6 minute read #32: Your biggest critic is yourself. Get comfortable with telling yourself to fuck off sometimes.
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As many of you probably already saw on Instagram, I recently chopped my hair (about 8 inches actually, even though I state 10 in the video), all of which has been donated to Locks of Love. For my longtime readers here, you may recall the last time I did this in San Francisco several years ago, cutting about a foot of hair off, into a similar wavy long bob, or what I affectionately called my wavy LOB. I remember the process being very cathartic last time and lately I've been craving a change to mix things up around here (probably because I just turned 32!). So, I gave my good friend Andreas a call and the rest is history.
Oh, and for all my New York guys and gals, I cannot recommend Andreas and his salon enough. He's the most patient and thorough hair stylist I've ever worked with (he literally sat through MANY inspiration photos without flinching) and he's SO creative (his editorial styling work is AH-MAZING). PLUS, his dog London greets you at the door. AND, he's just as obsessed with the Royal family as me -- there's a lot of footage from our session of us talking about Princess Diana, who I could talk about for HOURS. I'll stop rambling now, so you can start booking with him. 🙂
HUGE thank you to Andreas for having me last week -- and for making me laugh the entire time!
Photos and filming by Nora Varcho // Video editing by me
4 minute read My scent changes with my mood and my seasons -- and I love how each bottle I add to my rotation stands proudly each morning, inviting me to become that woman -- be it powerful, seductive, intriguing, mysterious, evocative, curious, youthful, pensive -- and sometimes, all of the above.
Alright New Yorkers!
We've officially entered what many call the dreaded trenches of winter (or perhaps that's just my name for the period of time between New Year's Eve and whenever spring decides to show up). Either way, being a February baby means I've always looked forward to the depths of winter, yes, even here in New York. Sure, the days are shorter, the wind bites down to your bones a bit more and for the life of you, you can't seem to remember which coat has which pair of gloves in the pocket. But! The silver lining? Restaurants suddenly become that much cozier when it's snowing outside. Eventually you break down and give in to the urge to have hot chocolate most afternoons. And an insanely chic coat is really all you need when outfit planning. On that note, I've rounded up my 5 favorite types of winter coats in today's video, styling each a bit differently in all my favorite spots around the city. I hope you enjoy and stay warm out there!
[prodl brand="1. Max Mara" product="Soldato coat" description="What I love most about a good swing coat (especially one that's midi length or longer) is that by simply adding a belt, you have a really chic dress. This particular pink coat is just so feminine (a bit of a departure for me when it comes to my coat routine) making it all the more twirl worthy. I wore a simple little cocktail dress underneath (to avoid adding bulk to the outfit), classic black heels and topped it off with a beret for a dash of Parisian flair." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/txUS"]
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[prodr brand="2. Acne" product="Cade coat" description="If there's one thing I promptly invested in after moving to New York, it was a camel coat. The one I'm wearing in the video is by Suistudio (a favorite suiting brand of mine), but I think this Acne version is the belted camel coat of my dreams (never hurts to have a little variety when it comes to your neutral jacket lineup). I dressed this coat up for evening in the video, but my daily uniform come winter usually consists of a camel coat like this, a grey turtleneck and some high waisted skinny jeans." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/tylw"]
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[prodl brand="3. Stella McCartney" product="Navy double breasted coat" description="It's easy to shy away from really long coats, particularly when you're far from model height like me, and the idea of something so long feels like it's going to swallow you up. Boy, was I wrong. I picked up an almost floor length coat two winters ago and realized the clean, long lines of the jacket actually made me look taller, not to mention warmer (it's practically like wearing a blanket). Needless to say, this Stella option is a great contender for the colder months of winter ahead. And it's on sale!" link="http://shopstyle.it/l/tyoM"]
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[prodr brand="4. Gabriela Hearst" product="William reversible herringbone coat" description="I love how herringbone always has a slight borrowed from the boys vibe -- and a coat like this is easy to put your own feminine spin on. In the video, I styled mine with a belt cinching for a higher waistline, skinny jeans, and the illusion of not much else going on underneath (spoiler alert: a little lacy cami will do just fine here). Suddenly, what was once an overcoat now looks more like a statement blazer." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/typz"]
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[prodl brand="5. A.P.C." product="White wool and mohair coat" description="It's true. I'm a sucker for winter white looks. Oddly enough though, this wool and mohair coat actually marks my first white coat. The one I'm wearing in the video is by Ba&sh Paris, but this one by A.P.C. has the same deliciously oversized fit -- kind of like you stole it from your boyfriend." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/tx9N"]
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When it comes to New Year's Eve, I think it's safe to say it's a rather polarizing holiday. On one hand, I can see how many folks might resent, dread, detest (or any combination there of), the holiday itself -- there's a lot of hype, far too many expectations, the hassle of reservations seemingly NEVER being available no matter how early in the year you may start booking and inevitably, there's always someone in tears at midnight for some reason of heartache or self-loathing or both. On the other hand, it can be joyous, celebratory and a good excuse to shake off the previous year, flip it the middle finger (or hug it!) and toast the new one just arriving.
