If you've been following This Time Tomorrow (and especially my Instagram) for a while now, you know I love a good perfume. In fact, my little obsession has quickly turned into a storage problem on my vanity dresser -- apparently there's a limit to the amount a girl in a West Village studio can have and I'm about bursting at the seams.
To be fair, I'm not collecting for collecting's sake (although I do fully admit I love how a vanity full of pretty glass perfume bottles looks), instead it's more so about functionality. Admittedly, I used to be more of a one and done kind of girl -- a scent I would wear, day in and day out -- but the older I get, the more I realize I value switching up my scents from time to time, not only for the season, but sometimes for a mood, an outfit, or a "phase" I'm really feeling.
And this is exactly where Viktor & Rolf's latest perfume collection comes in: Magic. Comprised of 6 different and invigorating scents, the range has a little bit of everything for, well, everyone, even the most discerning of noses. There's notes of rose, sage, lavender and, my personal favorite of the bunch -- dirty trick, which has notes of iris and Chinese ink! You can scoop the collection now -- all of them available at Saks Fifth Avenue.
This post was in collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue and Vikor & Rolf. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
While yours truly isn't going to Coachella (and admittedly, I may take a little social media break while Weekend Two is underway), it doesn't mean I don't get into the festival mindset. I've already had a few friends tempt me for Lollapalooza (I've never been), Gov Ball (dying to see Lorde and Beach House) and finally, Glastonbury (because who doesn't want to have a Kate Moss moment in their wellies?!).
Ultimately, I haven't made any decisions as to which I'll go to, but in the event I do start packing my bags soon, I've recently discovered the k/lab collection at Kohls, which has proven to the perfect stop for all my trend-heavy cravings, without making my checking account cry "mercy!" Take these two outfits for instance. I've been on the hunt for all things ruffled lately and I love that this particular white, built in choker collar top has all the volume that I want, with the fit of a bodysuit, making it easy to wear with a pair of high waisted jeans (like these bad boys with the perfectly uneven hem). And speaking of jeans, this other, distressed and slight "Mom" fit has all the makings of a beautiful pair of vintage jeans, with a modern frayed hem (personally, I love this raw hem with heels, but love it just as much with my flats and ankle boots, too).
Essentially, I could see myself wearing both outfits to a number of concerts this summer. Now, I just have to decide which ones...
Are you guys going to any summer concert festivals? What outfits are you thinking of wearing? If you're in the market for a new pieces, make sure to check out the Kohls sale starting today (4/20) and lasting through Monday (4/24). They're offering 15% off site wide (no exclusions!) -- simply enter the code TAKE15OFF at checkout!
This post was in collaboration with Kohls and ShopStyle. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
A few weeks ago, as you may have spied on Instagram, I hopped down to Playa del Carmen with the team from the Grand Hyatt Resort. Oddly enough, the timing happened to align with Spring Break, but unlike it's rowdier neighboring city, Cancun, Playa del Carmen has a more laid back, untouched quality to it. And it was exactly what I was craving after a few crazy weeks of work, last minute projects and several speaking engagements that had me stressed before leaving town.
It's a funny thing, every time I land in Mexico, regardless of what city I'm flying into, after hearing my first "Bienvenidos!" I nostalgically revert back to my high school level knowledge of Spanish. I'd love to say I've kept it up over the years, but the truth is, I usually tap out after "Me llamo Krystal. Mucho gusto." But that doesn't mean I don't try. And what I lack linguistically, I try to make up for with my sartorial choices. This time around, my bag was full of a lot of my summer favorites from last year: a poppy red maxi dress (perfect for twirling shots), the most flattering white day dress and a come hither, high slit evening dress. Oh, and probably an unhealthy amount of bikinis.
As far as The Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen resort is concerned, well let's just say within the first five minutes of arriving, I was utterly smitten. Of course, their beach front property provides some stunning views, the staff is no less than stellar and they make a mean cadillac margarita (which is my go-to litmus test when it comes to resorts down in Mexico). But what really blew me away? The architecture. While it's easy for many resorts down in Mexico to rely heavily on Spanish villa style flourishes, I instantly appreciated the more modern and structural approach the Grand Hyatt team decided to take with this property. Dramatic long hallways with just the right amount of open air window slots, making for wonderful shadow play. A Mayan ruin fountain homage at the entrance gate. An interconnected pool that joins all the rooms on the ground floor (how fun would that be for a bachelorette party?!). Hidden courtyards and dizzying staircases. It was like exploring a labyrinth -- I was surprised at pretty much every corner.
