11/28/13

thanksgiving foliage


I don't normally post more than a few photos, but this has gotta be one of my favorite shoots to date so it was too hard to choose just a few, you guys know how much I love a brick wall (mark my words, my future apartment will have some sort of exposed brick!).

I had the chance to visit French Connection's flagship store down on West Broadway last week on that gloriously warm Friday and this jacket was one of the first things that caught my eye in the store. The really subtle plaid and houndstooth fusion is what really hooked me. Plus, it's such a unique length that I haven't tried yet. I wore the jumpsuit underneath, which was highly recommended by pretty much everyone in the store (thanks Kristi!) - it was definitely too cold to show off how incredible it fits but will definitely be wearing this over and over and over again. 

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! Enjoy food and family!

11/27/13

holiday gift guide | hollister co.

This post brought to you by Hollister Co. All opinions are 100% mine.
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It's about that time of the year again. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, holidays are a time of gifts and giving and this year and let's be honest with ourselves for a minute, it's a little difficult to be entirely selfless when you're shopping for your family and friends but I'm sure we'll all try our very best.

I've partnered up with Hollister Co - the place where hot Hollister lifeguards dwell - to share my holiday favorites from their site, and as you can obviously tell, it was hard to narrow it down to several choices. I mean I'm literally obsessed with everything: sequin leggings, a masculine shearling jacket, the ultimate embellished denim shirt and chiffon shorts to name just a few. They have super cozy sweaters, leggings, flannels and sweatshirts to keep you warm throughout the winter. Heritage plaids and flannels for layering, buttoning up or tying around your waist. I mean Hollister's all about '90s inspired styles with an effortless, laidback attitude.

And stay with me here - it's hard to believe - but each piece that I chose is under $100, giving you a little bit of room to treat yourself for the holidays. I for one, will probably be surprising myself with that lace cropped top and pairing it under my favorite cropped sweaters and such. Merry Christmas Kristen!

So what're you waiting for? Doors open at 8:00pm at pretty much all of your Hollister Co locations to grab the perfect items for your holiday wish list (and some for your friends and family of course!), so it'll be one of the early ones to shop for some seriously incredible Black Friday deals, and trust me, there'll be plenty to go around. 
Visit Sponsor's Site

11/26/13

introduction | front row shop

Photos by Paulina
Front Row Shop cropped sweater  |  vintage daisy dress  

Granted, it's less than appropriate to be sporting bare legs right now in New York, but I can't get over this (half of a) sweater right now from Front Row Shop, I can see myself layering this over practically everything. FRS curates everything for the chic minimalist that loves to play around with crazy good silhouettes and monochromatic pieces. Here are some of my other favorites from the site! 


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11/23/13

summer-spring-fall to winter

Photos by Paulina
#MickeybyF21 Forever21 denim jacket  |  Quiksilver jacket

Here's how to make the best of your summer-spring-fall wardrobe for the frigid cold, and it's an easy one. Take some fur, shearling - something fuzzy and impossibly warm - and layer it under your denim jacket for a casual look - and here's a plus, no need for a scarf if you've got a foot of shearling hugged around your neck. 

When Forever21 sent me this baby from the Mickey by Forever21 collection, I had rekindled my love for an oversized denim jacket fit. Best of all, it's got a vintage Mickey surprise in the back! For those of you in less than consistent weather - New York, here's looking at you - how do you guys re-wear your summer-spring-fall pieces for the winter? 

Enjoy the weekend, y'all! 

11/22/13

introduction | rue gembon


I'm all for understated beauty, but sometimes you've just gotta make a statement. Jewelry is always a great accent to a simple T and jeans. Rue Gembon is the undeniable marriage of luxury, edge and sophistication. Even their Instagram is a constant source of inspiration and serious chic vibes. I've been wearing their Alea ring nonstop and I see no reason to ever take it off.

11/20/13

channeling ye

Photos by Jen
UO grey T  |  random plaid shirt  |  H&M x Isabel Marant bomber  |  Big Star jeans  |  Timberland boots

Sometimes my middle school self comes out and just wants to wear Timberlands and a T-shirt for the day. Or sometimes she's just heading to a Kanye concert where Kendrick Lamar killed it with his usual self and Kanye wore a mask pretty much during the entire show - a mask reminiscent of Margiela AW '12 on the runway. Now the outfit (and the title of this post) makes sense, right? 

