When it comes to my basics these days, I've found myself investing in pieces that really perform (I guess that's part of getting older, huh?). In my younger years, I've gone through the gamut of what I thought were high price point pieces, worthy of the dry cleaning bill, only to realize that the dry cleaning, over time, just kills them. As someone who loves her silk blouses, it's been a hard pill to swallow (and even harder bill to foot).
So when I discovered Ministry Apparel, a workwear basics line originally created for men who has now expanded to the ladies, the entire line being breathable, sweat-wicking and -- wait for it -- machine-washable, I couldn't be more excited to partner with them! I've been living in their trousers lately with my favorite new loafers -- coupled with one of their Easier Than Silk blouses, I almost feel like I'm venturing into the pajama, leisure trend we've been seeing everywhere.
What do you guys look for when you invest in basics?
This post was in collaboration with Ministry Apparel. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
I love when trends surprise you. Case in point: the bomber jacket. When we first started seeing it pop up everywhere from runways to street style, I originally wrote it off as an item that I likely wouldn't wear that often if I ponied up for it. So when I popped into Scotch & Soda on Bleecker Street the other week to check out their recently expanded women's section (if you guys are in the area, I highly recommend checking it out!), I was a bit confused when this jacket was the first thing I bee-lined for.
I threw it over what I was wearing at the time (this black lace dress) and while I didn't like the outfit combination all that much, I LOVED the fit of the jacket: slightly boxier and oversized -- almost as if you borrowed it from your boyfriend, but clearly still tailored for you. Of course, the muted olive green color is right in my wheelhouse and I love the cheeky little "Bandits" embroidery across the back. It's as if I wanted to form my own modern day Pink Ladies, but we'd ditch the satin finish and opt for a more GSD kinda look. I think Frenchie and Rizzo would approve, don't you?
As for cost per wear (which I always love evaluating before buying something), I love the idea of this jacket styled a bunch of ways. Over flowy, girly dresses (perhaps pleated) for a more tough meets feminine look, or with skinny jeans, a distressed vintage tee and strappy flats for a more model off duty look, or even with black overalls, a striped tee and sneakers for a weekend, coffee run/dog walk kind of look. If you see me around the West Village this weekend, I may be living in the previously mentioned outfits. No shame here.
This post was in collaboration with Scotch & Soda. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
This is my favorite time of year in New York to walk everywhere. Not that I don't normally walk during the summer or winter necessarily (quite the contrary actually), it's just that New York has this certain crispness to it in the fall that's hard to describe. While summer days in the city boast of sunny afternoons in the park and ice cream trucks at most corners and winter promises Christmas decorations and wrapping up in cozy sweaters (until the heavy duty tundra jackets come out), there's this beautiful in between ripeness to fall. It makes me want to walk around the city all day long if I could -- with absolutely nowhere to go and everywhere to be.
If I reflect on this time last year, I recall walking around a lot of new neighborhoods and haunting 10th Street in particular, to bounce back and forth between the West and East Villages. Along the way, I discovered a lot of great little shopping gems -- vintage stores, consignment boutiques, hole-in-the wall coffee shops and a lot of great street art. It was like this whole hidden side of New York was just waiting for me and this time around, with fall already here, I can't wait to start it all over again.
As far as walking around the city goes, especially when fall temps can be a bit finicky like they are right now, I like to feel somewhat flexible. I'm extremely guilty of busting out my coats a bit earlier than necessary, so I make a compromise with myself each year that I should start with my sleeveless coats and vests first. All the fall material but definitely much more breathable. As for this dress? It's my new transitional favorite. It's a ribbed body con dress by Guess that I scooped up via Macy's and I love that it has some serious turtleneck vibes going on (nod to fall), but manages to sneak in one trend from summer (hello, cold shoulder). I love it paired with a few day basics like suede boots and this vest for a more functional shopping outfit but I could just as easily pair it with a cropped bomber or leather jacket and some ankle booties if I wanted to funk it up a bit for a night out.
Plus, I've already been planning ways of layering it over and under other dresses, which I'm all about these days. I can already picture it being a great piece to layer a little blush slip dress over for a more casual 90210 look or over a collared shirt dress for a more modern, structural look, perfect for an edgy office environment. And the latter is definitely a tough crowd when your coworker is a very discerning corgi who sleeps at your feet most days.
