TIME to add to the collection

The older I get, the more I realize just how much I’m like my parents! One dangerous habit I’ve inherited from my father is my affinity for watches. I know if it weren’t for retirement and that pesky mortgage, my dad would have many more in his collection! I myself don’t have those things to hinder my habit, I cringe at financial responsibility! So when I saw this amazing wrap watch on my always fabulous friend Chistina’s wrist, I knew I had to have 1 (or 3). Made by La Mer (not the skin care line), these adorable watches come in a zillion color combos as well as in both gold or silver. A few of their pieces are on Shopbop, but La Mer has their own site where you can build your own custom creation. The best part is that they’re totally affordable so you won’t have shoppers-I-can’t-pay-my-utility-bill-remorse.

Hi, I'll have 1 of each, k thanks!

xx

L

Penn State Tailgate Fashion

It’s the Monday after an amazing alumni weekend at Penn State and how fabulously immature it was! While I’m still full from all the pizza and beer (TMZ has me on baby bump watch), the weekend was a certified success. The weather even turned out great, despite my iPhone showing a sun with raindrops coming out of it (what does that even MEAN?) While I’m an expert packer, these Penn State weekends are always a huge challenge because it’s impossible to bring the right clothes. Which dry clean-onlies can survive the tsunami of beer and mud? How do you show your school pride without wearing a hooded sweatshirt or a jersey? My weeks leading up to these trips = me wandering Bloomies looking for “blue and white stuff” or “things that match blue and white stuff.” Anna Wintour must have been a Penn Stater because blue and white is back in a big way – STRIPES! They’re EV-ER-Y where! Below are a few of my faves that I’ll be stocking up on over the next few weeks to avoid being that girl at the tailgate wearing the pink sweater (yea, that was me this weekend.)

Penn State Stripes by Manhattan Mix featuring See by Chloe dresses

Items in this set:
See by Chloe Ruffle Eyelet Dress, $495
Striped knitted mini dress, $290
Striped sequin linen-blend tank, $275
Rag & Bone Short Sleeve Wide Stripe Top, $160
Striped cotton skirt, $165

Here's to looking fabulous in the fields!
xx
L

My First New York

Although I've been working in the city for 3 years and living here for 1, I’ll never forget my first moments as an official New Yorker as long as I live! Days before my move, my boss said to me “the city changes you, you’ll never be the same again.” Boy was he right! While everyone has their own memories of that day, we all share so many identical experiences that give us a sense of camaraderie. This is why I’m in love with New York Magazine’s new book “My First New York: Early Adventures in the Big City (As Remembered by Actors, Artists, Athletes, Chefs, Comedians, Filmmakers, Mayors, Models, Moguls, Porn Stars, Rockers, Writers, and Others).” It’s a series of essays from people like Naomi Campbell, James Franco, Danny DeVito, Agnes Deyn, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Lorne Michaels, Liza Minnelli, Mike Myers (and MANY more) on their first memories of the city. Here are a few of favorite firsts:

hailing my first taxi

my first slice of real pizza

my first bite of a Magnolia cupcake

fighting the crowds at my first designer sample sale

taking the subway downtown when I wanted to go uptown...then getting off - lost- breaking a heel - while trying to find the right line

my first apartment rat and the damage he did on my loaf of whole wheat bread

This list could go on forever and hopefully this conjures up some memories of you own. Can't wait to crack open this book!

xx

L

iPod Addition: XX "The XX"

I was watching my weekly Gossip Girl episode yesterday thinking about how awesome the show used to be and trying to decide when to cut off my fan-hood (it’s just so boooring now, right?) While Serena and Nate were making out in the coat closet (creative plot twist, I know...) I realize they’re playing one of my fav songs in the background! The song is called Crystalise by XX and this is what you should be listening to NOW! I first heard about them from my friend Monica in January and put off downloading them for a month or so since I wasn’t convinced. Lets just say, now I’m sold! She described their music as “make-out music for adults” and it’s kinda spot on! The sound is very quiet indie with a dash of 90’s goth. Ugh, and that slow strumming electric guitar is in like allllll the songs and it-is-sexy! If you only trust me with one $0.99 iTunes download, go with Crystalised (hey, if it works for Serena and Nate?).



XX to The XX

L

Jellies 2010

There are just SO many trends from our youth finding their way back onto the runways and racks – some that I love, some that I just can’t embrace. Example: neon = love (never stopped loving, really), entire denim ensembles = hate (hate on me, hate on Giselle). But one staple from our youth is having a major resurgence and it couldn’t be more fun...JELLY SHOES! I’ll never forget the joy that a new pair of “jellies” brought to my little ‘90’s feet back as a kiddo! I was always partial to the clear ones (surely my 7 year old mind was conscious about a shoe that would match all outfits!)

Can't you just feel your feet sweating in these things? Ah, childhood...