Anyway, the concert was freaking phenomenal. Kanye always knows how to put on a show and I'm so glad I finally go to see him perform live! Thanks Alvin for being romantic

Plus this reversible bomber is now my life. I mean besides the amazing selling point of it being reversible, it's soft and surprisingly wind-resistant. I'm all about practicality! 

Ye-Day should be a weekly occurrence. Shoutout to MeKayla for opening my eyes to such wonder.

11/18/13

hello tsubo


Too in lust with this new pair of TSUBO Footwear Rylees that just came in - it's in a classic oxford style, revamped in the best kind of gorgeous oxblood shade. I wish you guys could feel the leather too -  supple with minimal lines and pretty damn excellent craftsmanship. What will I be wearing with this? Stay tuned, y'all!

11/15/13

the week's end

Photos by Paulina

Too cold to post anything remotely fashionable - these days I'm all about layering and neutrals, I'm not trying to put too much effort in when it's 30 degrees outside, y'know? But on a brighter, lighter note - I can't wait to show you guys what I got at the Isabel Marant for H&M launch! 

Have an awesome weekend, guys!

11/12/13

constant rotation

Photos by Rachel et Nicole
H&M peplum top  |  Forever21 sweater  |  Line & Dot jacket  |  Wildfox Couture jeans  |  Zara boots (black similar version!)

An out-of-the-ordinary, but amazing day visiting the H&M showroom and the Daily Candy Bazaar (stopped by the Jung Lee home decor booth, seen above!) with half of the blogger sister duo, Rachel, meant coming across some really incredible Soho locations, optimal for obligatory outfit photos (complete with cobblestones roads). This one's kind of been a uniform for the weekend, rotating an easy overcoat and skinnies with not-so-accidental paint splatters with some version of a peplum with a cropped sweater. 

Also, it snowed today in New York - which means a farewell to all kinds of fall layering and hello thick sweaters and unimaginable puffy jackets to take up more room on the commute to work! 

11/9/13

sneak peek | h&m x isabel marant


Given all of the hype around the H&M and Isabel Marant collaboration, I just know this designer collection will be one of the best yet. Remember the H&M x MMM collection a while back? It was all about the dramatic silhouettes and gorgeous fabrics. This Thursday morning will have people lining up from 4 in the morning until doors open at 8 - will you be one of them? I know I'm seriously considering it. This time, it's that elaborate textured oversized sweater and incredible practicality of this reversible bomber and those slip-ons that have really hooked me.

T-minus 4 days until H&M x Isabel Marant blows us all away! 

11/6/13

beauty favorites as of late


A few beauty essentials right now - some old favorites but some new beauty goodies have been thrown in the mix.

Finding Ferdinand custom lipstick
When does a girl ever get to customize her own lip color? Not often enough, I'd say. Mine's the perfect shade of pretty much 50-50 red and dusty pink (just a tinge more of red).

Yon-Ka nutri-protect mains hand cream
The most pleasant smell from this hand cream, plus - no oily residue and I actually feel like my hands are monumentally softer after each use.

Kevyn Aucoin lipstick in Eternal
I've been told that a red lip looks good on everyone, and I must say, every girl needs at least one in their lives. I've found an incredible matte lip color for those days when I wanna vamp it up a bit.

Forever21 compact mirror
"Are you kitten me right now?" - enough said. Go click on that link and buy it before it's sold out.

Shiseido + Clé de Peau Beauté
I had the immense pleasure of visiting Waterfall Mansion to celebrate the new Shiseido and  Clé de Peau Beauté products launching in the next few months. I tested out the concealer (#103), the application brush is so easy, the formula is light and I can already tell it'll be a favorite.

I'm obviously in the market now for a good, classic, everyday makeup bag that would potentially last forever. What do you guys think of this Marc by Marc Jacobs neoprene pouch? (Thanks Jacquelyn!) Or maybe I should go with the whole kitten theme and get this one from Forever21?