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

Open House New York

As part of Open House New York this weekend my cousin and I went on Broadway Tour which began at the Times Square Museum. Generally I love any walking tour but I can't say I enjoyed this one (long story/number of reasons) but at least my cousin seemed to enjoy it which is the main reason I booked our tickets anyways.  I did, however, think the Times Square museum was pretty cool mostly because I had no idea that it was even there even though I've passed by it many times. And the weather was beautiful this weekend so that was also a plus.  I still find this time of year confusing in terms of figuring out what to wear since one second it feels chilly outside and the next it's almost balmy. Autumn = the season of adding on and taking off layers of clothing on the same day.

Outfit Details:

Skirt (old): Zara

Pocket watch tank (old): Anthropologie

Coat (old): Nick and Mo via Modcloth

Scarf (old): Anthropologie

Belt (old): Anthropolgie

Necklace (old): Anthropologie

Boots (old): John Fluevog

Purse (old): Anthropolgie

Being a Tourist is Exhausting

Today was my dad’s 3rd/final day of his visit to New York City so we packed a lot in. We started the day at Chelsea Market, where we grabbed some breakfast to take up to the High Line. I love mornings on the High Line; they always feel so luxurious, almost like you have a private garden above the city.  

After breakfast, we headed down to the Museum at Eldridge Street for a walking tour called The Jewish Lower East Side.

I’m a big fan of walking tours, especially the historical/cultural/architectural kind.  The educator who led the tour invited participants to share their own stories as we walked around the neighborhood which I think always enriches the whole experience.

One of the stops on the tour was The Pickle Guys on Essex Street.  While everyone was munching on their kosher dill pickles, our guide told us about some of the businesses that used to exist in the area. It  was fascinating to hear about the changes this neighborhood has undergone, and the speed at which these changes have come. P.S. The Pickle Guys have pickled pineapple and melon for the summer…I’ll be back!

The building above, on Canal Street, was once home to the Loew’s Theater. What a beautiful facade! I’m sure the theater was a welcome addition to the neighborhood in the 1920s, especially during the summer when people wanted a break from the heat in the tenements. It has been closed for four decades but it may be refurbished in the future and hopefully given special historic designation.

After our tour, we walked over to Little Italy for lunch.  Little Italy always has a holiday atmosphere, a riot of color, people, and the smells of home cooking. Gelato carts and cappuccino stands dot the street; banners in the colors of Italy flicker in the breeze. Sidewalk cafes are perfect for people watching or just lounging in the sun, while private garden patios invite people to linger. 

 We wandered around SoHo after lunch, alternatively popping into shops that caught our attention or beckoned us with a blast of air conditioning. 

Every time I’m in SoHo something different catches my eye. Sometimes it’s a shop I hadn’t noticed before but often it’s an architectural detail on one of the buildings.

We walked back to Midtown along West Broadway, checking out the art lining the sidewalk as we chatted about all the sights we’d seen.  Being a tourist sure is exhausting.

 

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Ruched Martins Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Anthropologie

Bag - The Stone Flower at South Street Seaport