Fall Plaid + NYFW Details

You guys, it's September. If you're in denial about the unofficial end of summer, don't worry, I'm right there with you. Acknowledging it means the true end of summer is fast approaching (just over two weeks away!) and I know how winter likes to rush in and ruin everything. In the meantime, though, us NY'ers are using NYFW as one big distraction, and the weather has been hot and humid to match.

Usually, I start prepping and planning for September fashion week about two months in advance (this is the sixth NYFW season I've participated in!), cleaning up some of my press documents and getting on the radar of a few fashion PR agencies, getting an idea of what I'll want to wear and whether said item is already in my closet. This year has been a tad different after spending so much time away recently for my sister's wedding and a few things on the job-related front, but what I really love most about NYFW in September are the events and chance to catch up with so many friends who travel in to town. 

In between some other shows and events this weekend, I'm really excited to announce I'll be hosting a styling session with Zappos at their Zappos Recharge station, directly across from Lincoln Center, on Sunday from 2:30-3p! If you're in the city (even if you're not attending shows that day) please come by and say hi! If you are attending shows and need a break this weekend, Zappos Recharge is the place to be…they'll have fresh Blueprint juices, charging stations for all your electronics (especially important if your phone is anything like mine!), beauty and braid bars to touch up your look, a dress-up closet, runway and photo booth, from 10a-7p on Saturday and 2-7p on Sunday.

You also may spot me in this Joie skirt sometime this weekend…Zappos carries over a dozen designers that show during fashion week, and since plaid is a huge trend for fall I jumped at the chance to add a fun plaid mini to my closet. It took me a few tries to make sure I didn't look too school-girl in the rest of my look (especially since I really insist on wearing sneakers as much as possible) but I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for styling it now.

Joie Skirt c/o Zappos || Zoe Karssen T-Shirt || Converse sneakers in Optical White c/o Zappos

Bite Beauty Lipstick in Violet || Sequin and Baublebar Bracelets

Governor's Island

A few weeks ago I unexpectedly had a friend in town for the weekend, so my plans for laundry & cleaning quickly switched to beaches, brunch, a little shopping in Nolita (my favorite neighborhood for it!) and a ride across the ferry to Governor's Island in search of the mythical hammock grove. 

The trip over happened on a whim. We didn't feel like spending forever and a day on the subway to get somewhere quiet/relaxing (and where I'm not tempted to spend money...sorry, NoLIta/SoHo!), so I suggest hopping a train downtown to catch the ferry to the island for a few hours. Also, a catch to note—it's not free anymore! I was a little disappointed to have to pay, but at least it's only $2/roundtrip. 

Parts of the island were busy with kids, parents and lots o' tourists-on-bikes (I suggest walking on the grass to steer clear, as I don't entirely trust their pedaling skills), but there's still plenty of space to wander around, and various old buildings and houses are open on the weekends because of exhibits. They're mostly emptied of furniture now, but I like imagining how the rooms might have been filled and what it would have been like to live there. 

Some serious, long wandering (the island is WAY bigger than it looks) finally led us back to the mythical hammocks, but it was a little disappointing...the weather was near-90 degree, not a cloud in the sky. The trees were only planted in the last year, so I suggest slathering on some major SPF (which you should be doing anyways!) before you head out there. We finally found an open one to hop in for a little while right after taking these pics, but by that point the sun was getting to me and I was ready to head for the air-conditioned subway ride home...so of course we had to wait 15 minutes on the platform. Life in NYC, am I right?

P.S. I spent last night #GlamFamChat'ing with Hallie on the best tips & tricks for instagram. Check out the feed on Twitter here, or for a more condensed version head over to her blog!

Zara Silk Tank || Anthropologie Shorts || Zara Tote 

Illesteva Sunglasses || Joie Sandals via Zappos || Sequin Bracelets || Michael Kors Watch

Link Love

Hello, weekend! Is it just me or did this one creep up faster than usual? I was sitting at the table early Thursday morning, thinking it was Tuesday or Wednesday, until one of my roommates mentioned it being nearly the weekend. Last week flew by, and it wasn't even as jam-packed as the rest of this summer has been! In less than a month I'll be spending some Q.T. back home before my sister's wedding, and because I didn't look at a calendar when I booked my ticket, I'll be getting back about 36 hours before the *official* start of fashion week. Between work and the blog, it's going to be a busy one!

I'll stop getting ahead of myself, though...let's live in the moment as long as we can, especially with the (mostly) beautiful days we've been having. This weekend's fun-time agenda is shortened as I'm spending most of today in studio for work, but I'm looking forward to sunset rooftop drinks and a chill Sunday before I dive back into the week. 