Naturally, just a few days was hardly long enough, but I certainly made my time there count. Lots of quality beach hours, late night dinners at La Cocina and The Grill at 1-26, an invigorating yoga class in a cenote and a much needed full-body massage. Needless to say, I left Mexico smiling, a bit more tan than before and already craving my next visit.
Have you guys been down to Playa del Carmen? What did you think?
Lately, I've really been digging the gingham trend. It's slightly demure, slightly nostalgic and, if styled just right, slightly edgy. My ideal combination, really. We're still bopping around Japan at the moment, so in case you're in need of a little Monday pick me up, I'll keep it short and sweet today and leave you with my favorite gingham pieces at the moment. Scroll to the end of this post to see my favorites!
You all know I love my perfumes. In fact, whenever I smell an interesting scent on someone, especially while I'm walking down the street or catching the subway, I'll go out of my way to ask them what it is. Because scent is an interesting thing, isn't it? They say it's our strongest of the five senses, especially in regards to memory trigger. For instance, there's a particular perfume my mom used to wear a lot when my sister and I were little, and while she's moved on to a different signature scent since then, to this day, whenever I smell that one of hers from so many years ago, I'm immediately brought back to family outings to dinner, where she'd spritz on her wrists, to slowly rub behind her ears. That scent was her. It is her.
So when Vince Camuto approached me about working together on their fragrance collection, the idea being each of their scents would be representing a different woman and a different persona, I fell in love with the concept. This concept that a fragrance can really embody and emulate a certain type of lifestyle -- representative of that woman's likes, her dislikes, where she's going in life, how she carries herself, how she wants to present herself to the world.
And perhaps quite fittingly, they asked me to share a visual representation of what my assigned fragrance, "Bella," means to me. In short, she is the chic and confident woman about town. She knows what she wants and what she likes and she's not afraid to work hard for either. She's elegant and sophisticated, with a classic sense of style to her. Art and culture revolve around a lot in her universe and she's usually the first person you notice at a party, not so much for what she's wearing (although it's undoubtedly fabulous), but more so for her charm and curiosity in other people and the world around her. While I'm not entirely confident I embody Bella, I definitely aspire to.
Of course, in true New York fashion, when we went to film this day in the life video, we were greeted with quite a bit of rain -- so the Bella fragrance proved to be quite the bold and floral pick-me-up needed for the day. Hope you guys enjoy!
This post was in collaboration with Vince Camuto. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Lately, I've been experimenting with different workout classes around the city. Now, if you've followed This Time Tomorrow for a while, you know I love me a great cardio workout. After all, I'm a runner at heart. That said, I have the New York Marathon coming up in November and avoiding injury is far more paramount to me this year than previous years because, well, hey, I'm getting old. (Insert shrug emoji and the grandma emoji here.) Bottom line: cross training is a must.
Last year, I got hooked on high intensity training classes (hello Barry's and Fhitting Room!) and loved how they both really forced me focus on muscle groups that otherwise might have been overlooked in my normal running routine. And yet, I still felt like I was missing something to really round me out -- both mind and body. Disclaimer: I've never been a big yoga person. Perhaps it's due to the fact I'm probably the least flexible person you will ever meet. Or perhaps I just never had the patience to work at it. But I’ve always envied the mental clarity that it seems to bring my girlfriends who swear by it. And that’s what I had been missing.
So when I happened to receive an invite to The Class by Taryn Toomey, I was intrigued. The Class isn't necessarily yoga. But there's yoga principles. It's not necessarily high intensity training, but damn, you leave SORE. And it's not necessarily a meditation session, but you certainly expel some pent up negative energy (by the end of the class, everyone is encouraged to yell, shout and scream during the movements).
Needless to say, this is the hybrid yoga-inspired class I've been looking for. Yoga with some kick ass, fast-paced movements. With The xx blasting in the background. Sign me up.
