thelittlegoldmix

White button front crop top: Zara | Distressed cutoffs: One Teaspoon | Snakeskin loafers: ASOS| Sunnies: Illesteva | Quilted Leather Bag: Marc Jacobs (old)

We spent the day museum hopping in the city yesterday, and since it was going to be 90 + degrees out, this Zara crop top (currently in stores!) and cutoffs seemed like my best bet– plus I’ve been dying to bust out my new ASOS black and white snakeskin loafers (!!!), and this simple outfit wouldn’t compete with them.  I’m capital L LOVING the menswear – borrowed-from-the-boys vibe of a strong pointed mannish loafer these days– anything else flat wise feels too feminine for me right now.  Plus, these withstood a full day of skipping around the city, including Citi-biking it down to TriBeCa.  This Zara crop top is, for me, the only way I’ll probably do a crop top lol…tomboyish, classic, and not too, well, cropped lol.  This one will transition (get ready to see, hear, read that word TRANSITION in every magazine, blog, store advertisement etc for the next month or so !!!) nicely into my fall wardrobe as well.

Now this bag.

About 10 years ago, when I was in college, I waitressed summers at a neighborhood restaurant, saving up my housepay (servers you know what this means!) to put towards this Marc Jacobs– now some of you may remember the “Stam” bag by Marc Jacobs, named after model Jessica Stam– it was allllll the rage as one of the “It” bags of the early 2000s.  I knew then that any “It” bags would have a short shelf life, so I knew I didn’t want to get the one that 4747373 other people already had…and I fell in love with this version from that same quilted line the Stam came from– this one is called Julianne.  Funny how I still remember “her” (it’s ??) name after all these years! I went to Bergdorf Goodman with literally a stack of $5s, $10s and $20s and paid in cash for this gorgeous bag.  It has a gold chain strap and top handle, plus four super convenient outside pockets…and I wore it EVERYWHERE for about the first year I got it. And as I was cleaning out my closet the other day, I came across her– haven’t worn her for years, as bag styles changed– and just couldn’t part with her.  I guess because it was my first real BIG purchase, that I saved up for before I even had a “real” job.  And guess what?! For some reason (maybe this is where my style instincts kick in?!) she feels “right” again…and we’ve been out together three days in a row now 🙂

What’s a sentimental fashion item in your closet that you’ve reconnected with!? I’d love to hear about it! Comment below!

xo, ❤

Christine

1. Favorite Montauk Spots:

The Montauk Yacht Club Hotel: Right on the lake, beautiful grounds, preppy nautical vibe– how cute is this little light-house?! They have plenty of outdoor seating, lounge chairs, and fire pits at this well-kept resort– plus a private beach and pool. Super kid and dog friendly also.

Sole East Resort is probably my go-to place to stay when I’m in Montauk– the hotel is in an old 1920’s Tudor mansion, and they’ve decorated it in minimal 1960s- beachy-chic style– so the aesthetic is right up my alley! The “Backyard” is perfect for a lazy hammock-nap, complete with plenty of Adirondack chairs, firepit and pool– you can also rent bikes and ride into town or to the main beach.

The Crow’s Nest is a must when you are in Montauk.  The food is out of this world and pretty healthy too– lots of hummus, grilled veggies, and fresh cheeses on the app menu, and plenty of fresh seafood, quinoa, and cous cous, dishes that go with their slight Mediterranean flair.  The drink menu (which we obviously sampled plenty of!) is on point as well.  They have a globe-lit beach area and outdoor seating too, which are perfect viewing spots for the sunset. Lots of famous people watching too!

2. Chinese Hot Pot:

If you’ve never done Chinese Hot Pot (sometimes called Shabu Shabu), YOU MUST! It’s kind of like fondue or Korean BBQ, in that you cook your own food in a boiling pot of stock (that you can personalize).  Then you either order or take from a buffet the ingredients you want for your “soup”– proteins, veggies, noodles, and more types of tofu and dumplings that you ever knew existed.  Two of my favorite places to go are in Flushing’s Chinatown– Minni’s and Spring.

3. My fave casual romper:

This is my go-to romper for casual days that include running errands or bike riding– its from MinkPink and has been to the beach and through the wash more times than I can count, but has held up surprisingly well! Link here to this year’s version ON SALE!

4.Yup, another version of my fave summer dress from Urban:

So by now you guys have heard me sing the praises of this Urban Outfitters dress 7474646 times– I have it in floral, rust, bright red and this black and white tribal-ish pattern.  Seriously, you need it. Get it here! The most perfect summer dress!

5. The Madewell Overalls:

The fit is just perfect on these– baggy-ish, but still fitted enough to not lose your shape; the perfect vintagey medium blue wash, and just the right distressing on the knees.  I love to wear it with striped tees, but paired it with this sleeveless silk button down, also from Madewell, for a dinner date last night.  Side note: DO NOT LISTEN TO GUYS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR OPINIONS ON OVERALLS. They just don’t get it! Tim says he likes them, and that they look “adorable” on me, but I know what he really means is that he thinks I look 5.  I don’t care. I love them, they’re fun, and have lots of pockets for holding things.

xo, ❤

Christine

Off White Silk Sleeveless Button down: Madewell | White cutoffs: One Teaspoon via Shopbop| White and Grey snakeskin lace up sandals: Schutz | White nail polish: Essie Blanc | Pearl and Gold Bangles: Baublebar

We spent the day running around the city yesterday, crossing a few summer activities off our bucket list– visit the top of the Empire State Building (you’d be surprised to know most people who live in and around New York have never been!), see the Met exhibit on the Chinese influence on Western fashion (amazing!! pics to come soon!), and our weekly ritual of Monday night movies in Bryant Park.  I knew I wanted to wear something easy breezy, since it was super hot in the city yesterday, but still kick it up a few style notches because well, you don’t go to see a fashion exhibit at the Met in flip flops and a t-shirt…

Actually, this outfit was inspired by yesterday’s all white mani-pedi– nothing fresher or cleaner in the summer in my opinion!  There are few outfit combos chicer than a monochromatic look, particularly in all neutrals like I did here– varying shades of white.  The shorts are a pretty classic white, with distressing, so they lend a casual, tomboyish feel, while the off white silk printed button up keeps it more put together– and the Schutz lace-ups– well they just elevate anything and everything you pair them with and make the whole look feel super fresh and edgy. If you want to do a monochrome look, it’s almost better, for me at least, to not look like you’re necessarily trying to match the shades exactly– pair varying shades of the same color and it’ll look way more effortless.

Shop my exact look on the links above, or I’m sure you guys all have plenty shades of white-(ish) colors to play around with in your closet!

xo, ❤

Christine