Pick Three: Metallic Loafers

With the onset of fall, shopping is constantly on my mind. Of course, it doesn't help that I spend all day looking at clothes, both on my computer screen and in the hallways of the office. One thing I've noticed since starting work at Lucky is that my shoe collection has grown considerably (which is a little tough in such a tiny bedroom). But that doesn't mean that I've stopped looking at shoes. One of the things on my list, besides a pair of classic leather loafers, a new pair of leopard flats and some high-heeled knee-high boots is a pair of metallic loafers. I've been eying the Coach pair since they debuted their Legacy collection and I couldn't be happier that there are so many options for shiny, preppy feet (nor could I be happier that the Bass pair have joined my wardrobe). Obviously I picked three options in gold, silver and bronze (which also reflect their prices from highest to lowest) because even after a couple months I'm still not quite over Olympics fever.

1. Coach "Haydee" loafers, $188 2. Bass "Wayfarer" loafers, $139 3. C. Wonder penny loafers, $128

Here's to Fall

"American Elm" via lostmanproject.com

 It's hard to describe how I feel about the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. After so many steamy, sticky, sweltering days, waking up to a brisk little bite in the air feels as good as sinking into a lavender-scented bubble bath after a long day. I'm enjoying the onset of fall in New York, quoting You've Got Mail every chance I get ("Don't you just love New York in the fall?") and planning weekend strolls in Central Park with steaming cups of coffee in hand. As cliche as it sounds, fall seems to signal a new beginning for me every year. I may not be packing my books into a tote on the way to class, but I feel like fall brings me closer to the person I strive to be. After a summer spent whining about the heat, sitting directly in front of air-conditioning units, cooking as little as possible (who wants to stand in front of a stove after walking home in soaring temperatures?) and wearing whatever would get me through the day with as little sweat as possible, I'm back in action. This week I've already cooked two real dishes (penne alla vodka and a cheddar, bacon and spinach quiche) and I couldn't be happier about being able to wear real clothes (even pants!) without the threat of arriving at work sweat-soaked. I feel like fall has so much to look forward to: friends visiting from out of town, my first trip to California, Thanksgiving, crisp fall nights out in the city and cozy mornings spent sipping coffee, cable knit sweaters, riding boots...I could go on and on.The beginning of this fall has been amazingly busy and after a couple of vaguely depressing years spent finishing my undergraduate career, I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be and that my life is taking me where I'm supposed to go. So here's to fall and everything it brings; I'm so ready.

Fashion Week redux

Nonoo S/S 2013

 Now that I've finally got some proper rest I feel like I can look back on the beginning of this month with some clarity (though not a whole lot - things are a blur). For me, fashion week started Wednesday, September 5 with four presentations, one show and a few quick visits to Lucky's Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference (aka FABB). It ended Wednesday, September 12 when I exited Lincoln Center after the Vivienne Tam show, took a detour to Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes, went home, at the cupcakes and went to sleep around 10 p.m. Fashion week was...fun, exhilarating, stressful, tiring and beautiful. I went to more than 30 events over the course of that seven days. It might as well be the beginning of field hockey season for the number of blisters and band-aids my feet and ankles have been sporting. I got my picture taken a few times and saw other people get their picture taken a million times (the first time I arrived at Milk I was taken aback by the clamoring crowd of photographers out front. Peering into the crowd, I spotted Leandra Medine posing amid the din. I took more pictures with my iPhone than I thought possible. I spotted a lot of well-known editors and even more bloggers and even a few celebrities. I felt like I was stalking Linda Fargo for awhile. I saw a lot of creativity and a lot of beauty.

Lisa Perry S/S 2013

 I've been entranced by the fashion world for a while, starting in my teen years when I began to read fashion magazines in earnest. Then came the endless poring over runway images online and clicking constantly to the next page of street style blogs. So when I found myself in the middle of fashion week - at Lincoln Center or Milk or somewhere along the West Side Highway, it was more than a little surreal. I still did all the things I've done in the past - reading blogs and checking Tumblr and looking at street style - only this time I'd notice someone that I'd seen, or recognize where a picture was taken. Seeing runway or presentation shots from shows I had actually attended pop up on my Tumblr dashboard was both odd and enthralling. It seems strange to think that less than a year ago I was living (primarily) in the Chicago suburbs and going to school and now I'm living in New York, working full time and going to fashion week for work. And though fashion week was even more exhausting than any crazy finals week, I can't imagine anything that I would have rather been doing.

