In my eyes, a look can go from good to great with just one piece. Sometimes it’s a necklace, shoes, a dress or in this case, a cape! *Not to be confused with a magician, or superhero! Capes are a chic and trendy way to add a layer of warmth, and to make an entrance. This is the first cape I have purchased and I must say it did not disappoint.
A cape is such a dramatic item to don. I selected this particular one because it was not made of thick coat material, but more of a blazer/vest construction. This item is perfect for an evening out, or amping up your transitional gear for fall and winter.
For my first styling with the piece I wanted to add a touch of sparkle, so I paired it with a sequin embellished tank from Express (similar). The hint of shimmer is excellent, and really makes this look special. I selected black skinny jeans and my favorite fall over-the-knee boots by Steve Madden.
For a final touch, I added a classic pair of black sunglasses (similar), my Kate Spade tote (similar) and this gorgeous branch necklace from Fascinating Diamonds. The delicate chain makes the branch appear weightless, such a shimmering and elegant piece of jewelry.
This is the perfect dinner, or evening out look! I cannot wait to start wearing this out and about this season and feel more cape purchases are in my future! I have linked similar capes and complementary pieces, so you can create your own fabulous look!
I am in love with all of the military inspired outerwear I have seen on the racks this season! The structure and metallic buttons has always been one of my favorites to wear, so when I came across this XOXO beauty, I knew I had to purchase it! The color and buttons all scream military refinement but the peplum hem adds a touch of flirty feminine fun!
So I noticed a trend in the majority of my ensembles this past month and that was – I have been wearing a lot of black and white! Not just to work, but also my casual ensembles have been black and white as well! Since I noticed this trend, I wanted to round up a few of my favorite looks and share the details with you, so if you are in the mood to sport some chic black and white looks you can get inspired here!
Work Chic
This is my favorite work look right now! This lightweight sleeveless sweater from Uniqlo, is the perfect staple piece for fall because it is layerable! I am wearing it with these elastic waist paper bag pants. These pants were actually an Amazon find, and I have linked similar here. I finished the look with oversized sunnies, this gorgeous Elaine Turner Ally bag, Stella & Dot feather earrings and black patent heels. This ensemble is both dressy and comfortable! Since the pants are high waisted, they give off the illusion of slimmer, longer legs which is ultra flattering.
Dinner, Date Night Chic
So I wore this dress for my first evening at NYFW and loved how beautiful and comfortable it was! Seriously, you can wear this dress all day and not want to change! I love the pockets, mock neckline, and back cut-out accent along with the tonal plaid print. I have paired it with my favorite fall OTK boots and oversized sunnies for the perfect finishing touch.
Second under this category, I’d like to feature this couture look I wore during NYFW! This black and white look is my ultimate favorite!! The white lace top contrasting against the crystal embellished mesh skirt from Danny Nguyen Couture creates such an amazing combination!
Weekend Casual Chic
I have been living in these ripped black jeans! Seriously, wearing on repeat! The rips are in just the right places and the construction of the denim is lightweight and stretchy. I love a comfortable pair of jeans and Dear John offers just that! I am wearing them here with an oversized white tie-sleeve top which looks cute slightly tucked in. This look is perfect for sneakers to pair with sneakers or even dress it up a bit with heels! Here, I have paired the ensemble with metallic silver sneakers I picked up at Target. This look is perfect for any and all weekend errands or traveling!
My second weekend look is all black with shades of grey! This beautiful color palette is perfect for when the weather gets a little cooler! I love how the light shade of grey pairs with black. I am again in my favorite Dear John jeans, and have styled them with a fleece oversized tie-front sweater top (similar). To dress up the look I’ve added matte grey stilettos and steel earrings from Berry & Leather to complete the look.
And lastly, a cute sweater look! Nothing beats a chunky knit sweater when the temps start to drop, and that is this great piece from Romeo+Juliet Couture (similar)! This sweater is such an eye catching piece with its bold angle stripe design. I paired it with black denim, a black and white structured tote and black loafer slides! This look is fun for casual Fridays of weekend outings!
I hope this lookbook of black in white ensembles has inspired you to create one of your own! No matter the occasion, or trend black and white transcends all!