Admittedly, I've been on both sides of the fence when it comes to New Year's Eve -- I'm both a cynic and a believer, but I like to think my inner optimist prevails once the countdown starts and it more often than not, has a lot to do with what I'm wearing for the evening. If I can start the night off in something I feel absolutely fabulous in, even if all hell breaks loose, at least I've got one thing covered.
Since we're just a few days out now from ringing in 2018 (and I've now extended my stay here in Australia while my guy sorts out his pending visa situation) I'm currently hunting for a few good dress options for New Year's in Melbourne (regrettably, I didn't bring any good frocks for the occasion).
Of course, this begs the question: how to stand out amongst the crowd of sequins, black, glitter, metallic, velvet and any of the above combinations. If these photos are any indication (or this post and this video), I'll take every opportunity to be extra AF and run with it -- usually in the name of an editorial shoot (we shot these back in July actually while working with the Sarah Seven team in LA), but particularly in the name of New Year's Eve. Why? It's the perfect holiday to justify a dress splurge -- one that you've been eyeing for most of the season and one that, with any luck, is now on sale thanks to the post-Christmas sale gods. That way, it's not just one dress that you've delegated to the likes of an evening out for champagne but one that brings joy well past a midnight countdown.
In that spirit, I've rounded up a few perfect dresses for New Year's Eve that you'll love well into 2018. Because 2018 is all about things on YOUR terms, am I right?
What are you guys doing for New Year's Eve? And, moreover, what are you wearing?
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[prodl brand="Sarah Seven" product="Saint Dress" description="Not for the faint of heart when it comes to a New Year's Eve party dress. This gorgeous Sarah Seven gown is screaming to be worn to a midnight masquerade ball -- bonus points if there happens to be a dramatic staircase for your perfect entrance (and mysterious exit)." link="http://www.sarahseven.com/bride-by-sarah-seven/"]
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[prodr brand="Rebecca Vallance" product="Guipure Lace Midi Dress" description="If one thing is for sure, you'll be hard pressed to find someone else at the party in another yellow dress. What I love about this one by Rebecca Vallance, is that it's from her Resort collection -- making the overall vibe appropriately vacation inspired (perfect come February when we're all fed up with New York winters and need a warm getaway, but the lace gives it bit of a evening nod." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/r7Hg"]
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[prodl brand="Rebecca Taylor" product="Patchwork Dress" description="This Rebecca Taylor dress combines some of my favorite elements into one piece of clothing: velvet, ruffles and peek-a-boo lace. While this dress would be perfect with a pair of classic black heels, I'd be even more interested in seeing it paired with knee high black boots." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/r7KZ"]
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[prodr brand="Zimmermann" product="Rife Dally Midi Dress" description="I've yet to meet a polka dot I didn't like. And this dress by Zimmermann has my name all over it. Asymmetrical? Check. Lace? Check. Cut out shoulders? Check! Plus, it's currently on sale!" link="http://shopstyle.it/l/r7Oo"]
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[prodl brand="Self Portrait" product="Sweetheart Crochet Midi Dress" description="I love how unexpected a pleated dress might be for evening festivities, but imagine the dancing you could do in this little number! The twirls! The dips!" link="http://shopstyle.it/l/r7SS"]
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[prodr brand="Alice McCall" product="Sweet Emotion Dress" description="Confession: I actually tried on this very dress here in Australia (Alice McCall is probably my newest Australia crush but shhh...don't tell my boyfriend that). And another confession: I'm pretty tempted to head back to their boutique to scoop it up. Oddly enough, I don't have many blush colored dresses but amongst a sea of black frocks, you'd certainly stick out. In the best way possible." link="http://shopstyle.it/l/r7VJ"]
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OUTFIT DETAILS: Sarah Seven gown (borrowed) // Sergio Rossi heels
Welcome back from the long weekend! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas (or whatever you happen to celebrate), spent with friends and loved ones. Mine was spent here in Western Australia with my guy's family -- in the midst of summer, no less! We ate dinner alfresco, opening presents and laughing over BonBons (a new-to-me Australian Christmas tradition), while the warm ocean air breezed through. After the past few months of 2017, which have been hectic to say the least, this has been the perfect respite vacation, with lots of time to do very little actually other than think (an act I often take for granted, when this line of works requires a lot of GO, GO, GO).
