Summer Workwear

Dressing for work in the summertime is tough. You need something that will be breezy in the sticky, hot air outside but will also keep you warm in the frigid temperatures inside the office. Every workday morning in NYC I hike to the subway (usually at a fairly fast clip, since I am a 'New Yorker' now) and arrive on the platform where I am met with stale, thick air. All that heat I generated speed-walking increases exponentially in the subway. Before I know it I'm sweating...in my nice work clothes. Then I get to work and the AC is so high it feels like wintertime. I need a jacket or sweater to keep warm at my desk! The struggle couldn't be more real.

In the summer I am on the hunt for work items that are easily layered and can transition from hot streets to cold meeting rooms. Sometimes though what I really need is not a new outfit but some fresh inspiration for how to wear the pieces I already own. I decided to combine those two needs into this post - some new pieces that you can add to your wardrobe and some new ideas for how to wear what you have. And most of all, outfits that will keep you warm and/or cool this summer for work.

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Culottes :  Culottes are big this summer and they make for a perfect work pant. If you love a good cropped trouser for work, consider this your summer fling. An ivory pair can work with just about everything in your wardrobe and a looks of-the-moment chic. I like how the striped tee in the above outfit adds a nautical vibe but these pants would also look great with a simple shell top and blazer.

Fourth of July - Outfit Ideas

The 4th of July is right around the corner and the upcoming weekend has me thinking about what I am going to wear this year for the celebration of America. While there are tons of red, white and blue items you can pick up at just about any store, I prefer to wear subtle blues, whites and pops of red. Being just left of preppy, I gravitate towards more feminine touches and a slight nod to America for the 4th of July. White, blue and red are a classic combination and any of these items are guaranteed to come back for a repeat appearance this summer.

I put together two looks to provide some 4th of July inspiration that will fulfill your party's dress code while not compromising your personal sense of style. Let me know if you like them in the comments below!

Outfit Details - Surfside 
If you are spending the weekend at the beach or lakeside, keep it casual with a classic striped shirt and denim shorts, two items most of us probably already have in our closets. Some bold shades and a patterned bag add some personality to the simple top and shorts. A swipe of red lipstick brings in red for the holiday and enhances a suntan. 

DB Sunglasses - Valley Eyewear
Striped Top - J.Crew (similar alternative option)
Boyfriend Jeans - Current Elliot
Naguisa Fusa Espadrilles - Anthropologie

Ruby Woo Lipstick - MAC

Cross-Body Bag - Topshop

Outfit Details - Turfside
If you'll be residing in the city this year, wear your red, white and blue in a less obvious and more sophisticated way. A easy-fitting blue striped dress and red jacquard scarf are comfortable while still looking festive. I love the texture of these pom-pom sandals and how the clean white bag balances out the patterns in the other items.

Striped One Shoulder Dress - Madewell
Jacquard Scarf - Madewell (currently 30% off, get an additional 20% off with code META20)

Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

Fruit Loom Pom Sandals - ASOS (a steal at $26)

Cross-Body Bag - Michael Kors (currently 60% off)

Tularosa

Outfit Details

Dress : Tularosa (sold out, similar) / Bag : Loeffler Randall / Shoes : Zara (old, similar) / Sunglasses : Quay

I have been on a mission to add more dresses to my wardrobe this year and a white lace-y option was high on my shopping list. I happened to see this one from Tularosa on sale from Planet Blue last week and jumped on it. I love how it can be dressed down with sandals and cross-body bag for running around town or dressed up with heels and a leather jacket for dinner out.

Tularosa is a newer brand to me, I just recently heard about them. Many of their items have a subtle bohemian feel that appeals to me. I especially like this dress, this top and this romper.

Gingham Shorts

Top : Anthropologie / Shorts : Emily Farina / Bag : Madewell / Shoes : Loeffler Randall / Sunglasses : Beijing purchase, similar / Fitbit Alta

We were up early on Saturday and took advantage of the opportunity to go to brunch at one of our favorite East Village restaurants, Mud, before the crowds got too bad. Gingham is everywhere right now so I pulled out my black gingham shorts for an easy, casual look. 

Pink & Eyelet

Top : Zara / Skirt : vintage (similar) / Shoes : Loeffler Randall / Bracelet: Madewell / Bracelet : Club Monaco

What To Wear : May Date Night

It's fun to get dressed up now and then for a date night with your significant other. I like to take these outings as as an opportunity to wear something a little nicer, as usually a (traditional) date night doesn't involve a crowded bar or tons of walking. In my opinion, a pair of shoes I wouldn't want to stand in all night is perfect for a dinner date, ie. where I will be sitting and/or taking a taxi as transport.

