Scoping Out Hunter For Target

I absolutely love my Hunter boots. They are my rain boots, my snow boots, and my "I wear to music festivals with lots of mud" boots. Shoutout to Governor's Ball 2013 aka the year of the mud! From the colors to the price point, everything about this collaboration is awesome. Check it out on April 14.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Waterproof Rain Boots - $40

At this price point, you can afford to buy these boots in multiple colors, but I really like the olive color. It's a nice change from black and versatile enough to go with any outfit. Also, check out the zipper. Makes it a lot easier to get these bad boys on and off.

Thrifty/trendy tip: go with the tall boots. Not only are they great at protecting you from splashes of water if you step into a puddle, but you can also wear them on snowy days.

Bubble Umbrella - $20

Bubble umbrellas are so fun! I love the one I got from Totes, but the blue is a great pop of color, and I am a big fan of the 1-click open and close feature, that my umbrella doesn't have.

Thrifty/trendy tip: Chicago girls! These are great on windy days, because they won't flip out when you encounter a gust of wind. However, can't guarantee you won't blow away like Mary Poppins!

Outdoor Blanket - $35

It still feels like winter in New York, but I'm dreaming of warm days filled with picnics in Central Park and rose on the beach in the Hamptons. This blanket is perfect, because the stakes allow you to keep it in place and the it's water resistant so no worries if there are spills. It also makes it easy to shake off sand. Bonus is that it folds up and comes with a carrying pouch, perfect for transporting it on the subway!

Off The Shoulder - The New Shirt Trend

Last year was the summer of the crop top, and I predict this summer will be the summer of the off shoulder top. This is great for anyone that wants to show a little skin without baring their midriff or wearing something low cut. How cute does Olivia Palermo look in her top? Check out some of my favorites below...


This top is great. The vertical stripes are slimming, and I the colors feel so fresh and summery. The fabric is loose and flowy. I think this would be great for a hot summer day.

Bloomingdales - ASTR Savannah Off-The-Shoulder Stripe Top - $68

Another find from Bloomingdales that I absolutely love. This is a little bit more revealing, but nothing crazy, and still looks hot. This also gives you a little bit of the crop top look, but then there is the sheer panel so you're not showing off your abs. 

Bloomingdales - Lucy Paris Off-The-Shoulder Lace Sweetheart Top - $58

I know this isn't a top, but a girl can't have enough little black dresses in her closet. This is a great day to night transitional dress, because in the day you can wear it with a blazer, and then at night the off the shoulder makes it more fun and different than the standard LBD. Plus, this Free People dress is on sale at Nordstrom, which is always great!

Nordstrom - Free People Black Mambo Off The Shoulder Minidress - $73.50 (originally $98)

Designer Collaboration Preview - Balmain For H&M

Balmain ran one of my favorite ad campaigns this year. For those that missed out on all the buzz - they ran a series of advertisements featuring sisters. From Gigi to Bella to Kendall and Kylie. Which one was your favorite? I love everything about Gigi Hadid right now, so I'm going to pick that one. 

For those of you that love the Balmain look but are on an H&M budget, you have to check out the Balmain for H&M collection. The pieces won't hit stores until November 5th, but until then, the look book is online. Check out a few of my favorite pieces below...

I love everything about this. From the structured look of it to the pearl detail. This isn't going to keep you warm in the winter, but at least you'll look amazing!

I always think that black and white is so chic. Granted, a black and white jumpsuit is borderline jailhouse attire, but after binge watching Orange Is The New Black - who cares!

This reminds me a little bit of the plunging dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammy's. You know which one I'm talking about - the Versace she wore when we still referred to her as J. Lo and when she was with Puff Daddy or P. Diddy or whatever his name is now. I can definitely see this showing up on the Christmas party/NYE party circuit.

J. Crew - Lady Day Coat Review

Rating: 8/10
Price: $378 (often on sale for much less)

It's another cold, snowy day here in NYC, and I decided to give a plug to one of my favorite coats ever - the J. Crew Lady Day Coat. The LDC is a classic style that J. Crew has been carrying for years. It's pretty pricey, but I was lucky to get a good deal on it. During the holidays J. Crew offers 30% off your order throughout most of the season, and in the winter they often have 30 - 40% off outerwear sales. Combine that with a gift card I had, and I think I paid around $200 for it. Full price is $378, but probably still worth it at that price.