In fact, it's gotten me thinking and reflecting a lot about this past year, what I've enjoyed, what seemed to work, what didn't and where I'd like 2018 to take me. Of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts on all of the above, especially as we close out 2017 here in just a few short days. As usual, I'll have my top 17 of 2017 coming later this week -- followed by my thoughts on the year ahead -- goals, dreams, ambitions and more!
In the meantime, since we're just easing into the post-holiday mentality, I wanted to share another video, this one being a much anticipated short from earlier this fall -- my fall/winter 2017 trend lookbook. I've rounded up my four favorite trends (all translate quite nicely into winter) and styled them around Central Park. I hope you enjoy and as always, I would so appreciate it if you would consider subscribing to my YouTube channel here. New videos are posted every Friday, many times before they ever make it to the blog!
As always, thank YOU for reading!
Happy Christmas weekend!
Though many of you may have your gifts already picked out, some of us are still struggling to find the perfect gift for someone on our list. Maybe she's the woman who has everything and wants for nothing — and yet will playfully expect a lovely gift. Or maybe it's the girl whose life is so effortless and down to earth that even material things just don't cut it. Whoever it is, a tried-and-true gift I always turn to is beauty. From lipsticks to balms to hair products to skincare, beauty is something almost any girl can get excited over, especially as gifts. Beauty products are often small and always thoughtful — I love how much consideration goes into even the tiniest pot of eyeshadow. Does this match her personality? Will she wear it often or for special occasions? Does this color scream her?
Beauty can be tricky, sometimes, but with these picks below you'll be pleasing every last girl on your list. Happy shopping!
Photos by Lydia Hudgens
As promised last week, here's my holiday dress edit video, featuring quite a few of the dresses we snapped here. Even though we're coming down to the wire now before Christmas, there's still New Year's Eve, which many of these dresses would be perfect for! Hope you enjoy and as always, thanks so much for reading!
Here's an unexpected stocking stuffer idea: fishnet socks. Bonus points if they have a bow, like this pair. They're an easy way to jazz up any outfit and at $6 a pop, you can easily snag several pairs for all sartorial discerning girlfriends. I picked up this pair when I was in Tokyo earlier this year and love pairing them with my little Sarah Flint Emma heels and jeans (for a cool girl, off-duty look) and with a full midi skirt (for a polished statement outfit).
This, of course, has me thinking about this particular outfit from last year, where I styled my fishnet stockings under a pair of distressed blue jeans -- alongside my resolutions for 2017. The funny thing about resolutions to me, is that, no matter how much you feel like you've accomplished in a particular year, it's easy to still feel like you didn't quite hit the mark. But after reading back through my resolutions from this time last year, and remembering my mood and frame of mind at the time (I was in the midst of an unhealthy breakup), I have to say, I feel quite happy and satisfied with the progress I've made, both personally and professionally. I'll be recapping my progress for the year, benchmarked against last year's goals -- as well as sharing my resolutions for 2018 soon, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear from you guys -- how did 2017 treat you? I know it had it's ups and definitely it's downs -- but overall, how would you rate it for you?
