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

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

Floral and Fur

Happy Friday!

I styled this skirt before, for early fall, but since it incorporates so well with darker colors and thicker textures, I wanted to show off how well it works in winter despite the pinks and florals. 

The colorful floral skirt brings a touch of brightness into these winter days, but it is grounded by the balance of a thick faux fur vest reminding us all what season it is. The chambray top draws out the shades of blue in the floral print maintaining a cool tone throughout the outfit. Of course an extra pop of pink with my favorite blush bag was necessary just to defy the winter cold a little bit more. Balancing winter staples with more colorful prints makes for a fun combination to help ward off the winter blues -- while still giving a nod to the season's best staples. 

Also, wouldn't this be a cute look for a casual valentine's day? All that pink would be perfectly appropriate for a day celebrating love--and it's only two weeks away believe it or not! What are you planning to wear? 

Skirt: H&M (get the look 1/2/3). Chambray top: JCrew. Vest: Chicwish. Bag: French Connection via Marshalls. Boots: Sam Edelman.  Sunglasses: anthropologie. Earrings: anthropologie. Wrap bracelet: similar. Choker necklace: similar. Hair clip: similar.

xoxo, CC

Sometimes Backwards is Better

Happy weekend!
While I'm back in snowy cold New York, I want to share one last look from my Cali trip with you. The weather there was a bit chilly as well, so it was necessary to bundle up in cozy sweaters and jackets, like this adorable fuzzy piece I picked up on my trip. Not only is this little jacket adorably chic, but it's actually pretty warm too since it is fluffy on the outside and lined with a cozy sweatshirt material on the inside. I kept getting compliments on this piece everywhere I went! 

This cute little tee from Anthro is super trendy with it's lace up detail, and I just adore the pale blue color. But guess what? I'm actually wearing it backwards! It is meant to be worn with the lace up as a detail in the back, however I thought it looked cuter flipped around. The way the seams run vertically up the top just didn't flatter me when worn the correct direction, but when I put it on backwards the lace up detail draws the eye away from those seams making it a super cute tee! So I say who cares how it is supposed to be worn, if it works better worn your own way then do it, because sometimes backwards is better! Putting your own spin on things can make them genuinely better and more uniquely you, and it's totally trendsetter material. What do you think, would you purposely wear something backwards to get the look you like?

Top: Anthropologie, get the look: 1/2/3. Jacket: Anthropologie/very similar here. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Lip: Marc Jacobs Beauty. Necklace: identical here. Earrings: Anthro.
Please forgive the poor quality of these photos! iPhone cameras at dusk are not the best... :(

xoxo, CC

California Christmas

Happy New Year from California! I realize I haven't blogged in a few weeks (whoops!), but now I am on vacation for the holidays so I thought I would share a few quick recent pics. I flew out to California to spend the holidays with my family and we have been exploring around the area the past few days. It has been sunny here with a slight chill, although infinitely warmer than New York, allowing me to get away with lighter jackets and dresses than I am used to this time of year!

We trekked out to Picchetti winery for a wine tasting at one of the oldest wineries in the state and then had a picnic lunch overlooking the nearby reservoir. I wore this pretty snake print boho dress in shades of pink and purple layered with my cozy pink cardigan for an extra bit of warmth. Tights and booties were necessary, but so were sunglasses! These round lenses are actually a dream to wear since they don't impede my line of vision, but they're also super cute in a retro-glam sort of way. The sunshine felt warm and invigorating but it was definitely nice to have a cozy layer sitting beside the breezy reservoir for lunch.

On the way back from the winery we stopped at the Stanford University Cantor art museum for a quick stroll through a few of their exhibits before closing time. The contemporary section was filled with brightly colored canvasses, which always draw my eye!

Dress: Anthropologie. Cardigan: Ruche (available in beige). Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: Anthropologie.

Artwork by Dashiell Manley, an "Elegy for whatever" piece.

xoxo, CC

Travel Diary; Venice

Ah, Venice! One of the cities on my must-visit list, and I finally made it. We hopped on a train from Milan early in the morning to arrive in Venice around noon and wander the crowded narrow streets leading to Piazza San Marco. It was truly a charming city with its narrow winding streets intertwined with canals and bridges, although it was much more touristy than I had expected! The main route to la Piazza was lined with brandname stores, souvenir shops, and overpriced restaurants. I was very intrigued by the quieter side streets and narrow alleyways, but for lack of time we did not get to explore those much. However, the scenes at each canal crossing were well worth the trip, and the Basilica San Marco itself was quite beautiful. We even took the elevator up the Campanile bell tower to see the stunning view over the rooftops of Venice. 

For this adventure I wore this awesome floral jumpsuit layered up with a moto jacket and pom-pom trimmed scarf to fight the chill in the crisp air. By dressing the jumpsuit with a sturdy black jacket and booties it transitions it nicely into a fall look, especially since the blue and rust colors already work so well with a fall palette! I got crafty a few weeks back and added the ankle zippers myself to give myself more room to move and add versatility to the piece. I was a little nervous that I would ruin a perfectly good jumpsuit, but luckily they came out great! 

The colors in Venice were stunning at every turn, from the aqua green water of the canals, to the numerous pink and faded brick buildings, to pretty white homes with colorful shutters all against a bright blue sky. It makes for awesome photo backdrops! The canals are so picturesque, especially when a gondola glides past, expertly maneuvered by it's gondolier. I'm so glad I got a chance to explore this enchanting island! 

Outfit // Jumpsuit: Asos. Jacket: Zara. Scarf: H&M. Booties: Jessica Simpson via DSW. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Earrings: Gorjana.

xoxo, CC