Stars and Stripes

Finding the prefect sneaker has always been a challenge and with this season’s endless choices, it was hard to narrow down. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Chuck Taylors and Golden Goose but I just couldn’t resist the playful vibe of Gucci’s new breed of kicks. The collection as a whole is happy and colorful and just makes your heart feel good when you see it.

For someone who loves classic pieces, a fun pair of shoes is always up my alley.  I tend to get stuck in a rut, sometimes buying the same basic pieces in neutral colors that I know will stand the test of time but are not always the most fun.  I find the best balance is always a happy accessory.  The classic gucci web stripe with playful stars are the perfect mix!

Sneakers: Gucci, Bag: Chanel, Denim: Rag & Bone (also love these).

Other fun sneakers I love here, here, here and here.

 

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Shine

 

After a hard return to reality (being welcomed by a foot of snow after our trip to Anguilla), I took full advantage of the unusually warm weather over the weekend.  There are many parts of the city to love but one of my favorites is the amount of parks.  Central is of course my favorite but I also love an afternoon in Washington Square Park.  There is always an energy and people watching is standard.

Denim: COH, Shoes: Golden Goose (also here), Jacket: IRO (similar here), Sunnies: Oliver Peoples (also love these), Bag: Celine, Sweater: Vince.

YSL

As sale season comes to a close, I decided to make one last pass (and risk loosing an arm) to see if I could find some lingering steals.  Level 9 at Saks is currently a mecca for the true bargain hunter.  With whimsical Chloe dresses being snapped up for 80% off and once out of budget Balenciaga and Celine pieces now attainable, I decided to have one final look early Saturday morning.

Once in the dressing room with a rack full of goodies, I heard a knock at my door. “You’re not going to believe what I found” said my sales girl with the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning.  I opened the door and there hung the buttery goodness of a YSL leather jacket. I knew it would fit like a glove as I’d tried the black leather version many times before, but never wanted to pull the trigger due to the hefty price tag.

The white leather popped against black zippers and the distressed details gave the jacket that street chic vibe of a Golden Goose sneaker reincarnated in a fabulous leather jacket.  I was sold.

Jacket: Saint Laurent (love this one and this one), Great faux leather jacket here, Denim: AG Jeans (also love this wash), Sunnies: Oliver Peoples.

 

On the go

When I first moved to the city, I often wondered, how could I still retain some semblance of style while also being able to maneuver the increased walking and bipolar weather conditions.  I remember for the first 6 months I really thought I could wear heels almost everywhere and actually believed the weather report on the morning news. (Insert wide-eyed emoji here).

Fast forward a couple years and here’s what I’ve learned. Flats can be your friend.  Yes this was tough for me to conceptualize, but after a week of non stop heels and realizing no amount of reflexology would help, I made peace with flats and found styles that made my feet feel just as special as my Manolo heels did. These Gucci mule loafers are one of my favorites with their mix of classic and edgy.  They are comfy as hell and have serious staying power.

I also had to take stock of my handbag collection as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cross body mini bag, but if you’re out and about in the city, something a little larger is required; preferably to fit a pair of heels and umbrella. I opted for the Celine trapeze.  The medium size is perfect and the shoulder strap is great if you prefer that to the crook of your arm.

Bag: Celine (also love this one and this alternate style), Shoes: Gucci (these are super cute too), Denim: AG Jeans, Top: Zara (similar here), Sunnies: Oliver Peoples

 

 

Breaking out of the shoe box

Shoes: Prada (also love these & these for Summer), Denim: Rag & Bone, Sweater: Joie (similar here), Top: ATM (similar here), Bag: Louis Vuitton, Sunnies: Oliver Peoples (similar here).

Over the weekend, I took on the daunting task of organizing my shoe collection (And no, I did not get trapped under 5000 shoe boxes as my husband likes to joke).  As I organized shoes by style, I noticed one pile towered over the rest: Pumps.  Yes they are a classic silhouette and usually a comfortable choice when in comes to heels.  Although I have quite the array of colors, textures and heel heights, I surveyed the pile and thought “I’m in a shoe style rut”.

Here’s my thought process.  A pump is classic at its base and even if you dare to choose a bright color or print, the foundation is solid. With the higher price tag designer shoes carry, I often justify them by picking pairs I can wear “forever” and that aren’t overly trendy.  Of course I lust over the bejeweled gucci platform heels or the fur adorned Nicholas Krikwood loafers, but my inner fashion voice asks-will I still be into these a year from now?  Of course there is always a factor of I love the shoe so who cares what the masses think.

Enter the creeper.  These platforms come in many different iterations and styles and I have secretly always wanted a pair.  The issue was, they look nothing like my usual style.  I decided to give in a buy the pair that spoke to me.  It came down to the Stella McCartney’s vs. Prada.  Stella’s platform was intense and I have to admit, the height I gained without the pain of a heel was tempting and made me giddy with the additional 5 inches I would gain. Ultimately I chose the Prada version with a modest 3  inch platform.  I love the classic brogue details melded with the sporty creeper sole.

As I added the pale blue box to my shoe stack, I felt like I had finally taken a step outside of my usual (shoe) box 🙂