OUTFIT DETAILS: Kohls sweater and jeans // Brixton baker boy hat // Sarah Flint heels // Cafune bag // Fishnet socks from Tokyo
Two things about this dress:
- I forgot to include it in last week's holiday dress edit. It somehow missed my radar when I was editing and uploading the photos, but since it's probably one of my favorite all time party dress silhouettes (you can never go wrong with a little fit and flare), I figured I would share it a few days late, in the event perhaps you too, have a few last minute holiday parties to throw yourself together for.
- That brings me to my next point -- this very dress is ON SALE for $100, giving you all the more reason to find a reason (or to make up a reason) to dress up this week. We're less than 10 days out from Christmas now, folks, which means if you're not holiday shopping, you're probably sipping egg nog at some party or other. Or perhaps both, simultaneously.
- And three, even though I said I only had two, my mother gave me this pearl necklace years ago now, a few Christmases back and while I don't wear it hardly enough, I have to say, it's been my go-to for party looks, especially with wide open necklines like this strapless number. It's dainty, accentuates your neck and draws attention to your decolletage -- all wins in my book, not to mention the fact, it reminds me of my mom every time I wear it.
Also, stay tuned for our Holiday Dress Edit video, coming later this week! If you liked the photos, I think you're going to love the video!
OUTFIT DETAILS: White House Black Market DRESS, SHOES and CLUTCH // Pearl necklace and pearl earrings
A few weeks back, as you might have spied on Insta Stories and here and there in my Instagram posts, I was introduced to the suiting brand, Suistudio. Some of you may already be familiar with it as the younger sister, so to speak, of Suit Supply -- and I've been living in quite a few of their pieces since, namely this coat and this blazer, which you saw in yesterday's post. Of course, I'm never one to turn down a good matching set, especially tailored pieces like these (all alterations are done in house at their SoHo store) and the minute I spotted this muted, plaid combo, I knew I had to have it.
Between the wide leg pants and the warm, earth tones, something about this set strikes just the right retro notes for me -- like a 70s reporter at the New York Times or perhaps a possible outfit from Annie Hall's closet -- and I'm more than OK with that. I've rounded up a few of my favorite suit options down below -- so keep scrolling for a few different alternatives!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Suistudio suit jacket and pants // Suistudio turtleneck // Sergio Rossi heels // The Daily Edited bag // Polaroid camera
Continuing yesterday's fall leftovers theme, with another outfit straight from the autumn archives -- this time with these equestrian-inspired boots by Sigerson Morrison and my latest favorite combination of blazers with turtlenecks. Admittedly, there is something quite collegiate about a blazer paired with a turtleneck -- it's polished and yet, comfortably relaxed -- like you could have opted for the white button front oxford instead, but the turtleneck just sounded much more inviting given all that reading you need to do before tomorrow's exams. You all know I'm a huge fan of turtlenecks with practically everything -- under dresses and slip camis alike -- and this particular duo by Sui Studio doesn't disappoint.
I've rounded up a few other favorite blazer and turtleneck combinations below, all of which would be perfect for the long holiday break coming up. Perfect for dinner, with enough lounge appeal for movie marathons afterward.
OUTFIT DETAILS: Suistudio blazer // L'Agence jeans // Sui Studio turtleneck // Sigerson Morrison boots // Olympia Le-Tan clutch
Since starting this little blog journey of mine over 8 years ago, I think one of the most common questions I still get (as I'm sure many other influencers do as well), is this: "So what exactly do you DO on a regular basis?" While the answer to this question is likely worthy of a more in depth explanation of how influencer marketing works in general (perhaps another post, for another day?), I thought it would be fun to tackle this at a high level glance in a (very informal) vlog video (my first ever vlog, in fact!). Given that my past week before hopping down to Australia (where I am currently) was a doozy, I put this Wednesday through Tuesday "Week in the Life" video together, sharing highlights from a few recent video shoots, a hosting gig I had with Amazon Fashion and a handful of other NYC highlights along the way (yes, including Elvis' booty).
I hope you enjoy! And if you have a moment, I'd love to hear any thoughts you may have on what kind of video content you'd like to see from me! I'm still getting ramped up when it comes to YouTube, so I welcome the challenge!
This past weekend, I watched the "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold" documentary on Netflix. As someone who has loved Didion's work over the years, it was just the message I had been looking for lately. In it, Didion talks a lot about the feeling of writing at a young age when her mother gave her one of her first notebooks, encouraging her to write down her thoughts.