Beige, black and a touch of animal print. That’s all it takes to create a fun fall look! This transitional utility top by Calvin Klein can easily take you from summer to fall. With that said, how would you wear it? Some people keep this style top with dress pants and pencil skirts, but I like to wear it with shorts – and in this case, black skinny jeans.
The oversized fit of the top is perfect to slightly tuck in and contrasts excellently against the solid black jeans. I broke the solids apart with a fun mohair cheetah print belt (similar), which is what really finishes the look in my opinion!
For additional accessories, I have added these exposed side booties made of faux suede in a cognac color, my favorite Henri Bendel tote, and mirrored sunnies with a faux tortoise design. All accessories offer a similar color palette therefore, they blend and complement each other very well. This is such a great casual Friday look for work or a happy hour go-to!
This year I had the opportunity to attend StyleCon, Dallas! This was the first year StyleCon has been held in Dallas so seeing as I am a Texan, and the drive is just a short 4 hours, Myself, and fellow bloggers Kristine of Kristine’s Kaleidoscope, and Alessandra of AlessandraLaura decided to road trip to Dallas together for the event!
We left Houston Friday evening so that we could be ready for the festivities bright and early Saturday morning. For our accommodations, we stayed across the street from the venue at the Fairmont Dallas. For my review of our stay, click here!
StyleCon is a one day event filled with panelist in the industry, and tons of vendors sharing all about their brands! The opportunity for partnerships, collaborations and making new friends was enormous! Brands like Fit Joy, Boohoo and beGlammed all came prepared with fun interactive booths where you could sample, share, and speak to their products!
As a Style Collective member I was there to see Annie Spano, the founder who would be speaking on a panel during StyleCon. It was so nice to see Annie again since the NYFW party she put together for all of her style collective sisters, and her time on the StyleCon panel was fantastic!
There were plenty of snacks to help ourselves to throughout the day as this event ran from 9:00-5:00 so many thanks to all of the lovely snack vendors who kept our energy up and tummies full through the amazing day!
StyleCon 2017 was amazing, and I can’t wait to attend it again next year!
This past month I had the opportunity to partner with Yosi Samra for a fall campaign where I was able to try out two styles from their shoe collection and review them. Their fall line in out of this world and I am so excited to share my faves with you! The selections I landed on included the Valentina, in fig suede, and the Vivian in metallic boa.
If you are unfamiliar with Yosi Samra, they are a shoe brand famous for the foldable ballet flat which transitioned into an expanded line of shoes with a split sole. This design makes them super convenient to pack for travel, and incredibly comfortable!
Vivian
Metallics are a huge fall trend this year so I selected the Vivian in this amazing golden tone, platino! I’m also a huge GOT fan so these shoes really appealed to me as they remind me of the Targaryen style with a dragon scale inspired flare! The material is extremely lightweight, yet durable and subtle pointed toe adds the perfect finishing touch. The insole is plush and extremely comfortable and the split sole design keeps your feel flexible and mobile. I have enjoyed styling these with dark jeans and rich caramel, burgundy shades as well as cheetah prints.
Valentina
This is the perfect shoe to slide on and go! The comfortable and luxurious suede construction hugs your foot and the wrap style keeps the shoes securely on your feet. This dark burgundy shade is one of my favorites for the fall season and I love to incorporate it in accessories and lipsticks so, these shoes were the perfect selection for me! Opposite the Vivian, I like to pair these with light wash denim, and golden tones.
I personally love nontraditional flats which makes this brand perfect because they offer such a wide selection of quality made flats in a variety of silhouettes, such as the Vivian and Valentina! But if you have a love for the classics, they offer those as well!
I must say that I am very impressed with the quality of construction, premium materials used, and overall design of Yosi Samra shoes. The brand is definitely luxe, with an affordable price tag! And what’s even better? If you shop now, you can get a 20% discount with “HALEYS20” at checkout from their site, so what are you waiting for?!
After experiencing my first NYFW I wanted to round up some of the most important take aways, and share them with you all! These are my own opinion and I’m sure others have found certain things might be more streamline, but this is what worked for me, and what I learned from my first NYFW!
Take the subway. I say this because you get everywhere so much faster! – Not to mention it’s only $2.50 a trip. Yes, taxis require less walking, but if you aren’t staying close by to the venues this can definitely make a huge dent in your budget!
