Transitional Inspiration

Transitional Inspiration by ccnoordsy
Top L to R: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Whenever the seasons start to change I get that itch to go shopping, to update my wardrobe just a bit for the new weather and new trends. Here are a few fun items I've come across on my window shopping rounds recently that stood out as fun and stylish pieces for the transitional period between winter and spring that we are experiencing now. With the official first day of spring a few weeks away on March 20th we may still see some cool temps and even a bit more snow here in NYC, and I'm sure many other regions are expecting the same! So while florals and tees are enticing, we have to dress realistically in traditional pieces for the time being - which means a great balance of colorful shades and thick textured fabrics.

Cozy faux furs, sturdy booties and long sleeve tops keep your style seasonal while pastel shades, elegant floral prints and playful accessories ensure that spring is on the mind as the days start to get a little longer and sunnier. The playful pastels are balanced by deep shades of black, teal and mauve. Wintery chenille and brocade are balanced out by summery tassels, pops of pink, and floral prints. A good mix of spring-ready pastel colors and luxe wintery fabrics is a great way to transverse the two seasons in the transitional months like March.
Any of these items spark your shopping interest? Take a guess at which ones I'm adding to my wardrobe!

xoxo, CC

Summer Lipsticks

When I reach for lipstick in the summer shades of pink are my definite go-tos. I recently updated my selection with two shades from M.A.C. ending up with a hot pink and a coral which are perfect summer shades. Between the two I almost don't need anything else! But it is always fun to experiment with new colors too and switch up your routine.

For the hot pink I selected Star Magnolia which will replace an old lipstick I had in a similar shade. It is a fun way to add a little pop of color to your look yet because it is a sheer formula it doesn't look overdone. I also really wanted to get a nice coral shade, and I ended up with Flamingo, a sheer shimmery peachy color. Both shades a bit sheer which, while it may need more frequent upkeep, is less noticeable when it fades so I don't have to worry too much if my lipstick is looking weird as it wears. 

I also really like the color Sushi Kiss as a pretty summer coral (which I first saw on some bloggers and really loved!!) but they were out of it when I went into the store! Sad, but I will have to go back and get it another time because it is a really pretty matte coral option. The two new shades I got will go perfectly with my bright summer outfits and add a little fun to my makeup routine!
What are your favorite summer lipstick colors?

Lipsticks: M.A.C. Cosmetics Star Magnolia & Flamingo.

xoxo, CC

Fell in Love at Zara...

Zara set 1
clockwise from top left: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

I popped into Zara the other day to look for cheap teeshirts and, for better or for worse, ended up falling in love with so many of their cute spring pieces. I rounded up my favorites here. I ended up getting a few items including this peplum top and this faux leather skirt, and I'm just waiting for my next payday to scoop up a few more pieces like this striped midi and lace up flats. I've been loving the mix of romantic boho pieces and crisp modern cuts that I've been seeing lately, and am enjoying working both styles into my spring wardrobe. What's on your radar for spring?



clockwise from top left: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

xoxo, CC

Farewell to Ruche

White Dress Summer Days

One of my favorite online shops, Ruche, has just announced they are going out of business. I am so saddened by this news! Ruche has been one of my favorite places to find girly dresses, pretty prints, and everything in between. I have deeply admired their creative and etherial photoshoots, so I am very sad to see them go.
Their closing sale is happening now with 50-90% off site-wide, and I had to share what a great sale this is despite the unhappy circumstances. Items are going fast, so this is the last chance to scoop up some adorable Ruche pieces!!

See some of my posts featuring Ruche pieces:
White Dress Summer Days
Criss-Cross
Weekend Brunch Romper
October Sunshine
Retro Floral & Dasies
Days Go By

...and those are just a few of my favorites!! Ruche will be dearly missed </3

Weekend Brunch Romper

xoxo CC

Kate Spade Home Pop-Up Store in NYC

Last week I mentioned that I made a trip downtown to see the kate spade home pop-up store! It was incredible, so I wanted to share some photos for anyone who is curious. The store is set up to look like you are stepping into an apartment, with two living room spaces, a dining area, kitchen, and bedroom each set up as though they were someone's home. I fell absolutely in love with everything in the store, every corner was thoughtfully decorated with clever touches creating the most inviting space.

The displays were so detailed with with cute little surprises in every room and fun touches to make it look like the space is actually lived in, such as a pair of shoes that look like they've just been kicked off, or a pen laid just so across a notebook as if someone had been there writing. There were even trays of real candy and macarons, and glasses filled with faux ice cubes and a straw to create the illusion that they are in use. These details really make you feel right at home and envision how the pieces would fit into your home. I wanted every piece of it... major home decor inspiration! Some of my favorite pieces are the floral rug and blue couch combo above, the polka dot dining chairs, and the owl printed throw pillow and matching curtains. What catches your eye?


If you live in New York City and love kate spade, you have to go see it. The store is only open until May 31st, so hurry!

411 West Broadway
New York, NY

xoxo, CC

Mix and Match

5 Items, 4 Outfits, Under $100.

I love a good mix and match--and the other day I found a perfect set of 5 pieces from H&M that mix to create four totally different looks. As I've mentioned before, I don't like to wear an exact outfit more than once, instead trying new ways to match things. So I love that all of these pieces can mix and match with each other as well as everything else in my closet. The sweater, skirt, and bag combo goes so perfectly together it's like it was meant to be. The off white shade ties them all together seamlessly. I was amazed how much I actually loved the floral on floral look of the skirt and tank together once I tried it on. Since the prints are different sizes and they are both in a similar color scheme the look is not too crazy for me and I actually like how girly and bold it is. 

