2 minute read “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” ~ Alice, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland
6 minute read Sharing the best vintage store in Paris, which vendors to visit at flea markets and how to negotiate when you don't speak French!
4 minute read My edited travel beauty kit: I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!
6 minute read Where the French love uniforms and rules -- the Italians throw out the rulebook completely, opting instead to just have fun. What's not to love about that?
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Calling all jewelry buffs!
Just last week, I had the chance to preview a new capsule collection for John Hardy, designed by model and female empowerment activist, Adwoa Aboah. If you're unfamiliar with both, let me back up a bit.
At their core, John Hardy is a brand that is all about artisanship -- putting craft and sustainability above all else. All precious stones are ethically sourced, they only use 100% reclaimed silver and gold in their work and their commitment to caring for and truly supporting their artisans and their families -- the men and women who craft each piece by hand using an array of traditional Balinese royal court jewelry making techniques -- is an admirable and fair employment practice that I could only wish more companies followed suit. I've worked with their team before actually a few holiday seasons ago to meet and actually learn from their Bali-based artisans and it's still one of my favorite brand experiences to date.
As for Adwoa Aboah, you've likely seen her face before. Well, everywhere. And for good reason. She's absolutely stunning. She's a London-based model who's walked for the likes of Fendi, Erdem and Alexander Wang and has been on pretty much every cover of Vogue you can think of from US to to Poland. What I especially admire about her though, aside from her obvious grace, is her female empowerment platform, Gurls Talk, a story-submission online community of women to discuss everything from body image, to sexuality, from mental health to relationships, both professional and personal. At the time of writing this post, in fact, I've already bookmarked over 11 different articles I want to go back and read. I highly encourage you all to check it out.
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So what happens when two ethically conscious and aware brands, like John Hardy and Adwoa get together to design? Pure magic. I previewed the collection last week, which is sold exclusively at Farfetch until October 24, and fell in love with the variety -- ranging from the more classic notes to the downright avant-garde, a true testament to Adwoa's chameleon style and John Hardy's traditional but organic roots. Expect dramatic body hardnesses, reversible bracelets, earring chains meant to be worn between two different ear piercings, multi-layered earring cuffs and classic two-tone necklaces. And expect a lot of personal touches too: all stones have been selected for their mystical properties (pyrite, black tourmaline, and hematite are grounding, while pink tourmaline, rose quartz, and spinel represent light and energy) and there's even a specific signet ring that's inspired by one Adwoa's grandmother used to wear. For the astute eye: you'll notice a subtle "GT" engraving on some of the pieces -- a playful nod to Adwoa's aforementioned Gurls Talk platform.
Huge thanks to the Farfetch team for having me and even bigger congratulations to the John Hardy team and Adwoa Aboah on such a beautiful collaboration. Nothing makes me happier than seeing two humanitarian-focused brands come together to make something beautiful. And beautiful is certainly an understatement when it comes to this collection. You can check out the full range and even see how Adwoa rocks the pieces herself right here!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Maje blazer and skirt (borrowed) // Zara boots (similar style, on sale here) // John Hardy X Adwoa Aboah bracelet (gifted), exclusively at Farfetch // Luana bag
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Photos by Nick Urteaga and George Elder
Plus, say hi to Sai and Tara -- two friends who I love running into at events here in the city!
3 minute read Voter registration deadlines, Sabrina the Teenage Witch the reboot and Suistudio's new capsule collection with Vanessa Hudgens.
4 minute read "This is what you do on your very first day in Paris. You get yourself, not a drizzle, but some honest-to-goodness rain, and you find yourself someone really nice and drive her through the Bois de Boulogne in a taxi. The rain's very important. That's when Paris smells its sweetest. It's the damp chestnut trees."
4 minute read Nobel Peace Prize recipients, a Harry Potter museum exhibit and Blair's debut collection!
6 minute read Sharing our trip itinerary for São Miguel Island in the Azores.
3 minute read Indelible in the hippocampus, Downton Abbey the movie and my bestie's new book...
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"When it comes to shoes, the older I get, the closer I want to be to the ground."
I recently read the above quote while scrolling the other day on Instagram and it first made me chuckle and next, it made me think how much I relate to that concept -- a blasphemous concept for a longtime, statement shoe lover to say let alone type. If you've been following me here for a while, you know how much I've loved my crazy, out there shoes. Ones with sea shells attached, ones with feathers, ones with their own flame-red taillights -- all of them, I teetered in, pushing at least 3.5 all the way up to 5 inches, the very thought of which, are making my ankles wobble a bit now.