Wear comfortable shoes. Manhattan requires a lot of walking and you will be on your feet all day. Do yourself, and you feet a favor by wearing comfortable shoes! I rarely saw people in heels at the shows, seriously! If you really want to bring heels for the evening parties, that’s totally cool, but if you are thinking you need to wear heels to everything to fit in, I promise that is not necessary!
Be aware of your time, distance between locations, and Lyft. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time between shows to actually get to the shows. Manhattan traffic is very unique in that something 3 miles away can take like 20 minutes or more to get to. If there is less than 30 minutes to an hour between shows, I would recommend only selecting of the two to attend. As for Lyft, we were almost late to a show and our flight home because of Lyft. It is just too unpredictable! If you have a timed schedule, don’t rely on this from of transportation.
Arrive to the shows 30 minutes early…at least! So this is how I was able to sit at all of the shows I attended (if I wasn’t already assigned a seat.) When you arrive and check in you find out your seating assignment, or if you are standing. Priority standing means you do not have a seat assigned, but doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to sit. Many people do not attend shows they are invited to, because of this seats are left empty. If you are “priority standing” you are the first in line to fill those seats! I was fortunate enough to get seating at every show I was not previously assigned seating to because of this, only because I arrived early! Before shows begin you have to line up outside the door. Obviously the first in line are the first to enter, therefore you get the best options available for standing or leftover seats. This year I was blessed with front row for 3 shows, and the others was able to get a seat based on entry. Seats mean swag bags, and prime viewing space for the shows! The early bird gets the worm!!
Pack snacks – water will be provided. Pack as many granola and protein bars in your bag as you can because food will be the last thing on your agenda! Don’t waste precious real estate in your bag with water because it will be at every show. Seriously, they keep you hydrated! Complimentary water bottles were provided at every shows lounge area. No need to lug that around!
Be courageous with your fashion, and try new things. I played it pretty safe with a few of my looks and pushed my comfort zone on only 2, and found I enjoyed those 2 looks the best! Next year I will definitely be braver to push outside of the box and wear whatever I want to because fashion week is all about pushing the envelope, and fashion from all genres!
Don’t accept more than 3 shows a day. I say this because more than 3 gets super overwhelming as the shows may not be close together…you may want to change clothes, and at some point you are going to want to eat. With more than 3 shows on your schedule for a day; after parties, wardrobe changes, meetings and food are not going to be possible.
Additional tips
Don’t fear about not getting into any shows! This is something I was really worried about. I was terrified I would not get any invitations! They will come, but you have to do the legwork! That means find out the show dates once available, find out the PR companies partnering with those shows, and reach out! There is no harm in sending an email, if they aren’t the right contact, chances are they will point you in the right direction.
Join Style Collective. If you are a blogger I highly recommend joining Style Collective! This is an amazing platform to learn how to be successful in the blogging world! They also set up a forum for NYFW where you could share insight with other girls attending, find a roomie, and best of all, they can get you invites to shows as well! On top of that, they show you just how to pitch to other companies so you can have the best experience possible! Plus they threw an amazing NYFW party! There are so many other reasons I recommend Style Collective, but for NYFW specifically, these are the reasons! 🙂
Reach out to shows 3 weeks out and follow up at 2 weeks. This may sound super last minute, but this is the window to get responses and acceptances. Before this timeframe the reps may not know the seating, venue, or even how many people they can extend invites to.
Reach out to partnering brands for clothing and accessory partnerships 1 month to 2 months out. I was late on this aspect this year, but know for next year to reach out early for collaborations.
How much did I spend?
The big question…how much was the trip to NYC, NYFW, the hotel, food, transportation?
- Flights: 250
- Hotel: 690
- Transportation and Food: 290
- NYFW events and Afterparties: Complimentary
*Prices are reflective for 2 people.
The reason transportation and food was not very expensive is we took the subway and only had time to eat street food for the majority of the trip. Also because dinners and drinks were always complimentary at afterparties. I hope this transparency shows that NYFW is not free, but at the same time, is more affordable than you might think. Rooming with someone reduces the expenses dramatically and it also helps to have someone to share this amazing experience with. 🙂
I hope you have found these tips helpful! I really enjoyed my first NYFW and cannot wait for next year! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! I’d love to answer!
