time out new york: stylist gift guide

I'm excited to share a recent feature in Time Out New York. 

For holiday gift ideas from me and other NYC stylists, check out the article here. 

Happy Holidays!

Nat

cyber monday sales

So you don't have to wade through all those e-mails today, here is a list of Cyber Monday sales and codes:

AllSaints Spitalfields: 20% off most items. Code THANKS
C Wonder: 30% off purchase of $100
Scoop NYC: 30% off online. Code CYBER
Kate Spade: Surprise online sale. Up to 75% off
Madewell: 25% off online. Code TREAT
Macy's: Extra 15% off. Code CYBER
Gap, Banana Republic, & Old Navy: 30% off sitewide. Code CYBER
Piperlime: 20% off. Code CYBER
Asos 30% off. Code CYBERMONDAYSPECIAL
Club Monaco: 30% off cashmere. Code MONDAY
Ted Baker: 30% off. Code TBBLACK30
Steve Madden: 30% off. Code HOLIDAYS30
Intermix: 15% off. Code CYBER15
DVF: Extra 30% off sale items. Code SHEFINDSDVF
ShopBop: Up to 35% off. Code BIGEVENT12
Theory: 30% off. Code THANKS2012
Vince Camuto: 30% off. Code HOLIDAY
J.Crew: 25% off. Code MONDAY

Happy Shopping!
Nat

sandy: we all can help

 (Photo: Humans of New York)

(Photo: AP/Julio Cortez)

After 4 days with no power, I now sit in my warm and well-lit little apartment after Superstorm Sandy wreaked her havoc on a city I now call my home. My puppy and I were fortunate enough during those dark days to have a great friend uptown take us in and provide us with a warm place to stay, a hot shower, light, and all of those comforts I too often take for granted. Upon my return home, I felt excited and relieved to be restored and start regaining some normalcy. However, seeing footage on the news and hearing of people living mere miles away from me who are still completely devastated by this terrible tragedy made me feel a combination of grief, helplessness, guilt, and a desire to help. 

Situations like this often bring out the best in people, and I have been touched to hear of individuals, communities, and businesses banding together and sacrificing to help others. They inspire me to look past my own trivial problems and help those whose lives have been turned upside down by this disaster. 

The road to recovery is long and daunting for many, and we can all do something to help ease their burden. Click here for ways you can volunteer or donate to help victims of Sandy. 

Love, Natalie

happy weekend

blouse: j.crew. pants: madewell (similar here). shoes: calvin klein. purse: kate spade. necklace: j.crew

Happy Friday!

I'm on my way to London—

Our Style File is going international, baby!

hear me roar

blazer: gap (similar here). shirt: CA boutique. pants: asos (similar here & here). shoes: elie tahari. jewelry: helen ficalora, banana republic. 

I love the sporty pant look that CNC Costume National helped popularize on the runway last fall. Not only is it an easy item to incorporate into your existing wardrobe, but it also can effortlessly be dressed up or down.

As a styling tip: To steer clear of looking like you just exited gym class, balance your sporty style with feminine pieces. 

in transition

 blouse: zara. vest: j.crew. skirt: asos. shoes: vince camuto.

There's a chill in the air, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready for fall! It's not quite time to bring out boots and fall blazers, so I'm taking advantage of the last use of my summer items while incorporating a few fall pieces. 

Another tip: When wearing a lot of color and pattern like I did here, wear a nude pump. It anchors the look and visually lengthens your legs. 

homage to coco

 jacket: zara (similar here). blouse: theory. jeans: dl1961. shoes: cole haan. earrings: vintage. glasses: stella mccartney.

"If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?" My answer: Coco Chanel. I am in the midst of reading one of her biographies and am reminded how much she influenced the modern fashions we wear today. For this outfit, my vintage Chanel earrings and Chanel-style jacket (courtesy of Zara) are my homage to the one and only Coco Chanel. 

If you could meet any designer, who would it be? 

orange you glad i didn't say...

top: zara. pants: j.crew. shoes: kate spade (similar here). necklace: jewelmint. bangles: j. crew, banana republic, jewelmint, h&m. watch: michael kors

As you may remember from here & here, I love a colored pant, and these chinos from J.Crew are no exception. And as difficult as it may be to fit my curvaceous post-baby body into pants these days, these lovelies fit to perfection.

