nyfw a/w favorites {j.crew}

I always look forward to the J.Crew presentation and this year was no exception. The fur scarves and clutches. The drop waist flared dresses. And don't get me started on the Sophia Webster shoe collaboration. Too good.

nyfw a/w favorites {alice + olivia}

Rapunzel. Cinderella. Snow White. And those ruby red slippers! Oh my! All of the whimsical details at the alice + olivia presentation were just too good. Definitely a favorite. 

nyfw a/w favorites {trina turk}

Just a few of my favorites from the Trina Turk presentation. Clearly, I favored the fellas in this collection (slightly reminiscent of a certain Chuck Bass, no?). Either way, the layering and print mixing was too fun to pass up. And I never thought I would say this, but sign me up for a newsie cap! 

nyfw a/w day 5

Jacket: Alexander McQueen (similar style here); Dress: Patricia Viera (similar style here); Shoes: J.W. Anderson X Aldo; Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Celine; Ring: Alexa-Leigh; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner

Hope you all had a nice weekend! I can sum ours up as follows: lots of beach time with Elvis and a lot more House of Cards.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

nyfw a/w day 4 + a new shoe crush

Jacket: Alexander McQueen (similar style here on sale!); Sweater: J.Crew; Dress: Tibi; Shoes: thanks to Henri Lepore Dezert; Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Celine; Lips: Stila "Beso"

New York just has a magic way of bringing people together. And I love it.

Case in point: while in between shows at Lincoln Center, I ducked into a nearby Starbucks to 1.) search high and low for an outlet to charge my phone at and 2.) ease the frostbite. As I patiently waited with my fellow low-battery folks, I started chatting with a sweet girl about a new luxury shoe designer she was working with, Henri Lepore Dezert. Being the sucker that I am for shoes, I cleared my afternoon to check out the debut collection at the Viceroy Hotel nearby.

I'm so glad I did. The shoes, all Italian leather, made in Milan, are equal parts classic and fresh (something I find myself reaching for more often than my quirky, statement shoes to be honest). And Henri and his wife were a dream to hang out with for the afternoon. What was originally supposed to be a quick drop in turned into several hours of chatting over wine, admiring the view from the penthouse suite and swooning over beautiful shoes. I love unexpected and unplanned afternoons like that.

Huge thanks again to the Henri Lepore Dezert team for having this cold, weary traveler for the afternoon. I had a lovely time and am definitely your latest biggest fan.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

backstage confessions {nyfw x stila cosmetics}

This past season, Stila Cosmetics invited me to cover some of the madness that is backstage beauty prep at a few of their NYFW-partnered shows. There's something so great about the energy before a show -- it's truly addicting. Models running to and fro, iPhones not far behind. Hairstylists dashing after them to fix fly-aways. Makeup artists perfect the eye palette on their wrist. And the occasional celebrity waltzing through. It's maddening and oh so fun. Here are a few of my favorite moments backstage, starting first with Trina Turk...

Sunkissed inspiration shot...

And on to Rebecca Minkoff. I loved this red head gal. I think I snapped her as she was complimenting my dress (seen here), which just about made my day.

You know what they say...it takes a village...

Taking hair inspiration notes: loved the piecey, undone ponytails.

And finally, Alice + Olivia! The show itself was at the McKittrick Hotel (or perhaps better known as Sleep No More) and the storyline did not disappoint. The collection was a spin on old fairytale favorites, Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel to name a few. And the makeup was just as whimsical and theatrical as hoped. I chatted with Sarah Lucero, Stila's lead makeup artist before the presentation, and she shared the eye inspiration was actually that of toy dolls that open and close their eyes when you prop them up. How unique! 

Stay tuned later this week for details of my favorite shows.