What fall pieces are you guys enjoying styling for some of these transitional weeks ahead? Any favorites?
This post was in collaboration with Macy's and ShopStyle. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Just a few things before we start this weekend that have likely already been said a lot of times, but bear repeating:
Apple picking! Any suggestions for the East Coast? I'm dying to go and I fear the end of the season is already upon us! Upstate New York? Connecticut? Pennsylvania? Any leads would be much appreciated!
Slip dresses over turtlenecks. They're my new jam. Anyone else with me?
Heading out for a little fall foliage road trip tour this weekend and I'm beyond excited to hop out of town for a few days.
Scrambling for a Halloween costume at the moment -- what are you guys thinking of being?
I often get teased for two things when it comes to my closet. The first usually goes like this: "Where in the world do you store all your shoes?" (Answer: I'm still trying to figure that out myself.) And the second: "You are the queen of dresses." (Answer: That's your royal highness, thank you very much.)
But in all honesty, it's true. I have a penchant for dresses -- statement, classic, quirky, casual, down to the downright weird (hello raffia dress from Proenza Schouler circa a few seasons ago). If left to my own devices though, I'll always reach for a classic LBD. It never fails. It never disappoints. It always commands a room just right. I always admired my mom's collection of LBDs and I like to think I'm following nicely in her footsteps.
As for this particular dress by Elie Tahari that I recently picked up at Saks Fifth Avenue? It's definitely my latest favorite of the bunch. Laser-cut lace detailing. Sheer sleeves. A raw edge mock Victorian neckline. Yes, yes and more yes. I cannot wait to wear to this for an upcoming date night and into the holiday circuit come November and December. You all know I love good flounce to a dress and this one is just begging to be danced in a bit.
For all my New Yorkers, I do hope you can come join me this Wednesday, October 19th, when I'll be hanging out with the Elie Tahari folks at Saks, toasting our favorite little black dresses of the season. Festivities kick off at 1pm. I'll give you three guesses as to what little dress I'll be rocking...
This post was in collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue and ShopStyle. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
This shirt was a complete impulse purchase for me. Here's how it went down: I live dangerously close to an Intermix right here in the West Village, which admittedly, makes my practice in self control a bit of a losing battle. On this particular day, I spotted this high neck, dramatic sleeve top in the window. It immediately reminded me how two ladies, Kristen Grace Lam and Jacey of Damsel in Dior, styled it, a slip and shift dress respectively, and I loved how it gave new structure and life to a top that would otherwise just be worn solo at first glance. Given that my affinity for turtlenecks knows no bounds, any blouse that boasts a high neckline like this top, I'm sold. I hopped in, hopped out, top in tow. I may also have gone home at that point and changed into my new purchase. Anyone else do that? I can never wait to wear new pieces!
To top things off, you all know how I feel about this season's dramatic sleeves -- and I love the bell and bow action going on here. It makes talking with your hands like a true Italian that much more fun.
For those of you in the late 20s, early 30s crowd (raised hand right here), perhaps you had a busy summer of weddings, bridal showers and receptions? I know I did. Four weddings to be exact. All in different pockets of the world, which made for some great summer travel excuses. And while I've already weighed in on some of my favorite wedding guest attire for the past few months, it's the bride I secretly get excited to consult. Of course, she doesn't need my help picking out THE BIG dress (although I secretly enjoy getting sneak peek iPhone shots along the way), but it's more the ceremonies and festivities leading up to the big day that I get excited to help her shop for. This time around, I had numerous text message threads with different brides asking for opinions on certain occasion dresses, so I was excited to partner with Express to help them with a few dress recommendations.
Reception dinner dress. Bridal shower dress. Welcome party dress. All begging for a different type of white dress, the more fun/playful/unique the better -- until her aisle moment, of course.
As someone who absolutely loves wearing white (but has honestly never day dreamed about her wedding -- I'd much rather have a civil ceremony at City Hall, if at all), I've been loving all of the options at Express lately for occasions just like this. With this being said, I wouldn't wear this as my official wedding dress. Dresses like the ones you'd see at a Winnie Couture Bridal store would be more up my street, but as a guest, a little white dress would be perfect! Take this little off the shoulder number for example -- perfect for a more formal reception dinner or perhaps dressed down with flats for a daytime bridal shower. The lace detailing and scallops all add that perfect amount of romance -- and better yet -- perfect for a date night out post-wedding festivities. Two birds, one stone.