"I didn't really have any clear picture on how to do it, but I do remember having a very clear sense that I wanted this to continue."
Didion is known for a lot of things throughout her career, many of which are just the tip of the iceberg as to why I admire her and her work so much. Her take on literary journalism and the essay as a modern novel of sorts (especially in regards to numerous social forces of her time) are all a huge reason as to why I was drawn to journalism in the first place. And after watching her documentary -- it really got me thinking about why we write down and share thoughts at all.
If I'm being perfectly honest, there have been many moments since staring This Time Tomorrow where I've hit certain walls. Walls where I felt like I didn't have enough time to work on this space. Walls where I felt like I didn't have anything meaningful to add. Walls where I felt like what I added didn't make a difference. They're the worst walls to hit -- walls of self-doubt.
And usually, after a fair bit of reflection and some time spent doing the things I've listed below, I'm able to reconnect with what it is that I really love about doing what I do -- the thing that gives me a "very clear sense that I want it to continue."
Whether you work in a creative field like me (perhaps you're your own boss, as well?) or not, moments of self-doubt creep in for everyone, and after this most recent bout I've gone through, I figured I'd share a few of my tried and true ways I face creative ruts head on. Because, sometimes the biggest comfort (and catalyst for getting out of them) is to realize that you're not alone.
1. Remind yourself, you're not alone. This one is seemingly easy. But I assure you, a lot of the time, it isn't. Especially in an industry where there's a never ending stream of content -- great content, too -- it's that all too familiar feeling of thinking everyone else has their shit figured out, except for you. I'm extremely guilty of falling down this rabbit hole, to the point my anxiety can get the best of me, standing in the way of my own productivity. Suddenly, I can't seem to move forward with step one of project one, because I'm overwhelmed by the 19th step in project 5.
And then, I force myself to remember: for every beautifully curated feed, video, or post, there's someone behind it who feels just as vulnerable as you at times. Who doesn't know exactly what they're doing ALL the time. Who's just trying to make it LOOK like they have it together. The truth is, once you can accept everyone else is trying their best to make it look like they have it together, you can start to accept your own process of getting there, too.
2. Feed your brain, your heart, your soul, whatever needs FEEDING. This one means a lot of different things to me at different times, for different creative ruts, but the underlying point is always the same. I try to listen to what part of me is lacking, be it my creative writing, my photography, my voice, my vision, and I try to make a conscious effort to feed it. That means, instead of binge watching certain shows in my downtime (don't get me wrong, I love Riverdale, too!), I try to turn something on that adds a bit of substance while I work, like the Joan Didion documentary I watched last weekend.
Of course, the more I dive into the logistics of managing my own business, making time to read JUST FOR ME, is also hard to come by. Lately, I've been making more of a point to read poetry before bed. I find there's a lot of solace in being able to digest a poem or two before bed -- it requires less reacquainting than some of the novels that I'm also reading, but it actually also gives my imagination a lot to mull over before I fall asleep. I feel much more satiated because of it.
Sometimes, when the weather permits it, this means I also opt to just walk as much as possible. There's something about walking around New York that always manages to make me see things differently, be it the people I meet along the way, a building I hadn't noticed before or the way the sunset casts interesting shadows at a certain intersection. Does New York have to be your backdrop? Of course not. The point is to find the beauty already around you, no matter where you are.
3. Reflect. More often than not, the best way to move forward, is to (briefly) look back at how far you have come. Honestly. Give it a try. I used to be deathly afraid of quitting my full time marketing job. Then I did. Now that I'm past that hurdle, I have to remind myself I was capable of doing it in the first place, and there's no valid reason why I can't pass the next hurdle.
4. Don't be precious about it. This one is about perspective -- the easiest thing to lose when you get wrapped up in your own world and your own creative work. I find, the longer I concentrate and overthink something, the more I end up feeling directionless with it. Essentially, the more I want it to be perfect, the less perfect it becomes. Instead, I allow myself to get, well, messy with it. I take what might be a traditional approach to a project, and I try to turn it on its head. I'll give myself very random writing prompts (most of which don't make it on here, but perhaps they should?) just to allow my head the time to roam wildly for a minute. I also like to research ways to improve my writing. For example, just the other day a friend of mine showed me this guide to some different types of editing. Whether you are writing a novel, or a blog post, editing is fundamental. It's an incredibly freeing feeling to make something that you're not smothering along the way -- even if it comes out slightly strange or different or not what you normally see in an Instagram feed or perhaps it doesn't get shared at all -- the choice is yours! But make it. And let it be weird. And strange. And different. And odd. And I bet you'll probably have some fun along the way and come up with a whole slew of new ideas to try out for your next creative endeavor.
