New York Archives - Page 23 of 30

How to Spend Your Summer Fridays

June 21, 2019

How to Spend Your Summer Fridays

NYC, Style Blogger, J. Crew, Summer, Fridays, NYC, Hermes, Sandals, White Jeans

Tee || Jeans || Sandals || Handbag || Belt || Watch || Earrings || Jean Jacket

This teacher has only three days that separate her from summer vacation. I absolutely adore my little ones, but sweet summertime in the city is calling my name! If you happen to have a more conventional job, and work Monday through Friday all year long, then your company may have a little something called Summer Fridays. I just love this concept! In short, Fridays are half days for everyone! You have a whole extra afternoon to get out and enjoy yourself. How amazing is that?! To help you make the most of your time, here are my top picks for how I would spend a free afternoon. Keep in mind, these were written with NYC in mind, but they can still work for almost any city.

Play tourist for the day: There are so many opportunities to be a tourist in the Big Apple. Whether you’ve lived here for 5 days or 5 years, there’s always something new popping up to explore. To find an all-inclusive sort of experience, I highly recommend catching a ride on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. Offered in cities around the world, it’s the perfect way to learn about a city, especially if you’re short on time.

Have lunch at a new restaurant: Beat the dinner rush and have lunch at a new restaurant you’ve dying to try. Often times, they have great lunch specials to match. Look around and find a menu that really speaks to you. Since you have the afternoon free, don’t forget to look in neighborhoods that you usually don’t have an opportunity to explore.

Visit any kind of museum: Why not get some culture on a free afternoon? One of my favorite ways to spend time after work is to pop into the nearby MET to take in a new-to-me collection or exhibit. I pick that museum time and again because it’s positively massive, but there are so many more to choose from. In this week’s post about my Summer Bucket List, I share that my goal is to visit three new museums before the end of the summer. Be sure to let me know your favorites!

Head to the beach: I probably saving my favorite for last! In Florida, I always loved being to able to pop over to the beach on a whim. Since moving to New York, I’ve found it’s a lot trickier, but can be done! While I haven’t experienced it for myself, I’ve heard Rockaway Beach is a great escape and a pretty direct subway ride away. If you’re really wanting to take a break, the Hamptons or Jersey Shore could make for great options too.

I’m all for making the most out of both summers and weekends. In fact, I like to think I work hard Monday through Friday just so I can enjoy my weekends. If you find yourself able to escape work, don’t let an opportunity to try something new pass you by.

Love from NYC,
Katie

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Exploring Governors Island

June 17, 2019

Exploring Governors Island

NYC, Style Blogger, Preppy, Summer, Governors Island, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Tuckernuck

Cami || Skirt || Sandals || Clutch || Sunglasses

Just a quick 10 minute ferry ride from FiDi is Governors Island, a little oasis away from the concrete jungle. Although this island has had different roles, including military base, it is now open to the public everyday May through October.

The ferry itself runs very efficiently, about every half hour, and only costs $3 for a round trip. Catch the ferry before noon on Saturday or Sunday and your trip is free. If nothing else, you can use the ferry to get out on the water and see fantastic views of the skyline. Once you get to Governors Island, it’s a case of ‘Choose Your Own Adventure.’ Which one will you pick?

Grab a cocktail, a snack, and a view! As soon as you land, you are greeted by a few restaurant right next to the dock and throughout the island. After spending the early morning walking around and exploring, stopping at the Island Oyster was such a treat. Relax under the yellow striped cabana and enjoy the space that has been nominated for ‘Best Restaurant Design’ by the James Beard Foundation. Elsewhere on Governors Island, you will also find a Joe Coffee, People’s Pop, and Threes Brewing to help you escape the heat.

Spend the night in style! Camping on Governors Island has never been more glamorous. Located on the western part of the island, and with perfect views of the Statue of Liberty, are a Collective of tents that are available to rent. Combing the luxuries of home with the great outdoors, campers will enjoy some peace and quiet without ever leaving New York City.

Party like it’s 1920! A few times each summer, Governors Island hosts their Jazz Age Lawn Party. Dress up in your favorite flapper ensemble and get read to dance the Charleston. The day of my visit was also the day of the party. I absolutely loved seeing all of the vintage-inspired style. It looked like quite a soiree and I may have to join in the fun for myself next time.

