Leopard is the new Black

A little leopard can go a long way in pumping out an otherwise bland outfit. So instead of falling into the all-black slump that can happen during these wintery months, I leapt into leopard! A spotted coat and a red lip can add an element of effortless glam to an otherwise all black look.

Coat: Asos (similar here // just a little leopard here) // Purse: c/o Francescas // Skort: Zara // Turtleneck: Forever 21 // Booties: Kate Spade (similar) //  Sunnies: Karen Walker // Lip: Mac, Ruby Woo

If a little leopard isn't enough, add a bright bag for fun contrast. I picked up this bag at a blogger event last fall before Pantone announced the color of the year, but now 2014 is the perfect time to rock a radiant orchid color pop!  

Designer Dreams

Happy Wants-day! With fashion week right around the corner and some of the too-good-to-be-true end of season sales still looming, I've been going a little bonkers for some of my favorite brands! So I thought I would share some of my wednesday wants to help you through the hump-day blues. Enjoy

The girls are all here! Featuring Tory, Diane, Milly, Alice and Olivia! Plus other courtney-esque brands like Tibi, Red Valentino and Moschino.

Soon-to-splurge:

Guys make passes at girls who wear glasses. I was roaming around Soho last week when I stumbled into Stella McCartney and found these pretties. I've been on the hunt for a new frame and these beauts are just what I'm looking for ... so they will be mine! // see my current frames featured here
Shop Stella McCartney 2002 frames in taupe & tortoise here

After my rendezvous with Stella in Soho, I was wondering through meatpacking, starring at some of my favorite store windows when I stopped to smell the roses at Moschino and fell instantly in love with the Watering Can Shoulder Bag. I need to wait until next month (I've already done enough damage in January) and have yet to try it on, but I'm pretty positive that this will be my next big splurge

Shop here & here
Shop the equally adorable menu clutch here (right)

Tea & Sympathy

What's a quirky brit-obsessed gal to do on a gloomy Wednesday afternoon? Enjoy a spot of tea in the west village of course!

Tea and Sympathy is the most charming little tea house and restaurant spot in the West Village, and my "sitcom hangout"! This British owned and operated neighborhood gem serves the most addicting cream tea and delightful little scones, along with other authentic British favs. Plus the owners are so sweet (one helped me carry furniture home once when I was struggling on the street) and the proud owners of an adorable English Bulldog. 

British Invasion! Right next door to my favorite Tea Spot, are two other must-see stores: Carry On Tea & Sympathy: the cash & carry store front sister of Tea & Sympathy; and A Salt & Battery: home of the most brilliant fish & chips and the cutest dang name in restaurant history!

Tea & Sympathy is also almost as celebration obsessed as I am! They often decorate for various landmark British events such as the Royal Wedding, Queens Birthday or the birth of Prince George!

photo via new york mag

Sweater: Forever 21 // Skirt: Modcloth (similar) // Bag: Coach // Boots: Bacio 61 // Fur: Michael Kors (similar) // Coat: Zara - on sale) // Bow: Thifted // Socks: Ralph Lauren 

Drink Up Butter Cup! Next time you need a mid day pick-me-up or just something sweet, you must pop by Tea & Sympathy on Greenwich Avenue for fabulous finger sandwiches, show-stopping sticky pudding or my favorite: Shepard's Pie that will change everything ... 

your taste buds will thank you (and me)! 

I share more of my NY Favs in a recent Room Suggestions feature, see it here

Although I do frequently dine at this snazzy establishment,

I am in no way affiliated with Tea & Sympathy

Stripe X Stripe

What to wear with a striped sweater? more stripes of course! Pattern mixing has crept its way into main stream style, and pairing petals with polka dots is starting to become the norm. But normal is boring, so I decided to step out with stripes on stripes for pattern pairing with a twist!

Jacket: Forever 21 (similar here or here ... LOVE this navy one) // Sweater: Tommy Hilfiger (sample sale find) (similar here) // Skirt: Modcloth (similar) // Bag: Coach // Snood: Michael Kors (Old, Similar: one, two [cashmere on sale, yes please!], three) // Socks: J.crew // Belk: Saks via My Sisters Closet // Sunnies: Karen Walker (also here) // Boots: (similar) 

I snagged this sweater for next to nothing at the Tommy Hilfiger sample sale while I was working there in Production last year! It's such a fun twist on a classic that I knew I would be able to wear it for years!  Plus, you can't help but smile in an all-american brand!

Since I chopped off all my hair & went strawberry blonde (read all about it) I haven't been able to rock my usual topknot, until now! I have started using a curly pony and a few pins to simulate a faux-knot. Some of my strands are too short to stay up so I just let them hang free. It's still a work in progress, I feel a little like Mugatu (Will Farrell in Zoolander), but it's growing on me. Maybe once I've mastered it, I'll post a tutorial for all the short-haired readers.

Cobalt

January is so boring and grey, the holidays have ended and everyone's in mourning. All I see walking around the city is black, black, black. And I get it, it's hard to resist the urge to darken up, but you can by inserting one simple color pop into your back to black look, like I did with cobalt!

Skort: zara (similar) // Turtleneck: Forever 21 // Boots: White Mountain // Hat: Forever 21 (similar) // Bag: Coach // Coat: Zara (similar) // Necklace: Marc by Marc Jacobs // Bracelets: Taylor Morgan // Sunnies: Karen Walker (also here)

I used to be a gold only girl, but I've started mixing my metals. So when I needed a new silver bracelet to mix into my arm party, I turned to my talented friend, Taylor Morgan (shop here). Plus for this look I dusted out my summer go-to, the Zara skort! See how I wore it all season long here.

I dare you to ditch your usual black/neutrals and try a bold pop of color this week, it might amaze you what it does to your mood! For more colbalt/skort action and January Blues outfit-inspiration, check out black & blue:

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