To many of you I’m sure this is going to sound pretty crazy. How could a fashion blogger possibly take only a carry on to NYFW? Well here’s how it did it!
#1 Comfort and versatility is key!
Bring shoes and accessories that you can wear with multiple looks. Skip on the pair of heels that you will only wear with one look and pack the boots that go with everything and are comfortable. I say this because there is an overwhelming amount of walking to be done. On average, we walked 7 miles a day! – Keep that in mind before you pack those stilettos… chances are they will just be taking up space in your luggage.
#2 Plan your ensembles out ahead of time
This is a really big one. I always pack extra, but this was a really incremental part of me managing only a carry on. Take only what you will actually wear! As a blogger, I needed to average 3 ensembles a day. So that meant I had to coordinate 9ish outfits. The reason for so many is morning and evening looks, along with additional ensembles to shoot in. By curating and stylizing my ensembles ahead of time, I knew exactly what I would be wearing which day and with what accessories. This limits un-needed access.
#3 Create a Final Cut
So when I packed, I made sure every piece would be worn and made sense for the occasions and looks I was aiming to create. If it didn’t make sense, I didn’t bring it. Here is what made my cut!
My carry on packing list:
Accessories
- Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody
- Jewelry roll storage: held 3 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, 2 bracelets, contacts and toothbrush
- Felt hat
- Curling Iron
- Straightener
Shoes
Dresses
Jackets
- XOXO embellished blazer
- Danny Nguyen Couture Jacket
- Chunky sweater cardigan
Tops
Bottoms
- Dear John Distressed Jeans
- Danny Nguyen Couture Embellished Mesh Skirt
- Express Shorts
- Black High-Waist Mini Skirt
Now to make this work, I chose to wear one of the shoes I selected so that I only needed to pack one pair, and I decided to wear a top and jeans so again, this cuts down on a few of the larger pieces that would otherwise be in the bag.
The next tip to make this work is space saver bags! I cannot rave enough about these bags! They have assisted me on multiple trips! All of the ensembles I packed for this trip fit into 2 bags and with the air out, took up minimal space.
The contents above is what all I had to place in my carry on. Everything easily fit with space to spare! If you are looking for a great sized, affordable carry on check out Target!
So that’s it! I hope you found this helpful if you are looking to travel with less baggage! As for my chargers, medications, and makeup, those were all stored in my tote as I like to keep those items handy! Happy travels!
Day 3 started with a New York bagel and hot apple cider! This to me is the perfect breakfast for NYC. Something you can walk and eat and a sweet warm beverage to wake up!
My first show was at the NYFW the Shows location once again, this time to see Taoray Wang. I once again had a full schedule ahead of me and really wanted to be comfortable, so the ensemble I selected for day 3 was this adorable romper from Posh Tulsa, my favorite over the knee Steve Madden Boots and a felt hat I picked up at Marshalls. This look is so versatile and extremely comfortable!
For the Taoray Wang show I was assigned standing, but was able to move to seating. This was the largest show I attended as it was in Gallery 1 which was so massive and set up with riser seating. I loved every piece of this collection! So many shades of blue with fringe, tailored pleats, pinstripes, and really cool chest and collarbone tattoos on the models of birds and trees!
Following this show we had to make our way to 5th Ave. for the Banana Republic show! This show was located in-store and was set up as a quick runway show and showroom. Olivia Palermo was the creator of this collection and she was actually there to show the line!
The collection was totally my style and if I could, I would purchase all of the coats (just doesn’t make much sense for someone who lives in Texas) The pieces were military inspired with soft feminine touches of velvet and blush tones.
One thing I really liked about this show was the pieces were actually available for purchase! I was really thankful we got there early so we were able to be inside for the show. So many people did not get the opportunity as this show was open to the public and first come first serve.
After the BR X Olivia Palermo show, we grabbed a quick slice of pizza and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the last show I would be attending during NYFW.
For this last show, I wanted to pull out all of the stops and wear the most show-stopping ensemble I brought. That would be this amazing piece by Danny Nguyen Couture! I paired the beautiful blazer with a high waisted black mini skirt, and my over the knee Steve Madden boots. For accessories, I wore a sparkling Mirina Collection necklace and carried my essentials in the Ally bag by Elaine Turner.
