#NYFW

To state the obvious, I took another time out from blogging. I partially took a break due to the fact that work really took off (in a good way) and I felt like I barely had time to breathe, let alone sit down and actually compose a cohesive post.

So better late than never, I wanted to reflect on my experience during New York Fashion Week. I was fortunate enough this year to attend two shows for BCBG Max Azria and Herve Leger. Both experiences were totally different but rounded out to make for the perfect overall perspective.

For the BCBG show, I wasn't sure what to expect so I made sure I woke up early that morning to get ready and wore the brand head to toe. When I got to Lincoln Center, it was so surreal to be in the same waiting area as some of my favorite bloggers, designers, or people I watch on tv on a weekly basis. People watching - even for a short period of time, was very humbling. On one hand I was living out a dream that I had always had and on the other hand, I felt the way I did as a little girl when I discovered Santa wasn't real. It was a matter of extremes.

My seat for the show was amazing with a great view of the runway. Even though I am slightly biased, I think that the music that was picked for the show was unmatched during all of Fashion Week. The soundtrack was totally unexpected and it created an amazing energy amongst the crowd to the point where I felt like everyone couldn't help but bob their head or move along to the music.

Saturday, I got my ticket to the Herve Leger show at the last minute so it was meant for standing room only. After having one show under my belt, I realized that wardrobe to the shows is anywhere from jeans and a flannel to evening-wear and it seemed as if it wasn't as cool to dress over the top. Since I left from work with my boss, I just wore a basic black outfit with flat boots. Once we got into the show my boss and I were offered seats, but we opted for a different perspective and stood at the top row. At the last minute, someone moved blocking my view so I quickly reached into my bag and switched out my flats out for platform heels just in time for the show to start. Although that moment was so cliche "High Heels and Taxi Cabs," it made me smile and was the perfect way for me to cap off the week.

 

Black Swan

It's no secret that it has been absolutely FREEZING lately, so during my last shoot I got through my first two outfits and then on the verge of turning into a popsicle, my GBF/Photog suggested we shoot inside. This is traditionally a big blogger no-no because of the lack of natural lighting, especially in my tiny NYC apartment-cave, but I decided I'd take the chance and stay warm. He probably also took one look at my outfit and decided he didn't want to be an accomplice to me getting pneumonia.

The below look is my play on Black Swan. This outfit combines a few staples that I am known for: leather, a crop top, and a statement jewelry piece. The top is from Zara Similar Here. The Quilted Skater Skirt is from ASOS Similar Here. The suspender print tights are from NastyGal, along with the hand armor bracelet. All pretty affordable items that come together for a fun night out outfit.

 

 

Black and Grey and Spikes All Over

I love buying clothes that most people would pass over and finding a way to pull together an outfit that then those same people say "oh my god, I love that! Where did you get it?" I feel like it's a challenge, especially since it's outside of the box and could easily be a #fail.

I found this manly-quilted-lumberjack vest with a leather collar at Nordstrom on double sale for $30. This is a perfect example of the above since it had to be marked down twice. I'll admit, I wouldn't have bought it for much more, but I decided that I could give it a shot for the price. I paired it with a basic GAP grey T, BCBGeneration Legging to Leather Pants, Boutique9 Pumps (similar), and Juicy Couture spike necklace. What do you guys think? Is it pulled together? Or still not happening for you?

Here's to the New Year

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and had some quality family time. Starting with my first post in 2014, I will be showing off my favorite Christmas gift.... a new CAMERA. This means no more ghetto/pixilated iPhone pictures! I kicked off 2014 with the perfect New Years Day: a movie in bed, a blog shoot, dinner with my Gay Boyfriend and ended the day with a gym sesh.

This outfit below is an outfit that I wore out to LA on January 2nd for ten hours of BCBG meetings. It might look put together but this outfit experienced a lot: the beginning of a NYC snow storm, lost luggage in LAX, broken rental car, and endless hours in the airport due to the storm. It's amazing how a great outfit can help mask the stress and drama that we experience on a daily basis and put our best heel first.

