Travel in Style

In keeping with the travel theme I've sporadically had going on this month, today's post is about being (style) ready to hop on an airplane. 

I can count the number of times I flew before the age of 18 on one hand—two fingers, really—once to Florida around the age of 10 and again on a school sanctioned trip to California when I was a freshman in high school. I'm going to go out on a limb and say I likely wasn't terribly stylish, as I never put much thought into how I looked growing up (more on that here). In college, I finally started to get the hang of flying somewhat sporadically, with three trips in consecutive years to Vegas, another trip back to LA, a spring break in Florida and my first time abroad in Italy. I like to think my travel style improved, but really, college is about comfort over fashion—although I can guarantee I was at least in jeans, since I've never been a big fan of sweatpants outside of frigid weekends I spend on my couch. 

Now, I fly at least three or four times a year, on top of train and bus travel around the East Coast. This year alone has included a trip to Phoenix, London, two visits to D.C., several trips to Long Island and multiple flights back home. 2015 is looking just as packed, as I'm hoping to squeeze another European visit and Phoenix trip (where my best friend lives) in between a few trips home, a bachelorette party in the Ozarks and a wedding in Illinois. Racking up those frequent flyer miles has also helped me work on my travel style game, narrowing in on what works and what doesn't when I want to zip through security quickly, since I'm one of those people who shows up maybe an hour before my flight leaves. 

Since I frequently fly between different climates (ahem, winter in Iowa), and it can get pretty hot hauling your luggage around the airport but cold on the plane, I focus on layers, usually a t-shirt or light sweater layered with another sweater or pullover. Once I'm in the airport I tend to carry my coat til I get off the plane because I hate the extra bulk, so I always have a scarf within reach in my bag. Keeping the outfit hue neutral or dark makes it easy to look chic, and I usually wear heeled ankle boots because they're both awkward to pack and easy to style. Since I usually travel late at night or early in the morning (looking at you, 6a flight home next month!), I keep my makeup minimal as I'm sure you can tell by these photos. Light BB cream/face powder, a coat or two of mascara since my eyelashes are naturally half blonde, and a bright lipstick. I stash a small makeup bag with non-liquid essentials in my purse and tuck the rest that I'm traveling with in my liquids baggie or suitcase! I also keep a pair of sparkly earrings or a necklace on hand in case I need to look more put-together once I'm off the plane. 

Wearing: Kenneth Cole Sweater c/o Zappos || BCBGeneration Scarf c/o Zappos || Acne Studios Jeans

Sole Society Bucket Bag || Nine West Boots c/o Zappos || Gerard Yosca earrings c/o

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

Easy Denim

No matter how much I protest, it seems fall weather is pretty determined to swoop in on us. As I write this, I'm wearing a sweater (!) layered over a silk blouse with jeans, and this morning I even had on a jacket. Ugh. Let's take it easy, weather (pretty please).

I've become pretty comfortable with the fact I'm a jeans-girl. Sure, I love a great dress, printed pant or even a skirt, but when I'm lazy and, more often than not, running short on time, denim is easy. I have several pairs I can dress up with a nice boot and top as needed, but I'm usually pretty casual both on weekends and in the office. I've been picking out more and more pairs in recent years with distressing—something I avoided as a teenager, since I was pretty good at wearing my jeans til they got holes in them myself and didn't need assistance from a factory. Now that I'm able to invest in a little higher quality and spend most of my days at a desk, I don't mind a few frays and holes.

While boyfriend styles have become my go-to lately (I live in this pair from Gap; also love this wash and these Rag & Bone's), I wanted to get a patch-inspired pair after reading this interview with Eva Chen. I love the silhouette of these Greywire's (a high-quality and affordable denim line in collaboration with Elie Tahari!) and they're the perfect intro to the patchwork trend without looking too retro.

Zara Blouse || Greywire Patchwork Jeans || Sole Society Carla Satchel || Illesteva Sunglasses

Loeffler Randall Espadrilles || Michael Kors Watch

Photos: Ashley Manfred

Summer Stripes

It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm back in Iowa for the week, prepping for my sister's wedding (and also working from home, probably a little too much…but the week before NYFW isn't the best week to take off work when your job is in the fashion industry and you write a semi-fashion related blog!). To be honest, I probably could have gotten a post together for the last few days, but I've been enjoying stepping back from technology when I can…and apparently the outside world, since I realized this morning I hadn't put a stitch of makeup on since Saturday. 

It's weird to think once I get back to NYC, summer will essentially be over—September truly is a month of madness, and I don't have a weekend without something on the calendar until mid-October right now (don't worry, I'll be sharing some of the more fun trips & plans here!). Pinching myself because yes, I just wrote OCTOBER already. I vowed, as I always do, to make this summer a great one, and for one of the first times in recent memory I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out, but I wish (as I'm sure everyone does) we could tack a few extra weeks on the end…I need a couple more beach days, rooftop happy hours and summer picnics al fresco, please.

Lauren and I were strolling towards the park and came across a fresh-fruit stand with the most delicious smelling fresh pineapple. So, we bought one, and yes, I dressed it up a little…cliché but fun(ny), no?