This post was in collaboration with Express. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
After some intense travel this summer (and some intense travel going on right now -- see more on Instagram), I've been craving a lot of my go-to basics. A men's oxford shirt. Perfectly distressed skinny jeans. Easy flats. A neck scarf for a pop. While I'm in a pretty warm part of the world right now (read: Greece), I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for the coming of fall. Folks back home tell me it's been rainy and chilly in New York and I'm over the moon excited to return to chunky knit sweaters and light wool coats.
Of course, talk to me in February, and I may be whistling a different tune. But for now, let's celebrate pumpkin patches, apple picking and just how damn beautiful Central Park is going to look with golden leaves all around. I, for one, can't wait.
You may recall a few weeks ago, I shared that I'll be running the New York Marathon (you can read the original post here regarding the charity I'm working with). Since then, and perhaps even since my Paris marathon back in April, I've been stocking up on workout gear like a mad woman. Between clocking my normal daily mileage out along the Hudson River or trying out different boutique fitness classes around New York, it's been a much needed refresh in my work out gear department (which, if you're like me, makes a huge difference when it comes to finding the motivation to work out.)
Of course, when it comes to investing in quality work out gear, I find it hard to decipher which department store finds are worth the sticker price -- calling to mind when I would go shopping with my mom over the summer for volleyball/basketball/soccer/softball/track season gear and she'd encourage my sister and I to look for the end of season pieces, sometimes stocking up on multiple pairs and colors for different sports bras, shorts, running pants, you name it, because the price was just too right to pass up. So when the folks over at Stein Mart asked me to test drive them out for some of their fall favorites, I jumped at the chance to refresh my athletic gear (which, with the rise of athleisure on the runways this season -- the timing couldn't be better).
Granted my color palette for workout gear tends to be pretty New York (read: greys, whites and blacks) but I love looking for interesting textures and ventilation features. I love that Stein Mart carried a bunch of pieces with cut outs, mesh details, side paneling -- from a lot of my favorites, too. Puma. Nike. Adidas. All at a fraction of the original sticker price. Mom, you hear that? You proud? 🙂
This post was in collaboration with Stein Mart. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Full disclosure here: I could spend hours in the greeting card section. Literally, hours. Give me any corner convenience store (like the one right next to my apartment) and on more than one occasion a week, the employees there can usually find me grabbing dog food, cereal and casually browsing the card section (what every girl needs, right?). Sometimes I'll be reading through them with no one in particular I'm shopping for. I just love reading them. And buying several, just because.
I guess I always have. I remember stopping by our local Longs Drugs store (does anyone remember those?!) with my mom when I was a little girl, and instead of spending time in the toy or candy section, I made a beeline to the card and magazine section. She'd often come back to find me, sitting cross legged on the floor of the aisle, flipping through a magazine or book, with a few greeting cards in my lap, too.
And today, while I send far more emails than I do a handwritten note, there is something so special about sending and/or receiving a card in the mail, isn't there? It's the thrill of seeing your name on the envelope that clearly sticks out from your stack of bills or advertising fliers -- the handwritten address on the front -- that makes you walk a bit faster to your apartment door, so you can hurry up and open it.
I love surprising my friends and a certain special guy in my life with sweet little notes and cards. I think it's such a beautifully simple way of reminding them you care about them -- not that an e-card wouldn't do necessarily -- it's just nice to break up our routines sometimes, am I right? Simply put, I'll likely save your card and put it on my fridge. That email, on the other hand, sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of our too full inboxes.
So when the folks over at Papyrus (another guilty pleasure of mine while growing up) asked me to take their latest collaboration with Lela Rose for a spin, I jumped at the chance. Being a fan of Lela Rose as well, I was so pleased to see her design aesthetic really come to life in a line of stationary -- evoking a certain sophistication and glamour -- each card toting such unique design details that surely my fashion forward friends (and heck, maybe even my guy!) could appreciate.
I particularly love the fashion illustrations and have already started matching them up to who they resemble most out of my group of friends. (And I could totally see myself rocking what the brunette is wearing here!)