One tip I like to follow when wearing cropped pants: slip into a nude or gold heel to provide some height and lengthen that leg line!

shout out to chambray

 shirt: j.crew. skirt: torn by ronny kobo (purchased at poppy). shoes: kate spade.

If you don't own a chambray shirt right now, get on that! It is one of the most versatile pieces in my closet (and I know Casey's, too). I love how it can dress down a pencil skirt and, in this case, was just the right top to pair with my favorite casual maxi skirt.

yee-haw

blouse: zara (similar here & here). shorts: citizen of humanity. hat: topshop (similar here). shoes: elie tahari. watch: michael kors.

In an effort to channel my Texas pride, I tossed on my cowboy hat, pulled up my cowboy boots and shouted yee-haw as I rode off into the sunset! Ok, well I may not have cowboy boots or the horse but I do happen to have a pretty nifty hat. I love a good hat, and I've had to search high and low for this felt fedora from Topshop. It's got the perfect ratio of flop and structure as well as a neutral navy to be versatile enough for almost any outfit.

in the abstract

 blouse: reiss. jeans: 7 for all mankind. shoes: stuart weitzman. purse: kate spade.

Wide-leg trouser jeans in a dark wash can do wonders to lengthen your legs (and camouflage your hips). Add heels and a great silk blouse—I love the abstract pattern in this top—and you are ready for date night or an evening with your girls.

coral flash

dress: dvf (similar here). shoes: calvin klein. sunglasses: gucci (similar here & here). watch: michael kors. bangles: j.crew, jewelmint, thrifted. necklace: helen ficalora. lips: chanel "rouge allure velvet 32".

For my busy days in the city, it's far too easy to just throw on a dress and walk (read: run) out the door. I can especially appreciate a good wrap dress. On this particular day, I added a punch with my coral lipstick and armful of bangles.

the kim conundrum: you weigh in

(Photo: Pari Dukovic/NY Mag)

My New York Magazine fall fashion issue came in the mail today, and it posed an interesting question on the cover: 

Does Kim Kardashian belong on the cover of a fashion magazine?

I know my answer, but we want to hear what our fellow fashion-loving readers think.

--Nat 

drop-waist divas

 

   DVF, $485

Drop-waist dresses were first popularized in the Roaring Twenties when women were ready to ditch their restrictive dresses and shake their flapper fringe in comfort and style. They gained popularity again in the 60s (shout out to my girl Twiggy) and currently are back with a vengeance with designers like Marchesa, Proenza Schuler, and Moschino showcasing them on the fall 2012 runway. 

The traditional style works best for taller and slender women with minimal curves, but let's be honest, that only includes a small percentage of the population. So here are some tips for different body types: 

Topshop, $84 (also available in petite)

 Petite

—Make sure the dress ends above your knee, especially if it's a shift dress (like the one above). 

—Or you can look for a more fitted silhouette that cuts in at your natural waist and that can be worn with a skinny belt. A drop waist can visually shorten your legs, and this will counter that.
—Pair the dress with a high-heel shoe or at least a pointy-toe flat. No ballet flats!  

 ASOS SALON, $255.45

 Pear shaped

—Find a dress in which the waist hits above your hips and not at the widest part. 

—Make sure the skirt does not have a lot of extra volume. A simple A-line would be most flattering.

—To create balance to your figure, look for a dress with a strong shoulder or shoulder details like epaulets or one that looks great with a blazer.

—Use rules of color, and find a dress with a darker-colored skirt with a lighter color on top. 

--Nat

spruce up your boyfriends

top: madewell. jeans: jbrand. shoes: kate spade. purse: banana republic (old). jewelry: michael kors, j.crew, vintage. 

I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans for at least 2 years, and this pair finally fit the bill. Always wearing them with a T-shirt and casual shoes would be boring. So I like to add some feminine touches to create a more diverse and unexpected look. 

It's an easy way to show great style while still being comfy. 

aqua lace

dress: dvf. belt: j.crew (similar here). shoes: j.crew. earrings: jewelmint.

This dress is comfy and perfect to go from day to evening. 