Tanya Taylor S/S 2013

Welcome Home

I used to cry every time I left home to go back to school. My eyes would slowly fill with tears that I tried to blink away as I pulled away from my house and then again when my dad would leave me in the security line at National Airport. Even though I loved Chicago and school and my friends the tears would always come, remnants of the child who once told her mother she would never leave home.

When I left for New York, now more than four months ago, I cried as well. A six-week stay at home had once again filled my heart with the love that surrounds me when I am there. I cried because I was leaving home for good, because I was terrified of what life in the city would hold for me, because it was the first time in my life where I was going off without a real plan.

Yesterday I left home again, after spending the long weekend thoroughly ensconced in home life. I like to say that each time I go home I revert to my teenage self - lying around the house, going to the mall, carrying a Vera Bradley bag on my arm. I spent time with my parents and my best friend who I've known since I was five and high school friends and I listened to the near silence of suburban nights and walked out onto the back deck in my bare feet. I got bitten by mosquitoes and ate way too much and relived old rituals with a cup of coffee and a copy of the Washington Post. And I wished the weekend were longer so that I could stay and give my parents longer hugs and sit around the dinner table for hours. I was sad to leave.

But I didn't cry. Instead of thinking of the things I was leaving, I was thinking about what I would be coming back to: the city that I love, friends I want to see, friends who want to see me, a job that I'm never sorry to wake up for (except maybe that one time when I was hungover on a Wednesday morning), a boy I have a crush on, the beginning of fashion week, my bed that is, admittedly, the one superior thing about my apartment as opposed to my house... Even though I was leaving home and my parents and that wonderful cocoon, I'm actually making a life here in New York and when I got back to my apartment, well, it felt just like home.

Fall Fashion Favorite: Shoshanna

There are a few things that will always get me, cute dresses, plaids and gorgeous greens among them. So of course, it was bad news for my wallet when I browsed Shoshanna's fall collection...and found all three.
My first love was this plaid dress:

But then I fell for this green dress:

And did I mention I have a wedding to attend in November in California?

And who can resist a beautiful green coat (not me!)

And how Spencer Hastings (one of my fall wardrobe inspirations - see here - don't judge) is this whole look?

Obviously on my salary not all of these pieces will make it into my closet this fall, but that won't stop me from daydreaming - or putting a few of those on my fall wishlist/budget.

All images via Shoshanna.com

Pigeon Babies

(Post title to be sung to the tune of the "Muppet Babies" theme song. You know you want to. I am. Pigeon babieeeees)
Here's a fun fact about me: I hate pigeons. And more than that - I not only hate pigeons, I'm scared of them. I can't remember the origin of my pigeon-phobia (and it's only of pigeons, not of all birds) but I do know that every time I get near them, which is quite often in this city, I move farther away, the corners of my mouth start to slowly turn down and I keep a watchful eye on my feathery foes for any sudden movements (a pigeon hit me in the face once. It was traumatic.) So of course I was a little unsettled when I noticed a couple of pigeons chillin' on the railing to my apartment's balcony. They'd just sit there. And watch me. A few days later I noticed something odd - an assortment of twigs on the balcony that hadn't been there before.

And then one of the pigeons started to sit on the twigs

By this point I knew something was up - the pigeons were definitely nesting on our balcony. When I saw an egg, I knew for sure. My roommate and I were going to be foster parents. To a pigeon baby. Now every time I look out on to the balcony this is what I see.

The face of true evil parenthood

From my google searches of 'pigeon gestation' (and I really hope I start seeing adds based on that search) it shouldn't be too long until we have a little feathery bundle of joy...and until I start being scared of it

Pre-Fall Fashion Favorite: Milly

Back in February when I was planning this new blog, I made a list of posts that I would write. I had some pre-fall collections jangling in my mind, but late winter/early spring didn't seem the right time for them and so those items stayed on the list. Until now. Now that we're actually approaching, fall and, um, pre-fall (as I will now start calling the months of August and September) it seems like as good a time as any to take a look at one of my favorite pre-fall collections (even though I've already started in on my fall favorites. Whatever.).