Do you guys send out handwritten notes and cards anymore to your friends? If not, anyone in the market for a pen pal? I have some pretty fashionable cards to send you. 🙂
This post was in collaboration with Papyrus and Lela Rose. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
As a longtime West Coaster, I thought maybe my move over to the East Coast would be a shock to my "I can always venture to the beach/mountains/open space whenever I want" mentality and in some ways, that's been true. I'd be lying if I didn't admit it's been an adjustment on my part (a welcomed one, for all the trade offs this beautiful, crazy city has to offer), but an adjustment just the same. And yet, there are times I'm strolling around Central Park and I can't help but think to myself, "Where am I right now? Am I even in a city anymore?"
Admittedly, I don't get up to Central Park as often as I would like, making it a personal goal I'm resetting for myself this year. So when the folks over at Longchamp and Vogue Magazine asked me if I wanted to join them on a pedicab tour of some of their favorite hidden gems in the park, I jumped at the chance! Certainly didn't hurt that they let me borrow a few fall worthy pieces, all inspired by their latest Fall campaign "Urban Jungle" (fitting for a day in Central Park, right?). My good friends, Charlotte and Brooke came along for the ride, rounding out our trio, which much like the video, we all played a sartorial role, hitting different notes of the collection. I happened to represent the "vegetal" portion here: deep olives, earthy tans and calming greys, in rich suedes and fur trims. Exactly up my alley, if you ask me and just what I'll be reaching for this fall.
For anyone's who visited the park before, you might know a few of my favorite spots already (I've shot at them many times). Topping the list, we have Bethesda Terrace (pictured here), the Loeb Boathouse, Jackie O Reservoir and Strawberry Fields, most of which we had a chance to swing by during our tour. And to my surprise and delight, we had a few new-to-me spots as well, including Shakespeare's Garden, Belvedere Castle (highly recommend!) and Bankrock Bridge.
We ended the day with a late lunch at Loeb Boathouse, which many of you may recall from a certain Sex and the City episode where Carrie and Big fall rather unceremoniously into the lake. Rest assured, none of us fell in -- but we did enjoy some seemingly bottomless mimosas instead, which I think Ms. Bradshaw would approve of.
Huge thanks to the Longchamp and Vogue team for playing tourist with me the other day -- and if you have a moment, do check our their latest fall campaign video here. It has a fun, quirky Wes Anderson vibe -- what's not to love?
This post was in collaboration with Longchamp and Vogue Magazine. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Every Fashion Week, there are a few key trends that I get really excited to scoop up and try out myself, especially when they're of the shoe variety (once a shoe gal, always a shoe gal). And this fall, we have a winner: the low block heel with a square toe. I've seen it everywhere this week and I think everyone's feet are all the happier because of it.
A bit taller than kitten heel height with all the stability of a wedge and the square toe adds a bit of lady-like quirk to all of our uneven denim cuffs that have been popping up at every corner. This Marymid pump in Bordeaux by Stuart Weitzman is actually my second foray into the trend and I love how easily it pairs with dressed down looks (like this end of summer number) or something a bit more gussied up (for this berry pair, I'm thinking a nice monochromatic wine moment might be just what I need come fall!).
How about you guys? Have you taken this trend for a spin yet?
This post was in collaboration with Stuart Weitzman. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
If you watch nothing else online in your social media fodder of the day, I highly recommend checking out yesterday's Senate hearing with Senator Elizabeth Warren and Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf (yes, that really is his name, I didn't make it up). While you may be yawning already and asking yourself, "Why in the world would I watch CSPAN?" I'd have to respectfully disagree with you. After last week's snafu hit headlines, that being Wells Fargo employees opening roughly 1.5 million bank accounts and 565,000 credit cards on behalf of customers without their consent (resulting in penalty fees on accounts they didn't even know about), I think Senator Warren respectfully and rightfully put Stumpf in his place, after he repeatedly took no executive action to rectify the situation and in a lot of ways, encouraged the cross sell behavior in the first place. It's worth a watch and definitely worth a slow clap.
Furthermore, it distracts us from a certain high profile divorce between Mr. Pitt and Ms. Jolie. And all the subsequent Jennifer Aniston memes that dominated the internet yesterday. At least, momentarily, that is.
I often get teased by my friends and men I've dated for how much I love scary things. Scary movies. Scary TV shows. Haunted houses. Ghost tours. You name it. If it hints at the supernatural and spooky, I'm all over it. So naturally, Halloween happens to be one of my all-time favorite holidays. When this time of year rolls around, especially here in New York and the East Coast in general, which is just so rich with history and urban myths alike, I can't contain my excitement.
