Few things are as exciting as seeing oneself in a brand campaign. Such was the case this week when these really fun images shot for an Ann Taylor Instagram campaign came out -- perhaps you saw the ad appear in your feed if you're in the good ol' US of A? No matter if you did or not, I was able to get a hold of the pics and here I am sporting some Ann Taylor pre-fall garb in all of my 9 to 5 chic glory.
The thing with this classic American retailer is that it has really upped its game in recent years. The folks of Ann Inc. have been so successful at making the brand fresh and young, while still catering to their core working woman clientele. Honestly -- and I'm a tough critic -- they have some really amazing pieces, perfect basics and fun accessories, all setting the bar for quality. I have a ton of items from them that are on super heavy rotation, so they're kind of a no-brainer go-to.
All of the pieces I'm wearing below qualify as wardrobe essentials for the woman who leads a busy life. That amazing, buttery soft leather moto jacket is a classic that will lend any look that perfect dose of edge. The über-flattering Laser-cut neoprene LBD is an essential staple for all well-rounded sartorial pools -- I kid you not, I had people on the street shouting at me about how much they loved my dress. It can go from day (paired with these!) to date night, to girl's night out, all the way to city wedding wear. That silk cami, which comes in an array of pretty colors, fits like a dream. The white dress is the ideal shift and even has built-in accessories thanks to the neckline embellishment. Basically, these are all solid fall buys, ladies.
Photographed on the Highline in New York by Scott Furkay.
You guys, when you just don't have someone around to take your picture (or when there is but the result doesn't surpass that of a bedroom selfie you took), you just have to make with what you've got. AIN'T NO SHAME. And this is all I've got.
But it's a cute look, so allow me to elaborate on it: a cropped pinstripe trouser made cooler due to its baggy, oversized sensibility. An equipment-like silk blouse brings that perennial effortless je ne sais quoi and on my two extremities: simple accessories making the overall look complete. It doesn't have to be complicated, as long as you have a harmonious combo of complimentary pieces. That is all.
A little lipstick never hurt anyone, right? Here I am in all of my vacation glory, making a bit of an effort. A beautiful evening on the streets of Paris, reapplying my NARS Velvet Matte lip pencil in Sex Machine before heading to dinner, right after the quintessential Parisian activity: the apéro.
Today, I bring you yet another slice of my European visitor wardrobe. But first, let's begin by discussing the wonderful place that is Amsterdam. Landing there was probably the best decision of our Euro trip, as the airport is fantastic and they make it so easy to travel to and fro via train. It's also such an easy-going city, which made it the ideal slow start we needed for our journey. Case in point: this look was worn on the very first day, which was filled with lots of eating, walking and, to cap it off, our low-energy jet lagged selves took a fun boat ride along the canals.
Certain cities are so beautiful and charming that you just cannot help but Ooh and Aah literally every time you turn a corner. It's safe to say that Europe in its entirety is probably the likeliest destination for such marvel and Amsterdam is very much included here. It's such a unique place, so different from anything you come to know as a North American, rendering it very impactful.
This was my third time in the city of canals and it never ceases to amaze me. Everyone is incredibly kind (I love Dutch people in general, I think they are some of the greatest folk in the world), the food is delicious, it has its very own identity and at the top of my list is that it's small enough for the non-locals to be able to walk to any destination they could potentially want make their way to.
I've been back from Europe for about 3 weeks now and I've been so busy since getting home that I am only now starting to sift through the outfits I want to share with you guys. Our trip was amazing for a multitude of reasons, but the thing that stands out the most is how easy-going and relaxed it was, just how only the hubs and I can make it. Having previously lived in Paris for half a year has made me very familiar with the city, which meant that there was no rush in trying to see and do everything.
It was more a matter of taking things in slowly, living like the locals, catching up with old friends, having out-of-this-world dining experiences, waking up late and getting to bed even later, and, of course, imbibing some of the fantastic culture only a city like Paris can offer. There were some occasions where the dress code was slightly elevated, but in this particular instance, where there was nothing planned other than museum-hopping and lots of walking, therefore cutoffs and a loose tee had to be the way to go.
So no big fashion statement here, but just a girl who likes to be herself, even on the other side of the Atlantic. But the best accessory in this case? Do I even have to say it? Hint: it rimes with Eiffel.
One of my favorite things about fashion is that it's really fun to play around with it. Nothing gets me going quite like proportion play and the thought of being able to strike the perfect sartorial balance by pairing unexpected items together. It's all about creating a middle ground for pieces that are otherwise on very different ends of the spectrum.
I've spoken before about my aversion to bodycon and I suppose it's a recurring theme because it's intrinsically part of my style DNA, but here I go again in a getup that is nothing if not far from my flesh. These oversized, baggy trouser bermuda shorts are actually quite dressy, but the fact I float in them attributes them a fun sk8er grrrl quality. Instead of trying to tailor them into a seamless fit, I embraced their largeness and figured, while I was at it, why not go large on top too?
Giving things a lift (literally) and balance are all four inches of my trusty mules. It's kind of like, girl at the skate park goes to Lincoln Center.
If there ever was such a thing as a summer staple, look no further: it is, without a shadow of a doubt, the little white dress. It requires no contemplation when clothing yourself in the morning and mindless outfits mean more time to apply that bright red lipstick that will give you some semblance of put-togetherness.
In line with the dog days of summer spirit, throw your messy hair back in a loose pony, strap on the easiest shoes in your roster and try to stay cool with a frosty beverage. That is certainly where I was headed upon capturing this LWD of a gem. Just repeat over and over until mother nature tells you to throw on a sweater.
PS I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to the most important woman in my life and my most faithful reader, my wonderful mom! Bonne fête maman, je t'aime ♥
It's never an easy feat to find green spaces in New York. While there are beautiful parks that pepper the city, most of them usually consist of a playground, not much grass and a handball court. Taking Central Park, Prospect Park and McCarren Park out of the equation, the denizens of this great town are not exactly left with very many fauna options when in need of a bit of fresh air.
There are little gems in certain neighborhoods that are known as community gardens, which are nurtured by samaritans who crave a side of turf with their concrete. The setting for this shoot consists of probably the prettiest and vastest one I've ever come across -- the NYC hippies usually only get a little square of soil to cultivate on a corner block. How could we not shoot here? By the looks of it, you would never think that we are in the middle of Manhattan, right? Find out more about the West Side Community Garden here.
The beautiful nature setting even inspired me to break out of my sartorial comfort zone and introduce a print into my usually paired-down, neutrals mix. It's amazing how a magical opening filled with manicured trees and carefully planted flowers can be hidden among a New York City stretch of buildings and rouse something in you.
Summer is in full swing and the weather is hitting peaks and valleys -- mostly peaks, in true NYC form. During those hot days of just hanging around the neighborhood, no one wants to don anything too fussy, nor do they want to be bothered to think too much about their attire on a lazy weekend day.
Ain't nothing wrong with going the plain Jane route when the scenario requires nothing more of you. Outdoor picnic? Check. Hazy mind from the night before? Check. Laying low for no good reason at all? Bringing along your best live canine accessory? Check, check.
So roll out of bed, take a brush to your teeth but not your hair, reach for your go-tos -- stripes and cutoffs in my case -- and don't think about it again until you have to change into something a little more, er, put together for the evening. Repeat the next day.