Brand Lookout : Vila

Have you heard about Vila? I hadn't until looking around on ASOS recently. The brand doesn't sell directly to US customers (so don't bother trying their website), but ASOS sure does and the prices belie the adorable styles. I especially love these simple dresses that can be dressed up or down and are perfect for all the summer weddings and events coming up. 

I am also perpetually on the hunt for more striped shirts and tend to be a little picky in getting the stripes just right. These tees are pretty much exactly what I look for. I have waxed on in other posts about how much I love leather jackets, if you don't have one in your wardrobe yet consider this option from Vila, a steal at $154.

Happy shopping!

Grey & White

 

On Friday morning last week we headed to the beach in Venice one last time for breakfast and to watch the surfers before hopping in our car to head to West Hollywood. The sun was peeking in and out of the clouds so rather than worry about being cold I went for jeans and my favorite Gap extra long cardigan (also seen in this post). I'm a big fan of white and grey outfits so I threw a simple grey tank on to tie it all together. Side note - some may find it 80's-esque but I love knotting my tees and tanks like this. Especially when the shirt is a little too long on me (which many are), it helps shorten the length and adds some interest with a nice drape. Give it try!

Shopping For : Spring Shoes

It has been a long road to get to spring shoes this year, filled with winter boots, thick socks and covered legs in order to keep your toes in tact. I especially look forward to warm weather since I like the footwear for those seasons so much more.

 I hate wearing tights to begin with, but by the end of the winter pulling on black tights just seems downright torturous. The same can be said for boots. April rolls around and the boots I loved all winter begin to resemble straitjackets for my feet.

But we have made it to May and the warm weather again! As I've mentioned in a few of my posts, I tend to shop both high-end and low-end for my clothing, loving some Old Navy pieces as much as I love designer items. But shoes are one of the categories I don't like to skimp on. I think faux leather looks like, well, faux leather. I'd rather spend a little more money and get some nicer shoes than cheaper ones. It's easy to pass off low-end clothing as higher-end, but with shoes you aren't fooling anybody.

The beauty of a nice pair of shoes is that it can transform your entire outfit. You could be wearing a plain white tee shirt and basic skinny jeans then slip into some amazing shoes and suddenly your outfit went from simple to stylish. While I do have a few pairs of crazier shoes, for the most part I stick to neutrals that I can get a lot of wear out of. I know that I will wear black, nude and brown shoes often, so I don't worry about investing in shoes in those colors. 

I have been adding probably too many shoes to my wardrobe this spring [insert 'speak no evil' monkey emoji here], but all have been thoughtful and deliberate. My biggest addiction has been espadrilles, I just love them soo much. They are comfortable, casual, easy to walk a lot in, come in an array of colors, fabrics and designs...I digress. But of the new spring shoes I have purchased they are all pairs I can wear to work, in my free time and with many outfits, ie. they are very versatile.

When deciding how to transition your wardrobe for a new season, I suggest picking at least one pair of shoes to purchase that is fashion-forward but neutral. By pairing these shoes with your existing wardrobe you look instantly current and on-trend, and the neutral color means you can wear it often with many items. Definitely important when dropping some decent money on shoes. 

I've round up a few of my favorite picks for this spring below. All fashion-forward and unique but neutral enough to wear all the time. Anyone have a favorite shoe this season I should know about?

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Let’s Getaway To : LA

I’m traveling to L.A. next week with my sister and have begun thinking about what I want to pack along. Since we will only be there a handful of days, I want my clothing options to be versatile and simple so that they can be paired together in multiple ways. A tip for packing no matter where you are going - stick to a cohesive color palette, that way you can easily mix and match what you brought without having to worry about items clashing. A few staples are on my list (denim shorts, leather tote bag, grey tank), as well as some warm-weather basics (panama hat, sunglasses, white eyelet). But I also had to throw in a few Cali-inspired items (palm tree clutch, placed floral blouse). 

When planning your wardrobe for any trip,considering the temperature and weather where you will be visiting is a must. But another thing you might want to consider is the personality of the city you will be in. When in Paris, for example, skinny cropped black pants and a striped shirt would suit you well or while in Miami you’ll probably want a handful of bright colors and whites in your suitcase. The same could be said of L.A. and it’s various neighborhoods, all with a California vibe yet still different personalities. I thought these unique California attitudes were a great starting point for my packing list. As you can see above I separated my clothing and accessories into possible outfits. Given the way all the items work together however, there are tons of outfit options just from this small set of pieces. Which means you can have a few outfit ideas planned ahead of time yet still see how you feel that day and go from there. *I have included a cleaner view of my list items at the end of the post for easy packing reference as well!