As for my workout attire of choice, I'm still rotating through a lot of my favorites from the madden NYC collection at Kohl's, all of which strike that perfect balance between looking cute for the workout but also just looking put together in your downtime. These tights are my go-to lately for my classes as they're well lined and durable enough for cardio and move easily with me for the sake of strength and stretching purposes. Plus, who doesn't love a good mesh detail as a conversation starter when you’re running errands around town or grabbing brunch with my friends. As for this jacket, I'm pretty much obsessed with it for both post-workout looks like this one but I'm already planning ways to pair it with longer, feminine maxi dresses come spring. And the shirt? Well, it speaks for itself. Especially when you just gotta shake that negative energy off, because NOPE, you ain't gonna take it today.
What workout classes are you guys hooked on these days? And what do wear for them?
This post was in collaboration with Kohl’s and ShopStyle. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
You're probably spotted this dress a fair amount of times over on Instagram. And I have to say, I don't feel the least bit guilty about it. I've worn it for shoots, for speaking engagements, for dates and even for Hamilton the other night -- proving that when you have a dress that just makes you feel confident through and through, it's hard to put it back in the closet for long.
Case in point: I may have even brought it with me to Japan, in hopes we snag one of the reservations we've been dying to secure. Which reminds me, if anyone has restaurant recommendations for either Tokyo or Kyoto, I'm all ears! Please leave a comment below!
This month marks my second year anniversary of moving to New York and I still remember that feeling of walking around the West Village that first spring after moving in. The cherry blossoms were in full force, restaurants had started opening their outdoor patio seating and New Yorkers just seemed to smile a bit more freely and easily at each other on the street. I must have walked around with a silly grin on my face for that first full week, unable to believe that I was finally living in the city of my dreams -- everything about it just seemed so picturesque in those early spring moments.
Oddly enough, I've been told, the second year in New York is meant to be your hardest. And I guess, in some ways, I can understand that. Your first year, you spend a lot of time grinning that aforementioned goofy grin, because, hey, you're finally living in New York-freaking City. The first year feels like a high. The second year, that high is supposed to wear off. You now tire or get frustrated with the things you once found so endearing about your beloved city. You spend less time looking up in awe at the buildings and skyscrapers around you and more time looking down at your phone for a Seamless order. Your charming, character-oozing apartment building now looks a bit less pristine and more like it's renovations circa 1972 need an update. And, there's that little price you pay for rent each month, where you pretend the amount you're writing on the check is for pretend Monopoly money, not real money.
So how was my second year? Well, not like the above. And that's not to say it was all rosy either -- because it certainly wasn't. But I suppose the lows didn't quite knock New York off that pedestal I keep it on. If anything, it perched it even higher. And made my highs seem that much, well, higher. And now, with the second year almost behind me, I have to say, I can't help but feel giddy when I walk around the West Village, here on the brink of spring again. Especially in a "made for the season" white dress, like this one by St. John. You all know I have a soft spot for St. John (especially after this shoot at Grand Central in their ball gown skirt), so it's no wonder their spring collection is full of favorites like this dress, that have me dreaming up new shoots around the city. The slight flared, mermaid fit with the fringe detail and midi-length, body hugging shape -- all make me want to walk to my favorite outdoor patio cafe with a good book and wait for the cherry blossoms to start blooming. Of course, I wouldn't leave my apartment without a light layer, like this little moto jacket, also from St. John.
This post was in collaboration with St. John. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Fun fact: I found this belt at the bottom of a bin for $5 at the Alameda Flea Market many years ago in San Francisco. I used to head there every month, scouring for God knows what and usually leaving with, well, God knows what. Other prized finds included one very heavy steer skull that I've yet to find the proper wall mount for, one amazing bar cart that I managed to somehow squeeze into the back of my Honda Civic and, well, this belt.
The funny thing is, it's been sitting in my belt drawer for far too long, to the point where I almost forgot I had it. Almost that is, until I was just about to pull the trigger on the Gucci buckle belt that everyone seems to have these days, when I remembered I had this bad boy. And with the perfect pair of high waisted mom jeans, I don't see any reason to put him away anytime soon.
The next few weeks are going to be busy over here at This Time Tomorrow. Between a few big trips (Mexico and Japan are right around the corner, Scotland later in May), I'm looking forward to some much needed downtime this weekend here in New York with friends and, of course, with Elvis.
On the agenda? The Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn (possibly one of my favorite theaters in the city -- they serve you meals/snacks at your table and all the seats are leather reclining love seats), dinner at Spotted Pig (because those fries!) and hopefully a museum or two (I'm thinking the Guggenheim because I haven't been there properly in a long time!). What are you guys up to this weekend?