Of course, like most things in your 20s, you realize somewhere along the way that perhaps it wasn't worth some of the headache. And while I don't hustle every morning in a daily commute to a desk, I still run around quite a bit around the city, from meetings to shoots, meaning I need shoes that go many extra miles for me but look chic in the process. So when Kenneth Cole approached me about their latest shoe launch -- The Riley -- I was eager to put it to the test, because the resume just sounded too good. Memory foam insoles? Cushioned pod at ball of foot to absorb shock with every step? Additional comfort cushion at heel to evenly distribute standing weight? Insole perforated at forefoot for improved circulation and to cut back on odor? And a classic, elegant design? To be honest, I was looking for the catch, so I decided there was only one way to find out: I wore them to the Harper's Bazaar Icons party during NYFW.
The result? Let's just say, had I known the Cardi B / Nicki fight was going on, my feet were in great shape to run over to the action. After hours of dancing, chatting with friends at the bar and going up and down The Plaza steps many times, I'm pleased to report my Riley heels held up incredibly well, making them some of my most comfortable heels in my rotation today.
Have you guys tried them out yet? What are some of the most comfortable heels you own?
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OUTFIT DETAILS: Kenneth Cole blazer and/pants// Riley heels in black // Kenneth Cole dress // Riley heels in silver // Kenneth Cole top and jeans // Riley heels in red
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This post was in collaboration with Kenneth Cole. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
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As I'm writing this post, I'm currently sitting in a cafe in the design district of Milan.
Coffee and espresso orders are being shouted in the most affectionate way that I think only Italians can manage, as the morning commuters hurry along outside to the nearest Metro station. Less than 12 hours ago, I wasn't entirely sure if I would be extending the last part of this jaunt through Italy before hopping over to Paris for a last minute press trip. It's a funny thing, having "unplanned" time during a trip and it's something that I think most of us dread, especially when traveling alone, as I will be for the next few days. Between social media influencing our vacation planning decisions and the seemingly endless accommodation options on AirBnB, the very thought of leaving certain decisions to chance seems reckless. Careless even? Or just plain unprepared. Why leave some decisions to the last minute when there's infinite trips being shared online all the time, with the perfect vantage points, the perfect cafes and the perfect restaurants that have essentially made the decisions for you. Takes the guess work out of traveling, so to speak.
Don't get me wrong. I don't mean for my perhaps sarcastic tone to be misinterpreted. In a lot of ways, I think social media has been an incredible gateway through which we can not only see the world but EXPERIENCE it as well -- taking the foreign and making it familiar -- encouraging us to just go OUT and GET IN IT. Heck, I owe much of my career based in traveling for a living to the democratization of travel on social media and there isn't a day or a trip that goes by that I don't feel incredibly thankful for that.
I suppose where it gets me though, is the slippery slope we find ourselves on now, myself included -- in which the very curiosity and exploration factors of travel are being homogenized. Think about it. How many times have you seen the rocky, colorful hillside of Positano this summer from the influencers you follow? Or Capri? Or Paris? Or Morocco? 4? 5? 20? And each time, I'm afraid to say, there isn't much variety in the photos shared. It's the same balcony shot, it's the same restaurant doorway, it's the same umbrella and rocky beach shot, and while I think there's beauty in sharing those gem locations, it makes me wonder what it's all for -- to experience something or just to prove something? If we don't get those exact same shots, were we even there? As someone who is certainly guilty of all of the above on previous trips and has even gone out of her way to get certain perfect vantage points all for the 'gram usually at the cost of a few grey hairs, I'm now starting to realize as a content creator and consumer, I'm exhausted and quite honestly, to put it lightly, bored.
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I think Fohr's founder, James Nord, perhaps put it best when he brought up this same topic in a recent Instagram post of his:
"Trips gives influencers a chance to create unique, beautiful imagery, but it’s often the same thing over, and over, and over, and over. Same landscapes, same boat shots, same doorways. These posts gloss over the quiet in-between moments, the new things you’ve never seen before, the times you were a little scared or lost in awe. They begin to look the same and followers can’t distinguish one from the other.
You can manufacture a lot of things but in-real-life experiences should be about wonder and joy and discovery and you can’t manufacture those things."
I'm still sitting in the same cafe as before, now moving onto my afternoon espresso, killing a bit of time before my train to Florence leaves. I'm very aware that you all have seen plenty of Italy and Paris this summer on your Instagram feeds so I won't sit here and pretend that my content is somehow revolutionary -- it's not. But what I do hope to do more of, especially in the days ahead as I travel alone, is to share the sense of wonder that we all desperately look for when traveling -- the good, the frightening, the majestic -- and if I can't seem to document it in a photo, well then I certainly hope a good story will suffice.
After all, we all love a good story, right? I know I do.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a train to catch. Arrivederci!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Carolina Herrera ball gown skirt (picked up at their sample sale, love this current style here) // Zara halter top (similar style here) // Sergio Rossi heels // Jacquemus hat // Chanel earrings
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Do you remember what you wore for your first professional job interview?
