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

Is it a Dress, a Blouse or a Skirt? All of the Above

Excuse how wrinkled my skirt looks in these photos. I hate ironing on my day off and did a rushed job of it this morning.  Since I was only running a few errands today before heading back to work tomorrow I didn’t put much effort into ironing as I normally might. Even though I know that as the day wears on I’m likely to end up a little rumpled, I still like to start the day off looking fresh which includes neatly pressed clothing.  

I’ve had this BCBG pull-on tunic dress for years and it’s one of my favorites to throw on and be out the door. Unlike the skirt, it does stay mostly wrinkle free. In fact, I pulled it out of the drawer today and didn’t even touch it up with the iron.  What’s great about pieces like this is how easily they can be styled in a variety of ways. Some days, I wear the dress simply over a pair of leggings. In the fall, I often wear with skinny jeans, a chunky crop sweater and boots. Put a long sleeve thermal shirt under the dress and add a pair of cord leggings or wool skirt along with  a long sweater cardigan and you have a toasty and stylish winter look.

Today, I wore it tucked into a shirt so that it appears to be a blouse. The attached belt on the dress sits in just the right place so that when I paired it with this skirt from Zara it lays just about the waistband. And of course, the neutral colors and subtle pattern in the dress increase the possibilities for re-mixing in new ways. It’s great when you find a piece that you can integrate into your wardrobe in new ways with each wear.

Outfit Details:

Tunic Dress (old) - BCBG (similar idea here, here and here)

Skirt (old) - Zara (similar idea here, here, and here)

Necklace (old) - Submerged Necklace, Anthropologie (similar idea here and here)

Bag (old) - Dear Parsy Tote, Anthropologie

Summer Nights in the City

June 21 came and went, and now it’s truly summer….just like that.  Funny how we come to a point on the calendar and suddenly it feels as though someone has turned on the heat and collapsed all the air so it hangs thick and heavy.  We had a few hot days earlier this spring, but the nights remained fairly brisk and cool…and then we turn a page, and the air stays warm at night and city seems hazy even when the sun has gone in. I love summer days and nights, even when it feels unbearably hot. And in NYC, there’s something even more delicious about this season…maybe it’s just that the city feels a little more electric, like the very humidity in the air is coursing through every living creature. It’s almost as if there’s an urgency to enjoy each day to the fullest, make every bit of sunshine count, stay up a little later…even the sun doesn’t want to go in. It’s summer after all, and we know how quickly these days fade into fall, into winter….

Outfit Details:

Wrap Dress (old) - Zara

Leggings (old) - Kensie

Tote Bag - Eloise at The Plaza, The Plaza Hotel NYC

Tights with a Figurative Scene...Wearable Narrative

Tights are a staple in my wardrobe.  Whether opaque, neutral, bright, sheer, textured, patterned or scenic/figurative, tights do much more than keep your legs warm.  Tights can really complete an outfit and are great for giving an outfit a whole new look. Most people tend to stick to more neutral tights like black, grey, and navy but there are so many colors and patterns out now it’s really fun to experiment. One simple way to try something new is to pair a bright pair of tights with a complementary color, for example red tights with a denim shift dress or a green-blue dress with a deeper shade of blue tights.  And of course adding patterned tights to a simple dress or skirt can change the whole vibe of your outfit.  Imagine a basic navy and white striped dress with red and white floral tights.  

One of the styling challenges I love the most is mixing patterns.  At first glance, these figurative tights may seem impossible to pair with anything other than a solid colored dress but surprisingly they work well with other patterns too, perhaps because of their pale blue and white coloring.  Today I paired them with a reddish/orange sundress, navy blouse with red polka dots and a floral patterned cardigan with lots of reds, yellows and blues in it. A simple gold braided belt and gold flats helped to ground all the patterns. I think playing with the different hues of red, yellow and blue also helped tie everything together.  If you haven’t already, explore all the different ways you can wear patterned tights and be amazed at how different they can make any outfit look.

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Sweet Enticement Dress by Mouliette Soeurs, Anthropologie

Polka dot blouse (old) - Zara

Floral Cardigan (old) - Artist’s Study Cardigan by Sparrow, Anthropologie

Tights - Look from London via Modcloth

White tank top (old) - American Eagle

Gold braided belt - My Mom’s

Gold unicorn necklace and earrings (ancient) - gift from relatives when I was about 5

Gold flats (old) - Felicia Egypt Gold Flats, Sam Edelman (similar styles and colors here)

Black wedges (old) - Sketchers