summer soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer SoireeEver have one of those match made in outfit-heaven moments? This Darling Clothes dress (in all its Summer white glory) has been hanging in my closet for a couple of weeks now just itching to be worn but I wasn’t quite sure where or with what.  That is until this oversized shining daisy Loren Hope cuff showed up and everything else just sort of fell into place.  The stark white of the dress was just begging for a few pops of color – I went full fledged femme and chose pink and purple – and the tiny daisy details were all the more fun once I added the bracelet and floral print sandals.  Summer always ends up full of invites and this look is as soiree ready as they come.  Darling Clothes Dress c/o // Loren Hope Dahlia Cuff and Sarra Cuff c /o // Coach Clutch – similar via Asos // Anthropologie Sandals 
The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree

The Steele Maiden: Summer Soiree




weekend flashback

Happy June! This weekend felt like it flew by in a blur , as all the good ones do.  This week was the last time I’ll be at work on a Friday until after Labor Day (our office has 4 day weeks in the Summer.. seriously.. please don’t hate me) and so after a busy day I jumped right into what turned out to be perfect weather all weekend here in New York.  I spent most of it outside (parks, bridges, restaurants with outdoor seating, you name it), but traded in my walking sneakers for heels on Saturday when I had a fun night out seeing one of my favorite singers Alex Winston (think Lana Del Rey meets Lily Allen) perform at a little club downtown.  I’m off to get ready for another busy (but short) work week, and I’ve got some fun things coming up this week on the blog – so stick around! 

crop to it

The Steele Maiden: Crop to ItThis past Saturday was the first real hot Summer night of the year.  And as someone who has basically been cold since we moved back from LA, I reveled in it.  It’s weather like this that makes it impossibly fun to run around the city until all hours of the night (which is exactly what we did – including a few hours at a ping pong bar – did you know they existed? – and ended sometime around 3 am).  And if it is truly Summer, then there’s no more fitting article of clothing than the crop top.  Suddenly seen everywhere, I’m probably only brave enough to bare that tiny sliver that sits above a high waisted skirt (I’m still obsessing over this denim one, last seen here) but still it felt fun which is just how Summer style should be.  Another thing that I let get a little wild in the warmer months?  My lion’s mane of hair.  These are my natural waves, but I’ve been adding a touch of Clarisea’s Sea Salt spray just to drive the point home.Grayson Shop Crop Top c/o // Asos Denim Skirt c/o // Capwell & Co Cuff Bracelet // Rebecca Minkoff Bag via Nordstrom Rack // H&M Heels – similar via Piperlime // Sunglass Warehouse Aviators c /o
The Steele Maiden: Crop to It

The Steele Maiden: Crop to It

The Steele Maiden: Crop to It

The Steele Maiden: Crop to It

The Steele Maiden: Crop to It

The Steele Maiden: Crop to It

grid lock

The Steele Maiden: Grid Lock
Amidst busy streets, crowded trains and general grid lock elsewhere – I’ve somehow managed to snag the quietest and most picturesque commute home I could imagine in this city.  Since Adam works from home (I guess in fairness, his commute is even less stressful..) he often meets me after I leave the office to make the walk back home together.  We snapped a few quick pictures in front of a particularly pretty row of homes the other night when I wore this grid print dress (just the type of Summer-essential thing I was talking about yesterday).  

Dex Dress c/o – available at Nordstrom // Zara Bag // F21 Midi Ring Set – similar via Bauble Bar //  Sole Society Heels 

The Steele Maiden: Grid Lock
The Steele Maiden: Grid Lock

The Steele Maiden: Grid Lock



keys to summer

The Steele Maiden: Keys to Summer
Aside from central air conditioning, I think the key to surviving Summer – especially in a city that gets as hot and humid as New York tends to – is having an arsenal of easy, no fuss dresses to fall back on.  I love a skinny jean or layered look as much as the next girl, but when things heat up there’s really nothing but a single piece that will do.  This silky, key print dress from Grayson Shop is a perfect example.  For an outdoor movie date night this past weekend, I added my favorite vintage belt, bright clutch, go-with-everything heeled sandals, and threw my hair up in a crown braid.  Swipe of lipstick and I was out the door without breaking a sweat in 15 minutes flat.  When there’s so much to do in this city at any given moment – the last thing I want to do is worry about what I’m going to wear.  
Grayson Shop Dress c/o // Sole Society clutch c/o // Vintage Belt // Lulu Frost Ring // Sandals via Marshalls – similar via Piperlime
The Steele Maiden: Keys to Summer

The Steele Maiden: Keys to Summer

The Steele Maiden: Keys to Summer

The Steele Maiden: Keys to Summer

The Steele Maiden: Keys to Summer