no rushed thoughts necessary when there's a holiday weekend on the horizon, though! This week is a killer at work (we're having a really huge sale), but I'm like a high schooler anxiously awaiting the last bell of the year on Thursday so I can dive right into a three and a half-day weekend!

I'm not really big on holidays, but the Fourth of July is a little different to me. There's something about it that sweetly and supremely signals summer and it's no secret this season and I have a love affair every year. It's also one of the few holidays and long weekends I get where I'm not traveling (my birthday usually falls around Memorial Day and I'm often traveling to a friend's wedding; Labor Day will again be spent at home for my sister's wedding!) and there are a few added perks tied closely to it: beautiful, warm weather and a nearly-empty city.

I daydream about having a house in the Hamptons to escape to just like any other NY'er (and if you have a friend with one that you want to introduce me to, I wouldn't say no), but there's something magical about exploring the best parts of the city without all the usual people and masses of tourists crowding the sidewalks and museums and restaurants. I've got a little list of places I should hit up going already, but I'd love some additional suggestions! What's your favorite place to go in the city that's usually impossible to get in to?

Equipment Silk Blouse || Joe's Jeans Rolled Shorts c/o Zappos || Zara Tote || Illesteva Sunglasses

Joie Sandals c/o Zappos || Michael Kors Watch c/o Zappos || C. Wonder Leather and Chain Bracelet

Photos: Ashley Manfred

PS—If you're in the market for a hairstylist in NYC, I cannot recommend Hazuki Hair in Midtown East enough! I usually get my hair cut back home, but my travel schedule this year has thrown everything out of whack and I was sporting so many split ends I was starting to cut them off myself. The stylist took her time and I don't think my hair's looked this healthy in a few years!

Go With the Flow

Happy almost Friday! It's been another jam-packed week, but I'm not complaining. After what seemed like the longest winter ever (second maybe to GoT) and having been sick pretty much all of last summer, I could not have been more ready for beautiful weather . I'm cramming in as many beaches, parks, brunches and drinks al fresco that I can—I've even gotten my ass out of bed early enough to see friends BEFORE work (I know, what is wrong with me? All the coffee in the world follows at work on these days.). One of my favorite things this week was meeting an instagrammer I admire early one morning in Chelsea to shoot a few photos...you can check out one of his final snaps (and my favorite) here!

My boss at my last job brought me back these incredible, comfortable pants from St. Tropez a few years ago. It's no secret I love color and a crazy pattern, but I tend to stick to fitted silhouettes so I was a little apprehensive about them at first. I needn't have worried, they've become one of my favorites in spring and summer thanks to the wrinkle-proof fabric and elastic waistband (necessary for my summertime wine-and-cheese diet).

Equipment Blouse || Pants from St. Tropez || Fossil Wedges (old, similar) || Illesteva Sunglasses || Sequin Bangles

Four Eyes

Some of you may remember that my 25th birthday was a few weeks ago….well, 24 bid me farewell with an ass-kicker of a birthday present. For as long as I can remember, I've had pretty much perfect vision (I was lucky enough to rarely get sick growing up, too—something that has not followed me to adulthood, either). I aced vision charts for physicals and took a little secret pride in being able to read the teeny, tiny print on the smallest lines from halfway down the hallway.  A few years ago, I took a job that involved a lot of long, long days in front of a computer screen, often working in photoshop at 400% zoom, and things declined rapidly.

Fast forward about 9 months and I realized I was struggling to read the digitized subway signs as the trains pulled into the station; any text more than a few feet away had a slight gaussian blur (pardon the photoshop pun). A few months later I started being covered under vision insurance at work, but I put off making a doctor's appointment. Eventually, I changed jobs and lost the insurance in the process, meaning I was only covered by my mom's back in Iowa. In the meantime, things weren't getting any better…so when I headed home for a quick (72 hour!) trip a few weeks ago, I prioritized an eye exam and came out with a new prescription.

Since everything vision is still pretty new to me, I assumed I'd walk out that day with a pair of glasses on their way to me, but once we looked at the price tags compared to the paltry coverage offered on my mom's plan I knew that wouldn't be happening. Vaguely familiar with Warby Parker, I decided I'd check them out when I got back to the city—at $95 a pair with some insurance reimbursement, they sounded like a pretty good deal. I popped up to the new UES store a few weeks ago with an image in my head of what I wanted and in less than ten minutes landed on the Baxter, which you see here! 

I'm still experimenting with when I need to wear them and when I don't. They're most helpful when I'm waiting for the subway since several trains run over my line and not all of them get me home, but I'm usually wearing sunglasses once I'm outdoors. I thought I'd need them more at work, but I haven't struggled too much with computer screens yet, the irony of which is not lost on me. I did wear them during a concert last week, as I've noticed trouble focusing on performances when I'm further away or up high. 

I think it's going to take some getting used to, so any advice you fellow four-eyes out there can offer would be great. I feel like frames in general are stupidly hipster these days, and as an avid sunglass wearer I also keep thinking that I forgot to take my sunglasses off inside before remembering they are see-through. This has also made for some awkward moments on the subway when I have them on and realize that, yes, the person whose direction I'm vaguely staring in can see me (reflective sunglasses are a lot more helpful in these cases).

Warby Parker Baxter in Striped Sassafras || Equipment Washed Silk Blouse || BITE High Pigment Pencil in Quince

Weekly Wants

I'm looking at the calendar while I type this and having a hard time believing it's already near mid-December. I go home for two weeks in just nine short days (more on that to come), and won't be back in NYC til after the new year! I know most blogs, websites, magazines, e-mail blasts etc. etc. etc. are taking this time to share gift guides with you, and in a way weekly wants is a gift guide—to myself. I wholeheartedly believe in buying myself gifts, frequently, as a reward for all the hard work I do for myself. Selfish? Maybe a little, but I'm also a pretty fantastic gift giver so I'm not too worried (I'd share some of the things I've picked up for friends so far but I don't want to chance them coming across this). I may post one or two with you in the coming weeks, but this weekly ode to my own shopping addiction will certainly keep on comin'. 

*if anyone is looking at this to shop for ME, that twist front dress has been on my mind for weeks now. 

Clockwise starting from top left: Express Scoop Neck Tee || Jimmy Choo Anna Shoulder Bag || Sandy Hyun Emerald Deco Earrings || Equipment Roland Printed Sweater || Dwell Studio Crosshatch Decanter || Terrain United States Chalkboard Map || Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien Poster || West Elm Faux Fur Throw || Tbags Los Angeles Twist Front Dress || Todd Snyder x Champion Sweatshirt || Schutz Cailyn Bootie || Ranjana Kahn Embellished Collar || J. Crew Minnie Pant || Nars Guy Bourdain Cinematic Lipstick in Future Red

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