Now, for the fun part…what's been catching my eye! (and sometimes distracting me from work, shh)

The beautiful image at the start of this post is from photographer Kara Rosenlund, whose work I discovered after coming across her home tour on Design Sponge. A few of her amazing prints are available for purchase here.

I'm so not ready for fall, but I am eyeing these Joie boots for when I just can't cut it in sandals any longer.

Hallie nailed it with her summer guide to the city—some of her picks are favorites of mine and some are new to me (hopefully not for long!).

I nearly pre-ordered this Heidi Merrick top, but forgot to do it in time…now it's 50% off!

Victoria's post about the site Medium took me down the rabbit hole—she highlights several of the must-reads here.

Managing my stress levels while learning the benefits of aromatherapy with these roll-ons.

I loved Jessica's look with the Stace Face Alice & Olivia top (cardigan version on sale here!)

Getting into the backpack trend with this leather one from The Sak in ochre.

Making plans to get to the Jazz Age Lawn Party before summer's over! FYI, the second weekend is in August. 

Thinking about stepping up my watch game with this all-black option from Michael Kors (+ it's on sale at Nordstrom for another week!).

ICYMI...

My favorite silk dress & ankle boots

What to wear to a day of museums

My remainder-of-summer to do list

Image via Kara Rosenlund

Downtown Goes Uptown

In the spirit of doing & seeing as much as I can this summer (and sometimes that means spending an entire Sunday laying in the park with a book), a few friends & I decided to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few weeks ago to catch the Charles James exhibit and enjoy the amazing rooftop view (looks a lot like I'm holding green juice, right? Well, let me tell you...there was a hefty dose of gin buried in all that cucumber + kale, too). 

I'm having a bit of a dilemma lately wherein I hate e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in my closet. My style has evolved + simplified a lot of the last couple years, so a few weeks ago I did a serious purge and dumped 90% of it at Buffalo Exchange & my local thrift shop (you can find the rest here!). Considering I didn't own much in the way of summer clothes until the last few years—because when you're a lifeguard for seven years, you pretty much run around in your swimsuit for 3+ months and throw on cheap, easy sundresses for bar patios at night—it's still a less-than-robust area of my wardrobe. 

SO, when you're going to the Upper East Side—known for its poise and old money—it's time to step it up...right? Wrong. I tried on just about every dress I own, and while the masses of floral-print sundresses I have (thanks, Target!) are great for the beach or the park, I feel like I'm dressing too "young" for who I am today when I wear them out and about. Which is how I settled on a neon mini-skirt and Pink Floyd crop top. Sometimes I'll get dressed, and while I'm not excited by whatever I'm wearing, it gets me through the day. Other times, I feel completely myself despite looking a little out-there, and this was one of those days...even if it meant shocking some UESiders with a flash of belly button here and there ;)

American Eagle Pink Floyd Crop Top c/o || J. Crew Mini Skirt (on sale for $45!) || Lionette Necklace 

Illesteva Sunglasses || Joie Sandals c/o Zappos || Essie Polish in "I'm Addicted"

YSL in Rose Culté || Michael Kors Watch c/o Zappos

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!

Weekly Wants

This week's weekly wants is a little clothing-heavy, probably because I've half a mind to do some serious wardrobe cleaning again as I prepare to put all my summer clothes away. As much as I love color (evidence here, here, here, here oh and here), I've been drawn to simple whites, blacks and military greens more often lately. Fear not-I'll never lose my color-loving side, but some days I think it'd be easier for me to get dressed in the morning if I had more neutral pieces to match some of my crazier ones. I'm also planning to pick up a French course this fall to freshen up my language skills (I did get a degree in it, after all), so a little "je t'aime" around my neck would be the perfect touch for fall. My love of gold accents is clearly showing no sign of slowing down, either. Oh, and can we take a minute to talk about 1820 House candles? I found a small selection of their items at a little shop in Boerum Hill earlier this summer and could not. stop. smelling. the sandalwood and cardamom scent the entire time I was in the store! One came home with me, but I've almost burned through it and am in need of several to go around my apartment. I have never smelled anything so wonderful in my entire life.

Clockwise from top left: 1820 House Sandalwood and Cardamom candle || Bailey 44 Leather Look Tee || Drink More Gin Print || Harvey Faircloth Plaid Jacket || Mettle Gold iPhone Case || Ragdoll Cropped Tee || Joie Bright Fire Ankle Boots (on sale!) || Sole Society Carla Tote || Jennifer Meyer Je t'aime Necklace || Rag & Bone Lariat Zipper Jean || Zara Waistcoat with Zips || Santa Maria Rose Wax Tablets