Luxe for Less - The Outerwear of New York & Company

It's no secret that New York & Company isn't exactly high fashion.  A staple of malls across America, the brand offers up simple, classic looks at mom-friendly prices.

 

This season, however, I'm surprisingly stalking their insanely on-trend outerwear.  I've been on the hunt for months for a vegan-friendly leather coat  - but with a catch.  I despise that all too ubiquitous shiny, faux leather sheen, but want a piece that is still, somehow, low budget.

 

New York & Company solved my dilemma.  I'm going to try their burgundy trench, and am even eying their coated denim moto jacket.  The quality is way beyond most fake leather I've encountered and, even better, they're constantly having blow-out sales.  Type in 'New York and Company Coupon Code' into your favorite search engine and be amazed - I spotted one that was $100 off of a $200 purchase [code 2822 as of today].

 

With so many luxe for less options to choose from, I'm eagerly awaiting the impending arrival of my favorite season.

 

New York and Company

Covets - Cole Haan's Chelsea Lo Flared Pump

I'm sort of obsessed with calf hair leopard print, as history has shown, and this season I seem to be more in love with this combo than ever. So when I saw Cole Haan's Chelsea Low Flared Heel in the windows of their flagship on Fifth Avenue near Rockefeller Center I fell a little bit more in love. The other colors are equally appealing, and I just can't get over how much I love the design of this shoe. The chunky, petite heel is just so manageable, measuring in at only 1.75" high. It's thickness, and Cole Haan's reliably comfortable footbeds, assure me that this shoe would be a dream. And a practical one at that. Now if only the pricetag was a little more practical. At $348 these are a bit expensive for me to justify. Can't a girl get a sale? Thanksgiving weekend, perhaps? That seems eons from now!



 

 

 

 

Cole Haan Chelsea Low Flared Heel

Put. A. Bird. On. It!

 

 

 

There's something so enchanting about a pretty frock dressed down by the addition of an imposing bird skull ring.  A jumper festooned with a flock of birds.  Owl eyes peeping up from under a pair of skinnies.

 

It's no secret I'm slightly obsessed with birds.  Call it the dinosaur lover in me, or the tragically hip[ster].  But I'm having an awful hard time walking away from these flight-ready finds.

 

McQ Alexander McQueen Bird Flocked Cotton Sweatshirt, Net-A-Porter; Dollhouse Can't Help But Stare Flats, ModCloth;

Maiyet Black Horn Diving Bird Pendant Necklace, Barneys New York;

Racerback Bird Print Dress, Forever 21; Pamela Love Bird Skull Ring, Farfetch.

DIY Caviar Nails

Shortly after becoming smitten with Ciaté's Caviar Nails, and balking at the $25 price tag, I set out to DIY this fun look. When I stumbled on Martha Stewart's 12-Pack of glass microbeads available on Amazon for under $15, and prime-eligible to boot, I quickly snatched the package up and used last weekend as a testing ground for my own version of candy-coated nail fun.



 

 

I chose to mix 5 colors (kunzite, blue topaz, feldspar, white gold, and clear) over Essie's "No Place Like Chrome." I combined all of the microbeads in a little bowl and got a tiny espresso spoon to use for ladeling, and set out a tray to catch any beads that fell off during the sprinkling process (and oh, many fall off). After a base coat and a single coat of the polish I quickly set off to applying a top coat and layering the beads on after each application.

 

 

My nails looked great for the first hour, but a little while later my nighttime routine (read: flossing!) resulted in many a dislodged microbead. For each bead that fell off I was left with a tiny pockmark in my silver polish, but I realized this was avoidable and wouldn't even be that big of a deal if I had let the silver coat dry completely before applying the beads. I'll certainly try this technique next time, because the look is too fun and simple to give up on. Even if it only lasts for three days, I deem it worthwhile. Stay tuned for attempt number two, and an update on how long this look lasts.

 

Martha Stewart Glass Microbead Set

 

Covets - Olive & Winnie Confection Necklace

 

I haven't yet jumped on the brightly hued cabochon necklace trend, but I think I've finally found a worthy piece to get me started.  Dubbed the Taylor necklace on Wink and Flip's website, Olive & Winnie's Confection necklace can also sporadically be found during select blink-or-you'll-miss-it flash sales at Ideeli.com.  And what a sweet treat it is!  I love the juxtaposition of glamorous gemstone clusters on a strand of translucent beads.  Available in four color options, I'll be snatching up the green beaded version, an insanely colorful piece that will amp up my fall wardrobe and remind me of all those fun summer nights.

 

Wink and Flip | Ideeli

Life in Photos - Fête Paradiso

A short ferry ride from downtown Manhattan, Governor's Island waits with the promise of river breezes, a car-free environment, and endless activities. When the husband and I decided to go and enjoy Fete Paradiso, we were also lucky enough to also catch Rite of Summer's tribute to Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, a Civil War cannon firing reenactment, Figment's installation and Terreform One's waterfront imaginings.

Fete Paradiso was the main attraction, though. Vintage carousels from France accompanied by the live serenading of a french singer? With a beer and food garden in the middle of the beautiful, old rides? I was smitten with the idea from the beginning, and the experience more than lived up to my expectations. Tickets are $3 and can be used on rides or games (throwing a ball into the mechanical mouth of a vintage head proved difficult for both of us). Fresh, made to order cotton candy may have been the highlight for me. I had just been lamenting how long it had been since I'd had good cotton candy the week before, and this seemed like providence. 

Visit Governor's Island

Covets - Isabel Marant Sneakers

I know we all tend to have a love/hate relationship with high-top sneakers, but I am going to come clean - I am in total lust with Isabel Marant's Bekket sneaker.  Available in so many fun patterns, colors, heights and textures, I'm dying to get my hands on a fresh, white pair.  So reminiscent of loafers, there's absolutely nothing they won't go with - skinnies, poofy skirts, twirl-y, girlie sundresses - the possibilities are endless.

Isabel Marant

What We're Buying - Metal Toe Sandals

 

 

I've been seeing metal toed sandals on many a fashionable lady in the city for quite some time now (I know I first saw Dolce Vita's version last summer), but I never much saw the point or thought they were worth the pricetag. After almost two months of open-toed sandals, and with my footwear starting to show serious signs of deterioration, I'm ready to reconsider. Somehow the front of my sandals get positively chewed up on the city streets, and I am hopeful that a metal toe would at least hinder this sad process. I'm definitely going to snatch up one of these lovelies, and as soon as they arrive my poor, leather toed sandals are headed straight for my trusty shoe repairman for some much needed TLC. 

 

DV by Dolce VIta Agnyss, Macys; Chinese Laundry Now or Never, 6PM;

Ted Baker Bellena Sandal, Nordstrom; City Classified United Sandal,

DV by Dolce Vita Apex Sandals, Bamboo Lottie Sandal, Zoo Shoo.

Inspirations - The Jewelry of Jennifer Fisher

 

Jennifer Fisher's incredible pieces are certainly not for the timid.

 

 

 

 

Never a 'girlie girl,' her line contains tons of chunky cuffs, skulls and bones, naughty handcuffs and, of course, spikes.

 

 

While a lot of artists are jumping on the biker-girl bandwagon these days, Fisher is truly an originator - creating rough, yet somehow still impossibly chic, designs.

 

Jennifer Fisher