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

Strolling Soho

Earlier this week I had a chance to get downtown and stroll around Soho for a bit. I love the Soho neighborhood, which is filled with beautiful architecture, high end shopping, and fascinating people-watching. Everyone in the area seems so stylish, and I love being inspired by everyday street style. It is also fun to do a little window shopping at the designer stores to catch up on the latest trends. 

Since I was on a casual excursion and planning to do a bit of walking I layered up in casual pieces like this sassy graphic tee and drapey jacket. I am living in these 7FAM "feminine boyfriend" jeans lately, they are just so comfortable and easy. I love that with a rolled up hem they pair so well with flats, sandals, and booties alike. Since it was still a pretty warm day I opted for sandals that color coordinate perfectly with the jacket! And just to continue with the matching theme, I wore sunglasses and a soft red lip, just like the glamorous Marie Antoinette on my teeshirt.

Tee: Zara (similar 1/2). Jacket: Jack by BB Dakota (similar 1/2). Jeans: 7 for All Mankind. Shoes: J. Crew. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Earrings: Gorjana. Lip: Bare Minerals "cherries on top."

xoxo, CC

Shorts and Sweater Weather

One of my favorite looks is pairing cozy sweaters with casual shorts or girly skirts. Unfortunately the weather only allows for this a few times a year; late spring and early fall. We've had a slight chill in the air a few days in NYC that makes this short sleeved sweater a perfect option. I love this shade of periwinkle for all times of year, and it definitely will add a nice touch of pastel color to my winter wardrobe. It looks especially pretty paired with crisp whites, like these shorts and my new sunglasses.

I love that the sweater and shorts combo is casual but also very chic. I added some touches of leopard and shiny gold jewelry to add variation and keep the look elegant. I got so many compliments on this sweater, and I love that the short sleeve length makes it wearable in so many seasons! I am definitely packing this one along for my upcoming trip to Milan next month! But for now I will be pairing it with crisp whites and girly details as I ease into cooler weather here in NY.

Sweater: ASOS. Shorts: J. Crew. Belt: J. Crew. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Shoes: Sam Edelman. Earrings: Gorjana. Bracelets: kate spade. Necklace: kate spade. Lipstick: MAC 'Flamingo.'

xoxo, CC

Elevate Date Night

Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing site, challenged me to get creative with date night ideas! Fun destinations and creative twists are what sparked my imagination, and renting a car for the night would make all of that even more special! 

What is more romantic than a luxurious picnic against a setting sun? It would be fun to rent a convertible or Mini Cooper from Turo for this excursion and pack the car with champagne, gourmet sandwiches, and a fruit & cheese plate then drive to a scenic location for a sunset picnic. Go all out with decor, packing a cozy blanket, vases of fresh cut flowers, champagne flutes, and even candles to light as the sun goes down.

I love a little print mixing for a casual date-destination like a scenic outdoor overlook. This stripes and gingham combo is perfect for a picnic, but the voluminous bell shape and pretty jewels keep it dressed up enough for a special night. Easy wedges are practical for walking through the grass while a cute blanket can serve as your dining space.

Top: Oscar de la Renta/similar 1/2/3. Skirt: similar. Shoes: L.K. Bennet. Earrings: kate spade/here. Ring: options. Blanket: here.

Another fun ideas is to have a night out on the town! Throw on your favorite dress and then, to shake things up and make your outfit even more special, raid your bestie's closet and borrow a designer handbag to switch up your look. Swapping closets with a friend makes your option infinitely wider and helps you feel fresh when your own closet gets boring. It's the perfect way to liven up your wardrobe for date night! 

Once you're all dressed up it's time to hop in the car. Pick a fancy luxury car to rent for a night on the town, and try doing a driving appetizer and dessert tour of your favorite restaurants. At each location order an app or a dessert to share and coordinating drinks--by sharing small plates at each location you can fit several culinary experiences into one night!
You'll feel like a new you with a fancy bag on your arm, like this gorgeous Dolce & Gabana gem. An off the shoulder dress is right on trend, and the ruffle detail on this one requires little accessorizing beyond a great pair of earrings. Sleek heels round out the look, and you won't even have to worry about walking far in them when you have a nice car waiting to take you to the next destination.

Dress: Amanda Uprichard. Earrings: here. Ring: Sydney Evan/similar affordable.

What are some ideas you have used to take date night from ordinary to extra special?

xoxo, CC 

Cropped

Photos by Paige Bryant

This is actually a look I wore earlier in the summer, but it got a lot of love on Instagram so I wanted to share it here since we are still having weather hot enough for this crop top look! This weekend was all in the 90°s, so even though September is here and fall fashion is hitting stores it's totally acceptable to wear your summer favorites one last time before cooler weather hits. 