As of last night, I finally caught the first episode of American Horror Story Season 6 -- while previous seasons have been hit or miss for me (I still attest to the fact the pilot season was, hands down, the best), I think this time around around, they've nailed a truly chilling plot. Filmed in the style of a documentary series, it follows the story of a young couple having just recently moved into an 18th century farmhouse in Roanoke, North Carolina. For my Cuba Gooding Jr. fans -- rejoice! He's excellent in this (no surprise there). For my history buffs -- more rejoicing! There's a wonderfully weird tie in with the disappearance of the 1590 British colony of Roanoke, which historians still dispute to this day what exactly happened to them. Massacre at the hands of Native Americans? Widespread disease? Foul play amongst the colony's leaders? All unclear. They left absolutely no trace.
Admittedly, I've always been a history geek, so I spent hours last night Googling different theories about the lost colony after the show -- naturally piquing my interest to take a little road trip soon for a few colonial ghost tours myself. Any fellow scary movie lovers out there? If so, any must-see recommendations for my road trip?
Just a side note: This post was not sponsored in any fashion by American Horror Story or FX. I just simply love the show and scary movies in general. I know. I'm weird.
Sure, we may be heading straight into fall (and I couldn't be happier about it!) but there's something about those last few summer fridays of the year that you just want to relish the city. Grab an outdoor patio spot, a few girlfriends and a bottle of something chilled and more than likely pink -- it's still warm New York and we should cheers to that!
Speaking of summer, how adorable is this embroidered number from Cynthia Rowley? I love the oversized peasant sleeves, the paperbag waist detailing and the uncontrollable desire to channel Joan Baez while wearing it. What more could a girl ask for?
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'm ready to kick my feet up after a long but exciting fashion week.
So granted, we haven't had much cold weather here in New York (yet that is!) but I'm anxiously awaiting to style a few of my summer staples for cooler temps -- a prime suspect being the off-the-shoulder/cold shoulder tops we've all been buying and wearing at an ungodly rate these days (not complaining about it, though!). Perhaps it's my age at this point, but I really relish when I invest in something statement like this dramatic sleeve Ellery top and find new ways to turn it on its head throughout the year, past the season it's intended for. This time around, I layered a thinly ribbed turtleneck underneath but I can just as easily see myself layering it under and over dresses for a more structural look.
How about you guys? How are you planning on wearing your off the shoulder tops come chillier weather?
Nothing says New York Fashion Week like a great fringe moment, am I right? And this Proenza top fits the bill nicely. I wore this outfit for last night's Opening Ceremony show (which you can still catch over on my Instagram Story account right now!). Keeping this short and sweet today as I have lots of projects to share and very little time to wrap them all up! Have never been more exhausted, but so insanely happy to be.
When it comes to test driving out new trends each season, I like to approach with caution. After all, I have 7 years worth of content to prove when I should and, perhaps more often than not, shouldn't have tried out a few fleeting styles (cue the uncomfortable cringing now). But when the folks over at Who What Wear ask you to try out a few of their stand out favorites of the season ahead, you can rest assured it's been street style vetted and stamped with approval. So, of course you say yes.
As part of their 30-day fall wardrobe challenge with Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, their editorial team asked me to tackle two stand outs, that being chokers and cropped flared jeans with block heels. Granted, I've seen more than my fair share of both lately and I love the look on some of my go-to street style stars, but admittedly, wasn't sure how I'd pull either off. Both trends push me slightly out of my comfort zone (I'm a sucker for dainty gold jewelry and a skinnier stiletto heel) but sometimes it's necessary to shake things up. Or at the very least, surprise yourself from time to time.
What I love about Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, especially for a challenge like this, is just how many current season items are available at a reduced price -- it makes investing in some of the trends ahead easier to digest (sartorially and financially). And much like my mom, who taught me at a young age how to navigate stores like this, I can easily spend all day browsing through the racks (and on numerous occasions went off course), but I stuck to my task at hand. Chokers. Check. Cropped denim. Check. Block heels. Check. I was on a mission. And I refused to fail.
I started first with the chokers. Because, accessorizing shouldn't be that tricky, right? Right?
