Springtime Farm Wedding
July 19, 2012 § 2 Comments
While I am still in France, when I come home I will go directly upstate to Liberty View Farm to celebrate a wedding. It is the same farm we visited earlier this spring for another lovely celebration. This spring was the definitive kick off of wedding season for us. For the record, we are not getting married, but our friends sure are! Our refrigerator door currently has six wedding announcements for this year alone!
The best part of it is, though, that we are looking forward to all of them and each celebration will be unique and reflective of our friends who are getting married. That was especially true in late May when we piled into a rental car with a bunch of friends and headed upstate to the aforementioned Liberty View Farm for the marriage of R. and S.
Liberty View Farm is not far from Poughkeepsie and New Paltz, but sits nestled in a valley surrounded by apple orchards, making it feel serene and otherworldly. It is a working farm that grows apples, eggs and edible landscapes and also hosts weddings and events in a down home, relaxed environment that feels personal, elegant and comfortable.
I admit I’m a little short on ideas when it comes to new outfits for farm weddings, but I think this gingham and lace dress that I bought from Brooklyn Industries for a farm wedding last year does pretty well, don’t you? And besides, it matches the beehives!
Dress: Brooklyn Industries, Bag: Nolita by Les Composantes, Tights: American Apparel, Shoes: Robert Clergerie
Sunset among the apple orchards
Pants, Pants, Pants, Pants, Everybody!
April 6, 2012 § 6 Comments
Blouse from H&M (forever ago), Old Navy "Rockstar" jeans, Matt Bernson heels, Squasht headband
Apparently fashion’s new bright, spring colors are helping revive the US economy and sales in retail are up. Though I am on a self-imposed shopping diet (it’s not going very well, does anyone know of a Weight Watcher’s like program to curb conspicuous consumption?) I could not help but succumb to the continued rage for color blocking, helped in part by some bright numbers from Old Navy (of all places!).
Zara jacket, Ann Taylor shirt (from Beacon's Closet), Brooklyn Industries Pans, Ana Alamedia heels, Leila Rowe necklace
Perhaps it is the transition between seasons, but I’ve also been enjoying new versions of my classic favorites – slim black pants and jeans – and have gotten my new favorite slims from Mavi, a classic pair of straight legs from Built by Wendy and slim black pants (with zippers on the ankles) from Brooklyn Industries. I’ve even wearing pants of all colors to work (gasp, Killerfemme, really?).
Have you succumbed to the bright spring colors? How do your outfits transition from weekdays to weekends?
J Crew shirt, Old Navy "Rockstar" jeans, Miista boots
Outfit details
Zara jacket, Vanilla and Lace shirt, Old Navy "Rockstar" jeans, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Squasht headband, necklace bought at Cog and Pearl
Details, with vintage LL Bean tote and newly purchased Grimes record
Chicago wrecked my shopping diet
Mirror in Chicago hostel: Built by Wendy jeans, American Apparel shirt, Old Navy cardigan (with matching fluo chair behind me!), Matt Bernson slippers
Details of my Built by Wendy jeans
Hot times, summer in the city
July 6, 2011 § 3 Comments
XO Shirt, BCBG Skirt (from Housing Works!), Dolce Vita shoes. Shirt bought at Alter in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
It is stating the obvious to say it gets hot in New York City in the summer. Of course it does and it’s really not that interesting to talk about it. However, when I was in college I used to avoid the city in the summer for exactly this reason. I would pack up my bags, sublet my room, and decamp to Portland, Oregon for the summer. As a result I missed the worst of the summer heat and refused to wear, or understand why anyone would wear, sandals or opened toed shoes of any kind in the city. I told my friend L.J., “That’s gross, your feet turn black, no thank you.” A lifelong New Yorker she looked at me incredulously and said, “Have you ever been on a subway platform in August?”
Now that I don’t have the luxury of extensive time off during the summer I’ve learned to embrace NYC’s sweaty pleasures like free outdoor movies and concerts, as well as good, strong air conditioning in most stores and my place of employment. Here’s a few workaday outfits, and one for weekend fun, enjoy!
etite Bateau tank top, Brooklyn Industries skirt, Dolce Vita shoes, silk scarf from Cambodia, Melville House tote
BB Dakota dress, Vintage LL Bean leather tote, Cole Haan shoes (so nautical, no?). Taken with Instagram.
H & M tank, A. Cheng skirt, Espdrilles from Paris, Les Compasantes bag. All 2006 or before, except the bag! Taken with Instagram.