5. Find collaborators who are hungry like you! Nothing gets me invigorated to work and create like meeting other like-minded creatives! Seriously. It's quite possibly the best medicine I prescribe to you. Ask your literary agents to help you find some new talent if you can't find it on your own. They know your writing style and genres and could easily pair you up with someone who's just as creative as you. Whenever I'm feeling a bit drained or in need of a creative revival, I start digging around for new blood -- new brands to approach for styling editorials, new photographers I admire on Instagram who might be open to working together, new influencer friends who might be up for grabbing coffee and shooting together. You'll be surprised how far it propels you and makes you see things with a whole new light.
OUTFIT DETAILS: Ted Baker coat // Ted Baker sweater // Ted Baker jeans // Self-Portrait heels // Celine sunglasses // The Daily Edited bag
Have you ever looked up the word "lady" in the dictionary? Well, if you're like me, and haven't done so EVER, I've gone ahead and saved you the trouble: Click right here.
Go ahead. I'll wait.
Surprised? Yeah, me too. There are 12 definitions of the word "lady." And they range from extremely antiquated (like a 'female feudal superior') to unsurprisingly worthy of an eye roll or two (like 'a woman who is the object of chivalrous devotion'). For the sake of this argument, the first definition suffices here as it is the most commonly understood meaning of the word. It reads:
"A lady is a woman who is refined, polite and well-spoken."
Seemingly simple enough, right? I suppose so. Until we start diving into the semantics of the words "refined," "polite" and "well-spoken" especially in the context of how society associates them with women. I'll spare you all the exercise of looking up each of these words, but I imagine you can see where my point is going. We have a hard enough time pinpointing the word "lady" as it is -- so the waters get murkier when we throw in other words that carry a fair amount of subjectivity to them. Grace Kelly was refined. And so is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Princess Diana was on all accounts polite. And yet, she politely gave the middle finger to the royal establishment by breaking it's stuffiness and making more contact with the public through her prolific charity work. Charlotte Bronte was certainly well-spoken. And so is Malala Yousafzai. The list goes on.
I think it's safe to say, in a society that, on many accounts is still struggling to even the playing field between the sexes (a subject for another post, for another day), we as women have been going through a drawn-out identity crisis, blurring and redefining the lines of what it means to be a woman, a lady and, heck, a human being in 2017. It hardly boils down to three adjectives. It boils down to far too many adjectives to list here in a single blog post.
And it's this very idea that Talbots has been tackling head on in their "Because I'm a Lady" campaign. When their team first approached me about working together on this, I was intrigued to see how they were positioning the word "lady," a word that amongst millennial and GenZ generations tends to get tossed around both positively and negatively. What I found was a refreshing take on grace, intelligence, humility, tact, poise, confidence and leadership -- all redefined, challenging traditional conventions, unapologetically and boldly. And it's a lady I think we can all identify with -- regardless of age and background. She prides herself in being assertive in the office. She dines alone, because she enjoys her own company. She laughs heartily with friends, unafraid of how she appears to others. She moves with grace, in a way that's unabashedly her own, dancing to the beat of her own god damn drummer (perhaps to the chagrin of her partner). Seriously, go watch their reel of campaign videos here, it will only take a few minutes.
I'll wait right here.
Naturally, when they asked me to choose an aspect of the campaign that spoke the most to me, I realized I actually couldn't choose -- and I don't think I need to. Just as we have 12 different definitions of the word lady (and likely more to be added in the coming years and generations), I think the beauty of being a lady is that it means a multitude of many different things to many different women. And WE, as women, get to define that. For no one else, but ourselves.
Now tell me, what does being a lady mean to you?
