Every Day w/ Ebony and Ivory

In keeping with the French theme, we want to share some of our recent favorite NYC French restaurants. So put on your stripes and beret and bon appetit!

Maison Harlem (341 St. Nicholas Avenue)
We haven't tried anything we don't like here. (And James has been many times!) Everything is well prepared and perfectly portioned. The atmosphere is so relaxed and easy that it feels like you are dining at home with friends.

James's favorites: Lobster risotto (a special not always on the menu) and PEI mussels mariniere
Nat's favorites: Tagliatelle carbonara and grilled salmon

Match 65 (29 East 65th Street)
James: This is a laid-back restaurant on the Upper Eastside with reasonably priced French fare. You can't go wrong with any of their seafood options. Make sure you go when "MooMoo" the maitre'd is there; he'll ensure your service is superb.

Favorites: Moules frites mariniere, fish and chips, and salmon provençale

Bacchus (409 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
Natalie: The atmosphere is rustic and cozy, and the food is even better. The moules frites are magnifique, and on Tuesdays you can sample each type when they are all-you-can-eat.

Favorites: Any of the moules frites and the skate fish entree

NYers, what are some of your favorite French restaurants in the city?

An American in Paris: Day #4

This was our last full day, so instead of rushing around like a mad fool, I decided to just take my time meandering and soaking in the last day Parisian life! With that, here are my highs:

Haute couture exhibit at the Hotel de Ville

It was a dream come true to see amazing fashion in the fashion capital of the world! A huge thanks to my friend Faith for cluing me in on the exhibit. It was incredible!

Hanging with the locals at Cafe St. Victor

Spending late afternoon hours sipping vin and eating cheese with friends was near the top of my Paris to-do list. A couple friends and I stumbled on Cafe St. Victor, where we had great conversation, lots of laughs,  and an awesome server, Francois, who was happy to practice his English on us.  I could really get used to the Parisian work-life balance!

 sweater: topshop (worn with ag coated denim and j.crew red flats)

Stuffing our faces with macarons

No explanation needed for this one. Luckily we walked A LOT on this trip, or I would have come home 10 lbs heavier!

Photo: Casey Matheny

An American in Paris: Day #3

Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

As you know, I'm a book nerd. An old bookstore is like a museum to me, so the Shakespeare and Company bookstore was a must-see.

 dress: madewell, shoes: j.crew (old)

Nighttime Eiffel Tower Photoshoot

We donned our fancy dinner duds and headed to Les Ombres for dinner with an Eiffel Tower view. Dinner was a bit pricey and wasn't the most delicious food we had (it was still tasty), but the view and ensuing photoshoot made it all worth it! As you can see, we had a great time!

dress: ted baker, jacket: zara, shoes: la scarpa (a paris purchase)

Notre Dame

An American in Paris: Day #2

Strolling through Montmartre

I'm a sucker for cute winding streets, quaint restaurants, and, of course, a huge gorgeous basilica. 

outfit info: sweater: j.crew, button-up: j.crew, jeans: jbrand (my new favorite cut), shoes: cole haan (similar here)

 Lunch at La Maison Rose

 Sacre Coeur: Gorgeous!

 Homage to my homestate 

 Photo: Casey Matheny

Photo: Casey Matheny

Dinner at Les Papilles

This was my "birthday dinner," and I would recommend this place to anyone visiting. The chef goes to the market in the morning and picks out ingredients for his 4-course tasting menu.

 Doing the Charleston (more of this dress to come in a future post)

dress: ted baker

Dress photos: Casey Matheny

 Searching for Chanel in Marche aux Puces flea market

I came up unsuccessful. Apparently Chanel is just as expensive in France. But the market had a lot of other great treasures!

An American in Paris: Day #1

I'm back from Paris and London. The trip was a dream come, and I can't wait to share the highlights! 

Every night as my 6 girlfriends and I ate dinner together, I had us play the "High-Low Game" in which we each shared our highs of the day and a low. In the name of blogpost brevity, I'll stick to this trend and list (and photo document, of course) my highs for each day! 

Day One Highs

1. Steak Frites dinner at Le Relais de l'Entrecote. 
I'm telling you, these steak frites were beyond anything I've ever had before—and I grew up in Indiana, the mecca of beef.

zara (similar here), blouse: madewell (old), coated denim: ag, pumps: nine west, necklace: rebecca minkoff

2. Reuniting with Casey at the Arc de Triomphe
I haven't seen my dear Casey since she moved away last October. It was so much fun spending the week with her!

sweater: alice + olivia, boots: cole haan, bag: cole haan

3. Our Paris Apartment
If ever you are going with a group of people to Europe, use AirBNB. For a great price, we had this beautiful 4 bedroom apartment in Champs-Elysees.

 And it was on this street. Gorgeous!

to cure your case of the mondays

Fashion Weeks around the world have come and (almost) gone for another season. My good friend and fellow stylist and blogger Faith, sent me this video, and I can't get enough of P'trique!

