Oh Summer, where have you gone? Almost over are the beach weekends, bikinis and rosé weather. But that can’t stop me from hanging onto my favorite trends this summer, the off-the-shoulder neckline.
I spent the day recently with one of my favorite ladies, Liz Teich of TheBrooklynStylist, doing a Snapchat takeover for Rent The Runway. We had a blast cruising all over the city and hitting up a few of our favorite spots in my neighborhood. Where did we go you ask?
–ELK coffee shop– Super cute spot in the West Village for a great latte and some cute pooch watching.
– The Washington Mews- This lovely little spot holds a special place in my heart. My husband grew up in one of the row houses right in front of the mews. It’s like a little slice of heaven in the city…and makes for great photos as you can see here.
–The Whitney– The new Whitney Museum is turning heads. With its grand outdoor spaces and fabulous new exhibits, The Whitney is worth a visit if you’re in the Meatpacking District.
–The Wild Son– If you’re in Meatpacking, you MUST go to The Wild Son. Focusing on lunch and brunch, The Wild Son is nailing it when it comes to delicious healthy food. My favorites and must haves are the grain and egg bowl, buckwheat gluten-free pancakes with turmeric butter, and dark lemon soda.
Walking around New York City you find the most amazing hidden gems. A few of my favorite blogs talk about the lost streets, buildings and underground tunnels in NYC (see Forgotten-NY). I’m always on the hunt for the interesting in my neighborhood.
After shooting one day in the Washington Mews behind my mother-in-law’s house, it got me to thinking, what other beautiful back streets are there in NYC. I did a bit of research and found Patchin Place. Once home to E.E. Cummings and John Reed, this quaint street is full of character. My photographer Shane and I decided to check it out for ourselves this weekend. I was excited to see when I arrived that the gas lamp at the end of the street is still there. This beautiful classic street lamp is one of the last gas lamps left in NYC that is still serviced by the city.
On this gorgeous Saturday I was prepped and ready for a cocktail party that my husband and I were hosting that night. I absolutely love hosting events and am always on the hunt for a great cocktail party dress. This little number from Landero via Rent The Runway was perfect for a fun evening at home with friends. I love the asymmetrical cape back detail, white zipper and pop color palette. I paired it with one of my favorite pairs of Charlotte Olympia heels, a simple leather choker and I was all set.
If you’re in the mood to host a little soiree at your place this week I will leave you with this little bit of advice. After many years of hosting in my apartment I’ve come to find that it gets a bit tiresome to mix cocktails all evening. Instead I purchased a bell jar from Fishs Eddy (similar here) and make a large batch cocktail for the evening. I’ve been in the mood for gin lately and mixed up the below concoction that turned out perfectly. Needless to say, there was not a drop left by the end of the evening.
Thyme After Tyme Cocktail (Multiplied by 60 for bell jar with a full handle of gin)
Ingredients
1 ½ oz. gin
1 oz. thyme-infused honey (boil honey, add sprigs of thyme, and let steep for 15 minutes) (I used about 15 oz honey)
½ oz. lemon juice
4 slices cucumber (for large batch I put the cucumber in my Vitamix)
2 oz. ginger beer
cucumber slices
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Preparation
Add cucumber, lemon juice, and thyme-infused honey into a shaker and muddle. Add gin and a generous amount of ice. Shake vigorously and then strain into an ice filled glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with cucumber slices and fresh thyme leaves.
Is there an item you’re always looking for to complete your wardrobe? I’m always on the hunt for a great white button down, slim v-neck t-shirt and the perfect shirtdress. That dress that makes you feel great and you can easily throw on in a hurry. The right piece requires just a few accessories and you’re ready to head out the door. Well, look no further, this gem from 10 Crosby Derek Lam fits the bill. This piece exudes menswear vibes with its crisp collar and vertical stripes. I’m in love with the casual cool sleeves wrapped around your waist detail as well. Pair them with a great boot or sandal, a bold lip, and you’re ready to go.
I picked out this dress from Rent The Runway Unlimited for the perfect weekend cool vibe. Rent The Runway has an awesome selection of ready to wear separates, bags, and accessories from designers like Marissa Webb, Tibi, and Milly. They are now offering a new service called UNLIMITED. RTR gives you the ability to rent unlimited items (3 at a time) for a flat rate every month. For those who don’t have unlimited budgets for new clothes and unlimited closet space, this is the cure for your summer wardrobe.
