NYC. #ootds.

As per annual tradition, I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days in my favorite city this past December. A recap of my trip will be coming to the blog soon, but in the meantime, I'm sharing the #OOTDs I wore. Just as a disclaimer: It was cold (like 20 degrees in the daytime cold), and so I was pretty limited in sartorial options. It was quite the wakeup call after last year's unseasonably warm temps. Bundled in layers with a cuppa steaming cider in hand, I think I actually fared pretty well. Regardless of the weather, anytime in NYC is a good time, amirite? Disclaimer #2: Don't be fooled, I only temporarily ditched my mustard coat for the third outfit snapshot.

Day 1: Since day one consisted of a six-hour-or-so train ride, I opted for a comfortable American Apparel floral dress, black tights, marled socks and lace-up ankle boots. Oh, and I cinched in the waist with a skinny leopard print belt from J.Crew. I’m thankful I decided to bring my mustard yellow toggle coat along — come the evening, having a hood to block out the windchill proved to be game-changing. AKA, I didn’t completely freeze.

Day 2: Being in the city during the most magical time of the year definitely influenced my decision to toss on this festive fair isle sweater by Free People. I opted for a casual look by styling it alongside my go-to Industry Standard jeans, lace-up ankle boots and a few layered necklaces. Side note: I'm so glad I thought to bring along my classic Cambridge Satchel bag. It was just the right size for everything I needed/wanted to carry, and it matched all my outfits without fail. #Winning

Day 3: In true NYC fashion (especially during the winter months!), you never know what to expect with the weather. That said, we actually woke up to some snow. While I enjoyed admiring the fluffy white stuff from the hotel room window at dawn amongst the quiet streets, trudging around in the slush was just a slippery mess. Although less chilly, a comfy-oh-so-cozy sweater from Scotch & Soda proved to be the perfect layering piece. I finished off the look with a cream-colored Club Monaco skirt and lace-up boots once again as the other ankle boots that I packed weren’t quite as all-weather friendly.
 
How do you combat the elements in style? Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
A

1

weekend. sales.

With summer sales in full swing, I thought I would share a few of my favorite finds. Walking through the mall this weekend, I was surprised to see so many stores already with 50-70 percent markdowns! Thankfully, summer is nowhere near over and you'll still be able to get plenty of wear out of whatever end-of-season finds you manage to snatch up. Take a peek below at what I found.

 

Melody Mini Dress (Free People) // ICYMI: Free People is offering an additional 50 percent off all sale items this weekend, which is ah-mazing. I'm not sure how long the sale's going on, but I ended up getting this gorgeous floral frock for under $30. I'm obsessed with the ultra-feminine floral print, the short sleeves and the effortless silhouette (perfect for those dog days of summer). The length was just right, too.

Printed Gia Mini Dress (American Apparel) // American Apparel is currently offering an additional 60 percent off all clearance items. That said, I immediately fell in love with this fun floral dress with retro appeal. I recommend going up a size if you want a more laid-back chic look! I plan on putting it away for late summer/early fall, so that I can pair it with ankle booties and maybe even riding boots once it gets really cold. I also purchased this easy-breezy ponte mini skirt in mustard melange. It's a basic that I know I'll get a lot of wear out of (think: everything from oversized sweaters to chambray shirts).

Cara Faux Leather Bow Headband (Nordstrom) // I've been eyeing (and proceeding to try on) this gorgeous faux leather bow headband for several months now. You can imagine my delight upon discovering that it was finally on sale. Although it's available in several different colors, I simply can't get enough of the cognac. It's classy, sophisticated and just right if you want to channel your inner Blair Waldorf. I know I do.

Gemma Glitter Flats (J.Crew) // I initially stumbled upon these sparkly #shinyponies in store last weekend, but they weren't my size. Determined to snag a pair of my dream ballet flats, I checked online and J.Crew thankfully still had them in stock. Let me tell ya — they're a major steal. Use the code SUMMER to get an additional 60 percent off the current sale price. Pssst: They come in at around $30 once you factor in shipping.

Have you stumbled upon any amazing summer steals lately? Feel free to share 'em with me below!

xo,
A

0

the. mani. dairies. // may.

I don't know about you, but minimalist manis have currently been my jam.  I follow Paintbox Nails, a modern nail salon in NYC, on Instagram and their nails are always on point.  Whether it's just the tips, barely there half-moons or a negative space design, I seriously cannot get enough. The best part about minimalist nail art is that it's not terribly difficult to pull off.  (In other words, you need not be an artist to achieve stellar results.)  Not to mention that cool girls everywhere are sporting them...

American Apparel "African Violet" (similar)  |  The New Black clear crystal rhinestone studs

A few weeks ago, I attempted a negative space mani embellished with tiny rhinestones and the result surprisingly wasn't half bad.  (Just as reference, see here for the Paintbox manicure that served as inspiration.)  Although it took some patience and a little trial and error, the entire process was pretty seamless.  I used tape to mark a line three-fourths the way down my nails and applied two coats of purple polish to the top half. Once the polish dried, I brushed on Essie's Good to Go topcoat (which I swear by) and carefully placed a rhinestone in the middle of each nail.  The toughest part of this manicure was undoubtedly getting the rhinestones in the correct position, right-side up. 

As for durability and wear, these nails definitely erred on the long-lasting side.  After one week, the majority of the rhinestones were still intact — when one fell off, I simply applied a new one.

What is your current go-to mani or favorite nail color?  Tell me in the comments below!

xo,

A

0