Enjoy!
Natalie

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

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

style & substance

Happy Memorial Day! Casey and I have always believed that your style should be a reflection of who you are on the inside. It should be a way to help you stand out—not fade in the background. With that in mind, I wanted to share Fashionista.com's recent article on stylish AND smart women, who prove that you truly can have it all! Enjoy!

"Style and Substance: 10 Ladies Who Prove You Can Have Both"

--Nat

SheFinds.com 30 Before 30

I just celebrated my 29th birthday, so turning 30 is on the brain. We all know about Glamour's 30 things you should have and know list. However, today SheFinds.com posted a more fashion-focused list of 30 items every women should have before she turns 30. I think it's a pretty good list, and I'm happy to report I only have a few items to fill in (insert sigh of relief). If you are missing a lot of these pieces, here are the 10 items I think should be at the top of your list:

1. Expensive bag (#29 on She Find's list)
2. Killer cocktail dress (#27)
3. Expensive jeans that make your butt look amazing. Read here for our jean tips. (#22)
4. Medium-weight, tailored leather jacket (#2)
5. Sunglasses that fit your face. We agree with She Finds that a good tip is to photograph yourself in them before you buy (#14)
6. Spanx—or any support undergarment (#3)
7. Great, versatile blouse (#25)
8. Huge, super-comfy sweater (#12)
9. Chic but comfy sneakers for weekend errands. We'll expand that to a comfy pair of loafers, boat shoes, or oxfords (#30)
10. Statement necklace (#5)

--Nat

How many of these items do you have? What are some things you want to have before your next milestone birthday? 

showdown in chinatown

Casey and I were lucky ladies yesterday as we styled NBA and MLS players Indochino suits as part of the Steve Nash Foundation Showdown. Among the players in attendance were Steve Nash, Tony Paker, Raja Bell, and Marcin Gortat.

The men all looked sleek and dapper in their new Indochino digs, and we were happy to be part of the day.

--Nat

ny fashion week

It’s that time again – Fashion Week in NYC! And with that comes two things: 1. Models and designers running rampant on the Upper West Side. 2. An abundance of great street fashion, which can give us all a little inspiration!

--C

Here’s a few examples of what we’ve seen so far:

(Photos: Tommy Ton)

spring is {kind of} in the air

Have you had a chance to look at the new J. Crew Spring lookbook?

It’s killing me how great it is!

I’m not too crazy about the styling, but I sure do love the colors. Can we also take a minute and look at the peplum shorts and lacy blazer? Fabulous! Spring cannot come soon enough!

--C

men's casual shoes

Photo: Hyuna Shin/Studio D

I love Esquire and its great tips for men’s fashion, so I’ll let them more eloquently and cleverly take on today’s topic. Regarding men’s casual shoes, Esquire fashion editors say, “A man still needs at least one pair of casual shoes that look like something ol’ Siggy might’ve cobbled himself. Something with a beefy sole and some firm support in the arch. Something durable that can take both a polish and a beating. And, most important, something with some personality to it.”

Follow this link for some great tips on how to wear casual shoes “the right way” and “the Esquire way.” Enjoy!

--Nat

best dressed of 2010

Vogue recently named its best-dressed female celebrities of 2010. Topping the list is Blake Lively, and I must agree. She has a fun, fresh style and wears it with confidence!

Here’s the complete list:

1. Blake Lively

2. Marion Coutillard

3. Michelle Obama

4. Jessica Biel

5. Alexa Chung

6. Sarah Jessica Parker

7. Liya Kebede

8. Carey Mulligan

9. Shala Monroque

10. Lady Gaga

What do you think of this list?

new year, new style

Many memorable and interesting looks emerged in 2010. There are some that we’d like to carry over into the new year and some that we’d like to keep in the past.

(Do skulls, studs, and cross bones ring a bell?)

Have a look here at some of the more forgettable looks!

black friday shopping

Whether you camp out at the stores at 4 a.m. or stay in your PJs and score online deals, Black Friday is an event you need to prepare for.

Here are some websites that have a comprehensive list of Black Friday deals:

blackfriday2010.com

blackfriday.info

associatedcontent.com

********

Happy shopping, everyone!

Do you do Black Friday shopping? Where do you look to find deals?

shirt cuffs & cuff links

While all men’s dress shirts may seem the same, they aren’t. There are many subtle but important differences that go into making a dress shirt what it is. We’ll start breaking down men’s dress shirts by cuff types.

--Nat

 Button, or Barrel, Cuff: The standard cuff style, fastened by one or two buttons.

 Double, or French, Cuff: Extra length of sleeve folded back and fastened with a cuff link. This style is more formal than the button cuff.

Single Cuff: Like the double cuffs (fastened with a cuff link) without the fold. This is the most formal style and is usually only worn with formal evening wear.

And while we’re on the subject, let’s talk cuff links. We love vintage or vintage-inspired links. They give off a simple and elegant vibe, like these 1944 mercury dime cuff links from Nordstrom.

 Also, if you live in the New York City area, visit LEO Design (543 Hudson Street, between Perry and Charles Street) for a great selection of reasonably priced vintage cuff links.