I’ve dreamt of having my own red brick or brown stone apartment with a fire escape ever since I was small. And although my current apartment is the opposite of all of those requirements, I love it nonetheless. But there’s just something about the thought of being able to crawl on to the fire escape on a warm summer night with a throw blanket, a candle, and maybe a book… is just SUCH an appealing and relaxing thought.

Fire Escape Outfit #1

This is my “I’m Serena Vanderwoodsen visiting Dan Humphrey in Brooklyn and hanging out on his windowsill” outfit—fitting right? Low key does anyone relate most things in New York to Gossip Girl still? I really love how this cropped black turtleneck from Urban Outfitters looks with my wool Hopper skirt from Aritzia.  Definitely gives the outfit a “preppy” feel which I actually really enjoy sporting.

Fire Escape Outfit #2

I wanted to embody my inner “chill girl” vibe with this outfit. It’s what I imagine I would wear on a regular day if I lived in New York. As if I just ran out to the bodega on the corner for the some breakfast, ran some errands, and now I’m hanging out on my fire escape in the Lower East Side. Goals. Both my top and my shorts were purchased at Aritzia, and my shoes are the Nike Low Top AF 1s.

I think most creatives would understand the feeling of being inspired by completely RANDOM things at times. Mine just so happened to be these old-school fire protection stairwells ??‍

More soon,

The last day that we were there, the weather took a downward spike and got REALLY cold. I definitely wasn’t prepared for the cold, but thankfully I purchased this Uniqlo long puffer trench while I was there, and that got me through the day. 

I miss the routine that we had in New York. Wake up, get ready, go downstairs to a bodega and grab coffee and breakfast (I was obsessed with bagels), and go explore. If I were to go back, the bodega tradition would definitely continue. 

We also learned on our last full day in NY that taking the subway is always the best choice. We made the mistake of taking Ubers everywhere we went pretty much during almost our entire trip—thinking that it would be the most convenient mode of transportation. IT WAS NOT. I know I’ve mentioned this in a past blog post, but DON’T UBER EVERYWHERE. Lesson learned. 

New York was literally beautiful everywhere you turned. On this day specifically, we walked EVERYWHERE. We tried to hit up as many places that we still had yet to check off our list, as possible. 

We, of course, had to end off our night at Time Square. It is everything you see in movies and more honestly. There’s something about standing in the middle of all the busyness and looking up at those lights that was so incredibly overwhelming but peaceful at the same time.  It’s not necessarily a place I would visit all the time, but the experience was definitely unforgettable. If you’re visiting for the first time, it’s definitely a place to keep in mind. 

It’s been nearly two months since my New York trip and I am still missing it. Obviously, I’ve grown accustomed to life in Vancouver again, but I can’t help but think about that magical city now and again. Making it a goal in 2018 to go again. And I. Can’t. Wait. 

Until next time, 

My tip for this post? DON’T use your City Pass to enter The Met! The Met is by donation and you can save your City Pass usage for an attraction that has a flat entry fee.

I️ wanted to wear an outfit that represented the chill, effortless New York style that I️ was seeing all over Manhattan, while still looking “boujee”, if you will. My solution? Wear denim, a pajama top inspired blouse, and Dr. Martens—and then throw a fur over it. That was pretty much my solution for bouje-ing up every outfit I️ wore in New York. ‘Throw a fur over it’.

I’ve wanted a pair of Dr. Martens for a while, and I’m glad I️ finally bit the bullet and purchased this pair while I️ was in New York. While it looks like the classic thick leather, 8-eye Dr. Martens, these ones actually have a softer leather than most. I’m super glad that I️ ended up picking these up because they’ve been the perfect boot for the cold shitty weather than Vancouver has been experiencing this winter.

I️ half-tucked my Aritzia blouse into my black denim to further create that “done but undone” look that New Yorkers have mastered. I️ think the tuck compliments the roughed-up vibe that the combat boots give. And then the fur on top ties everything together, giving the look a put-together edge. AND VOILA, my interpretation of a classic “model-off-duty” or “done but undone” New York outfit.