Likes - This coat comes in a ton of colors. I have the color pictured above, and I constantly get compliments on it. Seriously, people have stopped me on the street to tell me how much they like the color. Other than neutrals, the colors are seasonal, so don't expect to find this year's smoky coral color next year.

I also like that this coat is super warm. Initially, I was trying to decide if my money would be better spend on a down coat, but since I'm petite, I find that down coats overwhelm my frame and make me look like a little marshmallow walking down the street. Now that I have worn it out in the freezing weather this year, I realize that it is just as warm if not warmer than a down, and I still look put together when I wear it to job interviews, cocktail parties, etc.

For reference I wore this on a day that my iPhone app claimed it felt like -7 degrees outside, and I was warm and toasty. Granted I layered up by wearing a sweater and zip-up fleece underneath but even with just a cashmere or wool sweater underneath, I am usually warm when the temp hovers around 20 degrees.

Dislikes - I've got to keep it real and admit that the LDC is not perfect. The sizing runs a little small on the regular coats, and the petite sizing seems off. I usually wear a size 0 regular, but in the petite I sized up to the 6. I probably could have done the petite 4, but there was no room for layering with that size. I also found that the waist was a lot higher on the petite and that it was snug in the armholes and hips (I am hourglass shaped).

Online only is a huge dislike of mine. Considering that this is one of their most popular coats you would think they would sell it in at least a few stores. Living in NYC has a lot of perks one being that there's usually a flagship of every major clothing store here. I'm pretty surprised that no J. Crew in Manhattan carries this. I probably ordered three of four of these in different colors and sizes to find the right one. Right now it's being offered as final sale, and I would be cautious in ordering even when consulting the size chart.

Another issue I had was with the length. It hits just below my knees which isn't particularly flattering, but I guess it's good for cold days? Finally, I had a problem with the buttons. I felt like they weren't very sturdy, and they often come undone while I'm out and about. When wearing gloves, or mittens, it can be a pain to have to button it again.

A Little Bit of Lilly In Your Life - Lilly Pulitzer for Target

For all my Lilly ladies, you must have heard about the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collaboration. For those of you who haven't heard, Target's collaboration with the preppy designer will launch April 19th. The collection will include everything from clothing for women and children to home goods.

Summer Trend - Crop Tops

If your top ain't crop, it ain't hot! Ok, I know that doesn't exactly rhyme, but I tried. One of my favorite trends this summer is the crop top. There was a debate amongst my friends on whether we're too told for the crop top, to which I quickly explained that the answer is NO. My theory is that everyone can wear them, but the length is inversely related to age. In simpler terms - the older you are, the longer the top should be (only show a tiny slit), and the younger you are, the shorter it can be.

Here are some of my favorite thrifty/trendy crop top looks...

I absolutely love this lace cropped tee from Express. To be honest, I would have bought it at the $30 full price, but at $10, it is a total steal. This is great for anyone that's a little uncomfortable about baring their midriff, and it combines floral and lace, which are too hot trends this summer. I also love that this comes in several colors.

Express - Floral Lace Crop Tee - $9.99 (originally $29.99)

This is another look I love from Express. I think crop tops are so cute when they are part of a coordinating outfit like this. Plus, the floral pattern gives it a really fun, summery look. It appears that I'm not the only fan of this look, because the top has tons of great reviews. The matching skirt is $59.90.

Express - Floral Ladder Back Crop Top - $34.90

My last pick is from Forever 21. Of course you would find tons of crop tops from there. This one is a little different, because it is long sleeved, and it is crochet, which is really pretty and lightweight. It could be cute to wear this summer somewhere that gets a little cool at night like California or in Montauk.


Forever 21 - Be Seen Open-Knit Crop Top - $9.80

What is everyone wearing these days? Stay tuned for my summer must-haves. Until then... enjoy this pic of Victoria Beckham on the August issue of Vogue. She's still so posh all these years after the Spice Girls.

