This weekend we’re doing something we never do – spontaneously travel. It’s a small trip, just two nights in upstate New York, but I can’t think of a time when we’ve ever booked a hotel one night and were packing the next. That’s partially because (in the past year or so) being away from work requires more strategic planning, partially because we’re typically carefully budgeting for our travel and partially because Adam usually takes some warming to my more hazily hatched plans of ‘let’s go somewhere!’ – but as it were, there was a musician we both like who was playing a show in Woodstock this Friday night and we started kicking around the idea of going about a week ago. Which lead to casually looking up a few places to stay (most of which were already fully booked..), which lead to finding a place on Thursday night and (after a ringer of a couple of weeks) saying ‘what the hell?!’ and booking it. Only to have the venue cancel the show we were going to go see! But c’est la vie – we’re left with two nights away visiting a couple of towns that we really like + staying in a new to us town we’re looking forward to exploring. And with nothing much on the agenda beyond a couple of bookstores I want to visit, some bars and restaurants we’re eyeing and a giant bathtub I plan on soaking in.. it’s safe to say I’m unexpectedly brimming with excitement. Below, what I hastily threw into my bag!
I went with a fall color palette, lots of texture and easy pieces I could mix and match plus a few dressier pieces for dinners out. Highlights include these cargo pants I’ve been wearing constantly (now 40% off! I took my smaller size and they’re a relaxed fit but a lot less baggy than on this model), these great lug sole leather boots and these croc embossed knee high boots I got last fall and still love, a cozy new sweater (I sized up as it’s pretty cropped and I wanted a bit of slouchiness), this cream lipstick (the perfect fall berry hue) and this forever wardrobe brocade dress I wore in Paris and couldn’t wait to wear again (it’s an investment but keep an eye out for sales – I grabbed it for a great discount during a promo).
It’s no secret that packing for a trip is one of my very favorite things. I love subtly leaning into the location (and never more so then when the location is Paris) with my style and using travel as a chance to first wear new seasonal pieces so that they instantly take on sentimental value. While every trip we’ve taken to Paris has been so incredibly special (day and night outfits from our honeymoon last year), I think these outfits might be some of my all time favorites.
Above: One of the first things I bought after we’d booked our flights, this striped jersey dress with interesting draping and a sleek silhouette stopped me in my thumb-scrolling tracks when I first saw it online. There’s something a little bit My Fair Lady about it, but with a modern twist. It reminded me of the chic wrapping of a French candy! I love wearing it and felt so chic. I added a wide suede belt to cinch in the waist and walkable ankle boots.
Above: For our first full day in the city it was overcast and grey and so I pulled out this monochrome look – a little bit 1950s/60s schoolgirl but again with a modern twist. I love this cropped cashmere sweater and patent loafers and have already been wearing them loads back in New York. The skirt was a killer Isabel Marant find via The Real Real that I had tailored and the bag is a fun green wool Frances Valentine (also via TRR) for a bit of contrast.
Above: We landed and, jet lagged be damned, got changed and headed right out into the Marais for lunch at our favorite post-red eye stop, Cafe Charlot. I threw on these wide leg jeans, ankle boots, this striped crinkle shirt I’ve been wearing on repeat and an old silk scarf.
Above: For a walk through the Musée de l’Orangerie (one of my favorite places in the world), I went took inspiration from Monet and wore this pleated denim skirt and an old floral cashmere sweater from Talbots (option below from this year’s collection).
Above: For a day met with sporadic rain showers, I spent most of it with my trench coat but wanted a pop of color and pattern – and (as I mentioned on Instagram) I’m loving the combination of bright cherry red mixed with a deep merlot.
Above: Is there anything prettier than an Autumn walk through the Tuileries? Non. We were doing a lot of walking this day (okay, everyday) but I knew I wanted to be comfortable and warm enough so I went for wide leg jeans, ankle boots, this satin button down and oversized plaid blazer with hints of autumnal hues.
Above: On our last full day in France we took a sunrise train ride to Reims (the champagne region) for a tour at Veuve Cliquot and a mini tour of the surrounding town. I wore this easy and comfortable rose print dress, tall (but low-heeled) leather boots, Adam’s sweater on loan and broke out tights for the first time this season.
Above: The final morning of the trip, in search of one last croissant before we headed to the airport. Again in wine hues with this fun tweed jacket (last seen here), my favorite jeans and these burgundy ankle boots (super comfortable). Until next time, au revoir Paris!
Hellooo summer! I know the people are divided on summer in New York (some liken it to a sauna with skyscrapers) but I’m firmly in the camp that revels in this time of year. The parks are lush and green, the days are seemingly endless and tend to spill right into hot city nights with an energy that’s unmatched any other time of year.
