Finding Mexico in NYC

Over the weekend I discovered the cutest taco restaurant... the decor and natural lighting make you feel like you're truly on vacation and not in the middle of chilly New York. Anyone who knows me knows I love Mexican food more than just about anything else (with Thai being a close second) and Tacombi served up delicious fresh tacos out of a VW minibus parked in the middle of the restaurant space, along with delectable guacamole and strong margaritas. When you first walk in, the VW bus is the first thing you notice --it's not every restaurant that has a vehicle parked in the middle of their space, retrofitted as a kitchen none the less. Then the casual bright decor sinks in, the metal tables, cement floor, painted walls and white tiled bar lined with bright juice dispensers and real pineapples... I fell in love instantly. 

The decor and the natural light streaming in through several skylights make the space feel truly authentic as though you have been transported somewhere tropical. Everything about it feels bright and fresh with vintage undertones and a laid back vibe. Notice the checkers and backgammon game boards printed of several of the table tops! And the strings on lights! I felt right at home and have to say I certainly plan on heading back soon! They have three locations throughout NYC so I plan on visiting the others as well -- as long as they have bright colorful decor along with the delicious food I'm sure I'll love them just as much!

I've been wanting to share more blog posts like this on places I've tried and liked in NYC, what do you think, should I add a blog series on restaurants and places to try? Let me know if that's something you'd like to see more of! 

Tacombi, 267 Elizabeth St. New York, NY 10012.

xoxo, CC

Spring in the City

The city is so beautiful in the springtime when all of the trees and flowers start to bloom. I love to go for walks in Central Park on sunny days and wander outdoors exploring all the various paths and unexpected spaces. I particularly love the Conservatory Garden which is so stunning this time of year with abundant blooming flowers. The juxtaposition of city buildings and living nature you see from the park is so striking. I wish these photos were DSLR quality, but I only had my phone on me on my walks so I did my best! Regardless, you can get an idea of how pretty everything is in the spring. This is exactly why spring is my favorite time of year. 

I brought along a book to read in the grass while catching a little sun (which was featured here). There is nothing I love more than relaxing in the sun in the spring or summer! For walking I wore comfy espadrille style shoes in a fun bright print, paired with my new favorite shorts and a few layers on top. The weather can be so unpredictable in the spring -- just yesterday we had a bizarre mix of clouds, wind, peeks of warm sun, and unexpected rain showers. 

I love how colorful the park gets with all of the flowers and fresh green grass springing to life!

Outfit// Shoes: Lilly Pulitzer for Target (very similar). Shorts: Gap Factory. Shirt: similar. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. 

I found this interesting little fortress on top of a hill in the North Woods. Apparently it is called The Blockhouse.

Fairy Tale Fashion at FIT

Rodarte spring 2007: Beauty and the Beast

Louboutin fall 2011: Beauty and the Beast 

Last week I got a chance to see the Fairy Tale Fashion exhibit at the Museum at FIT (it is closing very soon, April 16th). I heard about the exhibit not long ago and it sounded so cool so I had to go before it closed! Plus, their whole museum is free of charge! 

The exhibit showcases items that were directly inspired by fairytales or that exhibit the influence of fairytales and their motifs on fashion designers. Many fairytales use fashion as a way define or to transform their characters: think Cinderella and the glass slippers, red hooded capes ala Little Red Riding Hood, or the Mad Hatter's pocket watch. Each section of the museum was dedicated to a different fairytale and the designs that correlate with that story. 

Some of my favorite pieces from the show included this mirrored dress by Tom Ford (spring 2014). This piece was included in the show since mirrors are a commonly used motif in fairytales as a representation of vanity. The entire dress is created from bits of glass and mirror fitted together into this stunning dress. 

This gown by Jean Louis Sabaji (spring 2013) was in the mermaid section, calling to mind the end of the original Little Mermaid story where she turns to sea foam when she learns that mer-folk do not have immortal souls. The billowing grey and white train is an ethereal representation of sea foam on stormy waters. 

A charred-looking dress (by Giles Deacon) represents Cinderella in her working clothes as she cleaned her step mother's fireplaces. The singed effect on this dress is stunning in its own way while calling to mind the hard and dirty work that Cinderella did for her family. Clothing is particularly important in Cinderella's story since her character entirely transforms with a switch of dresses before she goes to the ball.

This gorgeous flowing gown by Dolce and Gabana (2012) represents Snow White and Rose Red with the print of roses for the second sister on a black and white dress of the first sister's colors. 

This display by Stacy Bendet of Alice and Olivia (fall 2014) was inspired by the tale of Snow White and was shown on a model lying in a glass coffin. The museum positioned an ominous black cloak standing over the coffin, while the dress inside is made in one of Snow White's colors, black (the others being red and white which appear in the coffin's frame and the model's pillow).

If you want a chance to see this exhibit for yourself, hurry because it closes after April 16th! But either way, I definitely recommend checking out whatever is showing at the Museum at FIT--all of their exhibits seem so interesting and now that I know it is free to go I have a feeling I will be stopping back frequently. They also currently have an exhibit on denim that I want to go back and check out when I have more time!

Dolce and Gabana fall 2014, Louis Feraud circa 1989, Manish Arora: Alice in Wonderland

Louboutin: The Wizard of Oz

Noritaka Tatehana 2010: The Wizard of Oz

Alexander McQueen 2008: The Snow Queen

Dolce and Gabana fall 2014, Comme des Garcons spring 2015: Little Red Riding Hood

Mary Katrantzou fall 2012, Giles spring 2015: Beauty and the Beast

Armani Prive fall 2007, Holly Fowler 2014 (hand painted!): The Fairies

xoxo CC

Instagram Lately

I wanted to give you all a few details about some of the looks on my Instagram lately. Not all of these little snapshots make it to the blog, but there are a few that really stood out that I thought deserved a closer look.

A perfectly casual look for running errands on the weekend! My 'weekend' happened to be a Thursday, but this comfy outfit was perfect for a trip to the nearest Zara and the grocery store. The floral top was ideal for the springy weather, and a simple braid kept my hair out of the wind.

Top: Zara. Jeans and bag: H&M. Sneakers: New Balance. 

I featured this outfit on the blog last week, but I wanted to prove that I actually wore the look out! I put on this new combo with tights and tall boots for a friend's birthday diner, and added some waves to my hair to dress up the look. Total look from H&M.

A closer look at how the bag matches with the skirt just perfectly.

I love how dainty this little skull bracelet is! It is perfectly simple for everyday wear, but adds a touch of badass. I wanted to feature it with something equally bold but a little more girly to balance out the vibe. The hot pink blouse is an old sale find from Old Navy.

Criss-cross! The lace-up look is so trendy right now, and this crisscross top plays along the same lines. I layered it under a loose knit sweater on a chilly day for a textured look since the color scheme was pretty neutral. Get the look with this tank and sweater. 

xoxo CC

Looking Back...

Little Orange Shift Dress / Slashed / Pink & Blue at NYFW

Happy January! Can you believe it is another year already?!

Looking back, 2015 was a year full of adventures and challenges, fun and new opportunities, and of course plenty of cute outfits! It wouldn't be a year's end without a round up of some of my favorite blog posts from the year... so I've selected 24 of the best looks from 2015. From simple to bright, casual to glam, each of these outfits represents a side of my personal style. No matter what, I like to challenge my style and try new trends or interesting ideas. I hope by sharing my looks with you I've inspired you to try something new too! 

Looking forward though, let's make 2016 the best year yet! Cheers to another year of style adventures!

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xoxo, CC