Outfit Details: Dress Clover Canyon on sale from Saks, Boots Pour La Victoire on sale here at 6pm.com , Leather Jacket BCBGeneration found it here on sale at Amazon, Bag Rebecca Minkoff smaller version here at Zappos

 

 

 

Mad Hatter

While I was home over Thanksgiving I decided to embrace the true Fall Foliage color palette and try out this Rust Colored Wool Panama from Free People. Although I sell hats as part of my job and I love them, I hesitate and chicken out wearing them ALL THE TIME! Given that this is the most hypocritical thing, I have decided that I am going to start wearing them more. For the rest of the outfit, I had to rep my BCBGeneration "Girly Girl" Cold Weather Loop in Rosewood. The knit is super cozy and I own it in two colors. My jeans are AG which is my go-to brand for denim. I never buy them at regular retail thanks to flashsale sites but I do think they are totally worth the retail price. My leather jacket is BB Dakota. I think Forest Green is my favorite color of the season (for the moment). The best accessory of this whole outfit however, has to be my sister's puppy Milo :)

Healthy Apple Chips

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday I knew it was inevitable that I was going to be eating a lot so I decided I would try a healthy snack recipe to try to counterbalance the chocolate Pecan Pie that I was downing (Thanks Mom). I eat a lot of almonds and cashews and although they are a great source of protein for you, they are not great in the mass load quantities that I eat them in. I think it's the crunchiness that I like the most so given that I decided I would try out these apple chips. Here is what you need: Apples, Coconut Oil Spray, Cinnamon, and Splenda

- Preheat the oven to 250. Then start by thinly slicing an apple to paper thin slices (if they are too thick they will take longer to cook). 

- Then spray down the cooking sheet with coconut oil spray.

- Lay the apple slices on the sheet and sprinkle one packet of splenda over the apples and then sprinkle cinnamon as well

- Set your timer for one hour and let the apple slices bake

- After an hour, flip the apples to the other side and sprinkle additional cinnamon and let them bake for another hour

- After the second hour check to make sure that the chips are crunchy enough, if not let them bake for longer

-ENJOY :) 

 

 

Sister Sister

I could probably stretch my LA trip out into about 5 posts but I figured I would recap you with the cliff notes version... or at least try

As I mentioned in my last post, the purpose of my trip was to attend BCBG and BCBGeneration Brand Summit meetings to discuss 2014 planning and also reiterate the different brand DNA's. Thursday we flew out and quickly went to Pour Vous - this awesome bar in downtown LA which turned out to be the perfect venue for the Generation Summit. Joyce Azria, creative director of BCBGeneration, chose the location because she wanted us to be in a setting where she thought the #GenGirl (her target customer) would hang out on a typical night in LA. This really beat the routine Thursday "work vibe." Joyce's energy and passion for the brand is truly uplifting and it was a great way to kick off the trip.

 Here is a preview of the Sp 14 line for Generation

Friday we woke up and went to the BCBG Corporate office to attend the BCBG Max Azria Summit. With 2014 being the 25th anniversary of the brand, it was amazing to hear more of the history and get a better understanding of it's incredible growth over time.

 

Here is a Preview of some BCBG looks for Spring 2014

After the summit, I went back to meet my sister and we decided to cross something off our bucket list and hike Runyon Canyon. The weather was amazing and although it was a lot steeper than we expected, the views and sister-time made it totally worth it. Tip for future hikers: Don't try to hike after Bloody Mary's.

 

Following the hike we did some retailing. One of the fun parts of my job is getting into as many stores as possible to shop the competition and offer my clients the best feedback, advice, and opportunities to improve their business.

 It was amazing getting into a Generation store and seeing the all of the product we work on merchandised in the store. This Cold Weather Gifting table looks flawless!

Had a BCBG Moment!

Friday night we went to dinner at Riva Bella on Sunset Blvd. The food was amazing!
Saturday we woke up and continued retailing and then headed to Santa Monica to go to the Pier. I looked homeless but Natalie looked absolutely adorable! 

 

Her panama hat is Collection18 - the company I work for :) , sweater is BCBG, bag is Rebecca Minkoff, Jeans are BLANK, sandals are Dolce Vita, and her necklace is from South Moon Under
 

 So much for the cliff notes version :) At least I managed it in one post.