Lately, I've been answering the question: "What does a typical day look like for you?" and to be honest, it's hard for me to answer sometimes, because most of my days are pretty atypical. Especially when I compare it to my 5 years of working in a very corporate environment where my schedule was rigid, my days now are fluid and more free form (which, of course, comes with it's own set of problems, too). That said, it's taken a bit of trial and error to see what works best for me now that I've moved to working solely for myself. Spoiler alert: I actually need a regimented schedule in some regards! Here's how it (roughly) looks most days:
6am: Wake up and check my email and social channels for anything pressing that might have popped up over night. Wake Elvis up (he's not a morning person like I am!) and head out for a quick walk around the village.
7am: Head out for a quick 3 mile run along the Hudson River. Gotta clock those miles for the NYC Marathon in November!
7:45 to 9am: I love having the news on throughout the day if I'm working from home or sometimes I'll indulge in Trevor Noah (swoon!). At this time, I'll start prepping my social promotions for that day's blog post, while tackling my inbox and getting my to-do list in order. I'll then continue drafting out any upcoming posts (sponsored or not) that I have on my editorial calendar for the week.
9 to 11:30am: I try to schedule most of my in-person meetings and/or phone calls around this time. I find that it really gets me in the right head space for the day. This can be anything from creative briefings about upcoming shoots or preliminary pitch calls with brands I really want to work with.
12 to 2pm: Head out to meet Christine of My Style Pill for a little lunch work session. Since she and I both used to work in more corporate environments, we've been missing the collaborative aspects of a larger work place, especially when it comes to bouncing ideas off coworkers. I value her opinion immensely.
2:30 to 4:30pm: Prep and head out for a shoot with Lydia. We have a reoccurring shoot every Tuesday where I'll queue up three outfits that need to be shot, for both editorial and sponsored content. We've recently moved to a reoccurring shoot cadence and it's made a huge difference in streamlining my workload and hitting deadlines.
5 to 6pm: Head over to my management's office over in SoHo for a quick quarterly strategy check in. Depending on my schedule for the evening, I'll grab a second cup of coffee (or a dirty chai) around this time!
6:30 to 8:30pm: Hop back home (take Elvis out for a quick walk!) and change for any evening events that I may have lined up with different brands. This can range anywhere from cocktail parties to actual sit down press preview dinners. Fun fact: my record for event hopping in one evening....drumroll please....7! Moral of that story? Bring a comfortable pair of flats with you at all times and make sure you have your unlimited Metro card on you.
11:30pm to 12:30am: Finally head home, take Elvis out for an evening walk and jump into my PJs. I'll throw on whatever show I'm binging on at the moment (just finished the OJ series with Cuba and now moving on to The Killing), and start prepping my blog post for the following morning.
12:30 to 1am: Read before finally falling asleep. At the moment, I'm reading Hit Makers by Derek Thompson. It's about the science of popularity in an age of distraction. And I'm really digging it so far!
If you follow me on Instagram and happen to stumble upon my Insta Stories, you know I love sharing a lot of songs that I'm currently listening to. And lately, I feel like my Spotify Discover Weekly playlists have just been getting better and better, so much so, that it would be just plain selfish not to share them here with you guys. So if you're in need of a little Friday pick me up on a Wednesday, put your headphones on and turn these up. To 11.
Let's share embarrassing stories from our childhood, shall we? OK, I'll go first.
I've always been a pretty voracious reader, ever since I was little. In fact, when I was about 8 years old, one of my favorite things to do after school (if I didn't have soccer practice to go to), would be to grab a book and walk around our backyard. Yes, I would read and walk around at the same time, or unbeknownst to me at the time, I was essentially pacing, with my nose in a book. I'm sure my parents at some point were semi-concerned, worried that their daughter was starting to exhibit the behavior of an anxious middle aged man, but hey, she's reading! So, why bother her?
I would do this for hours at a time if the weather was nice outside, getting lost in book after book. C.S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll all kept me company after school -- each one weaving a world so unlike my own, with characters that I wanted to befriend and go on adventures with. Naturally, when it comes to those said characters, I've always had a soft spot for the imaginative, curious and fearless female protagonist. Like Scout Finch. Like Alice. Like Jo March. Like Elizabeth Bennet. Like Hermoine Granger. Each one more precocious than the last -- all of them ahead of their time, and yes, quite bookish. I loved that about them. I wanted to be their friend. I wanted to be them.