Scarf: Brooklyn Industries, t-shirt:J Crew, Jeans: Madewell, Shoes: Vans, Belt: vintage. And a Ricard, bien sur!
I bought this cute floral belt on the way to the rainy pre-fourth of July backyard party I was headed to. I found it at one of my favorite vintage shops, actually probably the only vintage shop I bother to go into, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It’s called Seven Wonders Vintage, it’s run by a lovely young lady and you should visit.
Dressing Up The Details
March 9, 2011 § Leave a Comment
This week my style has been all about the details. I’ve been really into metal studs in places you wouldn’t expect like a headband, dress collar, or on tights, and have been enjoying that little extra special touch that makes an ordinary outfit just a little more fun.
Punk Rock Meets Madmen Brooklyn Industries Dress. Essie "Chinchilly: nail polish.
Robert Clergerie Shoes (again)
Aveda "Poppy" red lipstick with a new dottie Brooklyn Industries shirt
Wing necklace from So Very Charming
Studded tights from Monoprix
Heavy metal accessories
Red, Red, Red (and Grey)
February 18, 2011 § 3 Comments
Antoine et Lili sweater, BCBG skirt, Ellips shoes
Call it a “coup de couer,” but when I read about the fresh, young French shoe brand Ellips on Dee Dee’s blog my heart crumbled a little bit. I love shoes with chunky, functional heels and different colors that still manage to be chique. Add to that the fact that these ones are designed by a young designer and handmade in Spain. Lucky me, they were on sale. Noticing there was no way to order them in the US on the website I emailed the address listed, not sure I would get a response. Not a minute later the creatrice herself wrote me back and voila! soon the shoes were on their way to me in the US.
From Paris studio to DUMBO cobbles
A detail of my lovely Ellips shoes!
To celebrate the latest addition to what is becoming a French shoe (and clothes) collection I matched them with other red French clothes and accessories (okay, actually it’s just a coincidence they are French, mostly it was the color!).
Antoine et Lili sweater, and Ubu ring (a gift from Paris!)
Thankfully, I took advantage of our “false spring” weather these past few days and created outfits that let me wear the shoes two days in a row!
Brooklyn Industries dress, Ellips shoes
Today I debuted a new dress I got on sale at Brooklyn Industries (yes, I wear many dresses from them, and yes, I buy them all on sale). Combined with my vintage silk neck tie I felt like I was rocking a “60′s air hostess turned arts advocate” look. It felt great to be freed from the burden of winter for just a few days and celebrate it by wearing a splash of color.
Soaking in the false spring in beautiful Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn
In Praise of Pockets
October 21, 2010 § 1 Comment
I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy any new clothes for the next few months to make up for a shoe and dress binge earlier this summer. I popped into Housing Works in Chelsea (for better or worse located directly across the street from my office) and found the perfect black shirt. It is almost sculptural with it’s pleats and a nice shiny fabric and even my size! “No,” I told myself, putting it back on the rack, “You have at least 3 black skirts at home.” I tried it on anyway. It fit perfectly. I put my hand to my hip. What’s that? A pocket! End of dressing room deliberation. Sold. (And besides, it goes to charity)
I wore it to work the next day, paired with my new black oxfords (simply a fall, winter and spring necessity I decided, especially for my upcoming trip to Paris which combines walking a lot with the need to look stylish… which could also describe any day I go to work in Manhattan).
Blouse by Uniqlo, Skirt BCBG Maxazaria, Tights American Apparel, Shoes Nicole
Skirt Pocket Detail
I am always carrying things and I always appreciate pockets. As a girl who wears a lot of skirts and dresses I am constantly confounded by the lack of pockets in woman’s clothing. It’s an old lament, I know. But I love a tastefully done, subtle pocket that I can slip my phone, metrocard or business card into if needed.
My new (to me) skirt reminded me of two of my other favorite dresses that also have pockets. They are both by Brooklyn Industries, which I think does a really great job of adding pockets to their ladies clothing in general.
Not only is this dress perfect for strolling in Paris in the summer, it has great pockets!
It's not only great for work, but great for the subtle pockets!
Pinstripe pocket skirt by Built by Wendy, shirt on sale at Jcrew Outlet, bag from Monoprix
I broke my own rule again this past weekend when I saw that Built by Wendy was having a sale and I happened to be in the neighborhood. I nabbed this skirt as soon as it was not only my size, had pinstripes, and, best of all, pockets!
