Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

Despite the rain (which was not nearly as bad as the storms we have been having the last few days) I think it was still a really great day. I had a fun time roaming the city and checking out a few exhibitions including Madeline in New York: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans at The New York Historical Society and Jeff Koons: A Retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art. I also found these shoes in my size at Anthropologie (now with an extra 20% off!) which I thought were perfect for July 4th (and everyday wear too) but sadly had to be worn only inside yesterday due to the drizzly conditions outside.

I can't wait to be outside more today! Enjoy the beautiful weather forecast for today and tomorrow!

Outfit Details:
Dress: Anthropologie
Denim polka-dot cropped leggings: Hue
Shirt: Anthropologie:
Hat: Lord and Taylor
Shoes: Suprega
Cardigan: Forever 21
Tote: Uniqlo MoMA collaboration

Rockefeller Center Looking Egg-stra Special

Yesterday I turned another year older (gulp!) but despite that inevitability I had a great day. The weather was sunny and warm and there were a lot of fun things to see/do around the city (I can always rely on NYC for having lots to explore/something new around every corner). One of the things I did yesterday was check out all the Faberge Big Egg Hunt eggs that have now been gathered in Rockefeller Center. Total mayhem trying to see each and every one of them but well worth the effort. The crowds at Easter are not dissimilar to the throngs of people at Christmas.  I had a pretty wonderful day though even though I spent part of it in a sea of pushy people. But can't go wrong with a day that included some of my favorite things: cacao berry oatmeal, lots of time walking around the city, being outside in the sun (no cardigan needed at one point), stopping by Lincoln Center to pick up tickets to the ballet, a little shopping with a Bday discount in hand, a good documentary, stocking up at the fruit and vegetable market, and a dish of Wink cake batter frozen dessert to cap off the day (seriously, how does pea protein taste so good?)! All of that made getting another year older a little easier to take...or at least distracted me from the reality :)

Outfit Details:
Dress: United Colors of Benetton 
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Leggings: Forever 21
Bag: Kate Spade

A Well Placed Bow: Fun and Functional

The thing about Fall is that it's often too chilly to wear a single layer and yet sometimes when you add another layer you feel too warm. Fall, like Spring, can be difficult to dress for since the weather can (and often does) change several times in one day.  It's not unusual to start off the day freezing and wishing you had packed a pair of gloves, only to have it sunny and warm mid day, and then have the end of the day erupt into a windy and rainy mess.  So, yes dressing for this season can be frustrating but it's also an opportunity to stretch your styling skills.  Plus, when you are given a beautifully sunny and crisp autumn day it truly feels like a gift.

The outfit I'm wearing in the photos above is a pretty typical weekend Fall look for me. A simple dropwaist dress with a fun print, a pair of leggings and a light coat.  I love 3/4 length sleeve coats for this time of year. It's also easy to change the look slightly by wearing a longer sleeve so that it peeks out of the coat sleeve, or even adding a pair of gloves.  This bell shaped coat pairs well with slim cut pants, denim and leggings as well as with pencil skirts, but my favorite part is the simple black bow at the collar. This well placed bow keeps my neck warm and negates the addition of a scarf, but it's also just cute without being "too" cute. Bows are often just added to clothing for fun but I think this one is pretty functional too.

P.S. Yeah, I haven't yet retired my straw hat for the season. Soon.

Outfit Details:

Coat (old): Nanette Lepore, purchased on Ebay

Dress (old): MADE Fashion Week for Impulse, Sleeveless High Neck Galaxy Print, Macy's

Leggings (old): Forever 21 (lots of leggings here)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!