One collection that's stuck in my mind all this time is Milly. Now, in my mind, designer Michelle Smith can do little wrong. I'm always in love with her collections that are full of bright colors and patterns paired with feminine silhouettes. Her pre-fall collection is just up my alley. My favorite part? The ladylike leather pieces. I've never been big on leather (unless it was a gorgeous pair of boots) because I'm just not cool enough (I'm super uncool). But with my favorite shapes redone in leather, I finally think I can wear it. I'll definitely be taking some inspiration from this collection as I start to make fall purchases.

Images via NY Mag

Fall Fashion Favorite: Tommy Hilfiger

It's no secret that I'm a huge Tommy Hilfiger fan. I'm all about stylish American sportswear and the brand always delivers it in spades. Past seasons have delivered some of my most lusted-after items (I'm still lamenting the fact that a pair of those high-heeled duck boots never made it into my closet) and this season is no different. But before I go into pieces though, let's talk the ad campaign.

click to enlarge

I've spent the last few seasons just about obsessed with the Tommy Hilfiger ad campaign. The "Hilfigers" (wouldn't it be nice if we could all create our own fictitious, ridiculously attractive families) tell a story each season, painting a picture of a sprawling upper crust family that does everything together - hanging out at the country club, taking camping trips or just celebrating the holidays in a massive Connecticut house covered in plaid. To me, the ad campaigns strike the right balance of aspirational and inclusive - sure, the family is dressed in the latest not-inexpensive Tommy, but, while the lifestyle screams 'wasp,' the mix of models, however genetically unfair they may be, doesn't.

There are so many things I love about this ad campaign. I'm not much of an outdoors person, but I have to admit that a glam, all-American foxhunt in a English country manor meets Fifth Avenue (home to the Tommy Hilfiger flagship, of course) vein is right up my alley. Especially if I could dress in the quilted jackets (and I'd like all of those quilted jackets, please) and tweeds showcased above. I'd like to spend my Autumn dressing like a private school refugee crossed with a former competitive show jumper crossed with Spencer Hastings, so my fantasy fall wardrobe is full of well-tailored tweed blazers with elbow patches, cable knits (or cable knit prints like the ones the Tommy team rendered on silk for this season) and knee-high boots in buttery leather. Another thing to love about this ad? The Craig McDean-shot campaign was snapped in Warrenton, Va. - right in my (proverbial) backyard! If you didn't know, Virginia is home to some prime horsey-set country which makes it the perfect setting for the old money meets modern sensibility feel of the Hilfigers.

I can't forget about my favorite looks from the runway show which hit all the right notes of preppy equestrian cool- I'll take all the coats and boots, thanks.

And doesn't that last look remind you of a modern, fashion-forward Samantha Parkington? Love.

Tommy Hilfiger ad courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger
Runway images via NY Mag

Pick Three: Little Black Booties

When I make a shopping list, just as often as there are specific items (like a Madewell sheep sweater, for instance) there are things that I know I want - but I'm just not sure where to get them. I'll write down "striped shirt" or "pencil skirt" on my list and hope that I come across the perfect one while out shopping or browsing the internet. A lot of times I'll come up with an expensive ideal and then work to find something that's actually in my price range. That's the premise behind this "pick three." I think of something I want - in this case, a pair of black high-heeled booties and then I find three that fit my desired description at a variety of prices. These range from $995 (at the top) to just $46 (at the bottom) - I think I'm going for the sweet spot in the middle.

1. Christian Louboutin"Vicky" ankle boots, $995 2. Topshop "Aristocrat" shoe boots, $170 3. Lulu's "Kailin" platform booties, $46

Dresser Decor: A glimpse into my apartment

Even though I've been in my apartment for two months (wow.) it's nowhere near fully decorated. In fact, we only just got a couch and coffee table this past week. My room is pretty consistently a mess, and with minimal space there's not much to see. One space I am proud of right now, though, is my dresser - at least when I can manage to keep it neat. I had an idea of what I wanted my room to look like (remember this post?) and when I started picking up odds and ends for my dwelling, I tried to stick to that black, white, lucite and bright theme.

I started off with a melamine tray from Target and filled it with goodies from the Container Store - a bright pink acrylic box (that houses nail polish), two clear acrylic jars (one for bracelets and one for loose change so that I'm constantly saving for shoes), a white metal cup for brushes and hair clips and a clear acrylic cup for makeup and makeup brushes. Another tray, this one a heavier clear acrylic sits beside it...with more nail polish in it.