I’m still very much so reminiscing about my New York trip (as you can tell in my blog posts and IG pictures). Hopefully, January will bring some slightly warmer weather which will push me to do something interesting enough to write about in Vancouver. But until then, I️ hope you are enjoying my style and travel tips from New York!

Until next time,

The bridge itself was absolutely stunning, especially during the morning golden hour. Standing in the middle of the bridge and looking back towards Manhattan, and its stunning cityscape, was a view that I would want to see every morning if I could.

After lingering for a couple moments, we continued down the bridge towards Brooklyn and made our way to the infamous Washington street for the ever-so-popular Dumbo photos.

If you’re looking to get really good photos, make sure you visit these locations early in the morning on a weekday. Both of these are popular places for foot-traffic as well as photographers and tourists looking for the perfect shot, so don’t expect to get YOUR perfect shot on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. We arrived at the Washington Street location at around 9 am on a Monday and there was only one other duo there taking photos. It was also early enough that not many cars were trying to drive through the one-way street. The lighting at this time was also PERFECT as the street itself was still shaded by the buildings but the Manhattan bridge behind it was lit (literally).

I’ve included a Google map with a dropped pin below showing you exactly where this location is.

The photos I got from our Brooklyn morning were some of my favourites from this trip. If you’re planning a trip to New York, I would highly recommend walking the Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo and then exploring the surrounding area.

And if you’re IN Dumbo during breakfast hours, go and check out La Bagel Delight on Front Street, a couple blocks away from Washington Street. I had their Mr. Bagel bagel and it was hands down the best god damn bagel I’ve ever eaten in my life. I STILL crave that bagel every morning.

Hope you’re having an amazing week so far, and happy holidays! I’ve got a week off from work for the holidays which means lots of new content for the new year!

And if you’re enjoying my posts, don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletters! I’ll round up all the best posts for each month and send them straight to your inbox at the end of each month.

Until next time,

Each city that I went to touched me in a different way. Los Angeles made me want to live young and free; San Francisco made me want to work hard; But New York has definitely left the deepest mark.

New York has by far been the most inspiring city that I’ve visited this year. There’s something about the busyness—everyone walking around with a purpose, nobody having time to waste—that captured my heart. Not to mention the amount of creativity and style that everyone exudes…

It’s easy to forget the feeling that a place gave you once you’re back in your own city. But I plan on holding onto this little piece of NYC that I took home with me and trying to continuously apply it to whatever it is that I’m working on.

Loving this bell-sleeve sweater dress from Tobi. It’s actually got a mock-neck neckline which I think makes it slightly more flattering and trendier than a regular crew neck. It is a little short for something to be worn in the winter (especially in Vancouver right now as it is FREEZING), but I think it’s the perfect holiday dress if you’re planning on attending any Christmas parties or events.

I paired the sweater dress with my chunkier heeled booties from Geox. I wanted to offset the girly, body-hugging silhouette of the dress with something a little more badass. Because we all know I’m not a girly girl (nor could I be).

What’s the last place that you’ve been that made you feel some type of way?

Until next time,

Known for its classic, minimal NYC buildings where everyone takes their photos, Soho is definitely the place to go for clean, simple, city shots. We spent both our first day and our second day in the Soho area. Our Airbnb was located in the heart of the Lower East Side (LES) which made it extremely easy for us to head to both Nolita and Soho. Coffee shops, food, and shopping was an abundance in our area and we’re lucky to have stayed in such a prime area for a decent price.

I wanted to rock my Farlala Skirt on day one in case the following days go colder. Plus it gives off the perfect Gossip Girl preppy vibes that I think suited Soho well. I wore it with my Aritzia black turtleneck by Talula, and my Aritzia Fritz coat by Babaton.

And of course, what’s a trip to New York without some protestors. These guys were camped outside of KITH, protesting the use of animal fur in fashion. That awkward moment when you walk by with a black fur coat… IT’S FAUX I SWEAR.

More soon,