Once we start to get into a little warmer spring weather I can't wait to wear the shorts-and-sweater combo. I've always loved the way a slouchy sweater pairs with shorts or a skirt in transitional weather. And for another print mixing look the floral tank and striped shorts make a great summery match. I love that these pieces give me options to wear from now through summer! The two tone bag (a Gucci look-alike) is fun because it goes perfectly with whites without blending in entirely, and the neutral tone is totally multi-seasonal.

It's rare, especially at a store like H&M, for everything I took in the fitting room to work out, so it seemed like a sign to me that these items were a perfect set to purchase. Plus, this whole haul was under $100.00! The shorts I snagged on sale for $7, the sweater was on sale for $9.99 and the bag at full price is only $19.99 so I felt like I was getting a pretty good deal for four outfit options. Which look is your favorite? 

Ok, the sad news is I literally can't find any of these clothing pieces on HM.com, so I am linking to similar options (the bag is available online!). Check in store though, I find that their website often is not aligned with what they have in store.
Sweater, Skirt/option, Tank/option, Shorts, Bag from H&M. Boots: Sam Edelman (old). Sneakers: Keds. Necklace: Kate Spade.

xoxo, CC

After Christmas Sales

Sequin skirt as seen in: Not-So-Ugly Sweater

Now that the holiday shopping season is winding down there are lots of major sales going on. If you need a little something to spice up your New Years Eve outfit this is a great time to snag that perfect sparkly piece! Here are some of my favorites 


Two of my favorite stores, Anthropologie and Kate Spade, are offering additional 25% off sale items. I'd hit up Kate Spade for adorable shoes and everyday bags and Anthro for cozy sweaters and household knickknacks.  


Tulle has really great prices to begin with, and with sale discounts it almost feels like you're getting away with a steal! Like, talk about $3.99 leggings in an array of colors. A few years back I got some great pieces from Tulle at amazing prices, including this sequin skirt ($10.99!) and this dress.
tulle4us.com

Tulle dress. From: Galentine's Day

LuLu*s has tons of cute dresses on super sale (hello New Years outfit!), up to 70% off and going fast, as well as plenty of jewelry marked down.

Sephora is offering 20% off all sale items through 1/1/16, and I always find something fun to try out! Code: EXTRA20

J. Crew is also giving 40% off their winter sale! I love this skirt and how easily it can be dressed up or down.

from J. Crew

I hope this list helps you find something great!

Xoxo, CC

Warehouse Sale Diaries

Happy May Day! 

Do you ever wonder how ordinary people afford their designer pieces? Because I wonder that all the time. The truth is most people score their designer items on major sale, especially at events like sample sales or warehouse sales. Last weekend I attended the Gilt City Warehouse Sale, and not only found some awesome pieces, but had so much fun in the process. My fellow fashion lover Jennifer  of Jennisis of Chic told me about the event and we went together to dig through racks and racks of discounted designer items. 

My shopping strategy was to go through all of the racks in my size and throw anything I liked into my bag to try on, as long as it was reasonably priced. By the time we got to the fitting room I had probably around 30 pieces to try on, my arms were sore from the weight, and we were almost out of time! I eliminated a few items and tried on the rest quickly, discarding anything I didn't love. Then, I went through the pile of items I did like and checked the prices. I had set a budget for myself ahead of time (definitely an essential step), and I was thrilled to find that I could buy several of my favorite pieces and still stay within my budget! Yay for sales! 

Amongst the racks I saw labels such as Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Red Valentino, Mara Hoffman, BCBG, Free People and many more.

In the end I went home with a Kate Spade watercolor shift dress, an Alice and Olivia floral dress, a Best Society orange cutout dress, a Zoe & Sam silk floral top, and a Splendid bralette, all for under $120. Score!!!

Let me put this into perspective by noting that three of the items I purchased had original prices higher than the total I spent. If you live in or near a city, I'm sure there are events like this in your area as well. It's worth checking out and so much fun!

xoxo, CC

Weekend Adventures

This past weekend was the last full weekend I had entirely free of work for the foreseeable future, so I spent it jam packed with fun activities. I started Saturday with delicious brunch at a newly discovered local spot called Barawine. The food there is so good, and I got to spend a few hours chatting away with college friends, including my fellow blogger girl Jennisis of Chic (check out her impeccable style!). Despite the fact that a few snowflakes started falling I decided to "dress for the weather I want" and I wore my new floral romper from Ruche!

Sunday was spent shopping along Madison Ave with two friends each on the hunt for a new bag, and we felt oh so chic to be shopping on such a well-known ritzy street! I, though, was on a no-shopping budget (thanks to these heels), but still I had fun seeing all the goodies in Kate Spade, Michael Kors, J. Crew, and various other stores along the way, eventually ending up in Bloomingdale's. That's where I spied these aptly named Furla candy bags in a rainbow of jelly colors. They're so whimsical, don't you think?

After both friends found the bag of their dreams, debated for a while, and finally took the plunge (yay!) we took a relaxing walk in Central Park on the way home. I had never seen the Central Park Zoo before, so it was fun to walk through and watch the sea lions out playing in the water. They were so cute chasing each other around and diving in and out of the water! It is still amazing to me how the park and the city can coexist so wonderfully, and the views of this juxtaposition are just lovely. So of course we snapped a few pics of the scenery as we meandered along towards home!

xoxo, CC