Capping Things Off

While you know I have had my experiences with high heels, I am a flats girl through and through.

Spring’s showing of ballet flats capped with a pop of color (or shine or monochrome) has me tickled pink! (Or coral, or silver) I love this fun little way to add a dash of color into an otherwise neutral, basic shoe.

A ballet with a cap of black always makes me think of one thing: Coco Chanel. But, these lovely specimens make me think of popsicles, disco balls, sno cones & cotton candy. (Not to mention short skirts and bare legs.)

I am already feeling all jazzed up for summer!

*Shoes:

Top row: Kate Spade/Belle by Sigerson Morrison /Jil Sander

Bottom row: Marc by Marc Jacobs/Reed Krakoff/J.Crew

Fish Heads & Eel Bones

Recently Andy and I went to a dinner event titled Fish Heads, Eel Bones & Beer at EN Japanese Brasserie with some friends.

This event–which happens the first Thursday of every month and consistently sells out–is an homage to makanai or the traditional staff meal served in Japanese restaurants in which the leftover parts of fish and other ingredients are used to prepare so that nothing goes to waste.

While the event name and certain menu items (such as Sea Bream Head Soup) might sound a little intimidating, it was all completely delicious.

We gobbled down everything served at the buffet (with seconds) and washed it down with glasses of Sapporo served with the meal.

Although I loved it all, there was one dish in the meal that I have been craving ever since that night. It was a simple bowl of vinegared rice mixed with sashimi ends and bits of nori, sort of a deconstructed sushi dinner if you will. Since I love sushi, it was a little bowl of heaven.

I can’t stop thinking about it. I think if I were able to eat a bowl of that every evening after a long day of work, I’d be one lucky lady. I guess I either have to become an excellent Japanese cook or, move closer to the West Village.

Packing List: Weekend in Michigan

Happy Friday everyone!

This weekend I am making a quick solo trip home to see my parents and do a little shopping with my mother for her Mother of the Bride outfit. As an added bonus I am also going to get to see an old friend and her ah-dorable son.

Home has always been such a source of comfort for me and so packing for the weekend was a snap. I threw in all of my favorite basics like my skinny jeans (cropped Audrey-style for Spring!), a nubby sweatshirt tee, some kick-around-the-house cargos, my workout gear & new Nikes (now on sale!), something stripey and of course, a great book.

Have a great weekend everybody, see you on Monday!

Black Tie Optional

Yes it’s true, white is the color of summer. This bodes badly for me as I have quite an affinity for stumbling while drinking red wine (or diet coke or coffee or tea or any other stain-friendly beverage).

I guess I’m just going to have to stick to drinking water all summer long because all of this white clothing is looking so good to me: The dresses, the pants and now the jackets too. I currently have a white blazer with black lapels at the very top of my wishlist.

This one from Emerson Made has stolen my heart. I love it styled with jean shorts and an easy tee and I know it would be great with any of my summer dresses (and even, perhaps, as a cover-up for my wedding dress???) I love the slim shape and cropped waist on this baby, I can see us forming a long and fashionable friendship together.

I noticed several styles in the same vein that I thought I would share. A little something for everyone in size, shape and price. Now what are you waiting for?? Start, putting on your top hat, tying up your white tie and brushing off your taaaiiiilllllls!

*Jackets from left: Emerson Made (swoon!); Zara; Elizabeth & James (via Shopbop); Mason by Michelle Mason (via Barneys)

Although I am excited for many of the upcoming trends for Spring, I think my favorite of all is the return of color. Especially on the feet.

Colored shoes in all shapes and sizes are all the rage for Spring dressing (perhaps to balance out all of those white dresses on top). The most desirable of them all are the colorblocked sandals from Fendi.

I mean look at them. From the clashy, mismatched, juicy jewel tones to the double ankle strap to the totally modern heel, these shoes are ridiculously cool, make no mistake.

Too bad I’ve already made my expensive shoe purchase for the season or else I might be tempted to make a very impulsive purchase.

*Shoes from left: 1/2/4 – via Fendi.com; 3 – via Saks Fifth Ave

Gimmie!

I am obsessed with the print story from Rag & Bone’s Spring 2011 collection. The combination of photos, color-blocking, stripes and shades of blue come together in an effect that is totally desirable. I can’t even pick one piece from the collection that I love more than the rest. It’s all so amazing, I just want to get something…

…(this could be dangerous.)