When it is hot and humid in the city it is hard to imagine wearing anything other than crop tops and linen like this! I like to balance the edgier cut-out look of the top with a classic A-line skirt in a soft pastel shade. Adding a thin choker necklace plays off the more urban vibes, while comfy gold sandals tie it all together. I think this look achieves a perfect balance between the urban trends and my own girly style with a classic touch. 

Stay cool peeps, fall is closer than you think.... 

Top: similar 1/2/3. Skirt: Loft (similar). Shoes: Splendid. Earrings: Gorjana. Choker: very similar/more options/2/3. 

xoxo, CC

Six Foot Three in Heels

Give me a 6 inch wedge, and suddenly I'm a giant! Such is the struggle of being a tall girl who loves heels. At this point in my life I usually only wear 4in heels or under so that I feel more comfortable, but today I decided to pull this pair out of my closet and give them a whirl. I love the bright rainbow stripe on these wedges, and the way that the nude upper tones them down so they really match with anything. I decided to pair them with a bright orangey shift dress for a fun and colorful ensemble.

A nude-colored bag plays off the shoes and keeps the focus on the colorful elements, while simple accessories finish the look. This easy shift dress has quickly become a favorite since it can be worn in so many ways. I have paired it with cute sandals and simple jewelry for work, with a lace up shoes for dinner out, and I plan to add a statement necklace and jacket to transition into fall. This bright orangey-red color is one I am consistently drawn to (as you may have noticed by now 1/2/3/4) and can never seem to get enough of!!

I am actually selling these wedges on my Poshmark account (username ccnoordsy), but since they are so fun and summery I wanted to give them a little love and wear them with a bright summer outfit.
I have a ton of old clothes and jewelry for sale on my Poshmark page, as well as several pieces that have been seen here on the blog! Re-selling old items is a great way to make room in your closet and gain a little cash for new purchases, and it's always nice to renew your wardrobe a bit with each season, so that means letting some old stuff go :( It can feel good though to make space and refresh with new items instead! Has anyone started thinking about fall fashion yet? I usually put it off because I can't bear to let go of summer!

Dress: Olivaceous via mint. Shoes: Steve Madden. Bag: H&M (similar: 1/2). Watch: Kate Spade. Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters. Necklace: Kate Spade. Earrings: Gorjana.

xoxo, CC

Bold Summer Prints

A few weeks ago I shared some of my favorite picks from the Anthropologie summer sale, so I just had to share this find with you too! I picked up this stunning skirt in store (I can't find it on their website) and I am so excited to style it for late summer and fall! I have been wearing mostly flowy and a-line skirts in the past two years, but the vibrant print and longer length of this one convinced me to try out a fitted skirt again. 

Since the skirt is so colorful and bold I opted for a plain black top with a modern cut, and my new mini square handbag. I decided to draw out the teal blue colors in the skirt by pairing some large teal stud earrings with the look. I also couldn't resist wearing my favorite summer bracelet by Hipanema when I realized that the color scheme matched so perfectly! I like that this look is very chic while also being bold and fun, and is a nice balance between dressy and casual.

Skirt: Anthropologie (similar 1/2). Top: Zara (similar 1/2). Wedges: H&M (similar: 1/2). Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Bracelet: Hipanema. Sunglasses: AJ Morgan.

xoxo, CC

Neutrals and Neons

Opposites attract so they say, and what could be more opposite than neutrals and neons. I'll often add unexpected pops to an otherwise monochromatic outfit like this one so I can never be called boring! These bold dual-printed shorts require a simple top that lets them do all the talking, but then I like to mix things up with some bright and colorful accents. I kept additional prints to a minimum and focused instead on bringing bits of color into the look with this vibrant clutch and neon nails. Pretty pink sunglasses contributed a touch of color too, and keeping my hair braided let the ruffled top really stand out. 

These statement making shorts were last seen here with a similar white-top-and-fun-accessories combo. An easy yet exciting outfit like this, made up of simple yet unique pieces, is perfect for a stroll in the park and adventures in the city.

Top: Lilly Pulitzer. Shorts: Maison Scotch (similar leopard: here. stripe: here. Also check out some of the awesome handmade shorts you can get on Etsy like these: 1/2). Clutch: J.Crew (very similar). Shoes: J. Crew (similar 1/2). Sunglasses: here. Nail polish: Floss Gloss "international hot girl."

xoxo, CC