A City Made for Walking and A Dress that Keeps Up

 

 New York City is such an amazing walkable city, especially when the weather is beautiful, and there are so many things to explore. I am still learning about this city everyday. Several weeks ago I finally went on one of the free walking tours of the Flatiron District. Focusing on a specific area of the city and having someone tell you facts and anecdotes about various locations is such a great way to stop and really appreciate all the places you might hurry past in the day-to-day rush of city living.

I wore one of the Nanette Lepore dresses I bought earlier in the year at Nanette Lepore's Archival Sample Sale. So even though I went on this walking tour weeks ago, this post still seems timely since Nanette Lepore just had her show last night as part of Fashion Week. She is one designer who really loves and understands how to use color! I love the cut of her designs....everything from the necklines, hemlines, draping, and thoughtful details work for me. And beautiful fabrics and patterns too! I watched the live stream of her show last night...I am loving the neon yellows and pinks and bright whites! Such a fantastic designer...who clearly respects women in all her design choices and wants all of us to have fun with our wardrobes!

Outfit Details:
Dress: Nanette Lepore
T-shirt: Airism by Uniqlo
Belt: Anthropologie
Tote: H&M
Hat: Lord and Taylor
Sunnies: Kate Spade

Bastille Day in NYC 2014

Since moving to NYC, it has become a tradition of mine to attend the Bastille Day festivities along East 60th Street.  There is always a lot to see and though the crowds often mean I don't linger as long as I might like too, summer wouldn't feel complete without this event.  Every year I also try to add some French flair to my outfit on Bastille Day. I think this year I did pretty well, non?

Outfit Details:

Skirt: French Connection
T-Shirt: Laduree for Uniqlo
Bag: Anthropologie

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

There's Something About Jeans and A Lace Top

This is from a few weeks ago...back when I thought summer was just around the corner but turns out we had a few more cold snaps to get through.  I love dresses but every once in awhile there's nothing better than a pair of jeans and a white lace top...somehow it always still feels very feminine.

Outfit Details:
Jeans - Dex
Blouse (so old!) - Suzy Shier 
Jacket - BB Dakota
Shoes - Suprega
Necklace - MoMA Design Store
Sunnies - Kate Spade

Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival 2014

Like many people, I grew up watching Easter Parade with Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Peter Lawford so being able to actually see the Easter Parade in person these last few years has been amazing. Obviously, a lot has changed since those days. The Easter finery on parade along Fifth Avenue now is a lot less demure, definitely more colorful, and often over-the-top. As much as I really love all the old photographs from Easter parades gone by, I really appreciate all the unique stylings represented in the more recent parades.  The crowds are a little intense, and professional photographers are a bit reckless (um, dangerous...) with their equipment, but getting into the fray to see all the outfits and hats up close is part of the experience (warning: you may want to wear some extra padding....just saying....). Happy Easter!

Outfit Details:

Skirt: Anthropologie

Coat: Nanette Lepore (from Archival Sample Sale 2014)

Sweater: Kensie

Purse: Nine West

Bonnet: Lord and Taylor

Boots: Steve Madden Girl

Scarf: Textile Museum of Canada

Tights: Hue

Polka Dot Socks: Hue

Palm Sunday

What a weekend! The weather couldn't be more lovely. It was nice seeing so many people out enjoying the parks. I spent a good part of the morning walking around the Upper West Side and Central Park before basking in the sun for awhile in Bryant Park I always love this time of year, when the days start to get warmer and sunnier and summer has yet to begin. All the colors of spring seem to sparkle in the sunlight and there's a calm and hopeful feeling that only Easter can bring. With Easter only a week away, I decided to wear a skirt that always reminds of an intricately painted Ukrainian Easter egg, with its panels of vibrant colors and patterns. This skirt is pretty heavy and once the weather really starts to turn towards summer I'll have to pack it away for the season but for today it felt like the perfect thing to wear. Hope everyone had a restful weekend!

Outfit Details:
Skirt - Corey Lynn Calter
Top - Anthropologie
Tank Top - Le Chateau Junior (does Le Chateau even have a Juniors section anymore?)
Belt - Anthropologie

I'm not wearing a coat! YES!

Saturday was amazing! I met up with a friend I hadn't seen since undergrad/archaeology days, which let's just say is quite awhile ago.  We spent time catching up while walking the High Line, checking out some galleries and having brunch in Chelsea. Earlier in the day I wandered around the Union Square Greenmarket to enjoy all the spring time blooms before stopping in at the Rubin  Museum  and exploring a couple antique shops along the way. It was the kind of day where I woke up really early and couldn't wait to get outside. Oh, did I mention that it was in the 70s?! Not only did I not wear a coat, I didn't feel the need to bring any additional layers with me either. AND I broke out the straw hat. I think we still have a few cooler days ahead but it's so nice to know that we are truly (at last!) well into spring.  I've been waiting for this weather for months and I know I'm not the only one!

Outfit Details:
Dress - Free People
Tights - Anthropologie
Hat - Lord and Taylor

Techni-Color Easter Treats

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It's a time of year filled with promise and hope. Nature is awakening. We leave behind the cold and grey days of winter and step into light filled fully colored days. Growing up my family had a lot of Easter traditions including going to church, having big family picnics and brunches, going to greenhouses to see all the beautiful flowers, coloring Easter eggs and decorating little trees with delicate spring time ornaments, reading Beatrix Potter and watching The Ten Commandments. So while Easter may still be a few weeks away, I can't help but get excited when I see signs of its approach whether it's changes in the weather, spring time flowers or colorful Peeps.  Okay, so the Peeps and other Easter items are commercial and have nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter, but who can resist their crazy techni-color hues. If they don't signal spring, I don't know what does. Wandering around Dylan's Candy Bar and FAO Schwartz on this rainy Sunday was the perfect way to say goodbye to March and get ready to welcome April! And now I have some great Easter basket ideas!

Outfit Details:
Dress: Modcloth
Coat: Steve Madden Girl
Hat: Urban Outfitters
Long sleeve shirt: Tristan
Cardigan: Roots
Boots: Hunter
Necklace: Anthropologie
Scarf: Anthropologie