*Clothing clockwise from top left: Nymph Silk Top (via Nordstrom); Tribeca Dress; Bardot Bikini (via Les Nouvelles); Harley Skirt (via Blue & Cream); Elizabeth Maillot (via Saks); Harley Dress; Boxing Shorts (via Shopbop)

Going Bare

Now I am just as excited as the next girl that it is finally starting to feel a bit more like Spring out there. It’s making me reach for the more colorful pieces in my closet and giving me the urge to stay out later and drink more white wine.

Over the weekend I noticed a brigade of bare legs strutting their stuff around me. The gloves were off and Bermuda shorts, mini, pencil and flowy skirts were flirting with the breeze all over town.

This brought to mind one question. Ladies of New York, aren’t you coooold?

This happens every year. We get the tiniest taste of Spring and the gloves come off. Shorts, skirts, sandals and all in the not-quite-balmy glow of mid-50 degree temperatures. I’m chilly if I expose anything below the elbow! I considered wearing open-toes shoes today (it is supposed to hit 70 after all) and then decided against it.

Am I  just too cold blooded to take it or are these ladies jumping the gun?

What about you all? How long do you wait before you go bare for summer?

Please oh please don’t tell me that I officially stopped growing at age 16 because I’ve got to get super tall (and quick!) so I can jump on the tails on Spring’s loooooong skirt trend.

I love how this look has really caught on, it is so elegant, graceful and elongating. It takes fashion back to a very good & feminine place but with a definite modern twist. I’ve been rocking this long lady for the duration of Fall and Winter (and will probably update in a lighter color for Spring, it’s less than 50 bones after all) but I think I’m ready to take things a little further like these ladies have–as in all the way to the floor (or almost).

From left: Giovanna Battaglia in an Erdem dress I would sell my firstborn for (via The Moment); a chic Annie Hall-inspired vintage look (via Fashionising); my sketch of the Theyskens’Theory Saul Skirt that I’ve got at the top of my wishlist; laid-back perfection from the J.Crew Fall 2011 Lookbook (via Refinery29); and a lady in white captured by The Sartorialist.

Tastes Good: Nom Wah Tea Parlour

It’s been a while since I wrote about anything food-related here on the blog.

If you follow my Tumblr, you’ve probably noticed that food is a pretty big deal to me. You may have also noticed a delicious dim sum breakfast I had a few weeks ago on against an adorable red & white table.

The restaurant was Nom Wah Tea Parlour. One of my pals and I sought it out because it is allegedly Chinatown’s oldest dim sum shop (and we love our dim sum!) having opened in 1920 on Doyers St. (and was recently captured as a backdrop by one of NYC’s best-known street photographers).

Doyers St. is a little part-street/part-alley block in Chinatown that always seems to have a little secret to tell you, maybe it’s the restaurant.

A cross between a typical dim sum shop and an old-fashioned NYC diner with booths and checkered tablecloths (with excellent food no less) you can’t help but feel as if you are taking your own small bite out of the great big history of this city.

Bangle Brigade

Tommy Ton, the blogger behind Jak & Jil is probably my No. 1 favorite of all of the street style photographers out there because he’s got such a great eye for detail. In his shots I often spot nascent little trends that never cease to be cool and interesting.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I love a trend that doesn’t require any shopping beyond your own closet (or in this case, jewelry box). If you haven’t already guessed, I’m talking about the mismatched, multi-layered–almost bohemian if it didn’t look so stinking edgy–bracelet trend I’ve noticed in many of Ton’s shots.

So ladies (and gents, this one works for you too actually), whaddaya got? A watch seems to be a good start. Any brightly colored bangles? Load ‘em on. Your mother’s old charm bracelet? Great. Got any friendship bracelets? No? Can you make one? Get to work. Ok, silly bands? No, definitely not. But rubber bands, those will do! Anything spangly, braided, rhinestone-encrusted or tied with a leather cord? Perfect, the more the merrier. Ok, can you bend your wrist still? No? Great. You’re all set.

All photographs by Tommy Ton. From top left by row:

1/2/5/6/7 Jak & Jil for Style.com at Paris Fashion Week; 3/4/8/9 From Jak & Jil (click on number for direct link)