Mine was a black pencil skirt, a white peasant style blouse, billowy at the sleeves with a high collar, black pumps from Old Navy and my big yellow leather shoulder bag, that I affectionately dubbed my Big Bird bag. My boyfriend at the time teased me that I could fit everything I needed in it. And then some. The collective total for my outfit was probably well under $150 -- a huge chunk of my then waitressing paycheck and man, I loved that "professional" outfit of mine. I was a junior in college and I was heading in for a reporter internship interview at a local newspaper, The Sparks Tribune.
I remember feeling terrified as to what my editor would be like. What questions would he ask me? Would he be really stern? Would he give me an AP style copy editing test, right there on the spot? Would he like me?
And despite all my doubts and fears of the interview itself, I do remember feeling quite confident regardless, when I walked in for that interview. I held my head high, looked him straight in the eye and told myself, "You've earned A's up until this point, you must know something he'll be impressed with. Or at the very least, impress him with your incredible dad joke wit."
Thankfully, I didn't have to result to the latter (no offense, Dad) and I walked away that afternoon with an internship offer -- something I chock up to a good mental pep talk to remind myself what I know I'm capable of and an outfit that didn't let me forget that fact. You all have undoubtedly heard me say this before, but I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you look and feel your best, you perform at your best. You command a room better, you hold attention longer, you FEEL stronger, when you have an outfit that makes you feel your most powerful.
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It's that same sentiment that lead me to find the non-profit organization Dress for Success, whose MO is very much aligned. Dress for Success works to economically empower women through educational programming, mentorships and professional outfitting. I've been a longtime supporter of Dress for Success and their mission but when they invited me to join them for a day of filming a few promotional videos with their ambassadors, it was my first time getting to meet and interact with women who have actually gone through and benefited from their programming. Each woman came to Dress for Success with their own reasons and under vastly different circumstances, but they all walked away with the same belief and confidence in themselves that is quite truly, irreplaceable.
To learn more about each ambassador, hop over to the Vanity Fair Lingerie YouTube channel where you'll meet them and be sure to hit play on my intro video down below. I'd like to thank both Dress for Success for having me for the day and Vanity Fair Lingerie for their longstanding Buy One, Get One, Give One offer, in which for every Vanity Fair bra purchased, you'll receive one free bra with another bra being donated to Dress for Success on your behalf, the goal being to donate 50,000 bras in total. Because if an outfit will make you hold your shoulders back and your head high, a proper fitting bra is the first step in setting up that foundation. It's the secret of many a london escort, or a successful business woman, after all.
You can learn more about Vanity Fair's BOGOGO offer here. To learn more about how you can get involved with Dress for Success, head to their "Get Involved" page here.
OUTFIT DETAILS: Zara blazer (similar style here) // Aritzia dress (old from last year, but LOVE the color of this dress and it's on sale!) // Dior shoes // Vintage Dior double saddle bag // Maje belt // Showroad necklace
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This post was in collaboration with Dress for Success and Vanity Fair Lingerie. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Photos by Carter Fish // Video by Dress for Success and Vanity Fair teams
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Press play!
As promised, I'm so excited to share with you guys this amazing video we crafted around our Ocean's 4 inspired shoot (you can read more about the backstory here). Not only was it a dream to shoot something so creative and editorial in Carolina Herrera gowns around New York, but getting to work alongside these ladies, whom I've admired for years now and am lucky enough to call friends -- well, it made the day that much more special to me.
Recently, I've been thinking a lot about this influencer/content creator/blogger (we need a better catch all name here) space I find myself in and more specifically, I think a lot about the content I both create and consume -- and what motivates me on both fronts to do either. Personally, I think we can all agree this space is extremely saturated and I don't say that with a heavy heart -- I think it's amazing so many men and women have been able to make their livelihoods and careers out of such a democratic space as this. But it also means there's that much more content to digest. To scroll through. To like. To comment. To watch. And if I'm being more honest, I wonder how much I actually STOP to appreciate what is being created, because of the daunting amount of content at my fingertips. To put it lightly, it's overwhelming -- perhaps you feel the same? And I completely understand this works the other way too: how much do people pause to actually appreciate the content I'm creating and producing? They say you have 2 seconds to grab someone's attention on any social media platform, and I'm sure by the time I've written that sentence, it's changed to 1.5 or less. So how am I grabbing you in those 2 seconds? I'm not sure of that answer.
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In a space that's constantly changing and growing, I've realized I've always been happiest when I'm bringing a vision for a shoot to life -- for the sponsored shoots, yes, but even more so for the editorial, non-sponsored, I'm-just-dressing-up-with-my-girlfriends-for-the-fun-of-it shoots. Those are the ones that reawaken why I do what I do: purely for the joy of creating and sharing a world with you all, and I hope that joy comes through here.
Sai, Karen, Helena and I are looking to make this a series moving forward -- so please let me know if you have any ideas for the next shoot! We're brainstorming now! In the meantime, HIT PLAY below!
Photos by George Elder // Video by Abe // All dresses on loan thanks to Carolina Herrera
4 minute read All big heists, require even bigger players. Let me introduce you to my crew.
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