A Pop of Stripe

Dress: French connection via TJ Maxx;Vest:Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx; Boots: Tommy Hilfiger

When discussing a particular outfit, I am sure that you have come across the term "pop of color" at some point. It is a phrase that is commonly used to describe a seemingly monochromatic outfit, with the addition of one singular piece containing a color that stands out, or "pops out", if you will.

With that being said, the same can hold true for a print/pattern contained in a particular piece within your outfit. That is where my title for this post comes in- "A Pop of Stripe." Being that the primary color in this particular outfit is black, I wanted to add an element to liven it up a bit, so that it wasn't too boring for my taste. Since I do not wear stripes too often, I wanted to keep the remainder of the outfit fairly simple,  instead of mixing and matching prints/patterns, which some people like to play around with.

So, next time you are picking out your outfit for the day, choose a pop of print or pattern in order to add some excitement to your look!

Post-Holiday Season

 Pajamas: Ralph Lauren via Macy's, Mug: Anthropologie, Earrings:Giani Bernini via Macy's

If you love the holiday season just as much as I do, you must know the slight sadness that comes right after it is over.  The entire month of December is always so exciting for me and much anticipated the 11 months prior to which. The second I see the festive window displays at every retail store in NYC, my whole mood is turned around.  Everyone just seems to be in a jollier mood and suddenly, some (not all), of your worries fade away. This season only comes once a year and it never fails to fly by, so I have learned to cherish it and enjoy it as much as possible-even after it is over.

We can all agree that the week after Christmas is a pretty fun time as well, because it is when we get to use our new gifts. I always like to take this time to relax as much as possible, and to really sneak in those last seconds of the holiday season as I can. What better way to do this than to slip on your new comfy pair of pajamas, sip a warm cup of tea, and read a new book under the still lit tree? The answer is..it doesn't get much better than this!

The Start of Autumn

Sweater: Free People via Lord & Taylor; Jacket: The Loft; Jeans: The Gap; Hat: Forever 21; Booties: Sam Edelman via DSW

As the summer came to a close and Fall weather began to approach, I am sure you were all as eager as I was to break out my Fall wardrobe and temporarily store away the summer clothing. As much as I do enjoy the summertime, it is sometimes refreshing to have a change of pace, and what better way to do that than with the change of seasons?

Nevertheless, with the start of a new season comes the wants and needs of new essentials to supplement our wardrobes. I, personally, usually keep my clothing for years until they are no longer in good condition because it does less damage on my wallet and because there are always a few of those pieces that are just worth keeping. However, I obviously had to buy a few items of clothing for the fall weather., to satisfy my love for shopping and scoping out new trends.

In these photos alone, I tried to depict a few of the top trends for this season:earthy tones (color of my jacket) and of course, the Pantone color of the year: Marsala (in my booties). I found this dusty olive green colored jacket on the sale rack from the Loft, and ended up snagging it for about $20! What drew me to it was the somewhat military vibe that it has, which has been a very popular trend within the past year. I also knew that the light weight feel to it would make it a perfect transitional jacket in between seasons. This Free People sweater that I am wearing in these photos is my go-to sweater this season, because it is so comfy and stylish at the same time and it is the perfect thickness for this time of year. This is just one of my Fall looks this season, and I hope to be posting some more soon!

Free Activities in NYC Now

If you wish to savor the very last moments of summer, I strongly suggest you throw on a life jacket, grab a paddle, and kayak your way down the Hudson River, on Pier 26.  To make this activity even better, it is offered for free by the Downtown Boathouse, a nonprofit corporation which accepts donations for the event.  But, do not wait too much longer because this fun water activity ends on October 12th and is only offered on the weekends! All you have to do when you get there is sign a waiver and you will be on your merry way down the river. As if it cannot get any better, you will have the most gorgeous view of the New York City skyline, including the Freedom Tower.  Take advantage of this amazing free activity because it is not very often that you will find something free in NYC, let alone something as fun as this. This event is a must try if you live in the area or happen to be visiting.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

