New York Fashion Week - Autumn/Winter 2014 Overview

          I'm finally writing about my second New York Fashion Week experience! Needless to say, a week full of fashion shows and events was followed by a week full of deadlines and catching up on sleep.

            I had so much fun in the city and have really begun to feel more at home there. Surprisingly, my affinity for NYC has taken a little time to unfold. Of course, it wouldn't be as enjoyable without the hospitality of my cousin and best friend, Maddie. She's shown me some great places and we've already made a lot of unforgettable memories, such as the time we tried meeting at a ferryboat party and ended up on opposite shores of Manhattan! But more on that later. Here's a little overview of the fashion week events I attended, people I met, clothes I wore and food I ate. I'll be posting about specific shows and designers soon.

Monday

What I wore: A gold, vintage blazer and green sweater layered over a blue button down, dark blue tuxedo pants, authentic Greek fisherman's hat, Badgley Mischka Julia Nappa satchel, and Superga sneakers (later had to change into winter boots due to the high snow banks and heaps of slush).

By Misha

Where I went: I attended the By Misha presentation at the Lali Lali Gallery in SoHo and met some very wonderful people. I interviewed the three designers featured and I met some fabulous fashionistas and bloggers. More details to come! 
That night: I was in pure euphoria. It was my first night in the city, I'd already met inspiring people, and seen beautiful clothes.
Beverage of the evening: Owl's Brew Tea with rum

Read my article about the By Misha presentation here!

Tuesday

William Okpo

What I wore: A new satin, floral dress I just ordered from Victoria's Secret. I was so eager to wear it that I didn't consider how light it would be on the coldest night of the week! It was insufficient even with leather accented leggings, Cole Hann ankle boots, a Cynthia Rowley cowl scarf, a beanie and a leather jacket.

Leather Japan

Where I went: I got lost in SoHo and missed my first show by ten minutes. Who knew exiting from the subway in the wrong direction could veer you so far off course? That evening I went to the William Okpo show. Just as I was gaining more confidence in my sense of direction, I forgot half of the address to the Leather Japan gallery opening and took two cabs to get to there.

Read my article about the William Okpo show here!

Read my article about the Leather Japan gallery opening here!

Maddie and Daniel

 That night: Complimentary shuttles took everyone from the gallery to the after party that was to be on a ferryboat. I invited Maddie to meet me there and gave her the address we both thought was at the Chelsea Piers. Half an hour later, my shuttle stopped on Wall Street. Maddie was almost "there" but I wasn't leaving on the boat without her. I called her and we soon realized she was on the coast facing New Jersey and I was on the opposite facing Brooklyn. It was time to scratch plans and figure out new ones. I ran into the nearest Duane Reade to keep warm and charge my phone, got a cab, and finally met up with Maddie. At that point, all we wanted was warm pizza and a relaxing drink. So we ended the night at a cozy bar with her boyfriend and some delicious BBQ chicken pizza.
Beverage of the evening: Blue Moon

Wednesday

What I wore: A vintage, angora sweater dress on top of a printed skirt with fur winter boots, leather jacket, and a floppy, felt hat. Of course, I also carried my Badgley Mischka bag. 

Mega Mega Projects' AW14 Preview

Where I went: I stopped by the AW14 Preview by Mega Mega Projects and interviewed a couple budding jewelry designers. It was a very intimate event that focused on small collections of high quality craftsmanship. 

 Read my article about the AW14 Preview here! 

Zink Magazine fashion event

That night: I met Maddie at B & Co. in midtown for Zink Magazine's fashion event party. We had fun taking pictures of our outfits and catching up on our day.

Beverage of the evening: Cranberry and vodka.

Thursday

What I wore: A red cable-knit sweater on top of a white button down with leather pants, fur boots, ruffled scarf, beanie and a wool, vintage coat. 

Doughnut Plant

Where I went: Late that morning, Maddie brought me to the Doughnut Plant to try what she told me were the best doughnuts ever. She was right! We had hazelnut, chocolate, chocolate chip and their Valentine's special, rose. Since we were fairly close to the next fashion week event I had on my agenda, she accompanied me to KOTUR's AW14 preview at the Standard hotel. It was quite the journey! There were puddles and slush at every intersection and it was impossible to get to the next block without stepping into eight inches of water. On our very wet way back to her apartment, we grabbed Mexican at a nearby food cart. My tacos were so delicious they made me forget all about those treacherous puddles. 

Read my article about KOTUR's AW14 preview here! 

Maddie was invincible in her solid rain boots!

That night: While I'd been wearing my "waterproof" winter boots, they were no match for NYC puddles. I learned that a good pair of rain boots is an absolute necessity in this city. Maddie lent me hers for my last event of the week, Samantha Pleet's AW14 collection film premiere at the Wolverine store. I was really excited for this one because I'd covered her last collection in the fall. There was no way the weather would stop me from covering my first NYFW followup! More details to come!

Beverage of the evening: Red wine. 

Read my article about Samantha Pleet's collection film premiere here! 

Samantha Pleet

----------------

               My boyfriend came into the city for the weekend and I stayed until the following Tuesday. We had a really nice time together and between my internship work, we visited the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History, had giant slices of pizza with Maddie and Daniel, took a slippery walk through Central Park, and ate lots of yummy bagels!