The last show I saw was the Negris Lebrum show, which was located in an art gallery. This collection was definitely wearable and something I can totally see myself checking out! The materials were lightweight, perfect for the warmer Texas temperatures! I loved the light shades of yellow, khaki and mixes of plaid and florals. Trends included; plunging necklines, round sunglasses, hair turbans, high waist bottoms, mixed prints, 60’s silhouettes, and piping accents.
The designer is actually from Houston, Texas and came out to thank everyone for coming and for everyone who helped get them there as the show almost did not happen due to Harvey. So thankful the Negris Lebrum show was able to make it to NYFW as the collection was amazing!
The intimate after party included delicious chicken and red velvet waffles, and Dey Dreemz Rum Punch in a variety of flavors! This was the perfect relaxed way to end our NYFW experience! Following the show, it was back to the hotel to pack and get ready to head to the airport at 4:00am.
My first NYFW experience was like a dream! I feel so unbelievably blessed to have had the opportunity and ability to go, and thank everyone who made this possible for me! If you are interested in learning about how I attended shows, tips and tricks to NYFW, and lessons I learned, check out my next post for those details!
Day 2 started bright and early with the GCDS show at 10:30 am. This show was located at NYFW the Shows off Washington Street in the Meat Packing District.
We arrived early and had access to the lounge Papyrus Café and E! experience, TRESemme Studio and Reebok lounge. Once it was showtime, we were lined up and directed to our seats. I was actually able to sit on the front row at this show, and was able to move up at the majority of shows I attended. (I will explain how this happens in the series 5 post) So as for this show…..it was amazing!! The carpet was pink and the overall theme was aquatic yacht. The center of the runway had a giant pink novelty swan, perfect for photo opts and really tying the theme together. The looks were a primary color palette with fun meshes, swan prints and visors. I became a huge fan of the designer’s handbags that were featured in this show. So graphic and constructed in fun colors, the ultimate accessory.
Finishing the show, we were able to get a few snaps of the models up close, as well as, Giuliano Calza the designer himself! For this show I wanted to wear something leaning more toward street style, as this was a street wear show, so I selected an embellished blazer from XOXO, a soft blush velvet tank from Express, destructed jeans from Dear John, and metallic sneakers from Target. You can shop this look and similar here!
Following this show, we had a few hours to eat, take some photos, then it was time to head back to the hotel to change before the Nolcha Shows! BTW lunch was a street hotdog…my fav NYC meal! 🙂
For the Nolcha Shows I wore a white lace top from Shein (similar) and this amazing lace and mesh crystal skirt from Danny Nguyen Couture! I paired the look with tights and tall boots to create a more conservative feel and for jewelry and accessories I wore two baublebar pieces and the Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody.
Here I had the opportunity to take pictures with their step and repeat and model products for a few brands. Once it was time for the show to begin we were lead to our seats. My photographer was also able to attend this show, so that is why I have these face-on images of the runway show!
The W. Reflex show was really interesting and edgy. The menswear brand featured blazers, tube socks, raincoats and even the recycle sign. All makeup for the Nolcha shows was done by Ecru and I loved how they chose a pink blush for the male models. It was such an interesting and notable touch.
Concluding the show, we traveled back to the hotel. (Not before taking some pics of course!) Then it was time to change and get ready for the Style Collective Party!
This was by far my favorite party to attend at NYFW as I was able to chat with so many bloggers that I admire and make so many new friends! SO many Houston ladies attended the event, so of course I had to get a picture with some of my faves! And I also have to mention the I met the incredible Annie Spano, creator of Style Collective! Seriously y’all she is amazing, inspirational and the sweetest!
The night was filled with good laughs, amazing fajitas, Day Owl Rose wine, upbeat dance music, scenic New York views, beautiful empowering women, and fizz pops!
Since I am a Style Collective member, I was able to attend the upstairs private event. Here complimentary hair and nail appointments could be done, select dessert vendors were available and quaint sitting areas were provided to chat with fellow members! Once the party concluded, it was time to make our way back to the hotel for a good nights rest!