KATIE KENNEDY - Page 207 of 266 -

Parisian Inspired in New York

July 24, 2019

Parisian Inspired in New York

NYC, Style Blogger, Rent the Runway, Tory Burch, Parisian, French, Preppy

Top || Skirt (also) || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Watch || Bracelet

First off all, I don’t think the English language has a word that accurately describes Parisian style. Nearly everyone on the streets of Paris seemed so impossibly chic, it was an absolute feast to take in all of the looks. I think the biggest difference is that each item in an outfit is selected with a lot of intention, but at the same time is done effortlessly. It’s also incredibly unique to the wearer. There is no uniform when you walk down the street. With all of that, I came back to New York incredibly inspired to make myself look even just a little bit more Parisian each day.

Like I said before, the first thing that comes to mind is effortless. I cannot imagine a Parisian woman struggling to decide on what to wear for the day. To acquire this kind of mindset, it’s going to take some upfront work. Fill your closet only with pieces that you truly love and feel good about. From there, you can just go ahead and trust yourself. Sometimes a knee-jerk reaction is best.

Their hair and makeup routine is effortless. The old adage ‘less is more’ is definitely in play here. Less time spent and fewer products used will not only showcase your natural beauty, but help you attain that certain je ne sais quoi that you’re striving for.

While I was under the impression that Parisian style was relatively serious, I was so happy to find the fun in how the women dress. A Parisian isn’t afraid to add a little bit of whimsy or an eccentric detail to an other wise straight-edge outfit. This could come in all shapes and sizes, but my favorite rendition is adding a brooch to a blazer or jacket. Since coming home from Paris, I’ve been itching to buy one myself and add it to my accessory rotation. This scooter piece from Talbots is practically perfect and at a great price point.

The hunt for mastering Parisian style is a group effort. There is no shortage of articles and books that share their two-cents on the topic. Each gives a different point of view that helps add to the bigger picture. One of my current favorites is Lessons from Madame Chic. It includes great advice on everything from style, to diet, to culture. Just like you would expect, these books are chicly designed and could also double as a coffee table centerpiece. Two other books I can’t wait to crack open are Parisian Chic Look Book and French Women Don’t Get Fat. I’m a new francophile.

No matter who you are, what your budget is, or where you live, the Parisian style is possible for all. Finally, sticking with simplicity is a good place to start, but don’t forget to add fun to what you wear. You should enjoy getting dressed in the morning! You can always book your own trip to Paris for inspiration. I’ll see you there!

Love from NYC,
Katie

For even more on my travel, be sure to see my exclusive content here.

Girl’s Trip to Paris

July 22, 2019

Girl’s Trip to Paris

NYC, Style Blog, Travel Blog, Draper James, Navy, Paris, France, Parisian, Rent the Runway, Preppy

Dress (also) || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Bracelet || Watch

Whew! It’s been an absolute blur these last few weeks. After jetting off to Europe, I hit the ground running almost as soon as I landed back in NYC. If you look back on the past week, I’ve been uncharacteristically quiet and it’s all because I feel like I haven’t had a day to reset and regroup. The heatwave that hit New York gave me an opportunity to unwind and enjoy the AC. Clearly, I desperately needed it! Finally recharged, I feel ready to share all of the amazing little details on my trip to Paris. Reader beware: you may end up wanting to book a flight ASAP!

First, I have to start with these gorgeous pictures! Since it was a girl’s trip, my loyal photographer and husband, David, wasn’t invited. Not wanting to miss out on some iconic pictures, I turned to a company called Flytographer. I’ve been looking into this company for quite some time and I think it’s an incredible business idea! For a flat rate, you can book a photographer from their worldwide network. Better yet, you can take a peek at past portfolios to get a really great sense of personality and aesthetic.

I met with Rachael at the Debilly Footbridge one morning to shoot these amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. She was such a doll to work with and her talent speaks for itself. While David will always be my go-to photographer, I can’t wait to use Flytographer again on our next vacation. If you are interested in trying this for yourself, and want a $25 discount in the process, be sure to click this link here and start daydreaming about your next international photoshoot.