OUTFIT DETAILS: Sui Studio coat // Talbots turtleneck // Talbots skirt // Steve Madden boots // Olympia Le-Tan clutch
Photos by Lydia Hudgens // Editing by Nora Varcho
This post was in collaboration with Talbots. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
For all my New York friends, consider this your Tuesday evening invitation! My good friend Dylana Suarez and I invite you to join us at the Mulberry boutique in SoHo (134 Spring Street), for a little soirée celebrating their latest bag launch, the Amberley (the gorgeous bags you see in the photos here). We'll be toasting, dancing and generally, laughing quite a bit -- and we'd love for you to come hang out! Make sure to RSVP to RSVPNYC@mulberry.com -- and you could possibly win a Mulberry gift for yourself!
Hope to see you there -- and don't forget your dancing shoes!
And in case you missed it, don't forget to check out the video I made in partnership with Mulberry right this way.
OUTFIT DETAILS ON KRYSTAL: Mulberry leather jacket // Mulberry skirt // Mulberry Amberley bag // Mulberry ankle boots
OUTFIT DETAILS ON DYLANA: Mulberry sweater // Mulberry skirt // Mulberry heels // Mulberry Amberley bag
This post was in collaboration with Mulberry. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
I met Mary Sell, a dancer for the New York City Ballet, earlier this summer online of all places. She had sent me a message via Instagram, pointing out that we lived only a few blocks from each other (she's since moved -- Mary, come back to the West Village!) and since then, I've become somewhat fascinated with her life. OK, not just somewhat. Downright in awe of it. There's something about the ballerina living in New York City that feels so cinematic -- evoking everything from The Red Shoes (OK, I know this is set in London, but same idea) to Center Stage (yep, guilty as charged -- I loved this movie) so I was excited when she was keen to be a part of my Woman Crush Wednesday series. Mainly, because I was excited to share her with you guys and also, I was equally excited to style her in some of Sachin + Babi's latest runway dresses.
Keep reading to find out more about Mary and why she's our leading lady of the moment!
Full disclosure, I took ballet lessons for about two weeks when I was 7, until I realized I wasn’t very graceful and was better off on a soccer field. And while that decision was the best for me, I’ve always admired (OK, and a bit jealous of!) dancers and dedicated ones at that. Tell us about your love affair with ballet: How it started, how it’s grown, and where you see it taking you.
I, too started off with both soccer and ballet when I was about 4 years old in Wilton Connecticut! I had so much energy and needed multiple outlets. Eventually I started showing up to my soccer games with my pink tights underneath my shorts and my parents got my not so subtle hint about my love for ballet. When I was 10 years old my parents brought me to audition for the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. I was accepted and trained there for the next 9 years. My parents would drive me into the city everyday after school for ballet classes, I still don't know how they did it! I have always been drawn to the athleticism of ballet, the artistry and musicality came a little later in my teens. I’m a natural jumper and turner so I just wanted to fly around the room. The balance and graceful part did not come as easily. By the time I was 12 I knew I wanted to do this as my profession and I was determined to dance for New York City Ballet. I decided then and there that failure was not an option. I still sometimes can't believe I made my dream a reality! Now as a professional I find that the music is the most important part of dancing, it inspires me and informs my approach to the choreography. I hope that I will always continue to grow in my musicality and artistry even as my body slows down. I know I won't be able to stay at this intense level of ballet forever but I don't think I will ever stop dancing.
What is your earliest dance memory?
I remember my creative movement class when I was 4 years old. We would sit in our straddle splits and bend our knees and flex our feet to make “mountains and trees” then straighten our knees and point our feet. I have pictures of myself concentrating so hard to make my feet point more than anyone else. I was competitive even then.
Tell us about your career highlight so far?
My dream role was the Dewdrop fairy in the Waltz of Flowers in The Nutcracker. I fell in love with this role in my variations class at SAB (School of American Ballet). I had seen it danced so many times and was completely drawn to the delicate but explosive qualities this role requires. I think this role embodies everything I love, jumping, turning, speed, femininity, power and lightness. In December 2009 I made my debut in this role and it is by far one of the best moments of my career! Another major highlight just happened this season in a brand new ballet by my fellow dancer and choreographer Lauren Lovette. This is the first time I originated a principal role in a world premier! I was inspired to write a poem about this ballet and Lauren actually put my poem in the program and named the ballet after the last line. From the very beginning stages of the creation up through the performances was a dream come true!
