Style Crush : Zanna Roberts Rassi

When I am looking for some style inspiration there are a few go-to muses that I always turn to time and time again to spark my outfit ideas. Olivia Palermo is the first of these style muses that comes to mind, who in my eyes can do no wrong sartorially speaking. She seems to have discovered the secrets to perfect skin, amazing hair and impeccable style, taking serious fashion risks and yet never taking a misstep.

Another style favorite that I am sharing today is Zanna Roberts Rassi. As a Senior Fashion Editor at Marie Claire and a style correspondent for E! News, staying on top of the trends is part of Zanna's work. 

Wardrobe Rehab : Session 2, Re-Thinking What You Already Own

source

In my last closet post I discussed how to clean out your wardrobe for a new season. If you didn't read it the first time around, you can take a few minutes and read through the post here.

Today I am talking about my second step in transitioning my closet from one season to the next; re-evaluating what items I already have to see how I can re-style into some new looks this season. Don’t get me wrong, I love buying new clothes as much as the next 20-something female. But I also love taking something I already own and mixing it a totally new way for a modern and current look. Saving some money by not having to purchase tons of new clothes is never a bad thing either!

Small Cross-Body Bags

 

 There is nothing I hate more than lugging a big bag around when exploring a city or going out to a restaurant or bar. I love having my hands free to hold a coffee (or alcoholic beverage), check out items in a shop or just feel comfortable and at ease. The small cross-body bag has thus become my go-to bag style for pretty much everywhere except work and traveling. Beyond the functional reasons, there are also many style reasons I love small bags. A small bag can become a style statement or punctuate an outfit as opposed to a bulky carry-all. As a petite woman, a small bag looks more proportionate to my small frame rather than overwhelm me. To top it off, a small bag forces me to streamline what I bring out so I don't end up toting around unnecessary odds and ends.

 

I have accumulated a few different cross-body bags that I pull out for difference occasions and outfits. A staple black leather option is important to me (seen here), but once I had that covered I have gone for some more statement options such as studded red leather (seen here), cheetah calf hair (seen here) and white texture (seen above and here). I'm thinking a classic camel or nude may be the next addition to round out the basics a bit. There are plenty of expensive and inexpensive options depending on your budget. I prefer genuine, real leather and tend to stay away from overly embellished or branded pieces.

 

If you're in the market for a new small cross-body bag, I've rounded up some of my picks below!

Let's Getaway To : Charlotte, NC

1. Sunglasses

2. Straw Hat

3. Shirtdress  

4. Striped Pullover

5. Jean Shorts

6. Embroidered Tank

7. Woven Clutch

 I'm traveling down to North Carolina this weekend to visit my parents and I am very much looking forward to the warm weather, lake views and southern hospitality. Their house is just outside Charlotte, near Lake Norman. They are right in Davidson, a cute college town full of charm. I am especially excited to just relax outside with a book and enjoy some family time. It's funny how much more you appreciate nature and being at home with family when you live in a city like New York. When we were down over Christmas my siblings, Jeff and I tried out some of the breweries near our house. This visit we are going to make a trip to Asheville, which I have heard great things about. I'm sure there will be pictures on my instagram!

Being down south makes we want to be a little preppier than normal, this weekend I'm packing nautical stripes, casual dresses, a classic straw hat and some tortoiseshell shades. Can't forget the staple denim shorts either!

What's everyone's weekend plans? Any trips?

Trend Update : Ruffles

There is no other fashion design element I love more than ruffles and flounces. They serve no actual garment construction purpose, rather are there purely for decoration. They can be stiff or drapey, asymmetrical or layered. I love them all. When I started seeing ruffles and flounces on more and more clothing out in the market I was thrilled. Looking through the Resort 2017 collections it is clear they will be hanging around for a while too (yay!). I just love how they make a garment more flirty and fun without being overly feminine.

Ruffles and flounces can take various forms and present themselves in various locations on the garment- on the hem, across the bodice, at the ends of the sleeves. Right now you can get ruffles just about anywhere you like. My favorites are on sleeves and across the bodice of an off the shoulder top (which by the way, by Resort 2017 accounts will be around for awhile longer too).

I included a few of my favorite ruffled looks from Resort 2017 below - Erdem, See by Chloe and Adeam. While all feature ruffles and flounces, the different fabrics, cuts and prints make for very different moods and styles. I especially love the white and light blue ruffles in the Erdem collection with the black lace-up flats. I might be stealing that look in the near future...