My friend and I stayed at the positively dreamy Hotels des Grands Boulevards in the 2nd Arrondissement neighborhood. Set in a building as old as the French Revolution, the culture and history of the city has been brought to life with the use of Art Deco decor and vintage details. The hotel itself is small and intimate, but still has all of the luxuries you would hope for from a boutique hotel. The Shell is their rendition of a vintage inspired cocktail bar and seemed like the place to be every night. During the day, you can stop by to grab a bite to eat or sit down for a gourmet meal. The thoughtful staff was absolutely amazing. No detail was overlooked.

More importantly, I absolutely loved the neighborhood we stayed in! A small trek from the major tourist attractions, it gave an amazing opportunity to live like the locals live. The streets were lined with quintessential Parisian cafes and packed nightly with the young professionals of the city after a day’s work. There was something so satisfying about sitting down and being fully immersed in the French language and culture. Although my own French skills are extremely minimal, I spoke what I could and tried to listen as often as possible. As far as recommendations, you will not find a bad pick in this neighborhood.

NYC, Style Blog, Travel Blog, Draper James, Navy, Paris, France, Parisian, Rent the Runway, Preppy, Girl's Trip to Paris

Since it was such a quick stay, I wanted to see as much as possible! The best way to do that is throw on your comfiest sneakers and clothes that you won’t mind breaking a sweat in. From our hotel, we walked all around the city stopping by to take in the sights. Personally, the Notre Dame Cathedral was the major highlight. As cliche as it sounds, the Hunchback of Notre Dame has always been one of my favorite Disney movies and to see it in person, was amazing.

Even through the construction zone, you can still catch glimpses of the incredible detail in the architecture. I pray that the renovations will be finished in my lifetime so I can go back and really be able to take it all in. From there, we walked all the way to the Eiffel Tour and then back again to our hotel, taking everything in along the way. Grand total, I think we walked nearly 18 miles that day. It’s over a week later now and my legs are just feeling back to normal.

The one attraction I booked tickets for was the Louvre. How could I travel all the way to Paris and not cross that off my Bucket List? Of course, seeing the Mona Lisa was wonderful, the building itself is truly a work of art. It was originally built as a palace and all of the regalia can be seen in the decor. Sadly, we didn’t have time for the Musee D’Orsay or Musee de l’Orangerie, but it’s all the reason to return soon!

I was seriously nervous about being a first timer in Paris, but now that I’ve been able to experience the city for myself, it will hold a special place in my heart. It’s a city that has become entirely enveloped in romanticism, but still fully lives up to the expectation. I can’t wait to bring David here because I know he will love it too!

In the upcoming weeks, I’ll be posting more snapshots from my trip, but also feel inspired to talk about my tips for traveling abroad with friends. Regardless, be sure to check back often to hear about my latest adventures.

Love from NYC,
Katie

For more on my travel, be sure to visit my exclusive content here.

48 Hours in Engelberg, Switzerland

July 16, 2019

48 Hours in Engelberg, Switzerland

NYC, Style Blog, Travel Blog, Engelberg, Switzerland, Europe, Hiking, J. Crew, Tretorn, Nordstrom, Preppy, Summer

Rain Jacket || Tee || Joggers || Sneakers

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is a change of plans. I cannot wait to share my girl’s trip to Paris from last week. First, I’ve got to chat about Switzerland! If you’ve been keeping up with me, you would know that Switzerland was not part of my itinerary. After Paris, my friend and I were supposed to hop on a quick train to Bordeaux for wine nights. We had booked an amazing room at the La Course Hotel and couldn’t have been more excited. There was just one problem. When we got to the train station, every single train to Bordeaux was completely booked for the day! We didn’t even know that was a possibility. Since it was France’s national holiday weekend, it makes perfect sense that locals would want to escape the city too.

So, we were off to Switzerland to stay with my friend’s family in a small alpine village called Engelberg. I may have only been there for 48 hours, but it’s definitely a trip I will never forget! If you are in the neighborhood on your next trip to Europe, you should consider a quick detour to rest and recharge.

How to Get There:

By Train. This is the route that my friend and I took from Paris, but it would work from almost any major city in Europe. I seriously love the train system over there. It’s easy, relatively inexpensive, and makes seeing multiple cities or countries a breeze. For this particular trip, we took the train to Basel and transferred to another train to get to Lucerne. From there, we were picked up by our hosts, but an additional train to Engelberg is also an option.
By Plane. If you want to make Switzerland your first destination, there’s a route for you too. Flying into the Zurich airport would be the way to go. Once you land in the banking capital, you can take a train directly to Lucerne and make the transfer to Engelberg.
By Car. Since US driver’s licenses are valid in Switzerland, this is also an option, but the last one I would take. Since the train system is so reliable, and the roads around Switzerland and Engelberg are extremely winding, we can leave this choice to the most confident of drivers.