Zara Dress || Sole Society Necklace || ECCO Tote || Illesteva Sunglasses || Loeffler Randall Espadrilles

Photos: Lauren Pruner

Summer Wedding Style

Ahh, summer. A time for late nights, early mornings, parks, beaches, patios, anything and everything al fresco…oh, and weddings. I know I'm not alone in the sheer number of them that take place once you hit your mid-twenties (let's not even get started on the babies that follow). This year, I kicked off the unofficial start to summer with a wedding back in Iowa and will be wrapping up the unofficial end (Labor Day) with my younger sister's wedding back home. Scattered through the middle are more ceremonies, showers and celebrations—pass the bubbly, please!

I love a good any reason to shop for something new, but my bank account can't seem to get behind me during wedding season. To compromise, I look for a few new pieces each season that are versatile enough to be worn at least twice. Usually, maxi dresses feel more formal to me and I'm really all about comfort, but this one has a few extra things going for it. The fun, tribal-inspired print leans toward casual and minimizes the need for too many accessories. There's also a slit on one side—perfect for when I'm dancing and don't want to be tripping on extra fabric (I just loosely tie a knot in the side!). And, spoiler alert, I was drawn to the various shades of blue.

My favorite detail, though, has to be the fabric...it's wrinkle-proof! Which is amazing for me since I'm prone to ditching whatever I was wearing on whatever's most convenient when I get home at night (this dress passed the test when I got it in the mail, tried it on, and promptly dropped it in a pile on the bench in my room for three days). Already planning to toss it in my suitcase when I head back for my sister's wedding this August!

Donna Morgan Dress via Zappos || Gap Clutch || Sole Society Heels || Essie Polish in I'm Addicted

Photos by Ashley

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!

Museum Snow Days

 Last Saturday, I kicked off my morning afternoon with my weekly brunch date down at Cafe Orlin in the East Village (we don't go to the same spot every week, but it is the same people every week), and by the time we left—surprise!—it had dropped five degrees and started snowing. A friend and I figured that would be the perfect opportunity for us to hop on the subway out to Brooklyn and check out the John Paul Gaultier exhibit while it's in its last few weeks there, and it was oh so worth the ride. If you have a chance to visit the museum before the exhibit closes on the 23rd, I highly recommend it!

Zara Coat || Forever 21 Cardigan || Otte New York Pullover

Zara Scarf || Sole Society Tote || 7 For All Mankind Jeans || Loeffler Randall Boots

P.S.—how amazing is JP's work? The models even have moving faces, and some sing along with music or talk with a track—it was a little freaky at first, but pretty cool once you keep making your way through!

Pattern Mixing

After seeing this scarf on at least six other bloggers in the last few weeks (although I really did see Jessica rocking it first, followed by 10 instagrams from other bloggers in the coming weeks), I feel like it should be on Sh*t Bloggers Wear, officially. Honestly, though, I picked it up because I love things that can double as blankets (no, seriously, wait til you see the other one I got the same day! Perfect for the plane home next week) and I'm also a fan of the mohair/plaid trend this season, so sue me for making you look at the same scarf one more time. 

Anyways, scarf stories aside, I've also been living in these Schutz boots I picked up on Black Friday (as mentioned in yesterday's post, I'm all about gifts for myself). Tall, black, flat and lined with faux-fur, they'll be getting me through this winter one cold, snowy day at a time—including the 12 I'm about to spend in even colder, snowier Iowa!

Zara Blazer (on sale!!) and Scarf || Otte Reverse Pullover in Polka || Capwell + Co Necklace c/o

Acne Skin 5 Jeans || Schutz Boots || OPI The One That Got Away Polish || Sole Society Carla Tote

Photos: Jessica Sturdy

Polka Dots

If I were to truly evaluate my wardrobe, I think I'd find that I'm mostly attracted to a variety of solid colors, sometimes with embellishments, and the occasional crazy, bright print. Rarely anything in between (let's not spend too much time on what this says about me, OK?). Apparently, despite its usually girl-ier nature, polka dots are kinda becoming my thing (remember this post?). Next to conquer—colored polka dots, duh! 

And, just for fun...this is what happens when you keep trying to photo-bomb my shoot! (There are several teenage boys just outside the frame.)

Jacket (old, similar) || Otte Pullover || Acne Jeans || Sole Society Giuliana Boots

Street Vendor Scarf (from Italy!) || Lionette Necklace || Steve Madden Bag

Photos: Joey DeBenedetto

Plaid

After pining a little for my plaid roots a few weeks ago, fate let me stumble across this fitted midi skirt at Zara. The next morning, I was having a series of dressing mishaps where I hated everything I own (read: lots of clothes ended up on my floor and stayed there for several days). Finally, I remembered the skirt I'd picked up and things started to fall into place-once I put on this navy silk top, I knew I'd found something I'd be happy with. As a finishing touch, I opted for a light colored bag instead of my usual black-this Sole Society tote is a recent addition and I've been carrying it everywhere.

Jacket, old (similar) || Otte Silk Top || Zara Plaid Skirt || YSL Lipstick in Rose Culté

Sequin Jewelry Necklace || Jessica Simpson Shoes || Sole Society Carla bag c/o

Photos: Joey DeBenedetto