BCBG Max Azria AW14

          BCBG is one of the shows that's had the biggest impression on me in these first few days of fashion week. Maybe it's just the cold weather getting to me, but I would love to wrap myself in one of their luxurious, fur capes or coats. While their outerwear was definitely the high point of their collection, I'm also digging the color palette. Everyone's been talking about pastels for winter and BCBG incorporated them in a very understated, approachable way. Soft pinks instead of bubblegum, stripes of aqua blue, and accents of orange all lent themselves to the greys, whites, and blacks. I usually gravitate toward the latter in winter, but I'd be willing to wear these more colorful pieces without a second thought. Additionally, their acid wash print was a pleasant reminder of burning wood -- the patterns made in logs as they become charcoal. Overall, this collection felt cozy and warm, making it one I'd be dying to get my hands on come fall.

photo credit: Style.com

Latest Obsession: Jason Wu's Pre-Fall 2014 Collection

           Just as everyone is getting over the S/S14 collections, Pre-Fall pops up with a fresh perspective. While shorts and sundresses are far in the future for most of us, this handful of shows brings us back to the reality of layers and earth tones. We can actually apply the styling to our current outfits and gather inspiration for our winter shopping.

           That's why I'm loving Jason Wu's Pre-Fall 2014 collection. I has everything I want from a fall/winter wardrobe, by balancing thick knits and leather with thin lace and silk. He applied simple layering techniques that all of us on the East Coast can appreciate, like wearing a big sweater over a flowy dress. Nothing is too complex about his pieces, just clean, comfortable clothes that are beautifully understated. His gowns are divine! Who wouldn't want to wear one to a holiday party? And I'm all about his sweater and leather jacket combo. You get the rigidity of a leather moto jacket, with all the cozy warmth of a sweater.

            Another thing I really like, while subtle, is his pairing of neutrals. For anyone who doesn't believing in wearing brown and black together, Wu proves that it can be done. Breaking the "rules" can be refreshing, especially in the winter when your biggest concern is staying warm. Lastly, the pointed toe is here to stay and his double buckle, ankle strap heels and booties are a must-have.

photo credits: Fashionista.com

Fashionable Christmas Gifts That Give Back

          Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year! Not only because of what it means to me, but also because of how long it lasts. A whole month full of baking, decorating, music, friends, family, and shopping! You get every excuse to stay in and watch movies with hot chocolate or shop all day long for the right gifts. I still write the wishlists I've made since I was a kid. In case you haven't caught on yet, I'm very much a list person! While my wishlists have more clothes and fewer toys now, I still put the same amount of effort into making them perfect.

          In the spirit of the holiday season, I decided I wanted to do something a little extra this year. Some fashion brands are willing to give back with every purchase, a concept many call One for One. Stores like Warby Parker and Toms pledge to donate one product to charity for every product purchased. I figured this is a great way to spread the joy! If friends and family will be gifting anyway, why not give a present that donates another in return? I've considered getting new glasses for a while now, so instead of just one pair for myself, I'm asking for a Warby Parker pair to give back at the same time! Not only are they stylish, but they'll be helping out someone who can't afford eye care.

          Whether you're giving or receiving, consider adding these charitable and fashionable gifts to your holiday shopping!

Out of Print - Madeline Women's Tee - $28

          "In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines." These books were among my very favorites when I was young and I can't imagine any little girl not growing up with them. Unfortunately, there are so many impoverished communities where kids don't even have the ability to lose themselves in a good book. That's why for every shirt sold, Out of Print donates a book to an area in need, in partnership with Books for Africa.

Toms + Tabitha Simmons - Blue Cricket Stripe Women's Desert Wedges - $168

           As one of the most successful, charitable brands, Toms' mission is no secret. However, a great new collaboration with shoe designer, Tabitha Simmons, has heightened their fashion appeal this season. Inspired by her own sons, Simmons' collection also features kid's sizes to fit the smallest of trendsetters! As always, with every pair sold, another will be given to an underprivileged child in one of over 60 countries.
 

Warby Parker - Chamberlain Eyeglasses - $95

           Warby Parker has become the hottest place for eyewear. Almost every magazine editor has a pair and their Instagram account has 85k followers. Plus, they make ordering online just as breezy as in person by sending you five pairs to try on before you buy. Glasses have never been so cool! But how did they make their brand even cooler? They partner with non-profits to improve low-income eye care and donate a pair of glasses for every pair sold.

KITE - UWEZA Pencil Pack - $10

          KITE teaches us not to underestimate the power of a pencil. Pencils can be the beginning of stories, learning, creativity, and even careers. These pencils are made in the USA and with their fun patterns, they can also be an unexpected fashion statement. A statement that enables children to attend school and better their lives. For every pencil pack sold, KITE gives a pencil to a child in need, including 13 million kids in the US and over twice as many around the world. That's really something to think about the next time you jot something down!

Knit Headscarves Collection

     Forget hats and the hat hair that comes with them! This winter, I'm bundling up in DIY style! Over the summer I worked on three knit headscarves for the colder months. I pulled inspiration from headscarves all around the internet, from Urban Outfitters to Lookbook, to style blogs. I then found several different yarns I liked, matched each one to a specific style or stitch I wanted, and created the scarves sans instructions (if you've seen any of the sewing projects I've done you're probably familiar with my loathing of patterns). They were all really easy to make so I was able to mindlessly knit away while I watched movies or seasons of Sex in the City. 

Just a basic garter stitch and cinched in the middle.

I used two wool yarns together, working them into a ribbed patchwork

pattern, then twisted the piece in the center.

Cableknit in the center with a stockinette stitch on the sides.

The alpaca yarn makes this headscarf super soft!