Get out and explore! Wear your comfiest workout gear and get ready to break a sweat. An entire loop around the island is about 2.2 miles. You’ll want to take plenty of stops to take in the view. You can also opt to take the adventure on two wheels, either with your own bike or by renting a Citi Bike right on the island. For the kid at heart, you should also check out Slide Hill which boasts the longest slide in NYC.

If you need a super quick and easy afternoon away from the city, exploring Governors Island should be your pick! It was exactly what the doctor ordered to stop, take a breath, and enjoy some fresh air. If you’ve made your own trip, be sure to let me know about it in the comments below.

Love from NYC,
Katie

Outfit Details:

Cami || Skirt || Sandals || Clutch || Sunglasses

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Camp for the Every Girl

June 7, 2019

Camp for the Every Girl

NYC, Style Blogger, J. Crew, Anthropologie, Camp, The MET, Preppy, Summer

Blazer || Cami || Skirt || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Necklace

Since moving to New York, I’ve found a whole new appreciation for going to museums, art museums in particular. We didn’t have very many in St. Pete, but my wedding reception was at the Museum of Fine Arts, so I guess that love has always been there. This year, David and I decided to become members at the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) and we are definitely getting our money’s worth. Since it’s only a block away, I love being able to pop in after work or pretty much any time I want. There’s so much ground to cover, I always end up seeing something brand new.

The latest art exhibit at the Met, that has really caused quite a stir is Camp: Notes on Fashion. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about it from the annual Met Gala. Let me tell you, this exhibit was absolutely amazing! It’s equal parts surreal and mesmerizing, but left me with so much inspiration. Better still, it was incredibly informative. I walked away with a better understanding of what camp is and what camp is not.

The exhibit is based on the 1964 essay by Susan Sontag. In it, she outlines 58 key points on the matter. Ultimately, for something to be camp, it should fun and “anti-serious.” As Sontag said, “Camp is walking around in a dress made of three million feathers.”

I highly suggest coming to New York sometime before September 8th, so you can see the exhibit for yourself. If you can’t, I’ve shared some of my favorite highlights on my Instagram page.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “What does this mean for me? Can I add a little bit of Camp to my life?” I’m neither a fashion nor art expert, but I want to say that the answer is yes!

My favorite example of Camp, and I think of the easiest to add, is the fruit motif. Think Carmen Miranda. You’ll even see one of her fruity headpieces at the exhibit. They also sell some fruity jewelry from Bauble Bar right in their gift shop like this pair of watermelon drop earrings or orange slice stud earrings. And how perfect is this chunky charm bracelet? I decided to give it a try for myself with this watermelon midi-skirt from Anthropologie. Camp is about taking the not serious too seriously (and vice versa) I added a professional white blazer from J. Crew to give a whimsical skirt a grown-up touch.

Since Camp is all about extravagance and being over the top, feathers and rhinestones are always welcome. In fact, the more the merrier! It’s an element that is seen all throughout the exhibit. You can opt to add feathers in a subtle way, like these striking earrings from Tory Burch or handbag from Loeffler Randall. Adding an element of practicality, this feather trimmed sweatshirt is a splurge, but such a conversation starter!

Judy Garland is Camp. In fact, she is mentioned several times, and Somewhere Over the Rainbow can be heard throughout the exhibit. Camp has often been synonymous with gay culture and the rainbow symbol is at the heart of it. Especially since it’s pride month, rock the rainbow to show your support. This ‘equality’ tee is a simple way to make quite a statement. If you are wanting something a little less obvious, I absolutely ADORE this maxi dress from Alice + Olivia. Trust me, it is even prettier in person! For an equally bold sundress, without the steep price tag, either this dress or this dress would make for a great option.

I think the best thing about Camp is that it is entirely open to interpretation. In all honesty, there isn’t really a right way or wrong way to express yourself. If they say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, then the same can probably be said about Camp. Make your own interpretation by visiting this exhibit at The Met in person by September 8th, if you can. If you’ve already visited, let me know your thoughts!

Love from NYC,
Katie

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