Ribbons and Bows

'Tis the season for evergreen and bows and pops of red! 

Boots: dolce vita

Coat: gap

Bug bag: Zara (a few years ago)

Lip Looks

I popped into e.l.f cosmetics recently in search of a fall berry lip color with a sheer finish (nothing too bold) for a subtle moody lip. I came across some really good finds that I wanted to share! Not only did I find exactly what I was looking for with this sheer deep berry gloss, but I also found an awesome hot pink lip color too - and all at really affordable prices. 

The pink lip tint color goes on really pale and pearly at first, but with a pH technology that reacts with your skin it turns to a brighter shade of pink for a fun pop of color. the stick goes on super smoothly and is great for a quick touch of color at a moment's notice! 

While the berry lip oil looks pretty rich in the tube, it is really so subtle and yet adds just the right amount of deep berry color for me - it's nothing dramatic but looks great with a fall or winter color palette. The gloss goes on easily and isn't too sticky so it wears nicely for just a hint of a fall lip look. And to top it all off these lip colors were only $6 dollars each! A very exciting find when I wasn't sure I'd be able to find a berry color in a soft and sheer enough finish for my liking. 

e.l.f. tinted lip oil in Berry Kiss ($6)

e.l.f gotta glow lip tint in Perfect Pink ($6)

xoxo

Fall Textures

Tweed, denim, leather and florals. The best thing about fall fashion is all of the textures! Thicker fabrics and knits and sleek seasonal leathery looks make mixing and matching so much fun. Even so, it's all too easy to fall into wearing dark colors daily in the autumn and winter seasons, but your looks can easily be livened up with fall floral prints and pops of color in thicker fabrics. Pink is a always fall color in my book!

Floral top and tweed dress: Loft

Denim skirt: gap

Belt: anthropologie 

Today’s Look: Pink for Fall

Wide leg pink pants for the win! This style is very trendy right now, not to mention comfortable, and I finally got myself a pair that are halfway between office chic and loungewear comfy. I'm all about wearing pale pink in the fall season, I think it's the perfect way to add a softer color into a fall palette. Look how nicely this shade of blush pink coordinates with fall colors of black, taupe and dark purple. Adding textures and layers like knit sweaters, leather and tassels ensures a seasonal (and warm) look.

Pants: gap

Sweater: loft

Jacket: Zara

Shoes: aldo 

Scarf: from my study abroad in France 

Sweater Weather

 Sweater weather #fromwhereistand

Sweater: urban outfitters

Midi skirt: gap

Shoes: Chelsea crew 

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

Layered Look

A quick peek at a layered look from the other day! I've always been intrigued by the look of jeans layered over patterned tights, so on a warmish day I thought I would try out the look. I wore these sheer black tights with little scattered hearts under a pair of ripped jeans for an elegant and layered look with just a few little hearts showing through the holes in the jeans. I paired it with heeled black leather booties and cuffed my jeans at the ankles while on top a camel colored coat and plaid scarf kept me warm over a simple tie-front sweatshirt.

I like the effect of the tiny scattered hearts showing in peeks through the ripped jeans and at the ankles adding a touch of texture and pattern to a simple look. Layering creatively has always been a chic and trendy way to style outfits, especially when it's cold out and your wardrobe can start to feel a bit stale.

On this gorgeous day the other week I even got to spend a little time sitting outside in the sunshine along Central Park! I just can't wait for the weather to warm up like this permanently!

Jeans: Gap. Tights: Betsey Johnson. Booties: Steve Madden. Coat: Gap. Scarf: here.

xoxo, CC

Sweet Nothings

I know I haven't been very good at posting regularly in recent months, so I wanted to share a few snaps of what I've been up to lately. 

Little scenes around my room... I've been making an effort to get back into reading books more, so I've started bringing a book with me for my morning subway ride everyday. So far I've gone through two novels and memoir in the past few months since I decided to start reading more! I also added this sweet little faux cactus to my decor, because it was just too cute to pass up... and I'm having a little trouble keeping my real plants alive... even though they are apparently "hard to kill"... at least this one is low maintenance!  

I bought this pale grey nail polish the other day, but I wanted to spice up the look a little for Valentine's Day so I added a few teeny tiny red hearts on a few scattered nails. How did I achieve the look? With red nail polish, a toothpick, and a steady, slow and patient hand!  

I took a floral arrangement workshop last week hosted at my office by a co-worker who spent a year working as a florist. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon working on something creative and beautiful, and now, this little cutie is on my coffee table adding a touch of color and cheer to the room! I especially love the mossy green plant (I can't remember what she told us it was called) and the three deep magenta carnation buds that hadn't quite opened into a blossom.

We've had some unseasonably warm days recently, mixed in with the brutally cold, and I love any opportunity to go for a nice walk on a tolerable sunny day. I snapped this little scene on a quiet street near my office in the East Village, where I love to explore on my lunch breaks. I just love the combo of the varying shades of green and teal against the rosy bricks with a vintage lamppost to pull it all together. Little corners of New York can be so beautiful! 

How fun are these jeans?! I couldn't resist adding these to my wardrobe, especially once they went on sale ($29!) since the fun floral hem is both so trendy and so darling for spring. I totally plan on playing up the light pinks by accessorizing with a blush hued bag and pale pink tassel earrings. For now, I think I'll pair them with black booties and a black lace up sweater while the weather is still chilly. I've never worn Pilcro jeans before and I was pleasantly surprised at the stretch in the denim, and was able to fit into a size much smaller than I'd expected. It still catches me off guard sometimes how trends come back around into fashion - and these jeans totally remind me of styles I was into in my early teens that I certainly never thought I'd be wearing again! But I guess some things never change, like my love for sweet florals and styles that stand out.

Anyhow, that's a quick look at some little things that have been making me happy lately!

xoxo, CC

Morning Sun

I love weekends because it means I don't have to get up early, I can lounge in my bed as long as I want, and I get to enjoy a slow morning at home having breakfast in the morning sunlight. On a normal work day I rush around getting ready without a second to spare, and don't eat breakfast until I get to work, so a relaxing morning at home is always a welcome change. Taking my time to start the day on a positive note is always a good first step to an enjoyable day. 

I haven't done a tour of my Astoria apartment yet, but I wanted to share this pretty corner where I like to sit at breakfast sometimes. This old wooden folding table was painted a crisp white with golden faux handles to go with our apartment decor, including the gold framed mirror hanging just above it. It looks so pretty in the clear morning sunlight. As you may notice taking a look around my blog, I certainly love color... and my decor aesthetic usually involves clean white surfaces with pops of bright color and accents of gold. Even my dishes tend to be colorful and fun!

This weekend I enjoyed a bowl full of berries and a soothing tea while my coffee steeped in the french press. The only thing missing? Some pancakes to fill up my plate... :) 

Mug and dish towel: anthropologie.

xoxo, CC

OTK

A new year, a new pair of boots. These faux suede over the knee boots have been an item on my radar for a very long time to round out my footwear selections and fill in the gaps: tall boots with a low heel, and OTK's that actually reach over my knee. Tall girl probz. Anyway, I snagged these beauties on sale at DSW and was extra thrilled that they come in a wide calf version for leggy girls like me. They are super comfy too, and look chic over jeans or with a sweater dress for extra warmth. 

This time, I wore them with light wash jeans and a slouchy casual top over the weekend. To add a little extra fun and texture to the look I tied a velvety wrap in my hair! I love to use these headband wraps and scarves on the weekends when I don't bother to wash my hair, don't plan on seeing anyone important and still want to maintain some semblance of a put-together human being. 

Casual weekend style at it's finest. 

xoxo, CC