We will be spending a few days at the beach in Santa Monica and Venice, then heading to West Hollywood for the rest of trip. Visiting Rodeo Drive and checking out the Downtown scene are two plans on my trip itinerary. But the event I am most excited for is the reason I am going in the first place to L.A. - The Create and Cultivate conference! I am looking forward to learning a lot about being a creative individual in the digital world and how to improve Fizz and Fade for all of you! Plus speakers include the likes of Chelsea Handler, Rachel Zoe and Jessica Alba, so of course I am excited about that as well!

Follow me on Instagram (emilykfarina) to follow along with my trip and conference.

Have any tips on where we should go, what we should see or where to eat? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Venice

Rag & bone Panama Hat 

Current/Elliot Slouchy Shorts

Splendid Chambray Shirt

Sole Society Crossbody Bag

T by Alexander Wang Grey Tank

Madewell Kana Gladiator

Quay Sunglasses 

Downtown

Aurelie Biderman Takayama Bracelet

Ella Moss Ailani Dress

Rebecca Minkoff Suki Bag

Dolce Vita Lyndon Gladiator

Halogen Cropped Leather Jacket

Illesteva Leonard Sunglasses

Beverly Hills

Madewell Tote

Uniqlo Eyelet Blouse

Haute Hippie Shorts

Dorothy Perkins Blush Blouse

Star Mela Tiki Clutch

Tory Burch Espadrille

Park Trench

 

Dress, Anthropologie (similar here, here and here) / Sweater, Loft (similar here), Necklace, Madewell (on sale here) / Alta Fitbit / Loeffler Randall Shoes / Zara Trench

I love the transitional temperatures of Spring because they force me to experiment with my wardrobe and how I mix and match pieces together. Lately I have been getting anxious to wear sheer fabrics but the weather is not quite ready for that on the East Coast. So I decided to find a new way to wear one of my lightweight dresses, that would still keep me warm - by pairing it with a sweater on top. 

Wear Now, Wear Later : Leather Espadrilles

I fell hard for espadrilles last year and my love affair with them has continued on strong into this spring. I recently picked up Soludos Oui/Non smoking slippers (as seen in this post and currently on sale) and found myself wearing them constantly. As much as I love the blue chambray and cheeky french words, I needed a more basic pair of espadrilles that I could wear all the time and with everything. To fulfill my espadrille needs I turned again to Soludos and picked up their Leather Platform Smoking Slipper. 

Originally torn between the tan and the black, I end up settling on the black. Simple and sleek, these shoes walk the line between casual Vans sneaker and beachy sandal, making them perfect for everyday wear. Since adding them to my wardrobe I have had these shoes in constant rotation, wearing them to walk to work, casually with ripped boyfriend jeans and even pairing them with a springy dress. As the perfect shoe for spring and transitioning into summer, these Soludos are my most recent pick for Wear Now, Wear Later.

An amazing multi-tasking piece, these espadrilles pair just as well with casual separates as they do with a cute romper. Temperatures are still a little chilly, so keep cozy while you transition into summer with a sweater on top and soft shorts on the bottom. When the hot summer weather sets in, keep your espadrilles in rotation by pairing them with this printed romper and sunglasses, perfect for a day of brunching or lounging outside.

Did I also mention that these shoes are amazingly comfortable? Anything I can comfortably wear commuting and still feel stylish in is a major win. For the amount of times and ways to wear them, they may just be the best $99 I’ve spent this season. I highly recommend this basic staple as something you won’t soon regret! And who doesn’t need a new pair of black shoes anyway?

Key Piece : Soludos Leather Smoking Slipper

1. Enza Costa Sweater

3. Quay Sunglasses

2. Paige Tatum Shorts

4. Mansur Gavriel

5. Cupcakes and Cashmere Jaxon Romper

6. Rebecca Minkoff Love Bag

7.Valley Wolfgang Sunglasses

8. Rag & bone Straw Panama Hat

Spring Stripes

This weekend we had my most favorite weather ever in NYC - cool enough to bring a jacket but warm enough in the sun that you don’t really need it. My parents were visiting this weekend so I was out and about all day Saturday. The nice weather was perfect for light layers, so I opted for a few of my favorite casual pieces - white jeans, striped tee and army jacket. 

Thinking About : Warm Weather Hats

I love a good hat. Always have. In the winter we think about them all the time, to keep our heads and ears warm. But in the warmer months they may be even more crucial -hats protect your skin, hair and keep the sun out of your eyes. Yet for some reason we don’t think of them as quite so essential in the summertime as we do in the wintertime. Lately I have been on the lookout for some new warm-weather hats to add to my collection that I can wear this spring and summer.