Between Canada Day and 4th of July celebrations in New York City, I’ve been feeling extra patriotic all week. Yesterday and today I pulled out some of the red, white and blue in my wardrobe in honor of Independence Day. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate backdrop for an Independence Day photo than the Engine 54, Ladder 4, Batallion 9 New York Fire Department Station at 48th and 8th. These men and women do an incredible job, constantly on the go and risking their lives to keep all of us safe. I’m always amazed they can get those fire trucks through the busy Midtown streets, never-mind all the other challenges they face on a daily basis. It’s thanks to amazing people like them that freedoms and liberties exist for all of us to rejoice in.

"America is the story of everyday people who did extraordinary things. A story woven deep into the fabric of our society." Marco Rubio

HAPPY 4th!

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Two Wheeler Shirtdress by Porridge, Anthropologie

Red and white camisole (old) - Target

Cardigan (old) - Forever 21 (similar here)

Shoes (indoor shoes) - Dolce Vita Orina Oxfords (available here and here)

Blue stone earrings (old) - not sure where these are from (similar idea here)

Pearl drop necklace with glass star charm (old) - My mom’s (similar idea here)

I Never Got to Go to Space Camp…Maybe it’s Not Too Late?

Image source

True story: I was desperate to go to Space Camp for a number of years during my childhood.  In Grade 3, when asked what I wanted to be as a grownup, I said an astronaut and artist; in Grade 4, I added writer to that list. One summer I almost had my parents convinced to send me to Space Camp, but my grandparents intervened and I ended up going to Circle Square Ranch with my cousins instead. At least there were horses there….

When Space Camp debuted in movie theaters, my campaign to ‘train like an astronaut’ picked up steam….and it’s also when my crush on Joaquin Phoenix (known as ‘Leaf’ Phoenix at that time) began. Is it a coincidence that Star Wars premiered in the year I was born? I don’t think so (fyi, I still can’t turn off the original trilogy should any of them happen to be on when I flip on the TV).

YouTube Clip Source

When I was around 6, I attempted to build my cat Ginger a time machine in the kid’s clubhouse in my grandparent’s yard. Ginger was getting up there in years and I thought that perhaps some time travel would help him regain a few more years.  I had read Time Cat over and over again, as well as watched The Cat From Outer Space and The Three 3 Lives of Thomasina with such regularity that eventually the VHS tapes busted.

Photo source

For many years, the ceiling of my bedroom was covered in glow-in-the-dark stars, planets and comets,  my wall had maps of the solar system and there were a few astronomy and stargazing books on my bookshelf. I lived for camping out in my backyard with some binoculars to stare up at our solar system.

I may still be a little space obsessed. It wasn’t too long ago on a family visit to Walt Disney World in Florida that I lined up to ride Mission: SPACE at EPCOT repeatedly. I’ll watch almost any space theme movie as long as it’s not completely cheesy.  I may even still secretly dream of going to Space Camp.

This is all to say that I didn’t really think twice about purchasing a dress that looked like a page from one of my old solar system books.  A drop waist, virtually wrinkle free dress covered in celestial images, and it happened to be on sale…..what’s not to love? 

Photos taken at MoMA (11 W 53) and Healthy Corner Juice Bar (637 9th Avenue - Try the Hell’s Kitchen juice blend if you go!

This dress is super comfortable (and FUN!) to wear and doesn’t get all full of static or wrinkles as the day progresses which makes it perfect for running errands (or chilling at the AMNH Planetarium).  I also think it works as an all season dress depending on what layers and accessories you add, plus it’s a good base for experimenting with pops of color, neutrals and/or metallics. Brings a whole new meaning to dressing like you’re from a different planet….

Outfit details:

Dress: Macy’s MADE Fashion Week for Impulse Dress

T-shirt (old) - Ocean Pacific 

Leggings (old) -Forever 21 (similar here)

Blue and Gold Metallic Cardigan (old) - Francesca’s 

Sunburst earrings (old) - Francesca’s

Amber disc necklace (super old) - some store in Port Dalhousie, Ontario

Bag (old) - Le Sportsac 

Hat (old) - Kathy Jeanne at Lord and Taylor (similar here)

Boots (old) - Town Shoes