Red sweater | cropped straight leg jeans | white pumps (Zara, sold out- similar here!)

Striped cardigan | black jeans| white booties 

Just when you’re totally out of winter things to wear and are about to just throw in the towel style wise until spring, February NYFW rolls around… and as Carrie Bradshaw famously said:

I’ve been lucky to attend NYFW for a few years now, and while I’m def NOT a fashion industry veteran by any means, I’ve noticed a few changes and made some observations that I wanted to share with you…

1)When I attended my first show back in 2015 things were very different. Even though three years ago doesn’t seem like long at all, in the realms of fashion, media and technology, three years is an eternity. My very first show was Tibi (check out my review and one of my very first blog posts! Lolol)  . Believe it or not, I got to attend, and had a pretty good spot, WITHOUT A TICKET!!! I literally just walked into the venue (I don’t even remember where…not Skylight yet where many of the shows are now, and not quite as far back as the Lincoln Center or Bryant Park days!) and went up to the media table and told them I was a fashion blogger who would love to see the show. They put me in a line and when the time came to start, I was let in with a few other people who didn’t have assigned seats (now called “standing room”, which you now need a scannable ticket for!) and got an incredible view of one of my fave designer’s shows!

2)Fast forward a few years, and things have changed so much.  Luckily, I get invites now and have actual tickets to shows, because my “walk-in” welcome to a show as big as Tibi would NEVER HAPPEN NOW! Every person is scanned, double scanned, and corralled into very specific spots.  In order to get tickets to shows, PR either has to reach out to you, or you have to start emailing press offices for designers months in advance— and even then you’re not guaranteed a spot by any means.  I’m often asked to email past seasons’ coverage or blog posts and reviews I’ve done for shows I’ve attended already— so they can get an idea if you’re serious business and worth a seat.

3) Another note worth making (actually, it’s alteady been made many times before… here’s a link to a controversial article from Vogue editors on it) — how bloggers have “changed” fashion week.  In some ways I see how fashion week has become over-democratized (maybe?) — as it does, the internet, particularly the blogosphere, has allowed the average girl next door to have a peek behind the wizard’s curtain, so to speak.  During fashion week, I’m sure you notice how your feed and stories are full of show recaps, models on the runway, designer finale walks, streetstyle outside of shows— it starts to feel oversaturated and… too accessible (ironic because I just got done telling you how I feel like shows have gotten way more strict in terms of who they let in, right?) Instagram has forever changed fashion— how could we expect fashion week to escape unscathed? And to some extent, the fashion world thrives on exclusivity, wanting to keep the number of cool kids at the lunch table very small and elite— fighting a constant battle against fast-fashion retailers and dime a dozen bloggers (! Raising hand 🙋🏻‍♀️!) “watering down” the industry.  Here’s where I disagree (to a degree).  Why shouldn’t more people have access to fashion? Do we really want people to continue to walk around completely clueless about style or feeling like “looking good” is unattainable for an average person? I think it’s in all of our best interests to share good work, good ideas, and access to them. Which leads me to my next observation…

4) Fashion is always changing— and one of the latest changes is that many top American designers are leaving NYFW— some to show in LA, like Rebecca Minkoff did last season, others to show in Paris… and some to show at totally different times.  Some say that the decisions are financially based, like this article, but I feel like part of it is that “too cool for school” sentiment — as in “been there, done that— time for something new and different. I’ve also read a few articles by fellow blogger, magazine editors and others in the industry about how they’re “over” the NYFW “circus”— how it’s gotten too crazy, too much about capturing perfect streetstyle instead of focusing on the shows; too much about who’s in the front row instead of what’s actually coming down the runway.

5) So, What are my thoughts on Fashion week?

I’ll always love it. And as long as they’ll have me, I’ll be at as many shows as I can.

I’ve always  been a person who loves a tradition, a ritual, something planned that entails a period of excited anticipation, culminating in a memorable adventure. This is fashion week to me.  It’s a time to focus on the fun, the frivolous and the creative.  To celebrate other creative people’s hard work and dedication to their craft.  A time and atmosphere where it’s totally socially acceptable to wear outfits you normally wouldn’t.  For a few days, I get to be a different version of myself- not mom, not teacher, not wife or daughter or sister (don’t get me wrong, I love all of those versions as well!)