Since I have an hourglass shape, I cinched in the waist with a skinny belt to give this shift dress some shape. 

peplum perfection

blouse: comptoir des cotonniers. pants: diane von furstenberg. purse: kate spade (similar here & here). shoes: preview (similar here). necklace: gerard yosca. watch: michael kors. earrings: jewelmint.

If the Spring '12 runways didn't convince you that peplums were back from the 80s, then surely the Fall '12 runways did. With designers such as Jason Wu and Giambattista Valli rocking these flattering silhouettes on skirts, dresses, and tops, this trend is here to stay.

Peplums are fun and flirty, and did I mention that they camouflage any and all tummies?
There's nothing to dislike about that!

olympic fashion

(Photo: Ralph Lauren/AP Photo)

I woke up giddy with excitement this morning knowing that the London 2012 Olympics begin tonight! Not only do I love everything about the Olympics, but I'm also quite the Anglophile. (Cheerio, old chap!)

My favorite part of the Opening Ceremonies is the Parade of Countries. I love to see how the outfits reflect the athletes' homelands. United States' Olympians will be donning these Ralph Lauren designs, which were controversially manufactured in China. 

 And I will be showing my Olympics spirit by rocking one of these vintage T-shirts from Gap.

--Nat

What are your thoughts on this year's Opening Ceremony outfits? Which sports are you most looking forward to watching? 

the queen of color

I absolutely love this chart that Vogue designed. It's genius, and I can't help but love Her Majesty even more. Not only is she the most elegant woman, but she can also rock every color of the rainbow.

 --C

peter pan in pink

top: asos. skirt: j.crew. shoes: kate spade. watch: michael kors. earrings: kate spade

Color blocking is one of my favorite trends, and finding a blouse that does the work for you makes putting the look together even simpler. (I especially love this blouse's pink Peter Pan collar!)

Easy and effortless! 

stripes & gingham

top: old navy. skirt: madewell. shoes: steve madden. belt: j.crew {similar here}. clutch: chicwish. watch: michael kors.
sunglasses: chanel.

I love to mix my patterns—stripes, checks, florals, polka dots—you name it!

If you like the idea of mixing prints, but don't know how, start with stripes.

You can {almost} never go wrong!

easy, breezy midi

skirt: j.crew (similar here). t-shirt: j.crew. shoes: stuart weitzman (another option here). necklace: kate spade (old). purse: Brooklyn flea market. 

Here I go again with my color obsession! Since I had so many solids going on here, I added dimension with some texture and pattern in my shoes and bag. 

Another tip: When embracing the midi-skirt trend, be sure your skirt hits below the widest part of your calf. 

keep it classy, neon

blouse: ann taylor. blazer: elie tahari. jeans: gap. shoes: cole haan. purse: j.crew. watch: michael kors. jewelry: gerard yosca, ny street vendor, j.crew.

I'm loving the neon trend this season, but as Natalie said {here}, you want to be careful not to get too carried away with this 80s classic. 

By pairing my neon blouse and accessories with a traditional white blazer, I inject a little funk and personality into my look while still keep it classy. 

trend tuesday: crazy for neon

Bold and bright, neon is definitely a way to get noticed this summer. It's a trend we love, but if not done carefully, you could look like you are ready to "Sweat to the Oldies" with Richard Simmons. Here are our dos and don'ts for keeping you electrifyingly hot instead of an 80s has-been not.

Do incorporate neon through belts, necklaces, bracelets, and shoes (but not all at once).
Don't wear cheap neon sunglasses.

Do wear one single neon focal piece (a top or pants).
Don't color block in neon.

Do pair neons with neutral colors or classic patterns (nude shoes, a striped top, etc.).
Don't pair neon with acid-washed jeans.

Do have fun with it!
Don't resurrect 99 percent of your old 80s garb—though the trend is the same, cuts and styles have
changed!

--Nat

 Do pair your neutrals with a pop of neon in a shoe. 

Don't make it too retro or go head-to-toe overboard. One neon focal point is enough, Katy!

What is your favorite way to wear neon this summer? 

Photo credits: Emma Stone:  Humberto Carreno/Startraksphoto. Katy Perry: John Shearer/Getty