Last year however, for those that remember, our summer went a little differently. Between July and September we planned our entire wedding and honeymoon, said goodbye to two beloved grandparents, I battled a stomach ulcer and generally had a lot of life/work stress. Needless to say, there wasn’t a whole lot of weekends where we just soaked up summer. Not to jinx myself here, but this year is looking quite a bit more relaxed.
This season, besides lazy days reading in the park, Rockaway Beach trips and dinner/drinks al fresco – I’m making a point to do all the things that really make this time of year shine in the city. Below, my summer bucket list:
Tribeca Film Festival – This falls in early June every year and we always try to get tickets to at least one event. I love seeing a sneak peek of movies that will be out in theater in the coming year and often hearing Q&A’s with the director and actors themselves after the screening!
Grand Banks – An oyster bar.. on a boat! Docked at Pier25 near Tribeca, this is one of my favorite places in New York to grab a cocktail and oysters and watch the sunset over the Hudson when the weather is nice.. but when compiling this list I realized that I haven’t been there since pre-pandemic days! I need to change that this summer!
Sleeping Beauties Exhibit at the Met Museum – I always try to catch the Costume Institute’s exhibit (that debuts at the Met Gala in May) and I’ve heard great things about this years. Bonus points for a warm weather trip to the Met including a rooftop glass of rosé while you gaze out over Central Park!
Half Marathon – I’m officially booked for a half marathon in mid-June! My last one was when I was 30.. so it’s been awhile. I’m nervous but after consistent training these past few months and a ‘practice’ 10 mile race in Philly in early May, I think I’ll be ready to go! This one is out at Rockaway Beach which should be fun.
Sailboat Cruise – Last Christmas we gifted my parents a voucher for a Sailboat Cruise around Manhattan. I can’t wait for them to come visit this summer and ‘cash in’ on this!
Day Trip – For the most part we’re staying local this summer – but I’d love to get back out to Sag Harbor near the Hamptons (it’s been since pre-pandemic!) or upstate to Hudson (we’ve only ever been in the fall). Even just a day trip in the car would be enough to feel like we’ve been somewhere!
Rooftop Show at Pier17 – One of my favorite warm weather venues, this rooftop in South Street Seaport offers sweeping views of downtown skyscrapers to your left and the East River and Brooklyn Bridge to your right. All while you watch live music. Hoping to catch another show there this summer!
Boat House in Central Park – After a brief closure, the Central Park Boat House has thankfully reopened! We like to go and grab a drink and a bite on their outdoor deck while we watch the row-boaters go by.
Try 3 New Restaurants and Bars – Between beloved institutions and trendy new spots – I will likely never get through all of the bars and restaurants here I want to try. Last year I started to move out of my comfort zone of favorites and make more of a dedicated effort to try places I’d always wanted to. I think one per month of each is an achievable goal!
Rooftop Movie – Last year Adam took me to Rooftop Cinema Club in midtown and we saw Pretty Woman. It’s about the same cost as a regular movie, but you sit in great deck chairs, have individual headphones to drown out any city noise, and the evening showings start just as the sun goes down and the city lights start to flicker on. It was so fun! I want to go back for another film this summer sometime.
It’s official – I’m having a Sophia Loren summer. Full skirted dresses with fitted waists, red lips, straw bags, hair scarves.. give me all of it. Of course, it’s not far off from how I typically dress – but after leaning in further for our trip to Italy, I’m excited to continue the pattern for the warm weather months to come. And you can bet I’ll be rewearing everything I had packed. For the sake of fitting in a carry-on, I stuck to easy cotton and linen dresses for day, walkable block or wedge heels and a simplified color palette of black, white, tan, red and green (a bit of a nod to the Italian flag!). Below – everything I wore on our trip.
SHOP THE LOOK:
(Above): This vintage 1960s cotton eyelet dress felt like it set the tone for my whole suitcase. Very Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley.. my ultimate summer style icon! Paired with old faithful sandals from J.Crew plus a new to me leather and wicker bag.
SHOP THE LOOK:
This dress reminded me of one of those classic Italian painting, all curves and draped fabric. And the green felt different for me – but very appropriate for emerald Taurus season! Worn for my favorite dinner of the trip. And can I give a shout-out to these raffia wedge heels? They went with half the outfits I packed and were so walkable and comfortable. 10/10.
SHOP THE LOOK:
Off the plane (and the trains and the water bus) we quickly freshened up to grab our first dinner of the trip in a nearby piazza. I love this polka dot slip skirt and linen vest – already worn to work since we’ve been back! And this particular little rose embroidered straw bag is my very favorite – a souvenir gift from Adam, bought on a trip to Paris two years ago.