Erdem - Resort 2017 (via vogue.com)

See by Chloe - Resort 2017 (via vogue.com)

Adeam - Resort 2017 (via vogue.com)

Ready to get the look for yourself?
 Check out some of my picks below!

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 Make Your Home More Calming

image via Hemtrender

Happy Wednesday All! We are halfway through the week, I hope you are feeling productive and inspired to take on the last two days before the weekend. Today I am going to be talking about something that has a big impact on my energy and productivity yet can easily be overlooked when trying to de-stress and get more done - home decor. You know that saying 'you are what you eat'? Well I think there should be another one that says 'you feel how live'. I find that when my living space is cluttered, so is my mind. When it's messy, dirty or overwhelmed with items, I get anxious, stressed and feel genuinely less happy. On the flip-side of that, when my space is clean, bright, open and clear, I too feel that way inside. Today we are going to explore how to bring that clean, bright, open and clear feeling to where you live. There are tons of ways to change around an apartment or home, but we've got limited time, money and energy, so let's look at some of the quick,  ways to change your space for the better.

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.

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.

Spring Skirts

We have gotten a few glimpses of spring here in New York City and even those few warm days have me thinking about the nicer weather to come. I haven’t always been the biggest skirt-wearer and I think the reason is I thought many were just too girly for me. But I am coming around to the skirt idea, because I am starting to see how versatile they really are. You can pair them with a blouse for a more feminine look, but they also look great with a tee shirt & leather jacket or with a chunky sweater half-tucked at the front. A pair of booties keeps the look from becoming too sweet or a simple pointy toe pump works great for the workday.

Cold-Weather Casual

In the winter, I pretty much live in sweaters. It's hard to beat that warm, cozy feeling on a cold day especially when you are out and about in the city for brunching, shopping and coffee-sipping. This outfit is something I would wear to run errands or to meet up with friends on a Saturday or Sunday.

The bright color of this sweater is such a unique shade of celery-green and really pops against the black of the coat and bag. I love the idea of bringing light-colored jeans out in the colder months, by pairing them with a wool coat and moccasins they suddenly work for winter. A large tote is an essential for me when running errands, as it works great to stash my purchases throughout the day! 

I am really into ear crawlers these days, Bauble Bar has a great selection and at super-affordable prices! They even have a 'you-pick-three deal that is hard to beat. Do you guys wear ripped jeans in the winter, or are they too summery? Let me know in the comments!

Cold Weather Casual Brunch by emilykfarina featuring a car-coat

Sweater / Coat / Jeans / Moccasins / Bag  /  Earrings /  Sunglasses

Winter Pattern Mix

To break out of my winter rut that I am already in, I love the idea of mixing patterns. The striped top and animal print flats are balanced by the neutral add-ons.

Want to make your own style collage? Check out Polyvore below to see my collections and make your own.

Winter Pattern Mix by emilykfarina featuring a gray coat

Fringe Booties

I got these black booties as a Christmas gift, and immediately started thinking of outfits I could pair them with for work. I love a good plaid shirt and Old Navy always has great color combos at a steal of a price. A simple black pencil skirt keeps the look business-casual, while the bright earrings (also a Christmas gift!) and simple watch are feminine while still looking smart.

On a side note, I am looking for a new watch as my 4 year-old Michael Kors one has seen some better days. Any suggestions on stylish brands that won't cost a fortune? 

Fringe Booties - Wear to Work by emilykfarina featuring a wrap skirt

Desert Rose

I came across the website Ily and immediately fell in love with this cardigan. The colors are soft and subtle and give off a California/desert-vibe that is laid-back and cool. I actually love the whole outfit that is paired with the sweater in this image and scouted out some options to get the look, check out the links below to see the items. The Ily website as a whole has some affordable basics and happens to also be run by the blogger behind Hello Fashion, which I follow on a regular basis. 

To re-create the look...

Boots / Jeans / Shirt / Hat

70's Kitten Fall Style

I love the look of high-waisted jeans, especially in a wide leg silhouette. Paired with a slim turtleneck and fringe back, the look is modern with with a nod to at 70's vibe. Blame it on the addition of my new kitten to my family of one, but I am loving kitty flats! This pair looks just like the Charlotte Olympia originals but at a fraction of the price (only $27!). 

Another love of my in the fall weather is a chic pair of black leather moto gloves. Ones that just come to your wrist look elegant and cool at the same time.

Retro Cat Fall Style by emilykfarina featuring tory burch sunglasses