Needless to say, when it comes to my Disney princess of choice (both then and now!), Belle has always been my girl. Her fate was never truly at the mercy of a prince saving her -- in fact, she had to save him. And the fact Emma Watson was cast in today's live action version of it, makes me even happier, because I can't think of another actress better suited and more representative of that bookish, kind hearted and fearless leading lady we know as Belle.
And if we're still sharing more embarrassing stories from our childhood, I definitely rocked Belle's golden dress for numerous Halloweens in a row. How does this tie into today's outfit? Well, in a way, I think this is a fun nod to what I think Belle might wear today. A nod to her classic blue, apron clad frock but with a modern, New Yorker spin.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the movies to watch Beauty and the Beast.
Raise your hand if you grew up in the 90s. (Raises hand.) Great. We got lots to talk about.
If you were like me, you lived in your track pants. And when I say "lived" I mean you basically begged your mom to buy you multiple pairs, in multiple colors and sometimes a few back ups in your favorite colors just in case of emergencies. My mom rarely indulged me on the last request, which I later forgave her for. (Love you, Mom!)
I adored wearing my track pants. With a little baby doll tank or, gasp, even a crop top, they were my ultimate go-to, whether I was going to school or leaving team practices in the evening. So it's perhaps only fitting that whenever I see a pair today, I'm oddly reminded of those years, in a really beautiful nostalgic way. Almost to the point I can hear my favorite TLC album being cued up. ('Don't go chasing waterfalls...')
Naturally, you can imagine my surprise, and heck, delight, once athleisure started making a comeback with a vengeance this season, with designers almost suiting up their models for practice down the runway. Mesh. Spandex. Neoprene. And yes, my favorite, the revamped track pants. To top it all off, once I saw that Kohl's had released a pair as part of their madden NYC collection, I was sold (and promptly headed over to my local store to pick up a few different colors). This time around though, I skipped the baby doll tank and crop top and opted for a chic mesh paneled body suit for some sex appeal and a perforated leather bomber jacket for some edge. Topped off with some come hither heels and an embellished choker, the look feels instantly modern, with a fun nod to my childhood whims.
This post was in collaboration with Kohl’s and ShopStyle. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Just a little spring time outfit dreaming, while us New Yorkers battle the snowstorm today. Stay warm out there and may the Seamless gods be ever in your favor!
As always, thank you for reading and thank you for the sweet comments regarding last Friday's post. I'm glad something that was extremely therapeutic to write was somewhat helpful to some of you!
If you remember around Christmas, I had been stalking these Chanel slingbacks like it was my job. I would visit them at the downtown Barney's. At Saks uptown. And admire them on the chic little grandmothers of the West Village (trust me, there are many around here!). And eventually, while I had batted my eyelashes more than I would like to admit so Santa would notice, they still eluded me. Albeit, they're a pricey little shoe. One that I wasn't sure I would wear all that often if I had ponied up the money. So I held off. And slept on it, as any self-respecting 30 something gal would.
Fast forward a few months later and I was still thinking about these shoes, until one of those rare, warm February days rolled around (which happened to my birthday). I was walking down 7th, dangerously close to Barney's, and without warning and without much advanced thought, I popped in past those marble doors, made a beeline up to the shoe salon, asked for a 37 and in a matter of approximately 10 minutes, I walked out in a daze, with these bad boys in tow.
Granted, this story isn't to brag about how much someone's shoes cost. You all know I love my Express and Steve Madden strappy evening heels just as much as I do my Manolos. I just happened to pick up these shoes after a busy month of big campaigns and projects -- one of those months that remind you why you're doing what you're doing, where you're doing it. Things just felt like they were IN PLACE. Make sense? I hope so. Because I hope it makes you take a step back and appreciate where you are, at this very moment. No matter the circumstances, you've worked hard to be where you are. Even if it doesn't always feel like that, all the time. Do you need an expensive pair of shoes to remind you? Of course, not. But it certainly doesn't hurt if you've saved up diligently. 😉
"Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." ~ Maya Angelou
Today is International Women's Day and also, as an extension of the Women's March on Washington earlier this year in January, it's A Day Without A Woman. A day to honor and recognize the countless contributions that women of all backgrounds and creeds add to our overall socio-economic system. In the face of lower wages. In the face of job insecurity. In the face of vulnerability to discrimination and sexual harassment.