Where to Stay:

Hotel Terrace. Looking like it came straight from a Wes Anderson movie, this hotel makes quite an impression. Although the rooms are simple, they have all of the rustic charms that you would expect from the Swiss Alps.
H+ Hotel. Located right in the heart of the village center, this hotel includes all the amenities you could ask for. After a day of hiking or skiing, enjoy the onsite spa or dine at the Swiss-inspired restaurant to unwind.
Spannort Inn. One part boutique hotel and one part hostel, this inn is a great choice for travelers on a budget. Whether you opt for bunk beds or a private room, you will feel like you’re staying at a very exclusive modern hotel.

Where to Eat and Drink:

Restaurant Ende Der Welt. Translating to ‘end of the world’, it will only take you a short car ride to get you to this traditional Swiss restaurant. Not much has changed since it first opened in 1900, but the food is still out of this world! A dish you cannot miss is the Aeplermagronen. Essentially, it’s a bowl of noodles and Swiss cheese, for two, served with sautéed onions, apple sauce, and a salad. It’s extremely filling and is the ultimate example of comfort food.
Restaurant Alpenrosli. A 30 minute trek, up a hill and into another state, to this remote alpine restaurant seems like the ultimate Swiss experience. Once again, my food was incredible and raises the question, “can the Swiss make a bad meal?” The answer is no! For a lighter fare, I ordered a Gemischter Salad, but still had the room to share a platter of Rösti. Similar to potato cakes, it is sometimes considered to be the national dish of Switzerland.
Roastery Engelberg. I simply did not expect to find such good cold brew coffee right in the middle of the Swiss Alps. Tasting like a cup of snickerdoodle cookies, this coffee was so delicious I just had to bring home a bag of beans to share with David.
The Tea Room. From what I gathered, this is an extremely popular spot with the locals and was also my last meal in Switzerland. They have a huge selection of local pastries and each looked more delicious than the last. No matter what you pick, washing it down with a cup of Roastery Engelberg coffee is a perfect way to start your day.

What To Do:

Take a hike. Would you expect anything else when you’re in the middle of the Swiss alps? There seems to be an almost endless number of options and paths to trek, but during my short stay, we settled on Brunni. Start by taking the gondola right next to the village center, and an additional ski lift, to get to the top of the mountain. Near the top, you will find Barfusswanderweg. Jokingly called a “pedicure” you take a quick stroll around a small pond through water, rocks, mud, and mulch. Ending with a quick dip in the hot tub, you feel strangely relaxed and ready to hike down the mountain.
In the winter, go skiing. If you find yourself in Switzerland during the winter months, skiing will be your best bet. Since it is considered the largest ski resort in Central Switzerland, there are plenty of slopes no matter what you’re comfort or skill level.
Visit the monastery. Switzerland and cheese are as synonymous as peanut butter and jelly. When you visit the local monastery, and the monks who founded the town in 1122, you may find them hard at work making Swiss cheese and other dairy products. Don’t forget to bring some for a snack on your day of hiking or as a tasty souvenir, along with your Swiss chocolate.

What to Know:

Currency. Although the Euro is used throughout almost all of Europe, Switzerland uses its own currency called the Swiss franc. Extremely close to being equal to the US dollar, some businesses may still accept Euros, especially in towns near the border.
Language. There are four official languages for Switzerland: French, German, Italian, and Romansh. Each canton (similar to a state) has its designated language, but most citizens speak at least two of them, plus English.

The entire time I was there, I had a huge smile on my face and couldn’t believe I was in such a remote and beautiful destination. My friend, slash travel buddy, has been raving about Switzerland for almost as long as I’ve known her, but never thought I would make it there myself. Now that I have, I can confidently say that she wasn’t overselling it. Switzerland, you are simply gorgeous and I can’t wait to return soon, hopefully with David in tow.
Love from NYC,
Katie

For even more on my travel, be sure to see my exclusive content here.