When it comes to my personal accessorizing style, I tend to keep things pretty simple and classic. Give me a few gold, dainty necklaces and bracelets and I'm good to go. So of course, when it came down to styling a choker, I was a bit afraid it would complicate my already clean aesthetic -- that is until I tried these two chokers layered together. The black suede adds a bit of interesting luxe texture with my gold charm necklaces and oddly enough, balances it out really effortlessly.
As for my denim task, let's be real: I live for cropped denim. When you're 5'4" like me, with already short legs, a cropped length means less hemming! Naturally, I was excited to try out the cropped flare trend that's been circulating ever since I saw it on Alexa Chung earlier last year -- but admittedly, I was worried that the length wouldn't balance that well with the block heel we've been seeing a lot of lately. My knee jerk reaction was to style it with a pointed toe, skinnier heel -- to create the illusion of more ankle and a longer leg. I'm happy to report though, after throwing these block heels by Charlotte Olympia on, I was whistling a different tune. Something about the weight of the heel balanced out the flare of the leg really nicely.
And there you have it! Two trends, tackled by me, hunted down at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, that still feel very effortlessly Krystal at the end of the day. Which is your favorite? Any other trends ahead you're excited for?
This post was in collaboration with Who What Wear and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Fashion Week is upon us and I'm excited to be partnering with Express throughout the week, having stocked up on a few fall essentials that I've been craving. My piece de resistance is this little suede dress -- I love that it can be practically worn solo (much more weather appropriate this time of year) or with a little rib knit turtleneck, once the temps drop (which is hopefully soon?!).
And now with another NYFW already here, I have to admit. I've never quite forgotten that feeling from attending my first fashion show. The rush, the excitement, the feeling of being slightly out of place and being completely OK with it, when the lights dim, voices are hushed and that first model sets the tone.
Let's flash back about 7 years ago. I was a recent Bay Area transplant, two days into my first "big girl" job at a fashion startup in Silicon Valley, and I was catching the first of many cross-country red eye flights for a few cold days in February. It was Fashion Week and I couldn't stop pinching myself.
As luck would have it, that particular season was the last year Mercedes-Benz would be hosting at Bryant Park, the tents taking over much of the plaza behind the public library. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I did sense a sort of somber mood in the air because of it -- Bryant Park has been, and will always be, one of my favorite parks in the city -- and it seemed most folks weren't quite ready to say goodbye to it as their fashion home away from home.
I remember navigating the subways meticulously from my Union Square hotel, so as to not to be late to my first ever fashion show -- Cynthia Rowley. Of course, this didn't meant I didn't change about 20 times before finally stepping foot outside. Into the freezing, sub-zero temps, after which I thought better about those heavier (and subsequently warmer) boots and changed for the 21st time. As you might have already guessed, none of this really mattered the minute I showed up at the front entrance, in awe of everyone else and what they were wearing. It hit me hard in that moment: I was way out of my league. End of story. But there wasn't any turning around at that point though -- the show must go on -- and this one was set to start in 10 minutes (which, as we all know, in fashion time, means 45 minutes).
I eventually found my seat (second row, whoa, score!) and sat to people watch. A lot of familiar faces waltzed through and a lot of faces I would come to recognize over the years. Flash after flash went off from different photographers shouting names or directions, as more and more folks shuffled into the long, presentation room. Finally, the lights dimmed, a frenzy of seat grabbing ensued and a heavy bass beat dropped. It was Adele's "Rumor Has It" (not yet publicly released at the time), and a single model stomped out, her posture slightly arched back, pelvis forward, into the now blaring spotlights, illuminating her pathway in an otherworldly fashion.
I remember taking a mental note in that moment. "Remember how you feel right now. Right now."
This post was in collaboration with Express. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
After spending a better portion of the past few weeks editing photos from my travels, (trip recap posts coming this week!), I realized just how much of a crush I have on new-to-me designer, St. Roche (it did make up more than half of my vacation wardrobe after all). I was originally chatting with the founder, Sue, a few weeks before hopping over to Italy and after flipping through her latest lookbooks, I knew I had to have a few (or a lot!) of her pieces for my weeks of travel ahead. Each piece more effortlessly chic than the last. I was especially a sucker for all of her off the shoulder dresses and tops (like the one you see here) and can already think of a few fun ways to layer them for fall (perhaps with a turtleneck -- am I crazy?!).
Oh, and the added bonus? Her fall collection is looking mighty fine. Mighty fine, indeed. Excuse me while I go fill my online cart now...
