if/then

Top: St. John; Skirt: St. John; Shoes: Saint Laurent; Bracelet: Vita Fede

You know that moment when you're on the subway and your train just happens to be passing a parallel running train? And right before that line darts off in a different direction away into the dark down a tunnel separate from yours, you get these flashcard glimpses into a few of the cars. There's someone reading a book. Someone nodding their head in time with whatever's pumping through their headphones. And then, there's someone looking at you. Or it seems like they are. Or maybe they're actually reading the advertisement for same day mattress delivery near the window. 

Either way, these little scenes unfold and just as quickly as they appear, they disappear again. Fleeting faces and stories and names that you'll likely never cross paths with again and for a second, it makes you wonder (or at least, it makes me wonder) what their lives are like. What if I were to trade spots with them? Where would I be darting off to? Who would I be looking forward to seeing that night? What would be bothering me at work? When was the last time I was really happy? Or sad?

Suddenly, the West 4th Street station creeps up on you and you're jolted back to reality. Your reality. And just like that -- those multitudes of other lives leave nothing behind but a trace of "what if?" lingering in your head as you put your earbuds back in and head home. 

I've always been fascinated by this idea of momentarily "trading places" with random people I meet -- it's a little existential exercise that oddly makes me feel connected, even if it's just for a brief moment in time before my stop comes. So naturally, when Compass offered up a few of their amazingly beautiful listings here in New York as shoot locations, I have to say I fell in love with the idea of imagining this "sister" life of mine -- in an alternate universe where I live in a $5.5 million penthouse, throwing dinner parties every night, with Manhattan literally at my feet. 

Because hey, sometimes you just have to put those vibes out into the universe, right? And don your best ball gown skirt for the occasion. 

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

This post was in collaboration with Compass. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!