Alexander Wang For H&M This Fall

BREAKING NEWS - The next designer collaboration for H&M will be with Alexander Wang. Be excited! The collection is slated to hit stores November 6th.

Snow Boot Round Up

Is it just me, or is this weather completely out of control? This is the millionth time it has snowed this winter. Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit, but seriously, I've had a upgrade my entire winter wardrobe to deal with the cold and snow. In upgrading, I had to upgrade my winter weather footwear. Check out the boots I considered, and see what I ended up purchasing...


Requirements:
Waterproof
Warm
Not crazy expensive

The contenders: 
Sorel - Caribou Boot
L.L. Bean - Bean Boots
Hunter - Packable Boot  (Winner)



Sorel - Women's Caribou Boot   $140

Sorel specializes in winter boots, and the Caribou is their most popular boot. I was originally drawn to the Caribou because it looks a little like boots Katie Holmes wore here, and let's be honest, all things Katie Holmes are fabulous. 

Things I liked about this boot is that they have a wool-blend lining that would keep my feet super warm when the temperature drops below freezing, and that the sole looks like it would give good traction on the ice. The wooly liner is removable, but even without it, it is still a winter boot at the end of the day. 

L.L. Bean - Women's Bean Boots   $109

L.L. Bean, one of the great American companies based out of Maine. The Bean boot is a classic for the preppy New England set, and I especially like the color combination of the tan with navy. At $109, these boots are slightly cheaper than the Sorel and Hunter boots, and for $20 more, you can get their thinsulate lined Bean boot. Like the Sorel boot, this is primarily a winter boot and the sole looks like it gives decent traction on ice. Also worth noting, for about $20, L.L Beans sells stabilizers you can attach to the sole (believe these work with non-L.L Beans boots too) to provide even better traction on ice.



Hunter - Packable Boot  $140

The British company Hunter Boot Ltd. has been churning out "wellies" as the Brits call them for over 150 years. Countless celebrities own a pair of Hunter boots, and so do almost every girl in NYC. At $140, the Hunter Packable Boot is vastly more expensive than the cheap rain boots you can find here in the City, but I figured they would be more durable at that price point.

I want to note that the classic Hunter boot (pictured above) is a lot stiffer and thicker than the packable, but I like the packable because they are lighter, and I hate trekking through town with clunky, heavy boots. Some rain boots are so heavy that I feel like I'm wearing Sketcher's Shape Ups!

Another plus with the Hunter boots, and what ultimately swayed me to purchase these, is that there are several different liners that go with them. I felt like even though I'm spending $140, it's like I'm getting two boots - a rain boot that I can wear in warmer weather, and a snow boot that I can wear with liners in the cold. Lastly, I went with the navy color, and have worn them (and loved them) all over town. The only downside is that they're not the best on ice, but without stabilizers, I don't think any of these boots are that great on ice.

Boo! Last Minute Halloween Ideas

It's the most wonderful time of the year... Oh wait, that's Christmas! Well, it sure is the spookiest time of the year. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love scary movies, having an excuse to dress up, and not feeling bad for binging on candy like a little kid. When I was in school, I devoted a big chunk of time to putting my costume together, but now that I'm older, life gets in the way, and now I usually find myself running out to Ricky's (my favorite Halloween stop in NYC) for something last minute. I figured I would help some of you out with some last minute ideas....

Outfit #1 - Mime

What you'll need:

• black pants or for black shorts for the "sexy mime" look
• black suspenders
• striped shirt
• white face paint
• white gloves (optional) 

Forever 21 - Essential Striped Top  $12.80

Gap Ultra Skinny Pants  $54.95

Hot Topic Suspenders  $5.99  (regularly $7.99)

Party City Womens Short White Gloves  $4.99

Outfit #2 - Professional Ice Skater

What you need:

• leotard 
• skater skirt
• fake gold medal

American Apparel Nylon Tricot Double U-Neck Long Sleeve Bodysuit  $40

Charlotte Russe Solid Scuba Skater Skirt  $16.99

Amazon 2" Costume Accessory Olympic Style Plastic Gold Medal  $2.30

Outfit #3 - 1920's Great Gatsby Girl

What you need:

• cute dress
• headband
• cigarette holder (optional)
• pearls (optional)

Forever 21 - Deco Redux Sequin Dress  $42.80

Party City - Charleston Braided Headpiece  $5.99

What Does The Fox Say?