While I recognize not everyone can take the day off of work today (I know I can't), there are other ways you can show your support and solidarity starting first with avoiding shopping (unless it supports women and minority-run businesses) and wearing RED today. Yours truly will be wearing the brightest red dress I own.
For more information, visit their official site here.
Just a few weeks ago, while I was being interviewed for a video project, one of the producers asked me what was one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. Granted, I've been asked this question numerous times. And granted, there are a lot of things I really do enjoy about it. So much so, that it's hard to pick just one -- a statement that I realize not everyone can say about what they do for a living.
Naturally, I thought of my many answers when he asked that. I love the creativity this job brings. The freedom to be my own boss. The ownership of something that I built, for no other reason than I wanted to build it. The travel. The clothes. The feeling of waking up every day and knowing that I get to work on something that I truly enjoy.
They're all invaluable. And they're all part of what I love and if you had told me 7 years ago, when I started this blog, that this would be the reward of it, I would have laughed at you. But no. I wouldn't say these are the reasons why I love what I do so much.
My answer? It all boils down to this idea that's bigger than what I'm wearing or where I'm taking a particular set of photos. It's more than keeping up with trends or where to travel to next. It's about a community -- one that I hope you all feel a particular kinship to, especially as women. One that lifts you up, one that you feel included in and encouraged by, because God knows, you guys have done that for me. I'll fully acknowledge, I'm aware we're not saving lives here at This Time Tomorrow, it's just one of the many corners of the internet that you may or may not choose to spend your time on, but I sure hope, if you do, it's made you feel, even in some small sense, encouraged to go after something you love. I know it's lead me to meet and work with many inspiring women along the way -- photographers, writers, fellow friends and colleagues and, yes, YOU guys -- all of whom have encouraged me to go after what I love. Amazing, talented forces to be reckoned with -- who have all made me go that much harder after what I want. Not because we're pitted against each other. Not because we need to compete. But because we're all in this together. And we go much further if we build each other up. Much, much further.
So on the eve of International Women's Day, take a moment to think of your tribe of women who inspire you. And go kick some ass in their honor.
This post was in collaboration with BHLDN and some of the most rad ladies I know: Kat Harris, Esther Houston, Janelle Marie Lloyd and Brynn Elliott. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
The older I've gotten, the more I've realized it's harder for me to jump on board with certain trends. Maybe my 30s are to thank for that or perhaps it's the fact I have 7 years worth of photos to really document the good, the bad and the downright cringe-worthy. Either way, I like to think I've finely tuned what it is that works well on my body and what just, well, doesn't.
So when I find a trend that I do love, more often than not, it's a subtle nod. A flared sleeve. A cropped jean. Or in this instance, fishnets. They're relatively cheap (this pair is from Express), and they're easy to add to any outfit for extra dimension. You've seen me wear them under jeans here but this time around, I love how they peak out of a high slit dress (just be prepared for some looks on the subway). This past Fashion Week, I spotted quite a few gals sporting their fair share of fishnets and I loved how creative the layering got! If you're looking for some more fishnet inspiration, my good friend Sydne did a great little round up here that should get the outfit gears turning.
Have you guys tried layering with fishnets? What's your favorite combo?
As some of you may know, I volunteer with a group called the Global Fund for Women, which is a non-profit foundation funding women's human rights initiatives. As some of you may also already know, March 8th is International Women's Day.
Now there are a lot of reasons I could write in today's post as to why I think it's important now more so than ever to recognize what International Women's Day stands for, the short list of which includes combatting threats to reproductive rights and access, equal pay, access to education (both domestically here in the US and internationally) and, the general promotion of economic security, health, safety and leadership roles for women and girls all around the world. But I'll keep it short and to the point today: we all fail each other, if we don't recognize what March 8th stands for (and every other day, for that matter). And that "we" doesn't necessarily refer to just women. That we refers to all of us. Men and women. Especially in today's political climate.
That said, if you happen to be in the New York City area on March 8th, I'd love to meet you at a fundraising event my local chapter is hosting at Alchemical Studios in Chelsea. We'll be learning how to draw/sketch a live, nude model from several trained artists -- with light refreshments and music. Tickets are $50 and the class is from 7-9pm. I would absolutely love to meet you there. For more details, visit our Facebook event page here and for a direct link to purchase tickets, please visit our ticket page here.