(Like the glimpse of my deodorant and night guard case?)

On the other side, I keep my stack of magazines (do I ever not have a stack of magazines) and all my various reading accoutrements (aka my Kindle and iPad). Don't you love my Fair Isle Kindle case? It was a handmade gift from my crafty older sister.

Though I don't have any art on my walls yet, right now I'm content with the picture hanging out with my makeup and jewelry and the jewelry that I've hung up on my wall. In such a small space it's vital to make use of every single inch of space and by hanging my jewelry up, it's both organized neatly and on display in an aesthetically pleasing way. Plus, it makes it super easy for me to put away which curbs my tendency to just throw things wherever is convenient.

It's still a work in progress - just like the rest of my apartment - but I'm glad to see at least one part of my room come together the way I wanted.

Obsession: Madewell Sheep Sweaters

I am not getting over animal prints any time soon. Just when I thought I could love nothing more than hedgehog prints, Madewell did it to me again. With sheep.

Images via Madewell.com

Look, I love sheep. Something about their little woolly bodies and bleating. In elementary school I made a clay sheep that my mother still keeps (and was briefly on display in our town's community center. I know you're jealous). I have a sheep pin that I've had since childhood that I still wear and get compliments on. Sheep are my jam. And so I'm seriously coveting one of these Madewell sweaters (to preorder or not to preorder - that is the question). I just can't decide though - do I want my sheep in a row, or in a pyramid?

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Sweet Lemon Magazine Issue 5 is live! Check it out!

Summer Reading: The Innocents

 One of my favorite things from childhood summers was the public library's summer reading program. You'd get a blank list at the beginning of the summer and fill it out as you read books. When you read the requisite number, you turned in your list for an almost completely useless coupon book. I was a big reader back in those days - time not spent at day camp or at the pool was spent reading. And with 100 pages counting as a 'book,' I could read Harry Potter and fill in multiple slots on my list. The coupons were rarely useful, but I got a lot of joy out of seeing how quickly I could complete my list (and sometimes how many lists I could fill out over the course of a summer). Unfortunately there's no equivalent for adults, such that I can tell, but I'm trying to get the same joy out of reading this summer when I have the time.

I'm not usually one of those people who reads the hot book recommended in magazines, but recently something caught my eye. I was intrigued by The Innocents by Francesca Segal because of its modern retelling of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence. Here's a little back-story:

In my senior year of high school my English teacher gave us a choice of five books to read - we would list them in preference order and he would assign us to groups. My top choice was Wharton's The House of Mirth, drawn in by the promise of old New York society-based fiction. Instead, I got assigned Thomas Friedman's The Lexus and the Olive Tree (even though there was someone in the House of Mirth group who didn't want to read it. Obviously I'm still outraged by this injustice) - not a bad book, but nonfiction about globalization doesn't quite equal a page turner for me. Last summer when I was in New York, I decided to actually give Wharton a go by snatching up The Age of Innocence on a trip home. I spent afternoons reading in Washington Square Park, but it never got finished, put aside for other pursuits, like reading Helter Skelter (more on my fascination with true crime stories later). This summer I hoped that The Innocents would pull me in and rekindle my interest in finishing the original.

Luckily, it did just that. I finished it this weekend while lying on my stomach on a beach towel in Washington Square Park (back to old haunts) and I can say that it sufficiently whetted my appetite for the original tome. The London-set drama made me yearn to read the period New York version to recognize the streets I walk daily among the pages. I need to know how the updated version compares to Wharton's. I feel the same kind of urgency that I did all those summers ago filling out my reading list - now that I've finished one book, I just can't wait to pick up another.

Animal Print Obsession: Hedgehog Hegemony

Animal prints are just about everywhere now, but there's one little critter I couldn't help noticing: the hedgehog.

Back when I was in high school and desperate for a pet (there are dog allergies in my family that prevented us from getting another dog and a cat was completely out of the question) there was a time when I thought the perfect creature to fill the hole in my life was a hedgehog. I didn't end up with a little hedgehog friend, but I still think they're pretty darn cute. I fell in love with the Kate Spade hedgehog pieces, but at those prices (that iPad case is $85) the animals were once again out of my reach. So of course I was thrilled to see Asos' take on hedgehogs, this time on a sweater. Sure, the little guys are a bit cartoon-ier, but they're no less cute. And at only slightly above $50, these are some hedgehogs that might actually be able to make it into my home.

