Midnight Gingham

Last weekend was warm and beautiful and I wore this fun gingham dress for a full day of activities in the city. Starting with a breakfast run where I discovered this fun wing mural, then on to running errands, a street fair with tons of yummy food, followed by an impressive apartment rooftop party and then dinner out with my girls. I was comfy all through this fun-packed day in an off the shoulder dress and ankle strap flats. I had been on the hunt for a cute piece in a gingham print, and this adorable off the shoulder dress was exactly what I needed.

Gingham is a perfectly summery print that is casual yet chic, and I love the texture to this cotton & linen fabric and the girly ruffle along the neckline. To compliment the simple black and white pattern I added denim blue flats and a blue stone bracelet. Since the print is so bold I kept to a simple chunky bracelet and subdued color scheme. The loose shift fit was comfy to wear all day long on a hot humid day, and the shoulders stayed exactly in place the entire time. Plus, this dress has pockets. Enough said.

On our walk back from dinner we had fun snapping a few photos in the moody lighting of New York City at midnight.

Dress: Anthropologie. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Shoes: Aldo. Sunglasses: AJ Morgan. Bracelet: J. Crew (love this one).

xoxo, CC

Out With the Old // In With the New

Warm spring weather has started creeping in and teasing us here in New York lately, and while the official start of spring is still a few weeks away, these recent warm days have me thinking ahead towards a spring wardrobe. Each year when we hit spring I get really excited about bringing out my skirts and dresses, yet in early spring it still feels too soon to reach for the bright sundresses and floaty mini skirts. This leaves a time when it can be hard to know what to wear, when spring is in the air, yet it is not quite warm enough to turn to full-blown summer styles. It can get frustrating trying to create transitional outfits and it can make me feel sick of everything in my closet, nudging me to do a wardrobe refresh. I start to realize which pieces in my closet aren't very useful and which essentials I am lacking.

There is something about the season of spring sparks the frenzy of spring cleaning. The start of a new year, new life breathing into the earth, makes us want to mimic that and start fresh ourselves. Out with the old and in with the new, so to speak. Each year I find myself wanting to go through my closet and cleanse it of items I don't see myself wearing in the future, making room for things I still need. So, not only does a change of season mark a shift in wardrobe but it's a great time to evaluate what you have, what you need, what you don't wear, and what can be put away until next year. 

I have also noticed shifts in my style over time, whether due to age, changes in larger fashion trends, or influences from where I live and who I'm around, there are noticeable differences in my style preferences as they shift over time. These shifts also call for a change of wardrobe and a re-evaluation of what's in my closet. While I tend to be nostalgic and not want to let things go, ever hopeful that it will come in handy later on, there is a time when one must get realistic and let go of the things that are no longer useful. Clearing out the old and unused makes room in your closet for new finds and necessary essentials. It's sad to say goodbye to once loved pieces that no longer fit my needs, but I like to think that they will make someone else very happy, whether I donate or sell them, someone else will find good use for these pieces that are no longer "me".

Sometimes I hold on to items that just aren't quite right since they serve some style purpose that is deemed necessary in my wardrobe. They tend to sit around mostly unused until I am able to find a replacement that better suits my style needs and fills the necessary niche. Then, I am able to let go of the older piece knowing that it is not leaving a void in my wardrobe, that something newer and better is replacing that spot.

At this point in my style journey I am finding myself gravitating towards looser silhouettes and easy, non-fussy pieces that still have something special to them. A good mix of color and neutrals, prints and solids is essential and has been at the front of my mind as I add items to my shopping list lately. I'm finding myself becoming pickier about what I like and don't like, steering away from fussy statement pieces in favor of still unique styles that I can wear on repeat. I find that I am not wearing the shorter skirts as much as I used to, and favoring work-appropriate lengths instead -- they are just more comfortable to move around in. Pieces I can style dressier and also casually get the most use, especially if they are acceptable in the office. 

Before I buy anything I check myself to make sure that the piece meets some basic requirements to ensure that it is a good investment. I look for pieces that are easy to wear without having to fuss too much with styling them to make them work, both casually and a touch dressier. Also essential is having pieces I can feel comfortable in no matter where the day takes me. This time of year I am particularly attuned to finding transitional styles for all types of weather that don't limit me to summer (like gauzy fabrics and bright summery prints) or winter (like thick knit dresses, and dark moody colors). Finding in-between styles can be tricker than it sounds, but recently I found a few transitional spring items that I am really excited about, once the weather gets above 50 again. 

My recent purchases include a loose flowy dress in a subtle black and white print, a simple chambray skirt with practical pockets and a trendy frayed hem, and a loose cozy sweater in a fresh shade of pink. All of these finds were under $45 (two were on sale) and I know that they will get lots of wear this season. With a few new pieces like this to freshen up my wardrobe for spring I also feel better about letting go of some of the items I'd only kept around to fill the gaps in my wardrobe needs. On my wish list still are casual tops with a touch of class to them, like a subtly printed bell sleeve top in a structured fabric. These new items are all on trend without being fussy, with only subtle details that make them unique so that they are special and truly "me" and yet can still be worn regularly and comfortably in new ways. What could be better than that.

Check out my poshmark page (user name ccnoordsy) to see what I'm getting rid of with this spring closet evaluation! Whether it's because a piece doesn't fit me how I'd like, has outgrown my needs, or simply doesn't work with my style anymore, there are over 50 mint-condition available listings to shop! 

xoxo, CC

Scorpio Season

Because it's the last day of Scorpio season and my birthday was earlier this month, I put together this outfit comprised almost entirely of birthday goodies; this dress was an early gift and my only purchase in Milan, the adorable Zara bag I purchased with some birthday cash, and this gorgeous matte red lipstick arrived in a birthday card from my mom. To top it all off I wore my birthstone ring!