Lately, I've been loving when my fellow blogging ladies give a peek into their more "real" outfits. You know, the outfits that we slip into to run to grab coffee, to walk the dog, to run errands. And while I'd love to sit here and say I grab only my designer boyfriend jeans, cute but casual pumps, with my hair perfectly undone from the night before, I'd be flat out lying. Shout to to my local baristas who know how I roll in most mornings. Spoiler alert: it ain't that put together.
Of course, as you all may have come to notice here on TTT, I love a good glam, editorial shoot. Give me any excuse to wear something dramatic and I'll find 5 places in New York to shoot it at -- the taller the building or more unusual the location, the better. But you guessed it, even on those days, my coffee run starts the same way, with my hair slightly undone and my comfy basics. As for those basics, don't get me wrong, I make sure they pass the test. Great fit, easy to slip into and layer -- not fussy, but still exudes that "cool girl who doesn't have time to check herself out in the mirror before she goes, but she still looks good."
For that reason, I've been digging a lot of the recent collaborations Kohl's has been doing, particularly with madden NYC. The whole collection is chock full of those effortlessly cool pieces that have made those days when I just need to run out and GSD, beyond easy. Plus, can we talk about this little bomber jacket? I can easily see myself wearing it with a really feminine dress come springtime for a little juxtaposition play.
What does your GSD uniform look like most days? Would love to hear!
This post was in collaboration with Kohl's and ShopStyle. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Each year, I make it a personal mission to watch the films that have been nominated for an Oscar -- namely those nominated for best picture, at the very least. And while this year I'm sorely behind on my watch list (I still have a few days left before Sunday's ceremony!), I have to say, after seeing Lion a few weeks ago, I'm pretty sold.
To back up a bit, of course, I loved La La Land and have been listening to the soundtrack ever since. After seeing Arrival, I sat in my seat long after the credits had finished rolling, contemplating what I would have done had I been in Amy Adams' shoes. And I actually saw Hidden Figures on New Year's Day after getting some upsetting personal news and I remember feeling completely lifted and inspired once I left the theater.
But there was something about Lion that moved me in a way that a movie hasn't done in recent years. It's an epic journey home story -- one riddled across India -- where language barriers, the pitfalls of extreme poverty and a simple missed connection separate a young boy from his family for over 25 years. And how he pieces the memories together in a winding trail back home.
To top it all off, it's based on a true story. One that leaves you wondering, long after, could I have done what Saroo had done? Could I have found my family after all those years, relying on blind faith, rose-colored memories and unconditional love?
Have you guys seen Lion? What did you think? Also, any takers to see Moonlight and Fences with me this week? 🙂
When you were growing up, did you ever have an "age" in mind that you felt your life would just be figured out by? Life would make sense. Everything in its place. The path you'd be on would be paved but exciting and full of turns and you knew where it was headed. For me, that age was 31. I'm not sure why I settled on it ultimately -- perhaps it was the age of a character in a book I had been reading at the time. Perhaps 30 felt like too even or round of a number. Perhaps as a 15 year old, 31 seemed so far off and so foreign and so, well, OLD.
Well, this past weekend I turned 31. And when I woke up, I don't know if I felt necessarily settled. Or like I had my life figured out. Heck, I don't even think I've gone grocery shopping in a while (I know, I know, failing hard at adulting here). But you know what I also realized? That I didn't really care. Because I had a long list of reasons in my head and my heart that made me realize it's all relative and I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I had spent most of my 20s thinking I had to attain this level of far off achievement that I when I got to my 30s, it seemed only natural to keep it up. To keep pushing, sometimes at the risk of losing sight of what I had already accomplished for myself. So if for no one else, I'd like to say a few things to my 15-year-old self: 1. Life won't be figured out by 31. But you'll LOVE it just the same. 2. Never lose sight of how far you've come, even if it doesn't necessarily feel like it sometimes. 3. Go to bed earlier and drink more water. Your skin will thank me later.
Hope you all had a lovely, long weekend! Thanks so much for reading!