Fun fact: I learned the word hegemony from the Ender's Game series

Stopshop

Or, Why Summer's not Taking any More of my Money

One of the realities of New York is that it's a serious money drain. On top of the higher cost of living (rent, food, etc.) there's the constant lure of restaurants that deliver, $15 cocktails with friends, shopping for a new outfit (the H&M and Zara down the street from my office are a consistent temptation)... the list goes on. We all know that I have a hard time resisting a good buy, but this summer I'm on a mission. Seeing as how I basically hate summer weather (an opinion that was justified by this past week's oppressively disgusting heat and humidity) I've decided not to buy any summer clothes unless it's absolutely necessary. The truth is that all my summer clothes just get gross and sweaty, and half the time I'm just throwing on a dress and a pair of sandals before calling it a day. I'd much rather save my money for other things, like gelato and fall clothes.

Fall is my favorite season to dress for once the temperature drops from summer highs into the comfortable chill of mornings in the high 40s and afternoons in the low 60s. When the weather gets hot, I'm either dreaming of being on a beach somewhere or dreaming of sweaters. And since the racks that fill the halls of my office are displaying wool coats and we're discussing boots while the temperature hovers around 90 degrees, I'm experiencing some major winterlust. So I'm saying no. No to sales at H&M, no to another sleeveless sundress, no to dropping my hard-earned money on something that will only be worn during the summer and then tucked away until next June. Instead, I'm saving my pennies for fall, fun and, let's be honest, weekend gelato lunches. Wish me luck!

How to Live out of a Suitcase (For an Indeterminate Amount of Time)

What I've been living in, I mean, out of

Though it feels like much longer, I've been in New York for over a month now and have lived in my apartment a few weeks. One part of the lengthy feel to my first month or so in my new home city is that up until a week and a half ago, when I received some boxes from my family, I've been living out of a suitcase (and, you know, from what I've bought here). There is an art to living out of a suitcase. I have not yet mastered that art.

Unfortunately, packing is not my strong suit. In my nervous panic over starting a new job I seem to have packed whatever would fit into my suitcase, duffel and purse without a thought to what would go together and the kind of weather/temperature fluctuations that would rule my daily outfit choice. In some ways I've been fine (no worries about running out of underwear) and in other ways I haven't (rampant rain meant a lot of days of soaked feet). Regardless, I've learned a lot about how (and how not) to prepare for spending weeks with only the clothes out of one suitcase (and in my case, a duffel bag...and whatever I ended up buying) and it all boils down to four main ideas.

1. Pack items that work together. This seems like a no-brainer, but when you're nervous or excited or just plain terrified (and I was on a 24-hour cycle of those emotions before I moved) it can slip your mind a bit. Honestly, this was still the part I was best at, though I did start running out of good shirt options (oh hey, trips to Zara and H&M...). Pack your suitcase like you're doing one of those 30 for 30 challenges - but don't limit yourself to 30 items if you've got the space. Make sure your shirts go with your skirts and your jackets. Make sure your shoes go with everything.

2. Consider all weather options. I did not do this, hence the sopping wet feet almost every time it rained. Bring a pair of shoes that can get wet, make sure you have enough outerwear, pack items that layer well so that when it gets hot you aren't stuck sweating all 75% of your body out and that when it gets cold you're not running into the nearest H&M to buy a hoodie (this happened one time when I was in New York for an interview). Make sure you have everything necessary to keep you dry and at a comfortable temperature.


3. Pack things that wash and dry in a machine. I'm a stickler for following wash instructions, and since a fair amount of my clothing comes from retailers that like you to air dry their clothing I was stuck with a lot of items I was able to wear once and then stuff back into my suitcase until I had an apartment of my own, a drying rack and time to go to the laundromat (only two of those three things have happened thus far). My saviors have been things that either a. don't smell bad after wearing or b. can be put into both the washer and dryer and thus can be dropped off at a wash and fold place in the morning and picked up in the evening. Even if you're not in a city where it's easy to drop your clothes off to be washed  by someone else, however you end up doing your laundry you're going to be really glad when you don't have to figure out where to dry clothes that need to air dry.