Jellies 2010 are far from that basket-weave/ankle strap structure that we knew so well. They’re colorful, they’re patterned and in shapes/styles that any modern girl could easily incorporate into her fabulous wardrobe. The best part is, jellies bring the price point down just a hair making me feel like I’ve gotten a bargain (meaning I’ll end up with multiple pairs...) Below are just a few of my faves:

Jellies 2010 by Manhattan Mix featuring Diane von Furstenberg shoes

Items in this set:
Couture Bow Jelly Sandals, $275
Tory Burch 'Vaughn' Jelly Sandal, $130
See by Chloe Women's Jelly Gladiator Sandals - All Shoes -..., $130
Jaya jelly sandals, $75
Burberry Ikat T-Strap Jelly Sandals - All Shoes - Bloomingdales.com, $125

xx

L

Olivia Palermo + Roberta Freymann = Debt Card Danger!

Ever since her debut on MTV’s The City, I’ve been mildly ob-sessed with Olivia Palermo. I mean, her style is an impeccable combo of traditional chic and cutting edge trendy. Oh, and her Tribeca apartment? Kinda can’t stop thinking about that Hermes tray! Imagine my joy when I discovered her jewelry collaboration with Upper East Side staple,Roberta Freymann! Right in line with Freymann’s tribal aesthetic, Olivia’s designs are amazing statement pieces that are oh so caftan-chic! A few of my favorites below:

The Tribeca

The Mitte

Le Marais

If you can’t get enough Olivia like myself, check out her Today I’m Wearing...piece on Vogue.com.

xx

L

Bye Bye Banana Boat!

As a “fabulous-fair” (my new, positive term to replace freckled, Irish, corpse-like, albino), these Spring and Summer months always prove to be difficult. In the past, I’ve hit up the tanning beds starting in February to help combat the inevitable first-sunburn-of-the-year.

*Keep in mind, these were my Jersey years and there was a lot of tanning bed pressure, ok?!

Now, instead of fighting my pigment, I’ve embraced it knowing less sun = a hotter, less wrinkled me in my Mom years. But taking this skin through the summer means I’ll need to keep the sunscreen handy which is easy on the beach but SO impossible in other situations. I mean, I wouldn’t dare slather myself in Banana Boat and risk ruining my dry-clean-onlys AND smell like a theme park during Sunday brunch!!

After some extensive research (yes, trolling Sephora IS research), I found these amazing sunscreen towelettes by Tocca. They’re individually wrapped wipes loaded with SPF30 and a completely sheer, non-greasy formula. Better yet, they smell like Tocca’s Stella perfume—SO much better than reeking of greasy coconut! You can be sure I’ll have these in my handbag at all times these next few months in hopes of delaying the botulism by 5-10 years.

xx

L

iPod Addition: Yeasayer "Odd Blood"

I owe this discovery to my fabulous cousin Kiersten who I like to think I've turned into a bit of a hipster (recently got a text that she was at Miike Snow in DC, mission accomplished!) So Kier, I owe you a magnum of Veuve! Their sound is a mixture of Rusted Root and Cut Copy (yes, that has a sound and it's awesome!) It's like the kind of beachy summer music that isn't quite as literal as Vampire Weekend. If JCrew and American Apparel had a love-child store, this would be their soundtrack. Ok.....enough far-out analogies, BUY THIS ALBUM! If you only trust me with one $0.99 iTunes download, go with O.N.E. but don't stop there! You will also need Love Me Girl and basically every other song of theirs.

What would a JCrew/American Apparel outfit even look like?

xx

L

"Mommy, Diesel isn't rock n' roll...it's cool!"

Seeing as this is my second post about a celebrity child that I want to adopt/steal, I feel compelled to reiterate the fact that I really don’t like kids! Seriously-when I think of kids I think of snot-nosed whining and Old Navy! I’ve decided it’s only the freaking cool ones that I love and Ava Cutrone has taken the lead from Suri Cruise (better step it up, kid!)

I love love love Kell On Earth and pray it gets picked up by Bravo for a second season. I love it partly for the industry insights and drama, and partly for the shining STAR that is Kelly’s daughter Ava. Imagine my joy when I found this closet confession video on Bluefly.com.

A few of the gems that prove she is my long lost child:

-Her SECOND favorite color is purple, behind pink.
-She adores Chuck Taylors, like every “downtown NY girl.”
-Her favorite designer is Sonia Rykiel.
-90% of the items pulled from her closet were sparkly/sequined.

Love it & love her! Can pretty much promise she’s never seen the inside of an Old Navy and bless her for that one :)

“Obviously you don’t have anything washable in your wardrobe...” - Kelly

Here's to more dry clean-only kids!

XX
L

Beauty Must Have: Laguna Bronzer by Nars

We’re on a serious roll with the Springtime sunshine here in NYC! With consecutive days of Central Park-wandering and al fresco cocktails, a glow is slowwwwwly overtaking the albino-ness that is my winter skin. But remember girls, it’s only April and nowhere near time to paint yourselves brown. You need a transitional bronzer that’s somewhere between corpse and Snooki. Cue my favorite tan booster on earth, Laguna by Nars. While most bronzers on the market have a totally orange, Lindsay Lohan hue, Laguna is straight up golden-brown tan. What makes this product perfect for this time of year is that it goes on relatively sheer. As you spend more weekends rooftop tanning/outdoor brunching, you can swipe on more layers of this powder to match you level of bronze. This is also a miracle bronzer for fair-skinned girls like myself!

Who needs melanin to be tan?

XX

L