SHOP THE LOOK:
Now this was a fun one. The cutest cherry print dress (going to run around New York City all summer in this), lace-up red sandals – practical thanks to a low block heel but they really pack a punch – a vintage bag, Adam’s sunglasses and my late Nan’s rings around my neck (she didn’t get the chance to travel the world so I like to ‘take her with me’ when I go someplace like this that I know she would have loved).
This red dress was the first thing I bought for our trip – I think back in February! It might have been before we even booked the flights – dress for the vacation you want, right? It’s a bit on the pricier side but it’s the most beautiful weight linen with a great structure and fit. Very much a forever dress. And I’ll tell you, it felt perfect wandering through Verona, sampling food from the local markets and stepping onto “Juliet’s balcony” in this. Very Sophia Loren summer coded.
SHOP THE LOOK:
SHOP THE LOOK:
I wore this on our last morning in Italy for a quick breakfast before we headed back to Milan to catch our flight home (don’t worry I swapped the sandals for sneakers to go to the airport!). I always say I want to invest in more tops and this short sleeve linen one is going to get a lot of wear this summer. Worn with my favorite jeans and a vintage silk scarf in my hair.
SHOP THE LOOK:
Date night, personified. I love this little black dress so much, the square neck, the wrap skirt. It’s easy and comfortable and can easily be punched up with accessories – like these veryyy fun cherry earrings, a sleek little bag and red sandals.
SHOP THE LOOK:
There’s something so timeless about a linen shirt dress – I love the sort of oatmeal color of this and while I think it would look great with brown or tan accessories too – I loved the contrast of the black raffia belt and sandals here. Paired with a favorite vintage bag and I felt like a postcard from Italy circa 1958.
SHOP THE LOOK:
Saved one of my favorites for the last night of the trip – a sunset boat ride and a delicious dinner tucked away in a beautiful little courtyard outside of the Opera house. This dress got delayed in shipping and I was certain it wasn’t going to arrive in time for the trip, but then miraculously landed on my doorstep the day before we left. It’s made from the most beautiful heavy cotton (almost like a light canvas) so it really keeps it’s shape and wears so well. Hoping to find another occasion to wear it soon!
I made this very fun Reel (if I do say so myself) in Palm Springs as an easy way to capture what I was wearing as I, quite literally, headed out the door. I thought it would be helpful to add still shots here (in some cases I had better photos than just the door shot) and all the links + some notes on sizing, etc. Also – I fit this all in a carry-on suitcase + this magic shoulder duffle that holds a ton but still fits under airplane seats. Where’s there’s a fashion will.. there’s a way.
LOOK 1:
*I took my smaller size in this dress and probably could have sized up, but it has a good amount of stretch.Shoes and sweater are old from J.Crew.As always, my sunglasses are prescription from Warby Parker – which is why I have them on so constantly!
LOOK 2:
*I took my regular size in the top, bottoms and skirt – I’d say they all fit pretty TTS – but the bottoms definitely have a skimpier cut.. which is why the skirt is so nice to have too!Sandals are old from J.Crew.
LOOK 3:
*The pants run large – I sized down to Petite (I’m 5’4″ for reference) and still probably would have gone down another waist size had it been available, but with a belt they work just fine! I would size up in the strapless top if you have a bigger chest.
LOOK 4:
*Top and skirt both fit TTS, the tank is perfectly cropped so that you don’t have bulk tucking into pants or skirts, but it just grazes bottoms that are high waisted. Mesh bag is old H&M.
LOOK 5:
*Dress is TTS and has a built in cotton slip and drawstring adjustable waist. Bag is old from Anthropologie.
LOOK 6:
*I probably could have sized down in the top and shorts but I like that they have a lived in, slightly slouchy fit!
LOOK 7:
LOOK 8:
*Bathing suit runs slightly small, I sized up in the bottoms. Shirt is an oversized fit.
LOOK 9:
*To note – shoes are incredible comfortable! No break-in time, they feel like butter.
LOOK 10:
*Dress runs slightly large. Shoes are old Loeffler Randall
LOOK 11:
*Dress is an oversized fit. Comes with a detachable matching fabric belt.
LOOK 12:
*Fit TTS – I sized up as I hate when running shorts feel too small and wanted to be able to layer under the pullover.
LOOK 13:
*Important to note! The vest runs pretty big (I actually had mine altered to fit as the smallest size was sold out at the time – looks to have since been restocked and now on sale! Of course! – but the shorts run just a bit small. I took my usual size but they have a high waist and no stretch – I like the fit this way, but if you want more breathing room, size up in those.
LOOK 14:
*Bottoms are a cheeky fit so you could size up for slightly more coverage and if you have a larger chest I’d size up in the top.
LOOK 15:
* Dress runs TTS although on the shorter side – I went with my smaller size as it’s a somewhat stiffer fit (though not at all uncomfortable) so I didn’t want a lot of extra fabric.