What Does The Fox say is the catchiest song of the year, and it has me crazy about everything fox related, which is great, because there is fox everything in the stores. I recently picked up an awesome fox ring from Forever 21 that was under $5. Everyone always asks me where I got it from. Check out some of my other favorite fox accessories...


This is my fox head ring. I love this one so much and it's such a great deal.

Forever 21 - Fox Head Ring $4.80

I know everyone hits up Urban Outfitters for clothes, but are you aware of their home section? My bedding is all white, and I think this fox pillow would be a great addition to make it look less prim and proper, which is a good thing, right? 

Urban Outfitters - NEST Fox Pillow $19

I might have to order these like right now. How adorable are these fox earrings? I love the little bit of bling, and that they are rose gold.


Macy's - Fossil Earrings, Rose Gold-Tone Pave Accent Fox Stud Earrings  $38

If you upgraded your iPhone, it is time for a new case. I wish I had an iPhone 5 so I could get this cool fox case. A super cute way to protect your phone.

Nordstrom - Tri Coastal Design 'Fox' iPhone 5 & 5S Case  $16

Fierce and Warm - The Animal Sweater Trend

I was never an animal print kind of girl, but surprisingly, I am a huge fan of animals on sweaters. You name it - fox, tiger, lion, whale, whatever, I love it. I've scoured the internet for some of my favorites that are affordable yet awesome. Check out my picks below...

Forever 21 is always great for a girl on a budget. They have several animals on sweaters and t-shirts, but this tiger is one of my favorites. Roar!

Forever 21 - Multi-Colored Tiger Sweater - $24.80

It has been years since I have shopped at JCP, but they have seriously revamped their store. I love dogs and I love glasses, and this sweater is really awesome because it features a dog wearing glasses. How great is that? Plus, it's on sale. I also like the other animals sweaters, but they are sold out online. I would definitely snag the fox sweater if I came across it at the store.

JC Penney - Love By Design Critter Sweater - $19.99 (originally $34)

One of the preppiest animals is the scottie dog. How cute are they? This is for the preppy girl who doesn't want something nautical like the whale or the lobster. To make this sweater even preppier, there are red elbow pads. This would be great for a Christmas party.

C. Wonder - Scottie Intarsia Sweater - $88 (use you student discount to save some $)

Oh La La! Catherine Malandrino Parisien Inspired Collection For Kohl's

Yet another designer collaboration is in stores now, but this one isn't at Target. Catherine Malandrino designed a Parisien inspired collection for Kohl's. Expect a lot of black and super reasonable prices since it appears that the entire collection is on sale. Check out some of my favorite pieces below...


I love laser cut, and I love that there is a laser cut piece in the collection. This was already a great deal at the original price, and at the sale price it's quite the steal. I would style it exactly like the model is wearing it.

Catherine Malandrino For DesignNation Laser-Cut Shift Dress - $52 (originally $88)

Even Olivia Palermo is a fan. She belted hers which s great for girls with a small waist. Sometimes your figure can get swallowed up in a shift.

I loved this piece from the moment I saw it. Clueless is my favorite movie, and I part of me wishes the school girl look would come back in style some day so I could break out my old mary janes an knee socks. This is similar to a school girl style, but it a much more grown up and modern way. I could definitely wear this to work, and still look cute after work grabbing drinks with the girls. There are only a few sizes available online, but there may be many more at your local store.


Catherine Malandrino For DesignNation Pleated Ponte Dress - $42 (originally $72)

I was a little on the fence on this one, but since it has such great reviews, I zoomed in the get a better look, and I'm a total fan. This one is great because there are a ton of sizes online, and this would be really nice for the Christmas party season or a night out on the town.


Catherine Malandrino For DesignNation Gored Ponte Dress - $46.80 (originally $78)