Bring On The Rain!

The forecast for the next 5 days is rain, rain and more rain! For NYC’ers-this means flooded subway stairs, taxi scarcity and inside-out umbrellas. You’d think I would be dreading this impending precipitation but I’m actually really excited! It’s finally socially acceptable to start wearing my new trench coat, joy!

As you all know, I’m extremely anti-beige and this especially applies during trench season. Why anyone would wrap themselves shoulders-to-knees in khaki is beyond anything I can comprehend (these are the same girls that choose flesh-toned nail polish at their manicure!) I say, it’s SPRING and time to break out the beautiful colors and patterns of the season. Below are a few of my faves, can you guess which one I’ve made my very own?

Trench Coats by Manhattan Mix featuring kate spade coats

Items in this set:
King street twill bow trench coat, $645
Marc by Marc Jacobs Into The Wild Trench, $500
Burberry Ikat Check Trench - Lightweight & Rainwear -..., $1,095
Anne Klein: Anne Klein New York > Jackets & Outerwear > Trench..., $595
Jackets - Clothes - Anthropologie.com, $480

Here's to looking fab when the weather is drab!

xx

L

Beauty Must Have: DDF Moisturizing Dew

Today continues day 4 of sunshine and cloudless skies in NYC! While this has already caused a flurry of emails RE: Hamptons Weekends, I’m already thinking about how I’ll need to change my skin regimen. The very first change in my lineup will be my facial moisturizer. During the Fall/Winter months, my skin peels like a leper and I use a ridiculously rich moisturizer. It’s really much too dense for warm weather (hot subway = face melt!)

This is where the worlds most perfect summer moisturizer comes in: DDF Ultra-Lite Moisturizing Dew. I can’t rave enough about how amazing this product is. It’s oil free (key for the summer months), fragrance free (fragrance=alcohol and alcohol=dry skin) and is full of skin saving nutrients. It comes in both regular and SPF versions and can be found at Sephora, Saks or wherever fine skin products are sold.

Here's to safe sun-worshipping :)

xx

L

Social Stationary

Neighborhoods in New York are so distinctive with their own attitude and personality. And people in New York definitely define themselves by their block. Why not further your hood-loyalty with these amazing notecards by Lady Pym. She’s assigned a specific pattern to each locale which can be customized with your own address. I live Midtown West (ugh, so close to UWS!) so this is a sign it’s time to move neighborhoods.

Hello, Craigslist?

xx

L

iPod Addition: Discovery "LP"

Music is a very seasonal thing to me--quite simply, I only listen to certain artists/songs during certain times of the year. This goes beyond the obvious no more Christmas music past December 26th. For example, Counting Crows are SO fall at Penn State to me and therefore I really only start listening to them again in September (first road trip back to school time).

This weekend in New York marked the official return of sunshine and 50 degree weather....glorious! This means the return of all of my favorite sunny city music, starting with my fav, Discovery! The group is made up of Vampire Weekend's keyboardist and Ra Ra Riot's vocalist (the perfect hipster concoction) and their sound is just SO fun! It's bouncy, happy electro-pop and you neeeeed them on your playlist. If you're going to entrust me with only one $0.99 iTunes download, go with "I Want You Back" (you'll recognize this one right away). Other greats are "Swing Tree" and "So Insane" (another tune you'll recognize....Electric Slide?)

Cheers to more sunnny NYC weekends!

xx

L

Shoegasm! Kathryn Amberleigh

As a shopper-for-sport, New York living is just the best because you never know what amazing little boutique or designer you’ll stumble upon while walking through the streets. Since the weather has been iffy, I’ve been doing much of my neighborhood browsing online—mapping out my must-sees for Spring afternoon city-wandering.

