made in america

jeans - imogene + willie    belt - tanner goods    bracelet - alex and ani    ipad case - dodocase
blanket - pendelton    cheeseboard - brooklyn slate    men's boots - chippewa for jcrew    bottle opener - brown mfg co.

blues

denim isn't just about blue jeans anymore, and canadian tuxedos are no longer faux pas.  

a few years ago it seemed like dark wash skinny jeans held a monopoly over the denim market... but NOW there's high waisted, low rise, cropped, flare, trouser, boy friend, straight leg, skinny, light wash, dark wash, colored, selvedge, and distressed jeans.  PLUS denim jackets, vests, shirts, skirts, and dresses!  

it's wOnderful, really! 

below i put together how I wear denim for different occasions, to some of my favorite places in nyc:

dinner date

shirt (similar)     jeans     shoes    bracelets
 (all from madewell)

hudson clearwater is a "secret" restaurant in the west village with a rustic vibe, friendly staff, and delicious food.  extra bonus: there's a quaint hidden outdoor space for summertime dining!

hudson clearwater

brunch

denim tee - madewell           jeans - current/elliot (via anthropologie)           shoes - lucky brand

fives leaves is a casual cafe in greenpoint, brooklyn and is the perfect spot to grab tasty grub after a stroll through mccarren park.

five leaves

shopping

denim vest - jcrew    dress - attic and barn (via madewell)    sandals - elizabeth and james

artists & fleas is an indoor market in williamsburg, bk (and now also in chelsea) where one can find goods from emerging artists, indie designers, vintage collectors, and handmade crafters.

artists & fleas

fancy pants!

colored bottoms are everywhere!  what's next, you ask?!  fancy pants!

a.l.c.     madewell     zara     talbots     zara     jcrew     jcrew     zara     jcrew    

christmas morn

what a wOnderful christmas! this is my first post from my iPad, using the moodboard app!  i'm so excited about everything santa (& co) brought for me this year:

dodocase     ipad 2    vintage map scarf (similar here)

coffee sleeve    the national "the boxer" vinyl    lavendar soap    handmade backpack

colorblock sweater (similar here)    striped sweater    "a once courageous heart"    aries bracelet

cold weather color

i'm tired of wearing black in the winter.  this snowy season, i plan to dance around town in cheery brights.  i did a little shopping this weekend and picked up a few colorful items at j.crew which i'm super excited about.  i was paging through Sunday Styles this morning and came across a wOnderful ad for a brand called C. Wonder.  the brand seems to be a lovely fusion of the preppy aspects of j.crew & the whimsical nature of kate spade but at a fraction of the price.  i thought, "this is the perfect brand to feed my sudden need for color."  i immediately googled the heck out of it and found that a store would soon open in Soho, and another shortly after at the Garden State Plaza.  I can't wait!

belt: kate spade; blouse: jcrew; dress: madewell; bag: cambridge satchel co; 

pants: jcrew; mittens: kate spade; skirt: jcrew

c. wonder ad from nytimes sunday styles section

an unusual classic

here's a classic piece that isn't black or white.  this dark green lace pencil skirt is interesting and eye-catching but the color and pattern are subtle and the silhouette is simple, so it can easily be paired with number of different tops.

skirt- ann taylor; blouse- ann taylor; pumps- vince camuto; cardigan- jcrew; belt- ann taylor; jacket- ya los angeles (the one i'm wearing is bar III); sweater- madewell

INSPIRED BuY...geek chic

i've always wanted to wear eyeglasses.  i've purchased and rocked many a faux pair, but i always felt a little silly wearing them since they didn't really serve a purpose.  i've recently noticed that i have trouble seeing street signs, and that powerpoint presentations are a bit blurry to me.

i realize no one believes me since i've always had a thing for glasses plus i eat so many carrots that i once turned orange (no joke).  however, i'll have you know that i had my eyes examined on friday and i DO, in fact, need glasses.  so there.

i've probably visited 25 different optical shops over the past few months, trying on all different styles of eyeglasses, but on friday i finally found the perfect pair: the Elizabeth & James "Spring" in Tortoise.  They are nerdy and hip all at once and i feel happy when i put them on.

my recent purchase inspired me to write this geek chic post.

1. suspenders - american apparel

2. varsity jacket - forever 21

3. penny loafers - madewell

4. nerdy glasses - elizabeth & james

5. ankle length pants - jcrew

6. backpack - archival clothing

7. novelty socks - jcrew

INSPIRED BuY...summer weddings

this weekend i was in carlisle, pennsylvania, to celebrate the marriage of my friends, Sarah and Kevin.  The bride looked absolutely stunning and the party was fantastic.  The events this weekend inspired me to write this post about ties - my favorite accessory for men - because weddings are the perfect occasion for a playful/novelty tie.  

i'm really into ties in washed or faded colors, in stripes or solid chambray.  traditional preppy patterns like seersucker stripes, polka dots and gingham checks look fresh in skinny silhouettes and unexpected fabrics.  i also really like unique novelty ties in classic colors (you need to be careful not to go too crazy with novelty ties).  a few years ago skulls were really trendy, and i think the guns, fishbones and the alice in wonderland "drink me" bottle are fun updates to that trend.

check out some of my favorites below:

1. the hill-side  2. original penguin  3. jcrew  4. the hill-side  5. the hill-side

6. tommy hilfiger 7. projector (etsy) 8. artfully disheveled

if you need help choosing a tie to wear to your next event, feel free to shoot me an email at meg@myINSPIREDBuY.com