A few weeks back, you might have spied on Instagram that I was working on a shoot with the folks over at Uniqlo. A bit of back story with Uniqlo: I first learned about the brand when my ex-boyfriend many moons ago was hopping around Japan and sent me a quick email asking me what I wanted from this Japanese brand he had discovered. I flipped through their website and fell in love with all their basics and needless to say, sent that poor guy a very long list that undoubtedly challenged his limited Japanese.
Fast forward many years later and now living in New York, I've fallen back in love with the brand (I mean, their heat tech is unbeatable for NYC winters!) so I was beyond excited when they asked me to participate in a full day shoot to showcase how I style their pieces throughout my week. From walking Elvis around the West Village, to hanging out at home while listening to records, I love how these photos came together to tell a little "day in the life" story. You can see the full story and Q&A I did with them right this way. Hope you enjoy!
Regardless of your relationship status this Valentine's Day, here are a few things I want you to do tomorrow:
Slip into a dress (or anything else for that matter!) that makes you feel good. I don't mean "cute" or "stylish" or even "sexy." I mean good in every sense that Nina Simone meant it in her song "Feeling Good." And for the record, that's good in BOLD and italics.
Put on the Spotify playlist "Femme Fatale."
DANCE. And yes, dance like no one is fucking watching. If you feel so inclined, get your karaoke on, James Corden style. Fist pumps highly encouraged.
Game, set, match! Contact me if you're not feeling good after this. Oh, and happy Valentine's Day!
Perhaps you're like me and you've seen La La Land (and heck, maybe even a few times). And perhaps you're also like me and have been listening to the soundtrack pretty much non-stop ever since -- especially while walking home to the village (guilty as charged!). And of course, despite the obvious eye candy (ahem, Ryan), the toe-tapping musical numbers and an undeniable nod to Hollywood musical greats of yesteryear, it was actually the end scene that really sealed the deal for me -- where Emma Stone stumbles upon the jazz club of her ex-boyfriend Ryan Gosling, years after parting ways. The moment where they lock eyes and you're whisked through the "what ifs" of their life together. What if he had kissed her sooner? What if she moved to Paris with him for that acting gig? What if he had never taken that job with that band? What if he had been there opening night of her play? How would their lives look instead?
It's a beautifully bittersweet scene, both enchanting and haunting -- an ode to all the paths that we ultimately either choose or don't choose in life. And it's the very final scene, upon him hitting the last few notes of his song -- each of them still leading their separate lives -- where they nod and smile, a fitting epilogue note to those whirlwind romances that sometimes, despite our best intentions, just have to end.
Just a quick note to say hello, I'm back from New Hampshire (such a beautiful winter escape!) and I'll be hopping over to Frankfurt today! If you have any recommendations for the area, please do let me know in the comments below.
Sabrina: This is what you do on your very first day in Paris. You get yourself some rain, not just a drizzle, but some honest-to-goodness rain. Then you find yourself someone really nice and drive her through the Bois de Boulogne in a taxi. The rain is very important. Because that's when Paris smells its sweetest. It's the damp chestnut trees, you see.
Linus: I see.
Sabrina: You've very clever, Linus and very rich. You can order yourself some rain.
Linus: Oh, sure. I can order myself some rain, I can get myself a taxi. That's easy. But can I find myself someone really nice? That's not so easy, Sabrina.
If you're like me, whenever it rains, you have a few go-to movies. And 9 times out of 10, I always reach for Sabrina. And 9 times out of 10, I almost immediately afterward want to book a flight to Paris. Maybe this time around, I'll actually book it. For my birthday next month. 🙂
These photos are somewhat bittersweet for me, because they're from the very last stop of our Mediterranean Cruise with Royal Caribbean: that being Olympia, Greece where the first Olympic Games were hosted back in 776 BC. These photos are also somewhat bittersweet, because we snapped them literally minutes before a torrential downpour left all of us running and sprinting back through the ruins to the buses at the entrance of the park. It's funny how moments like that when you're traveling, completely unplanned and seemingly less than ideal when they happen, can actually make the trip. We were all soaked, our hair drenched, dresses dripping with rain water and yet, when we all made it back to the bus, we couldn't help but laugh. In a way, it seemed fitting it happened on our very last day in a place like Olympia, where I imagine the games would continue, rain or shine, many, many years ago.
Of course, the downpour was no match for our traditional Greek lunch that followed in the nearby town of Kataklon, where yours truly happened to participate in a little folk dancing. I may have even thrown a plate or two and said, "OPA!"
