looking up, looking down

Dress: Isabel Marant; Bag: Chanel via TheRealReal; Boots: Isabel Marant; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Sunglasses: YSL; Bracelets: Vita Fede

I was chatting with a few friends the other day about how easy it is to constantly look up when you're in New York. The buildings. The flashing billboards. The traffic keeping you on your toes at all times. The sheer pace of the city makes it hard to not to crane your neck, seemingly the minute you leave your door. In fact, it almost demands it. But there's also something so fascinating about paying attention to what's at your feet from time to time, namely at the messages that pop up pretty often on most sidewalks around the city. 

Stenciled spray paint. Stickers. Gum portraits (!!). Sidewalk chalk. You name it -- someone has probably tried leaving a mark with it at some intersection. 

And the more you pay attention to it, the more you start recognizing the work of certain folks. If you follow me on Snapchat, you've probably seen me share some of my favorites pretty often: In Pursuit of Magic, Stand Here to Activate Your Super Powers, and then there's the elusive hearts left around the West Village, done simply in sidewalk chalk. And I love that no one washes them away. It's become one of my favorite Easter-egg like hunts around the city. 

This past weekend, during one of my routine visits to Washington Square Park with Elvis, we stumbled upon a whole slew of sidewalk chalk art right in front of the Arch, all of them different quotes from notable New Yorkers or quotes about New York itself, including my favorite from John Lennon, that I shared here. And for a moment, a handful of other folks and I stopped in our tracks, took our earbuds out and read. The pavement. Together. 

It's moments like that, that I always think to myself, 'Man, I hope New York never stops surprising me.' 

Something tells me it won't stop. 

Photos by Lydia Hudgens