Designer Spotlight: American Retro

While everyone is on that Fashion Week grind I’m over here, cozy in my home office and out and about in my styling day job. Skipping out on NYFW is becoming more and more okay with me, because as I tweeted, “The only real reason to attend #nyfw anymore is to network.” but I’ll catch that bus the next time around.
But hey, just because I’m not Front Row’ing it, doesn’t mean I’m out of the designer previews! On my last visit to NYC I checked out American Retro. Contradictory to it’s name-sake, this edgy Parisian brand is full of high quality, modern, aesthetically appealing design. Playing off the Effortless Cool menage of blending that our nation’s style has become known for, this collection boasts plenty of sequins to play off of soft ribbed knits and solid cotton. These Parisians have mastered the current American trends of pastel hues, fringed leather and suede, and a dash of glitter in a way that makes you want to see it on all our favorite style stars. From urban mused bold prints to southern-charming tassels and cacti, there’s something for everyone to mix and mash with denim basics and any sort of jewelry, as we ought to do.




Seriously, I can just picture Rihanna and Cara Delevigne in anything and everything from this collection. Personally I’m into the mermaid-colored pink sequins and the gold ribbed midi pencil skirt; c’est chic! The gingham pieces? SO Blake Lively. the Suede fringed moto jacket I can see on blogging queen Chiara Ferragni…the list goes on and on, but this collection and brand is one to watch.

Be sure to check out more from the American Retro FALL collection here !

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Fashion Friends, Fleas, and French Food

Sunday I met up with a few of my NYC Fashion Blogger friends to hit up the famed Williamsburg, Brooklyn Flea Market. It was however, my third week in a row there, so I just perused my favorite booths and added my two cents into the other girls’ purchases and potentials. We lounged around for a bit on the gorgeous waterfront which is coincidentally my second favorite view in all of New York City.

As fashion bloggers, we took a substantial amount of pictures of each other, so the images all link back to each blogger’s blog!

After walking around followed by relaxing, we headed to a late brunch down Bedford Ave at an amazing french restaurant. We all had some sort of delicious plate, and then were surprised by a dessert tasting! My favorite is the creme brulee, though the chocolate mousse was decadently rich like a thick fudge and the seasoned fruit cake melted in your mouth.

Mmmm….fancy, delicious, AMAZING creme brulee! Now for the fashion; What I Wore:

Forever 21 crop top

Vintage maxi skirt

DB sandals

Peter Grimm hat

Vintage cross body bag

La Bernadin

Saturday evening began at my friend Mahsa’s where three girls attempted to assemble into dinner attire in one studio apartment. After that lengthy process my friends Mahsa, Eliza and I headed to the Bowery Hotel to meet up with some other friends for some pre dinner drinks. The hotel had just switched to their spring cocktail menu so three of us enjoyed the new “governor” which is a fresh, cucumber and mint infused gin cocktail which I highly suggest for a hot summer evening.

Next stop was uptown for an exceptional dinner…

La Bernadin is an acclaimed midtown restaurant with tasting menus based upon fish and eclectic wine pairings. As most of you know, I’m not a fish or meat eater, but thankfully my friend Mahsa convinced the restaurant to do a special vegetarian tasting menu for my Saturday night trip there, complete with specially paired wines.

My first course (of 7) was some lightly roasted fresh vegetables, followed up by a mushroom and greens salad in truffle oil; YUM.

Next came some more roasted vegetables along with some fried vegetables, all over seasoned cous cous. Somewhere in between there was white asparagus in an egg cream glaze…I’d never even known white asparagus existed but was so pumped and pleased I didn’t get a picture!

This was then followed by spinach handmade ravioli with mushrooms and seasoned spinach in an egg and oil sauce.

After these courses came the desserts; yes, dessertS.

Pre-Dessert #1 was a Greek panna cota with apple dices, apple gelatin, and a sliver of jalapeno, which was undetectable in the grand scheme of the slice.

Pre Dessert #2 was a La Bernadin specialy called “the egg”. It’s paired with an ale instead of wine and is heavily instructed to be consumed from the bottom up, strictly NO MIXING. It was….indescribable.  All I can say is go and be sure to ask for the egg, you can not be let down by this!

This was then followed by an intricate, heavy mouse of mixed dark and milk chocolates topped with a liquidized pear and crystalized ginger. As the waiter explained it I was already in heaven, though upon diving in, the mouse proved too heavy for me. This was then followed by a sampler of mini desserts; a mini creme brulee, mini macaroons, mini puff pastries, etc. I had been craving macaroons all week so I ate about three of the minis as the ender to this exquisite meal.

My roommate, Eliza, also live tweeted her entire meal of meat and fish, so here are a few images and descriptions for her tasting menu (desserts were the same):

monkfish with egg cream and other glaze

Blue fin tuna carpaccio over foie gras on toast

Octopus with miso vinegar and black beans

Black bass with riceless bean rissotto

Tuna tartare with seaweed and watermelon

Irish coffee!

And now, for actually fashion/people:

I wore a Forever21 dress borrowed from Mahsa along with my favorable Aldo wedges and H&M jacket.  As you can tell, we all had a wonderful time.

Work. Preview Party. Drinks. Dinner. Stripclub.

Wednesday I found out just what Thursday had in store for me…so Wednesday night was spent contemplating a versatile outfit that can go from work to the Satya Jewelry blogger preview, to drinks, to dinner, and then to the strip club. It was difficult to say the least, but I settled on this white dress from Rainbow with my gifted Qupid heels and some black accessories.

I’ll do a full post on Satya later, but for now, on to dinner and after. We had dinner at this lovely fusion restaurant called Ma Peche. I’m generally not a fan of Vietnamese food, but my tofu spring roll was quite good, as were my veggie rice noodles.

After plenty of wine there, we went on to a Rose at a local strip club for some kicked back fun. Needless to say, we had a bit too much fun and the night went crazy.