My two main goals for my New York trip were to 1. eat good food and 2. shop till I drop. Happy to report that back that I achieved both things so below is most of my New York Haul!
Paloma Wool
Our New York trip was perfectly timed with the Paloma Wool pop-up, and I was excited to see my wishlist items up close. Some were hits, others were misses, but I found some hidden gems that I wouldn’t have chosen online, so it was a successful trip. I started off strong with the Caye bag, which I have not been able to put down since. I was looking for a work bag that could functionally fit everything I needed while aesthetically working with most outfits, and it hits both marks. The bag reminds me of a briefcase with its structured silhouette, and I love the buckle detailing on the front. It was comfortable as a carry-on for my travels, even though it was completely overstuffed, which solidified it as a winner for me. The second item I bought was the Elvira top, which again is the perfect summer transition piece. I am a sucker for the asymmetric sleeve and draped detailing, and the light beige colour is perfect for the upcoming season.
Citizens of Humanity
The way Citizens of Humanity (COH) Ayla Jeans and I crossed paths was kismet. It was the last day of my NY trip, and I was running around doing some last-minute errands before heading to the airport when I decided to check out the denim in Bloomingdales. The Ayla jean was described as a vintage baggy jean, which is exactly what I have been looking for, so I decided to try it on. It was love at first try, with the boxy silhouette and baggy-but-not-wide leg immediately winning me over. Finding these jeans made me realise that the issue I kept having when trying to find this specific style of jean was with me trying to make wide-leg jeans something they aren't. Wide-leg jeans don't work because they have too much volume and need a more subtle expansion. With baggy jeans, you get the straight-leg silhouette without the added volume, therefore achieving the perfect effortless feel. Overall, these are 10/10 jeans, and I highly recommend them.
Madewell
I was dying to see what the fuss was about with the Madewell super-wide-leg jeans, and I was unfortunately disappointed. My usual problem reared its ugly head with jeans being too tight on my thighs to fit on my waist and vice versa. I sighed, walked out of the changing room, and carried my sorrows to the accessories section. This was a much more fruitful experience, and I ended up walking away with the Triple Metal Keeper belt in black leather with gold hardware, which is substantial enough to adorn every-day outfits. After finding the belt, I stumbled across the ultimate pair of sunglasses. The Russell Oval sunglasses are the pair that you reach for to run a quick errand or shade a hungover face. They are very Carolyn Bessette Kennedy-esque, as they provide function without a strong style perspective to seamlessly complete a look. I walked out of the store elated, after all, with my simple yet effective accessories.
Aritzia
I was looking forward to exploring the high-quality basic heaven that is Aritzia, but this was another store that fell short. Unfortunately, a lot of the pieces I liked weren’t in stock or didn’t look flattering, so clothing-wise, it was a fail. I will make an exception for their linen, as the quality was spectacular. It was thick enough that it wouldn't crease easily while still being breathable, so I would 100% recommend it if you are in the market for new linen pieces. Even though most of my wishlist items were a bust, I unexpectedly fell in love with their 80’s comfy denim shirt. I always find that shirts give me PTSD from my boarding school uniform days, with the thin cotton not feeling flattering and emitting too much of a preppy vibe. With this denim shirt, the weight of the denim and the sturdiness of the fabric solve this problem, while the shirt silhouette still provides a smarter feel to the look. The second random but necessary purchase at Aritzia were their Best-Ever Ankle socks. They hit the leg at the perfect length that allows you to wear them with a loafer or ballet flat in the summer, making them a must-buy.
Mod Ref
The elevated basics in the Mod Ref pop-up window drew me in and propelled me to check out the rest of their items. Mod Ref is an LA-based brand that specialises in classic, minimalist pieces that will last in one’s wardrobe, and boy, did they deliver. I gasped when I saw their Tyler cardigan, because it was the perfect dupe for the Khaite Scarlet cardigan without going into debt. The softness of the fabric, the slight cinching of the waist, and the bell sleeves won me over, and I couldn’t walk away without them. I then saw the Kacey top, which works perfectly as a summer top and can transition seamlessly from day to night. It features a cowl neckline and rosette detailing, which hits the brief. I highly recommend checking out the brand!
Look out for these items in upcoming styling posts but hope you have a lovely week and speak to you soon!
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