4. Don't underestimate the importance of accessories. When I was getting ready to leave for the city I packed a pouch full of necklaces to wear with the clothes I would be repeating. And then, true to form, I left it at home (I always forget something). The truth is that accessories will do a lot to distract people from the fact that you've worn the same dress three times in the past two weeks. Keep them busy complimenting your shoes - it's called misdirection.And bonus: small accessories are perfect for those little pockets and nooks in your suitcase.

A Summer Uniform

Now that the weekend is over, I'm back to feeling fully rested (after spending this weekend recovering from Memorial Day weekend) and back to feeling energized about well, everything. I'm finally settling into my apartment (thanks to my recent acquisition of a dresser that makes me feel like I'm living in a real place), I love my job and I'm getting to know my neighborhood. One thing I'm not quite enthused about is the impending hot weather that summer will bring. We went through a mini heat wave a couple weeks ago and I was just about dying in my mid-spring out-of-a-suitcase wardrobe. Though the temperatures have dropped since (and are currently, frankly, a bit chilly) that hasn't stopped me from developing a sense of impending doom about what surely will be scorching days of summer. So I've developed an ideal summer wardrobe for sweltering summer weekdays and weekends - equally fitting for the office, my commute (by foot or by subway) and for running around the city - featuring the sandals I've already started running into the ground.

1. Joe Fresh 2. J. Crew 3. Madewell 4. BaubleBar

Recommended Reading: Libba Bray's Beauty Queens

As many people can attest, college is not a time for pleasure reading. As much as I love to read, the past few years have been spent with my head buried in academic texts and literary works (some of which I enjoyed, but they were still for school). Now that I'm out of school - and even now that I've started my job I don't have homework - I've started to ease myself back into reading for fun.

About a month ago, my mom and I took a quick trip to new York to meet up with my current roommate and look for an apartment (the very beginning of our housing search). With two train rides on the schedule, I knew I would need something to read. I first heard about Beauty Queens on a TWoP recap of Pretty Little Liars (no shame here). As a fan of Libba Bray's Great and Terrible Beauty series I was interested to see Bray's take on a more modern subject. Beauty Queens, as you would learn from reading the back cover or perusing the summary in the Kindle store (as I did), is about a plane full of teenage pageant girls crash landing on what seems to be a desert island. But it's not just about pageants and Lost-esque islands. What really impressed me was its commentary on society, femininity, feminism and what it means to be a woman (or girl) in the modern world. It was funny, it was thought-provoking and it was the perfect read for the train (and whenever I had down time in the hotel). If you're looking for a good book to read this summer - on the subway, on the beach or in your backyard - definitely pick it up.

Back in Action

Almost a month later, I'm back. Last time I posted I was getting ready to leave home for New York City and a new job waiting for me there. A lot has happened in the past month.

• I moved to New York, starting out (aka spending two weeks) by sleeping on a family friend's pullout couch
• I started my job, fashion credits assistant at Lucky Magazine (which won't change this blog an this blog does not reflect my employer) (I've always wanted to say that)
•  Bought my first pair of real designer shoes (thanks to a Manolo Blahnik sample sale)
• Found an apartment in a physically and emotionally exhausting whirlwind
• Moved into my apartment with my roommate (still a work in progress)
• Met my Sweet Lemon editor Carly (as well as bloggers Nicole, Mackenzie and Stephanie) and helped put out the 4th issue of Sweet Lemon Magazine
• Got my first real paycheck

It's kind of hard for me to believe that I'm a real adult, living and working in New York City. I saw my family this past weekend and felt like I should be going home with them. And unlike in school when I had defined breaks, I'm not sure when I'll see them next (though I'm planning on taking the train down in a couple weeks). Instead of being defined by classes and exams and vacations my life is more of an open expanse now. Sure, I have work five days a week and that part is defined, but I have no idea what exactly I'll be doing in five years. For now though, I love my job and I love New York. And I miss blogging. So, I'm coming back to it (in part due to inspiration from the ladies mentioned above). It might not be everyday - I'm still settling into my work routine - but it will be here. I promised suburbs to city and I'm going to deliver. And in the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter @_hannahoward, Instagram @hannamariehoward, on Tumblr and on Pinterest.

