Leather Flounce

I’m not a heavy metal chick. I’m not punk, I’m not goth, hardly a rebel without a cause. Thus, when I wear leather, I feel a bit like an imposter—the material seems meant for rockers, groupies, Marlon Brando, aviation pilots, The Fonz: cool people. And as much as I’d like to convince myself otherwise, I am incontrovertibly nerdy: a girl who would much rather curl up to a book at 11pm than set out for a night on the town. I prefer tea to lattes, enjoy unwinding my day over a Vogue Paris and a lit Baies candle, feel a jolt of excitement when I hear about the latest skincare miracle, make a trip to Pierre Hermé for a box of macarons on every visit to Paris, and schedule early morning yoga classes every Sunday: in today’s vocabulary I am quintessentially basic.

Style Mixology: Turquoise Trail

Sometimes you see a dress and no matter how impractical it seems, no matter how frivolous it seems, no matter how limited in use it could possibly be… you absolutely just have to have it. When I first saw this bright neon yellow-green number, I knew I needed to have it. While I often gravitate towards neutrals, there are times when I absolutely can’t resist a colorful, bold color. After all, they say that fashion is about experimentation and having fun, right?

Sopapillas & Honey

One of my favorite treats in New Mexico? The sopapilla—a plain fried bread served at your table at most restaurants. When you add honey to it (usually that’s why the honey is at your table!) it tastes just like a donut. A decadent, delicious, dessert treat. Not exactly healthy, but definitely one of the most delicious delights you can imagine. I wish I had taken a picture! If you do visit Santa Fe, however, my favorite ones were at The Pantry restaurant, a delicious place to try for brunch (get the enchiladas with 'Christmas-style' chile. You won't regret it).

Desert Lavender

Santa Fe, NM must be one of the most underrated cities in the US. It’s challenging to get there—the biggest airport is an hour away in Albuquerque and few places will have direct flights. However, it is worth the hike. Vibrant art galleries, delicious New Mexican food, wide open spaces and magical mesas are just some of the things that I fell in love with while I was there. We were lucky enough to do a hike in Bandolier National Park, do a first Friday tour of the art galleries on Canyon Road, indulge in cheesy flavorful enchiladas at the Pantry Restaurant, and drive down the quirky towns dotting the Turquoise trail. We came here for a wedding, but it was a perfect opportunity to explore America’s Southwest.

Pineapple Express

Apologies for the break, everyone! I’ve been out on the wedding circuit, this time attending one in Santa Fe, NM which is far more difficult to reach than I would have ever expected. I’ll have pictures from that trip later this week, but for now—here are some shots of a simple outfit from the other day to roam around Miami.

Haze

Black & white. I’ve been leaning towards monochromatic and minimalist looks that have an understated glamour. Think rich fabrics and textures, polished & clean silhouettes, and unexpected yet artful combinations that emphasize strong architectural qualities rather than other fashion flourishes such as embellishment, prints and colors. However, this aesthetic can sometimes lean too austere for my personality and lifestyle, so I try to find ways to add feminine elements—typically accessories—that reflect my personality, such as pretty jewelry a dazzling pair of shoes.

Starland

On the second day of in Savannah, we decided to check off two key highlights of Savannah — the cemetery and iconic Jones Street. Funnily enough, all of Savannah is built on top of an old cemetery, which explains why the city is supposed to be the most haunted place in the US. I hoped to find a ghost, but alas, I was out of luck and didn’t encounter any specters. That didn’t stop us from goofing around in the cemetery, having seen it last night during our ghost tour of the city (I know, I can’t help being cheesy like that).

Savannah Breeze

A couple weeks ago I visited Atlanta to spend time with the boy and his family. I had been to Atlanta once (not counting flight connections) for a wedding and loved the vibe of the city. This time, though, I was excited to explore the South — the graceful antebellum homes, the genial hospitality, the rich food. Of course, Atlanta retains some of that character, but we decided to take a road trip to see what is arguably the cultural center of the Southern Low Country, Savannah. We booked a room at the modern and sophisticated Andaz Hotel and off we went...

Riptide

Été en Provence (or, new beginnings)

Almost exactly two years ago (on July 6, 2014 to be precise) I quit my job and promised myself that over the next couple of years I would "figure myself out." I think most mid-twenty-year olds, having worked for a couple years at some miserable post-undergrad corporate desk job, can relate to this feeling: that the life they had envisioned in that incredible fantasy world we call college (where, literally, the world is your oyster) is not quite what they had thought it would be. I had followed my dreams, hadn't I? Gotten the job everyone else would have killed for? Why didn't it feel right?

Learning to survive the humidity

In the Navy