One Week

Seven days and counting until the kickoff of one of the greatest weeks of the year...New York Fashion Week. Whether its a tulle or flowy skirt, a monochromatic pairing of mixed textures or something more casual with a simple pop of color on your face/neck/feet, these five looks (with associated links in the captions) are currently serving as inspiration...so don't be surprised when my outfit posts aren't much different.

{similar skirt for $24.80}

{similar skirt for $24.80 and bag}

{this dress would work (similar for sale here and here), glasses, scarf and my word those are those heels awesome}

{coat, boyfriend jeans (cheaper option here) and heels (more colorful ones here)}

Images via Stockholm Street Style, The Sartorialist and Stockholm Street Style x 3. 

Weekend Update - 1/28/2013

 

{peanut butter hot chocolate at chocolate bar}

You didn't honestly think I'd go a whole weekend without showing you everything I stuffed in my fat face did you? A Sunday movie marathon (Zero Dark Thirty and Silver Linings Playbook this weekend) just got in the way of getting my stuff together. I unanimously decided that all New Years Resolutions go out the window when it's below 20° (not that I ever really set any to begin with), therefore, I ate out a lot this weekend. Saturday started with brunch at La Bonbonniere with peanut butter hot chocolate for dessert at chocolate bar and ended at Pure Food & Wine for dinner. Sunday brunch was at Buvette...go to brunch at Buvette. It quickly jumped to the top of my list (tied with Recette). See photo round-up below.

{Saturday brunch of cheesy grits, poached eggs, avacado toast & bacon at La Bonbonniere - no Sarah Jessica Parker this go round unfortunately}

{king oyster mushroom scallops with brussels sprouts, miso glazed pecans, shaved radish and a shiitake broth}

{pear ravioli with smoked long pepper mouse, preserved lemon, maché, truffle honey, almonds and shaved burgundy truffle}

{zucchini and local green house tomato lasagna with basil pesto, sun dried tomato marinara and macadamia pumpkin seed ricotta}

{Sunday brunch at Buvette - if you live in New York...just do it}

{homemade country paté with caper berries - best I've ever had}

{belgian waffle breakfast sammie with proscuitto, sunny side up egg and cheese with maple syrup}

{steamed organic eggs, smoke salmon, creme fraiche & caper berries}

Black & White

H&M Turtleneck | Forever 21 Jacket, Scarf, Pants & Boots

A week's worth of temperatures in the teens last week called for pants to work, which I rarely do. Went with winter white to switch it up paired with a black turtleneck and red lips/nails & scarf. 

Winter Blues

H&M Dress | Forever 21 Booties | Burberry Watch

I have not been able to get the first dress from this post out of my mind since seeing it over a year ago on one of my fashion crushes, Christine Centenera. The one photographed above from H&M kind of reminded me of it. Sure it's a long shot but it was only $29.95...which I was really happy about until seeing it a couple weeks later on sale for $15. Ah well...can't win 'em all.

Sweats to Work

H&M Sweatshirt Dress | Michael Kors Fur Vest | Charles David Brown Boots

A dress made out of thick sweatshirt material with a little built in shoulder pad. That's what I'm wearing in these photos. That's what I've worn to work five or six times now because 1) it's so easy to throw on and 2) so comfortable. Almost as if I'm back in college (cue overwhelming nostalgia)...

Weekend Update - 1/21/2013

{shells on shelter island} 

The long MLK weekend was a perfect excuse to get out to the Hampton's for the first time since last summer. Time was killed doing what I do best: sleeping, eating, watching movies...actually I'm not that good at that because the first thing typically gets in the way of the last. Did go to the theaters to see Django Unchained and shockingly stayed awake for the entire 180 minutes...could have been because someone was getting blown up every five seconds. Good movie though and worth seeing. Hope you all had a great weekend and an even better (shortened) week!

{creamed spinach & eggs for brunch}

{Saturday night feast: a 12-hour smoked texas style brisket, carolina cole slaw, skillet mac & cheese, mashed taters w/ thick cut bacon and corn bread}

{my friend Jenn's chili for Sunday football}

{cozied by the fire}

{Sunday morning walk on the beach in Southampton}

Oxblood

Uniqlo Sweater | H&M (sale) Skirt | (fake) Balenciaga Bag | Zara Booties (similar here)

This skirt was on the $10 rack pre-Christmas. I'm sure it's selling for $2 or so now (I wouldn't know becuase I haven't gone to H&M since then #withdrawals). Any hooters, paired it with a similar oxblood turtleneck sweater and bare legs because, you know, it was about 40º warmer two days ago.

Looks for Less - Rag & Bone Booties

Rag & Bone Booties - $495

Arden B. Ankle Boot - $9.99 (yep)

$10. Ten...Dollars...for these Rag & Bone knock-offs from Arden B. (Arden B?). Sure I haven't shopped there since sophomore year of college...for those sweet 'going out' tops that really draped nicely around my beer belly. I might be back on the bandwagon (which I will promptly jump off of) considering the price-tag is less than what I spend on lunch every day.

Printed Denim

Free People Jeans (similar here) | J. Crew Top | H&M Scarf | (fake) Balenciaga Bag | Zara Wedges (similar  here)

Bought these jeans (similar here) at Free People on sale for $29.99 and then another 50% before my shopping ban started this year. Paired with this denim shirt and booties (similar here) traveling home over the holidays and again back in the city for a Sunday of brunch and errands.

Weekend Update - 1/14/2013

{group birthday dinner at my new favorite restaurant, Exchange Alley - entire post on it here}

Had a pretty nice weekend this weekend filled with a variety of things. Stayed in Friday night due to a 6 am wake-up call Saturday to volunteer with the Red Cross for Sandy victims. After that went to the Hells Kitchen Flea for the first time and was not disappointed...may have broke my shopping ban for a $5 skirt. And finally had a group birthday dinner at Exchange Alley - new favorite restaurant - that I wrote a whole post about here and ended with drinks at The Grey Lady in the LES. Sunday wasn't feeling so hot so watched the entire first season of Girls and then Tina & Amy on the Golden Globes. Can we say lazy? Gotta have a day like that every once in a while I guess (excuse the justification). Hope you all had a great weekend!

{fringe bags at Hells Kitchen Flea}

{the flea market is your place if fur (on the cheap) is your thing}

{an old war vets booth}

{a fashionable little one with the most amazing sparkly boots at Saturday's American Red Cross volunteer event for Sandy victims}

Exchange Alley

So, I tried to spare all my instagram followers from posting a pic of every food dish on the menu at Exchange Alley this weekend...but is my new favorite restaurant in all of New York (bold statement, yes) so figured it was worthy of its own post. We had a group of 8 people so tried literally every last thing on the menu...all excellent. I managed to snap photos of most things and have what it is in the caption below. Definitely going back because not only was the food to die for, the wait staff was among the nicest I've ever met in my life (read: free champagne, appetizers and every dessert on the menu). Amazing.

{free champagne to start}

{followed by complimentary jambalaya balls w/ dirty gravy} 

{my favorite thing on the menu: spaghetti squash carbonara topped with a crispy poached egg & thick chunks of bacon}

{crispy beef cheeks, leeks, horseradish whipped farmers cheese}

{sea salt cod on a bed of almond/potato purée and olives topped with lemon rings}

{braciola with creamy semolina and beef pork marinara - amazing} 

{hard herb hanger steak cooked on the wood planked it's served on and (the most amazing) cauliflower au gratin}

{(humongous) chocolate cake}

{salty caramel tart w/ roasted peanuts...best of the desserts}