A Little Birthday Wishlist

At the end of this week (or depending how you count it, the beginning of next week) I'll be 22. It's an odd birthday, the first of many non-milestones when marking another year gone by simply means noting your increasing age. This birthday is also odd because so much is changing. Next Tuesday I start my job in New York City. With my birthday Sunday and my job on Tuesday (not to mention having to be in the city to get all my forms filled out on Monday) everything is a bit overwhelming.

No matter how overwhelmed I am, though, I still have time to think about my birthday wishlist. My ultimate wishlist item is that our apartment application will be approved and I'll know where I'll (eventually) be living. Apart from that though, I'm hoping for some little things to decorate a surely teeny room in my future apartment. I know the big things will get taken care of one way or another, but here are the things I wish I could have to add some character - and color - to my future dwelling.

At the top of my list is this hot pink wire bunny. I've long been a fan of rabbits. My most beloved stuffed animal is a bunny I received at a young age and my room is full of little long-eared figures. This iteration though is a little more adult, but no less fun. In addition to brightening up my room, I'm pretty sure I could use it to store necklaces too.

Now that I'm almost 22, I should probably be over the Pottery Barn teen offerings, but some of them are just as stylish for adults as they are for angsty adolescents. This black and white chevron rug is one of those things (and these chairs are a close second). I'm all about protecting my feet from cold floors and this rug would be ideal - especially since I can't resist a chevron pattern. (Pottery Barn Kids has a chevron rug in even more colors too)

 I love the look of trunks and suitcases as storage pieces and with the amount of stuff that I squirrel away, storage is what I need. I wish I had the time to scout out vintage trunks, but sadly that kind of thing is not in the cards for me. So I'll just hope for these trunks from Z Gallerie. After all, new isn't a bad thing.

Finally, with an ideal decor scheme of black, white, lucite and bright, this electric blue nightstand/side table would be the perfect accent. Not only would it be a great perch for the bunny (or, say, an alarm clock) but the open space underneath makes it perfect for stacking magazines and books.

Style Inspired by: Lana Del Rey

I'm not a big fan of her music (or a fan at all, really. It's just not my thing.) but I do find myself, now and again, admiring Lana Del Rey's style. To me it's a perfect mix of crop tops and varsity jackets, flower crowns and Converse shoes. With a warm, sunny day and nowhere to go, I decided to let Ms. Del Rey inspire my style for the day. I dug through my closet for the elements I like most about her style (the aforementioned items, all of which I own - details at the bottom) for an outfit that I think looked pretty good - even if I don't have the long, flowing hair (especially now since I got a haircut this week) or full lips of the "gangster Nancy Sinatra" (my favorite oft-repeated line about the singer). Just call me Hanna Del Rey.

Flower Crown: Topshop / Jacket: Members Only / Top: Urban Outfitters / Shorts: Gap (cut off by me) / Shoes: Converse

The Striped Shirt Search

Clockwise from top left: Saint James / Chance / Chinti and Parker / Joseph

One of the essentials on my shopping list right now is a boat neck striped three-quarter or long-sleeve shirt. I'm a sucker for stripes - on sweaters, dresses, blazers... - and my old top of that description recently got the old heave-ho while I was organizing my closet (you can only keep something with holes and stains around for so long). So now I'm on the hunt. Because I wore my old shirt all the time - it was a go-to for lazy weekend days and busy school days alike - I'm willing to put a little bit more money in to make sure it lasts a little longer. I'm looking for something classic: navy (or just blue) and white that will pair with just about everything I own. The shirts above range in price from $68 to $195 and I'm hoping for something at the lower end to middle of that spectrum. Any suggestions?

Closet Case: An almost organized wardrobe

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about embarking on a journey to organize my closet. At that point I had boxes that needed to be unpacked and the difficult task of combining my college closet and my home closet. Thankfully, after a lot of unpacking, some purging, a trip to Ikea and a couple trips to the Container Store I've gotten a (better) handle on my clothing. My closet is still a little overstuffed; even with the thinner hangers I'm having trouble fitting everything in. But I've given everything space to hang freely - no more dresses scrunched up at the bottom - and in the process prioritized some of my clothing (and sent some off to the Salvation Army). While I'm excited about the closet, though, what I like most is what I did outside the closet. An Ikea bookshelf is now shoe storage, putting all most of my heels on display in a way such that they're not squished and the open shelves give me space to add a few other things to live among the shoes. Of course, now that everything is (almost) organized I'm getting ready to pack up again and move, but for now I'm enjoying it.