New York in Three Days

It’s been a while, but I’m back with regular articles! I've missed not posting on here, so I am going to put a lot more time and energy into posting regularly on here moving forward! I thought I'd start with a trip I took last month.

I ventured to New York with Japanese Beauty brand Decorté. They are a brand I hadn’t heard too much about before the trip, as they are only just breaking into the western market. It’s common knowledge that Japanese skincare has renowned status, not to mention the techniques and steps to achieving that glow meant learning new ways to achieve them. The purpose of the trip was to introduce me to the new range, AQ Meliority. I'm a big fan of beauty products that are a true testament to scientific research, and this new range is designed to awaken the skin's ability to self-regenerate and recapture youth. Unique ingredients sourced include Benifuki Extract (a rare green tea), Murasaki-Cha Extract (a purple tea high in polyphenols), and Shirakaba Water which protect skin and prevent ageing. The day started being dressed in a traditional Yukata, followed by a presentation surrounding the new range. Then the fun part, the facial! I have a NYC highlight on my Instagram featuring the full process, so if you’re interested in learning more it’s all explained over there with videos live from the facial. My skin was glowing for days after, and I have started to introduce the Intensive Revitalizing Emulsion followed by the Repair Lotion into my night time regime every night. It’s been 3 weeks and my skin feels supple and looks glowing. It’s currently stocked in Harrods in the UK. its no surprise Decorté is the best selling beauty brand in Japan. 

Decorté kindly accommodated me at The Wythe in Williamsburg. I’ve wanted to stay at this hotel for some time! The decor is industrial, with nice big warehouse style windows, concrete floors and modern service. It’s also conveniently a short walk from the L train which takes you into Lower Manhattan in 5 minutes. I love this area, and used to make the trip here to one of my favourite vintage stores when I lived in NYC over ten years ago. It’s called Beacon’s Closet. It’s easy to spend a few hours in this converted warehouse. I picked up an on trend longline leather jacket and Levi’s jeans both for under $50! 

I wanted to make the most of my time in the city, so I booked an extra night in Manhattan staying at The Moxy Chelsea. It was a nice change to Brooklyn; equally as nice, and I paid a little more for a city view. It’s only around $30 more than a standard room, so I definitely recommend it! The sunset over the concrete jungle was one of the best I have witnessed. And because of that, I’ll definitely rebook for next year. 

I loved being back in New York, and even though it’d been ten years since living there it felt exactly the same, and I still knew the subway! It was also nice to catch up with old friends. 

As I ventured to NYC on my own, I took my tripod to capture all the content you see in this post. Out of all the cities I take my self-portraits, New York is one of my favourites (this is my second trip to the city taking self-portraits) and it’s so nice to convey how I view the city through images. I really enjoyed these three days, the new brand I got to meet with, and the creativity I felt. Before heading to New York, I was thinking about attending New York Fashion Week next February and this trip confirmed that. Only next time, I’m sure it will be freezing cold with a lot of layers! 

And before I forget, where to eat! Two Hands is an Australian cafe on Mott Street, and the breakfast doesn’t disappoint! Prepare to wait though! For dinner close to Moxy, I went to Rosa Mexicana for a friends birthday which is about a 15 minute walk down sixth avenue. Let me know if you have any other questions about New York, my Instagram messages are always open!

All images photographed self-portrait.

How to Style A Blazer

Stripes styled with tailoring is a classic combination. And I think it’s safe to say, the blazer is definitely the most coveted piece amongst fashion it girls right now. Today, I opted for a Viktoria Woods strapless dress and tweed jacket to add texture. 

Here are some of my favourite blazer looks which give off the same vibe, but dependent on your mood and the day you have planned ahead:

The striped blouse and blazer

This is a great option for office to dinner drinks. Add a straight leg or kick flare jean and kitten heels to add a touch of cool to your evening. 

The slogan tee and blazer

If you follow my Instagram, you may have noticed my love for any kind of tee with writing on. As a lover of tailoring, it only seems right to style casual with smart to give off instant Euro girl status. This combination looks awesome with a striped or checked blazer.

90’s slip and blazer

Because lets be honest, you can’t avoid all the 90’s throwbacks right now, and those linen slip dresses are giving us girls in Australia major European summer FOMO. Unfortunately, it’s not quite warm enough to brave one without that added layer. That’s where the blazer comes in. Stick to sneakers or a small heel when styling.

When walking around NYC hours on end, sneakers seem the only sensible option. It’s been a while since styling a pair for my posts, but they are probably my most worn shoe of choice in winter. Purely down to the fact I am up so early to commute to work, and it’s currently 7-10 degrees before 7am so all I want to be is comfortable! Thankfully, when shooting this post in Soho, New York was much warmer. 

It’s been amazing sharing all my New York content with you and receiving such a great response to my self portrait posts. It was a little personal challenge I set myself before going, and a way for me to step outside my comfort zone and regain some of my lost confidence. Thank you for always reading, and I hope you feel inspired to go out and push your boundaries however that may be, or on another note - invest in a blazer! Whatever makes you happy!

Shop my look:

Williamsburg Blazer: Viktoria & Woods (sold out) but similar here and here

Belgrave Dress: Viktoria & Woods

Adidas Originals: Asos or similar here

Faye Medium Leather and Suede Bag: Chloe via FWRD

Photo credit to yours truly. In collaboration with Viktoria & Woods

New York Backless

A few weeks ago, it was back on a plane over to the States. It was pretty weird being back on my old stomping ground of Manhattan, so couldn’t give up the opportunity to shoot this classy yet contemporary look on the streets of Soho. I know these cobbled streets well, but the last time I walked them I didn’t even have a blog! It was nice to experience them differently and view the streets from a more creative perspective, admiring the view looking upwards and visiting a creative space that isn't to be missed! Will share more in a few weeks.

 

Today’s all black look is one of my favourites in a long time. I love the cut of this wool skirt from Third Form, and it’s just the right length for me with a little added height from my boots. I can definitely see myself wearing this with a chunky turtle neck in the coming months. When wearing a fitted skirt, I always like to contrast with an oversized top or floaty details. It gives the whole look more shape. Can we just talk about this top? I have been eager to own a piece from House of Sunny ever since they launched. Based in London, the brand focuses on flawless aesthetic and silhouettes cut precisely for everyday wear. I am drawn to their clean tailoring. The back of this top is so flattering I haven’t taken it off, wearing it to work with a bralet and frayed jeans. This piece is actually really fun to style.

My time in Soho was spent with Christina whom photographed me for this post. It was lovely to meet her and discuss common passions behind the camera. It’s amazing how many people I have met on Instagram these last 2 years, and hope to continue meeting fellow creatives this year!

Shop the look:

House of Sunny Top: SHOP HERE

Third Form Skirt: SHOP HERE or SIMILAR HERE

Black boots: SIMILAR HERE and HERE

Saint Laurent Bag: SHOP HERE

Celine Sunglasses: SHOP HERE or SIMILAR HERE

Photo credit to Christina Emilie based in New York City