How To Update Your Wardrobe This Spring

Photo Cred - Flats (pinterest, sincerely jules, pinterest, damsel in dior); Jeans (sincerely jules, Gal Meets Glam,  classyinthecity.com, Net-A-Porter); Off the Shoulder (Crystalin Marie, pinterest, a pair & a spare, The Style Bungalow, Harper and Harley); Bags (sincerely jules, Crystalin Marie, Sole Society, unknown); Sunglasses (Fashion Squad, VivaLuxury, Gal Meets Glam, VivaLuxury)

Today's post is not only about what to buy this spring but how to think about updating your wardrobe each season. Most of us don't want to do a full overhaul, just add a few items that give new life to what we already have. I wanted to detail how I make my wardrobe update decisions in hopes that it can help you with adding some new pieces into your collection. Now let's get to it!

First Signs of Spring

Mango Blouse (similar) / Old Navy Joggers (similar) / Karen Walker Sunglasses / Forever21 Jacket (similar) / Anthropologie Clutch (similar) / Sam Edelman Shoes (similar) 

We had wonderful weather on Friday this week with temperatures around 70 in New York City. While it was a little cloudy with some showers during the day, things cleared up after 5pm. We took a stroll over to Stuyvesent Park and then up to Gramercy Park to enjoy the warm early evening. While the trees are still pretty barren the flowers were starting to come out in the parks.

What to Wear : Spring Event Outfit Inspiration

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When spring comes around so do lots of social events and gatherings, and with them the need for some spring outfits. If you're like me, it's easy to grab something to wear during the workweek but when there is a specific event I am attending on the weekends I also need some extra inspiration to get dressed. With Easter Sunday tomorrow (for those of us who celebrate) I thought it was the perfect time to pull together some outfit ideas that I plan to try out in the upcoming months before the weather gets too hot.

You may have some similar items already in your closet, such as cream trousers, a silk maxi skirt or springy party dress. If you aren't looking to buy a whole new outfit, try picking up a new accessory, like a lace-up shoe or bold necklace to make what you have feel fresh again. All of these items are great investment pieces for this season and going into summer. Toss on a denim or leather jacket now and keep your shoulders bare when the weather heats up in a few months.

For some additional spring outfit and shopping ideas, check out my Spring Sequins post and my Spring Skirts post.

Happy Spring!

Dinner or Nighttime Event

Victoria Beckham Lace Top
Cedric Charlier Pants
Sam Edelman Shoes  (another option: Loft)
Bauble Bar Necklace

Graduation or Casual Brunch

Cedric Charlier Skirt
Toteme Tank
Old Navy Sandals
DVF Bag

Wedding or Shower

Self-Portrait Dress
Steve Madden Fringe Heels
Lanvin Bag

Spring Sale : Express

Express has gone through a major transformation lately, getting a lot more stylish and a lot less work-ish. Lucky for all of us, they have a great sale going on just in time for the change of temperature happening now for spring!

I picked out some of my favorites on sale now that I wanted to share with you all.

I love this light colored moto jacket and imagine tossing over a summery dresses or with white jeans.

Lace-up flats are the 'it' spring shoe and are being sold at a steal here (stay tuned for a post coming up on spring must-haves next week!).

This shirtdress is the perfect piece to transition from the office to happy hour drinks this spring. 

Get the sales before they're gone!

How To Wear It : The Long Cardigan

Outfit Details:

Gap Sweater, Gap Tank, Levi’s Jeans, Madewell Cuff, Michael Kors Bracelet, Jessica Simpson Shoes (similar)

Cardigans are nothing new. We've seen them worn by everyone from Mister Rogers to Britney Spears. And as far as styles go, cardigan options are as varied as the personalities of those wearing them - cropped, chunky, fitted, oversize...

How To Wear It : Silk Scarf

I am head over heels loving on silk scarves right now. I have always loved winter scarves, how they add another layer of texture and color to an outfit. But when the weather starts to get warmer, most of these scarves must be banished to back of the closet until fall returns. Enter, the silk scarf.

Throughout the years, head scarves have come in and out of style - but silk scarves, like the Hermes-style ones your grandma used to wear, remain forever classic & chic.  

I have been seeing more and more lightweight scarves popping up around me, from bloggers to NYC ladies, even in magazines. I was reading Elle the other day and before even getting to the first article I saw three advertisements with lightweight scarves being styled in various ways!

So, I took to Pinterest to find some inspiration for wearing the silk scarf this spring and discovered I was just as smitten with it as a hair accessory as I with it as a neck accessory. I pulled together some of my favorite looks below to get you all in the scarf frame of mind too!

 

Hair Look #1 - The Messy Headband

Messy buns and chignons look casual yet at the same time classy with your scarf nonchalantly knotted around your head.