The dog days of summer are upon us -- and it's right around this time that I usually start getting all nostalgic over the past few months, reflecting on trips I've gone on, friends I've visited and seen, what things I've checked off my NYC bucket list (and what things I still need to do!). Of course, we still have the season's last hurrah, that being Labor Day, right around the corner, but until then, I'll be sharing all my summer trips and highlights right here on TTT all next week, starting Monday. Think of it as a first day of school show and tell of sorts. In the works, we have Venice, Rome, Ireland, Carmel, St. Thomas and few other little weekend trips here and there, which means I have lots of photo editing to do and lots of sun to be catching while I do it.
Can't wait to share with you all -- so be sure to check back on Monday! In the meantime, can we just take a moment for this Caroline Constas set that I debated for a good hour while I was sitting in the dressing room at Bergdorfs? The minute Alisha and I started shooting though, my buyers remorse disappeared -- you know I love pieces that have great movement and I can't wait to style this top with jeans and the skirt with crisp button down shirts for fall.
Despite the most recent posts around these parts featuring one pieces, I have to admit, I'm not typically a fan of them. At the end of the day, when you have a long torso like I do, you tend to avoid anything that's going to feel like a constricting leotard. But this denim culotte situation from Cotton On? Well I think I've met my match. It has the perfect amount of stretch, extremely flattering at the bust (which I find is usually uncommon for one pieces) and, while I love it by itself, I think I love it even more when worn with an off the shoulder top layered underneath. Come fall, I can definitely see myself rethinking a few of the one pieces I already own with a few summer tops paired alongside them.
But let's not jump the gun, shall we? What are you guys doing for Labor Day?
After hopping around for what seems like weeks on end lately, I'm excited to be back in the city this weekend for a staycation of sorts. What's on my agenda? An early morning run around the Jackie O Reservoir in Central Park, followed by brunch at the new Butcher's Daughter on Hudson, a late afternoon picnic in Sheep's Meadow and finally a night of room service and fuzzy hotel robes at the Smyth in TriBeCa.
As much as I love traveling, sometimes I wonder why I would ever want to leave Manhattan.
I always find it funny that New Yorkers get such a bad rap for being tough or cold. Mainly because in my experience, at least in the West Village, there's a whole slew of characters that I run into every morning or afternoon when I'm out running errands -- and since we see each other so often, I know their dog's names, how they take their coffee, how long they've lived in the neighborhood, how much rent used to cost them 20 years ago. They're out sipping lemonade on their stoops, when the weather is nice, offering you a cup as you stroll by. They stop to compliment your dress. They offer to help you carry your garbage out. And we always smile at each other when we're walking down the street.
It's perhaps one of the tightest knit neighborhoods I've lived in to date and I just love how happy everyone seems to be. After all, we are living in perhaps the greatest city on earth -- that's plenty reason to smile, right?
When it comes to my denim game, I'm starting to realize how much I still subscribe to my west coast mentality. I love a pair that's perfectly lived in, transitions easily from work to evening and has a certain whimsy to it -- a unique detail that feels innately me. Not overly fussy, definitely not overly showy or trendy and just the right amount of cool (like this cropped flared pair by Express). Granted, I've never really considered myself a "cool" girl per se, but I like to think the right jeans can help you pull it off (and no one has to be the wiser for it).
In a lot of ways, I like to think how you approach jeans reflects how you approach life. (Bear with me here, I know this is a melodramatic analogy.) But in a lot of ways, I think you'd agree with me. Think about it. It's the one clothing item you more often than not, spend a disproportionate amount of time in -- you reach for it when you're in doubt. You live in them.
And here's where my tangent comes in (but hopefully it makes sense in the end): If any of you read Amy Poehler's "Yes, Please," or Tina Fey's "Bossypants" you may recall the phrase "Yes, and" which both authors bring up when referring to a mental practice when you're active in improv. The idea that there is no wrong answer or scenario in improv -- there's only "yes, and then..." meaning you constantly have to build on whatever your improv group has thrown out. While I'm probably the last person you want to see in an improv skit (deer in the headlights anyone?), I like to think about this approach whenever I'm faced with situations that test me, professionally or personally speaking. It's easy to lose perspective at times, and I'll be the first person to admit that I lose sight of it often, but as I get older, the more I try to remind myself that nothing is ever really a dead end. It's just an opportunity to make a U-turn.