 Dress: Rachel Roy via Macys, Shoes: Guess via DSW, Cross body Handbag; Michael Kors

Last week, I went on a week long cruise aboard the Carnival Pride, with my family and grandparents. For anyone who has not yet cruised in his/her lifetime, I would definitely recommend it! It is the perfect vacation for families, because there is always something to do for everyone, of any age. Whether you enjoy swimming, partaking in various types of trivia, engaging in leisurely sporting activities, or just lounging around while eating all you want, the cruise ship has it all! Another great aspect of cruising is the variety of ports of call that the ship lands at. This particular cruise ship stopped at Port Canaveral in Florida, Nassau Bahamas, and Free port Bahamas. As this was our 6th cruise that we have been on, these ports of call were not particularly our favorite. We prefer when the ship stops at a private island, because it guarantees a beautiful, nearby beach with blue waters and white/pink sand. Nevertheless, we still had plenty of fun at these stops. In Nassau Bahamas, my sister and I went parasailing on Cabbage Beach. It was such a fun and relaxing activity to do, especially while overlooking a gorgeous island. 

About my outfit: About two weeks ago, I was browsing Macy's website, and I glanced upon this beautiful dress made by Rachel Roy, who happens to be one of my favorite fashion designers. I loved the simplistic elegance exhibited by this free flowing dress, and the oceanic colors that it displayed. However, I did not purchase it online because I did not feel like paying a significant amount of money for shipping. Lucky for me, I ended up holding off on it and I happened to run right into it at the Macy's in Herald Square. I actually shrieked when my eyes caught a glimpse of the dress.  As if my day couldn't get any better, the dress came to a total of $35, after several price reductions. You just can't get better than that!

Summer Nights in the Big Apple

 

Top: Marshall's, Skirt: Zara, Shoes: BCBG via DSW,  Necklace:Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

 

A few weeks ago, my sister and I went to a free OAR concert in Battery Park, in NYC.  This is the perfect activity to do on a warm summer night, during the week.  You have free entertainment and a gorgeous view; what else can one possibly need? It is a great way to sit back, and take a break from a busy week. There are always free events in Manhattan, you just have to constantly be on the lookout for them. Definitely keep your eyes open for a free concert like this one, because it is definitely worth going to!

About my outfit: As you probably know, I am a huge fan of the midi-skirt. It is a chic and elegant look, that can be pulled off throughout almost every season of the year. This style of clothing alone, is the reason why the 1950's was probably my favorite decade in terms of clothing trends. I recommend pairing this style of skirt with a cropped, and semi-fitted shirt. You don't want to overwhelm your body by wearing a full-pleated skirt with a long flouncy top. What is your go-to look for the summertime?

New York State of Mind

 

Dress: Free People; Blazer: Free People, Hat:  Knee Socks: Marshall's; Booties: Vera Wang via Kohl's; Crossbody Bag: Nine West via Marshall's

 Now that I have officially completed my first year of college at the Fashion Institute of Technology, I am hoping to have more free time for doing what I love to do best, blogging. If you happen to be a college student like myself, you may oftentimes find yourself getting caught up in tons of homework and studying, that you might not leave yourself enough time to do what truly makes you happy.  As a matter of fact, this is one of many goals that I set for myself, throughout the upcoming school year. But for right now, I am going to try my best to sit back and relax in the sun and enjoy my summer vacation. 

A week before the chaos of finals began, my cousin came to visit me for the weekend.  She came at a great time because being able to spend time with her, put me at ease before the stressful week to come. Being that she does not live in close proximity to New York City, I wanted to show her as much of the amazing city as possible.  In just three days, we saw GiGi on Broadway and met Vanessa Hudgens, walked through Central Park, experienced FITChella block party at FIT, walked the highline, Chelsea Piers, the East and West Villages, Soho, Madison Square Park,  and last but not least the Brooklyn Bridge. We were both exhausted by the end of the weekend, but it was completely worth it!