So those are my thoughts on fashion week— I’d love to hear what you guys think— or if anyone is going, let me know if you’d want to meet up!

xo, ❤

Christine

 

 

I get asked all the time what my go-to shoe is for running around with a toddler, but also looking stylish— for when you don’t want the sporty look of a sneaker, but you’re not a ballet flats kind of girl (they were never for me either— too girly lol)… my answer is and always will be A LOAFER MULE, duh, preferably in white! Something about a white shoe says “I’m bold but not showy” , chic yet understated— a fashionable, yet practical mom (or non-mom who isn’t feeling a heel at the moment). To be honest, I don’t understand how every woman doesn’t own multiple pairs of loafers or loafer mules already! They literally are the perfect shoe. Now I know not everyone is a nut like me, boldly baring my ankles in mules all winter lol— those of you who prefer not to have frostbitten feet… I’ve included some regular white loafers as well! I’m also aware that my Gucci loafers are a total splurge ( although the cost per wear makes them totally worth it! I wear them ALL THE TIME and they feel like BUTTER)… so I’ve included my picks at all price ranges.

happy shopping!

xo, ❤

Christine

Gucci Peyton Mule: $790

Free People white mule :$98

Rebecca Minkoff : $195

Franco Sarto: $98

Linea Paolo : $119

Sam Edelman: $85

Nine West: $50

Rust faux fur bomber | THE MOST FLATTERING LEGGINGS | Lace up Shearling boots | sunnies | Nolan’s boots | Nolan’s coat

Striped turtleneck | my fave black jeans| white booties | faux fur jacket: Tibi (old)

If you’ve been following me for awhile, and read my previous motherhood posts, you know that I was never a person who dreamed of becoming a mother. When we played house when I was a kid, I usually was more interested in creating the stories surrounding what we would be DOING with our baby dolls rather than actually taking care of or holding them (would we be turning the couch into an airplane to go on a trip? Or what was the best way to create a restaurant in the basement in order to serve our stuffed animals plastic play food?). So when we had Nolan, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, I was nervous to see if I had ANY maternal instinct at all— I’m a full time teacher after all, but I teacher older kids— and I never was one to want to hold babies or play with them or whatever it was that you DID do with them! Luckily, (or maybe naturally) it turns out that I do like being a mom— the instinct or whatever we want to call it, did kick in… and transition to motherhood really has not been all that difficult.

Because we struck baby gold.

Now, before I continue, let me preface this by saying that I already feel guilty saying that— Nolan is and always has been SUCH AN EASY BABY— little of which we can really take credit for… yes, Tim and I are easygoing people for the most part, and decided early on that Nolan would have to fit into OUR lives, not the other way around (hey, we were here first, right?!)… but I definitely think that he really was just born with a chill personality. He slept through the night at about 2-3 months old, and still sleeps straight from 8am -8pm. I think I’ve heard him cry a total of 5 times over the past 20 months. He’s independent, plays by himself and doesn’t whine. He eats pretty well, and cleans up after himself. I swear guys, I’m not bragging… it’s just the way he is.

Which brings me to the point of this post.

Inevitably, after your baby turns one, people want to know when you’re having “number two” (the middle schooler in me who never grew up is laughing REALLY hard at “number two”!!!). And the first thing that pops into my mind is that saying “One is like none and two is like ten” (or something like that)… life is SO good right now; or little trio is so easy to manage (but don’t get me wrong, it’s not like every single moment is perfect lol… Nolan of course has his moments!), we love to randomly pick up and go on impromptu adventures… and I’m TERRIFIED that a second baby will change that.

What if “second baby” is nothing like Nolan… what if he or she is colicky or demanding or cries all the time or doesn’t sleep or has (god forbid) health issues?! Please don’t mistake this last sentence for me seeming bratty or spoiled — I am well aware that many couples struggle with way worse concerns like infertility or have children with real, actual health challenges, and OF COURSE I know how lucky I am to have gotten pregnant and had a healthy child to begin with… but isn’t it natural for all of us to have these worries? I didn’t seem to have these same apprehensions before having Nolan because I had literally no clue what to expect… now that I know how good it can be I’m so afraid that it will never be as good as this… As they say, lightning never strikes twice in the same place, right?

As I write this, the logical part of my brain is already trying to reason with my emotional side— it’s telling me how I’ll adapt no matter what, how I’ll love “second baby” just as much, how he or she will be special in their own way, how we’ll figure out how a family of four will work the same way we figured out how to make it work with one baby. Moms of many, you’re prob rolling your eyes at this post, but maybe, a teeny part of you remembers having these same fears before you had “number two”?

So that’s where I am when it comes to having another baby. I know it will all be ok, as pretty much everything if life always is. Please comment and let me know what you think— who feels the same way? Any words of advice? Let me know!

Xo, ❤
Christine