This post was in collaboration with Express. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
While these photos were snapped in the West Village just last week, I like to think they evoke that certain charming Charleston vibe, which is in fact, where I'm writing this post. I hopped on my first overnight train yesterday (God, train travel is so romantic, isn't it?) and I'm already falling in love with just how historic (and haunted) a lot of the buildings are here. The southern charm, the pastel colored buildings, the Victorian flourishes -- I finally see what all the fuss is about.
If you have any recommendations for Charleston, I'd love to hear them! Please feel free to leave them in the comments below!
I picked up this parasol when I was strolling outside the Colosseum in Rome just last month. It was one of those heavy and warm summer days in the city, the sun beating down, I was craving gelato and a shady path to walk along to get there. Fortunately, a street vendor offered me a discount on this marigold parasol -- insisting that I needed it to protect my shoulders from the sun. I smiled sweetly, handed him a 10 Euro bill and offered a sing-song "Grazie mille!" before I was on my way in pursuit of San Crispino, rumored to be some of the best gelato in all of the Eternal City.
My original plan was to walk along the main thoroughfare that weaves in and out of the ruins back toward the Spanish Steps area. That is, until I noticed a narrow alleyway that appeared to be running parallel to it. Curious, I ducked right and found myself wandering one of the most charming city streets I've ever been on. Men were leaning out of their half shuttered windows chatting with each other across the street, Vespas zipped along narrowly missing me and my fellow pedestrians, while distant church bells could be heard ringing through the air.
I remember sending my mom a text in that moment (I owed her one each day, so she knew I was alive and well). And I simply said: "I'm at home here."
I have to say a pretty bold statement here that might strike you as fighting words: the West Village truly is the best neighborhood in New York City. Hands down. So when the folks over at New York Magazine and San Pellegrino asked me to show them just what makes this quaint hood tick, I (and Elvis!), jumped at the occasion. We hopped around grabbing coffee, ducking down tree-lined streets, sitting on stoops and popping into some of the most charming boutiques the five boroughs has to offer. Oh, and there may have been a few moments where I was tempted to steal a certain baby blue Vespa.
You can see more of my day and favorite spots over on The Cut today -- but please do share, any West Village favorites of yours that we didn't manage to squeeze in? I'm always looking for new haunts!
This post was in collaboration with New York Magazine and San Pellegrino. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
If you've been following This Time Tomorrow for even a part of this year (or the past 7 years), you know I love sunglasses. I'm rarely without them, which is something I often get teased for. And I'm OK with it. I've never really seen sunglasses as just an extension of summer accessories, purely worn when it's quote sunny end quote outside. They're a mainstay in all my outfits -- and I will literally turn around and head back home if I've somehow forgotten them for the day. What's more -- I love how instantly iconic they can suddenly make a look. Think of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, staring longingly into the jewelry case windows with her oversized cat eye sunnies. Or John Belushi's and Dan Akroyd's black Ray-Ban wayfarers in Blues Brothers. And, of course, you can't see a medium blonde short bob paired with oversized sunglasses, without thinking of Ms. Wintour herself.
In a way, I like to think sunglasses are a mini form of armor -- they hide your perhaps most expressive part of your face, that being your eyes, and allow you to view the world from what feels like your own situation room. You can sit back, observe and plan your next move, calmly and cooly.
As for this new pair that I'm recently really into? I've been meaning to try out a pair of circular frames for ages now, as I love how they evoke that certain John Lennon vibe, and this pair by Miu Miu that I scooped up from Sunglass Hut is hitting all the right notes for me. Gold detailing. The black framing. The thin body. I have a feeling I'll be wearing these all summer long with breezy sundresses at concert festivals and picnics in Sheep's Meadow.
This post was in collaboration with Sunglass Hut. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Whenever I head back to San Francisco, I love catching up with my friends over at Taylor Stitch, a brand that truly epitomizes the Northern California spirit. (Don't believe me? Just check out their founders here and tell me they all don't belong in some sort of Subaru car commercial heading up into the mountains, with The Black Keys playing in the background.)
And when I do head back, I love gearing up in a few of their new basics like this silk infused denim jacket you see here (which proved to be the perfect layer with that little convertible I was sporting for a few days). We styled it from day to night: a look for meetings, for off-duty dog walks and even date night (my favorite look of the three).
How do you guys style your denim jacket from day to evening?