I first saw this red bug-studded bag on Instagram and was struck by how stunning it looks! I thought for sure it would be an expensive designer piece, and was amazed and thrilled to find that it is actually only $40 at Zara! The little gold bugs all over the bag (I like to think they are bees) add an edgy yet luxe touch reminiscent of Gucci, D&G, or Fendi, and the plump square shape is simply adorable. I'm not usually drawn to red, but I had to make an exception for this exquisite statement piece. 

This time of year I love to cozy up in easy sweater dresses. I love the modern cut of this sweater dress, with a high-low hem, a loose but flattering fit, and the subtle ribbed texture. It seemed to perfectly compliment the style of my new red bag, so I amped up the red details by adding a vivacious red lip and pretty hair ribbon as well. This look just screams NYC style to me, don't you think? 

Dress: COS. Bag: Zara (also love this style). Booties: Steve Madden. Bangle: kate spade. Lip: Make Up For Ever Artist Lip Blush in #941.

xoxo, CC

Travel Diary; Capsule Wardrobe in Milan

Remember this dress from my fall capsule wardrobe? The cozy sweater material is a dream to wear, and this taupe color matches with so much, including pink and burgundy tones which I incorporated into this look with a scarf. Neck scarves like this have always lent a European vibe to an outfit in my opinion, and they are back on trend right now so I had to try out the look while in Italy. It's kind of nice the way they replace a necklace and act almost as jewelry while adding a touch of color to your look. 

I also love that while the dress is a long midi length it has a high slit up each side that adds a sexier flash of skin. I usually am careful to wear a heel with midi length skirts to balance the length, but somehow this dress looks awesome with flat sneakers too. And believe me, sneakers were necessary for a day walking in Milan!

We had a blast finding local street food for lunch after a morning of shopping. I had seen Spontini pizza on Instagram before the trip, and knew I just had to try it. It was SO worth it! (We even went back the next night to pick up slices for dinner!) After our Spontini slices we headed a few streets over to a spot my mom had heard of called Luini that serves mini fried calzones, which again were amazing. Talk about an indulgent pizza lunch!! And since it was my mom's birthday we had to top it all off with fancy gelato cones. Yum, yum, and more yum!
For dinner that night I dressed up this outfit by changing into these lace up flats, also from my capsule wardrobe, and we headed out for another delicious meal.

Shopping is cardio, I deserve this pizza.

Outfit // Dress: Ruche. Jacket: Zara. Neck scarf: vintage. Sneakers: Keds. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Lip: BareMinerals "Cherries on top."

Spontini Pizza at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Double fisting fried calzones!

We found this cool courtyard with interactive colored circles all over.

The entryway to our Airbnb apartment building had such a tiny door! 

xoxo, CC

Dressing Up Prints

Hello! As you're reading this I am currently galavanting around Milan, Italy! I didn't want to leave you with nothing to read while I'm away, so I put together this look featuring one of my favorite new dresses for fall. I took this piece from the capsule wardrobe that I put together last week, and I love that this dress can be worn now with bare legs, or later with tights, tall boots, and a furry jacket.

A berry lip and a romantic low bun dress up the look a bit, since prints often lend a more casual vibe to any outfit. I added a choker necklace since it doesn't compete with the lace up neckline and it also adds a trendy touch to the look. This dress is so unbelievably comfortable that I see myself wearing it regularly all season! Plus I love the fit and the fun lace up details. 

Check out my current adventures in Milan on instagram @charlotteclaraxo, and look out for blog posts on my Italy trip soon :)

Dress: VeronicaM. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Necklace: similar. Bracelet: kate spade. Earrings: Gorjana. Lipstick: Revlon "Plum Velour."

xoxo, CC

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

I've always been intrigued by the idea of a capsule wardrobe --especially for traveling-- so I put together this color coordinated collection of pieces that I'm excited about wearing this fall. I stuck to a mostly pink, burgundy, and taupe color scheme with a few pops of print. I included several current trends such as flare sleeves and lace-up details, as well as fall classics like faux leather and fur. A mix of textures and prints keeps the collection exciting, while most of these pieces can be mixed and matched to create a myriad of looks. With a range of shoes from heels, fun flats, or casual sneakers, I can dress these looks up or down. I made sure to include a variation of skirts, dresses, tops, and outer layers to keep the collection versatile. 

As we speak, I am packing for my trip to Milan, Italy (keep up with my adventures next week via instagram @charlotteclaraxo)! I am packing most of these items for my trip, and I love the way they are interchangeable to create different outfits. While I couldn't limit myself to stay within the capsule collection and I mixed some other pieces from my wardrobe in as well, I found it so helpful for packing to refer to a set of items that I know will match and coordinate with each other.

I have a few more posts coming soon featuring looks from this capsule collection, so look out for those, as well as posts from my adventures in Italy! 

What items would be essential to your fall capsule wardrobe? 

From L to R: bebe jacket, Francesca's collections skirt (similar), VeronicaM dress, Asos sweater 1/2, Ruche sweater dress, BB Dakota dress (similar), H&M skirt, J. Crew top, BB Dakota vest 1/2, Zara skirt, J. Crew top 1/2. 

similar bag, Lipsy sneakers via Asos, H&M flats, Bandolino heels.

xoxo, CC