Today I stumbled upon my shoe rack’s new best friend, Kathryn Amberleigh. This tiny boutique @ 219 Mott Street (nr. Spring) has only been open since June ‘09, but has already seen amazing success. Her shoes have been featured in Lucky, NYLON, Vice Magazine, WWD Accessories and Gossip Girl! The best part is that her designs don’t stray far from the $250 range (which isn’t bad if your wallet’s been broken in by Reva Flat obsession.....) Oh, and a few items from her line have been picked up by Shopbop for those of you who aren't NYC'ers. Can't wait to try these puppies on:

See you soon, Kath!

xx

L

The Ultimate New York Playlist

I was going through my morning website routine at the office today and came across an awesome little feature on NYMag.com called "The Ultimate New York Playlist." Obviously this kept me busy for a good 20 minutes and I got to thinking about what would be on my New York Playlist. Here are a few of mine:

1.)"City Love" - John Mayer

This is typical, bluesy John off of his debut album. The lyrics are so 20-something young relationship-esq.

2.)"Movin' Out" - Billy Joel

I really labored over which Billy Joel song to choose because all of his songs are just SO New York to me. This is just one of the many.

3.) "Jimmy Choo's" - Chester French

I have a hard time justifying this choice other than I love Chester French and it's about a slightly superficial girl :)

4.) "Go" - Common feat. John Mayer

Even though Common is a Chicago man, his sound is so 70's jazzy soul. This arrangement just sounds like New York.

5.) "Chelsea" - Counting Crows

Horns + piano = quintessential New York sound. Also quite fond of the neighborhood as well!

6.)"Atlantic City" - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce is so East Coast as it is and I've always loved this melancholy NJ jam.

7.)"Street Lights" - Kanye West

While there were definitely too many boo hoo songs on Kanye's 808's album, I really liked this one. It's young struggle, reflection and inspiration.

8.)"Move For Me" - Kaskade

This is on the list simply because of one line that sums up much of my life, "Another night out, another dance floor." Love it!

9.)"Manhattan" - Kings of Leon

These guys FINALLY blew up this past year and this song was on repeat just about everywhere in the city. It's a literal choice, but makes me feel like I'm drinking beers at brunch on Sunday Funday.

10.)"LDN" - Lilly Allen

The pure fun in this song speaks for itself.

11.)"I Love New York" - Madonna

Duh!

12.)"Time To Pretend" - MGMT

What 20-something doesn't freaking LOVE this song? I mean, it's all lets quit our jobs, and be young. "It's our decision to live fast and die young, we've got the vision now lets have some fun."

13.)"Young Folks" - Peter Bjorn & John

You can't go to many bars without hearing this one and it is just so Gossip Girl to me.

14.)"Shove It" - Santogold

Santogold is THE Brooklyn hipster and her music is so downtown. "Brooklyn, we go hard..."

15.)"The Only Living Boy In New York" - Simon & Garfunkle

Yes, it's from the Garden State soundtrack but its a good, old song and is so rainy Sunday.

16.)"6 Underground" - Sneaker Pimps

First of all, if you even know this song I have a new found respect for you. If it sounds eerily familiar, it's from 1996 and even back then I loved it.

17.)"How Soon Is Now" - Smiths

This song is just classic 80's British punk and is another one that just sounds city to me. Kinda like if Gossip Girl took place in 1990 and merged with "My So Called Life."

18.)"Soon The New Day" - Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones

Literally every Talib song sounds like the streets of New York to me and it's all in his jazz infusions. This song is S-E-X-Y and I can't listen to it enough.

19.)"M79" - Vampire Weekend

Any self-respecting preppy from the Northeast loves Vampire Weekend and how can you not? M79 is named after the cross-town bus line and it's just fun commute to work music :)

20.)"Skeletons" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I had to wrap up my list with the ridiculously talented Karen O and the YYY's. They're former NYU'ers and this is just one of the many songs of theirs that makes me think of NYC and all the amazing experiences I've had here.

What would be on your list?

xx

L

Spring Must Have: Shoeties

While visiting my family in the good ‘ole Midwest last weekend, my Mom and I made the obligatory rounds to chain restaurants and mall-shopping (Target, how I've missed you!). I had one goal in mind, and that was to find some open-toed booties for Spring. Thankfully, my ever-so-fabulous mother corrected me by saying, “Um, they’re called shoeties.” Whatever you want to call them, they’re SO necessary for your wardrobe these next few months. Perfect with skinnies or bare legged in a skirt/dress! As is typical with me, I’ll need more than just one pair of these gems, here are a few of my faves:

Elizabeth & James

Opening Ceremony

Joie

Max Studio

Weekly pedicures commence on Sunday!

xx

L