OUTFIT DETAILS (in order of appearance): Sachin + Babi teal tulle dress // Sachin + Babi baby blue ruffled gown // Sachin + Babi pink/black/blue long sleeve dress // Sachin + Babi long sleeve floral gown // Sachin + Babi dark floral sleeveless gown // Sachin + Babi cream floral gown // Sachin + Babi bodysuit + white ball gown skirt // Sachin + Babi lace gown
What’s your dream role?
I of course have a whole list of dream roles but if I have to pick one it would be a ballet called Duo Concertant, choreographed by NYCB’s founder George Balanchine. It is just a man and a woman, a piano and a violin on stage. There is no set and just a leotard and tights for costumes but it have everything, romance, energy and drama. There is no plot but there are 1000 possible stories. The ending will have anyone at the edge of their seat holding their breath.
What are you currently working on? What’s up next for the season?
We do so many ballets every season that most ballets only get rehearsed one week before! I am really looking forward to dancing one of my favorites called Square Dance choreographed by Balanchine.
What does dance mean to you?
Dance is the physical expression of music. This might sound a little crazy but dance isn't something I choose to do, it's something I have to do. It's something my soul needs to do to express myself.
To be a great dancer, you must …
Work harder than you think you are capable of doing every day.
Tell us about a typical day for you -- how it starts, the hours of practice etc., and how you finish out the day?
I take a full company warmup class every morning from 10:30-11:30 then go to rehearsals from 11:30-2:30. I then get a 1 hour break for lunch before going back to more rehearsals from 3:30-5:30 or even 6. I can rehearse up to 6 or 7 different ballets in a day. After my rehearsals I have 2 hours to rest, grab a coffee and snack and do my makeup and hair and re warm up for the performance at 7:30 or 8! I do this 6 days a week, it consumes most of my life but I can't imagine doing anything else!
Who would you love to dance alongside with someday?
I wish I could have danced with Fred Astaire. Today I actually get to dance with all the people I admire. It sounds sappy but I feel so lucky to dance with the people I admire most every day!
Who are some of your dance idols/inspirations?
The dancers who inspired me most were Suzanne Farrell and Darci Kistler. I actually shared the stage with Darci for a little more than 5 years before she retired.
In another life, what would you be doing?
In another life I would be performing in some capacity. I can't imagine not being on stage!
Finish these sentences...
The last song I listened to while commuting this morning… Harvest Moon by Neil Young one of my all time favorites But before performances it's always anything by Cher!
My biggest dance-related pet peeve … people who dance off the beat of the music
Nutcracker or Swan Lake? Both
I’d love the chance to work with … Unrealistically: George Balanchine and Realistically: Justin Peck and Lauren Lovette again! They are both incredible humans and choreographers with so much to say and give!
I’m happiest when … I’m onstage alone
The most surreal place I’ve danced … The Opera Garnier in Paris.
Right now, if you emptied the contents of my bag, you’d find … My phone, at least 3 lipsticks, keys, credit cards, Id’s, metro card, sunglasses, glasses, mints, oil blotting sheets, floss, perfume, hairpins, a pen, gum, headphones, phone charger, needle and thread, the latest copy of The New Yorker. I’m now starting to realize why my bag is so heavy!
These days, you’ll usually find me wearing … A silk button by Equipment and black or blue jeans, ankle boots and my favorite authentic vintage cowboy jacket from Arizona given to me by my amazing aunt. It has the perfect fringe and beading, you’ve never seen anything like it in the city!
What is it about your job that you think people would be surprised to learn?
I think people would be surprised if they saw the way we walk when we get out of bed in the morning. Some days I can barely put weight on my feet and my back won't straighten but somehow I’m flying six feet in the air and moving at the speed of light up on my toes by the performance that night! Another really shocking fact that is specific to NYCB is that we do so many ballets every season that most ballets only get 3 rehearsals before they are performed.
Where do you see yourself this time tomorrow? 5 years from now? How about 21 years from now?
This time tomorrow, I will be in rehearsal! In 5 years, I see myself still in rehearsal but maybe for a bigger role. In 21 years, I see myself still performing but maybe as an actress. The stage is my happy place and I don't see myself leaving it any time soon!
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