Let Adulthood Commence

It’s hard to believe that I graduated from college over a week ago. The commencement ceremonies were held at Yankee Stadium for all of New York University, and at Radio City Music Hall the next morning for a smaller gathering for the grads of Stern School of Business.

All in all, it was a very New York affair — who else can say that they graduated in two of the most iconic venues NYC could offer, riding up to the ceremonies on the MTA subways dressed in purple gowns?

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Gotye + Kimbra = Love

Kimbra and Gotye, posing for a feature in T Magazine

How cute is this photo of Kimbra and Gotye? Beigian-born Australian singer Gotye has skyrocketed in fame thanks to his hit single, “Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring New Zealand native Kimbra. Kimbra’s first solo album Vows was released just a few days ago, in which she delivers the same indie-pop sound we got from her breakout debut with Gotye.

The verdict on her musical style is still yet to be determined, though I’m a fan of her single, “Settle Down.” Maybe my mind will be made up once I see her live at the Foster the People show next month at the Mann Center.

In the meantime, a small bit of ear candy:

[INSTAGRAM] Yummy Greens & Grains

My roommates (all five of them) often tell me I buy weird groceries. Which is true. For example, today my haul included kale, dried Snapea Crisps, rice crackers, sparkling lemonade, and mangoes.

On the menu tonight — Kale tossed on stovetop with olive oil, onions and shallots, cooked over medium heat with a cup of chicken broth. Added to that was a cup of vegetable fusili and some quinoa with a dash of garlic salt and chili powder, and voila. Healthy, delicious, satisfying meal in mere minutes.

(Taken with Instagram)
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SOHO [PARK] SATURDAY

Inside SoHo Park, Lafayette & Prince Sts. (Taken with Instagram)

New York’s restaurant scene is often glamourized by the media. You see films and television shows featuring slick bars and read about the posh Sunday brunch locales in the latest issue of New York Magazine, but the real hidden gems are often the ones which are overlooked.

SoHo Park has always been a local favorite for the natives who prefer a more low-key alternative to its high-profile neighbors — Balthazar, Delicatessen, Spring Street Natural, to name drop a few.

Found on the corner of Lafayette and Prince — the pivotal junction of the trendy SoHo shopping and dining — this little burger joint serves up the best of no-fuss casual grub with a subtle sophisticated flair.

Their menu boasts a simple range of soups, salads, and burgers. Its specialty fried pickle dish and Belgian fries are small unexpected treats. Sides are provided with house special basil mayo and sambal ketchup. And their vanilla milkshakes are just as you’d want them — thick, cold, and served in a paper cup with plastic lid and straw. Meals shouldn’t be much more complicated than that.

The best part? Amid the overpriced, overhyped venues saturating the neighborhood, SoHo Park’s menu ventures on the conservative side. The burgers range between $6 and $7, and the most expensive item on the menu is the Sirloin Steak Sandwich, $11.75.

And for the record, it’s worth every last bit of that single-dollar sign $ rating given by the reviewer at NY Mag.

Veggie burger, Belgian fries & basil mayo, cheeseburger at SoHo Park. (Taken with Instagram)

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Gray Morning

I love the view in my little room, especially on dreary mornings like this.
There’s a special mysterious element to the city amid the hazy grayness.

(Taken with Instagram)
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SUMMER BLUES: REED KRAKOFF

As the weather warms, fashion cools — in vibrant hues of oceanic blues and greens!
This season, American designer Reed Krakoff presents a variety of summer pieces on his Net-A-Porter marketplace, but among my personal favorites were the ones which ranged in serene sapphire to shimmering sequins. The prints were bold but minimal in classic Krakoff style, while the solids found their details in their impeccable construction and tailoring. The tote pictured in this set is especially interesting — it is a unique python snake print on canvas! As for the oxford shoes, they’re made from exotic Raffia palm leaves, exuding tropical style in a less-than-obvious but sophisticated way.

Krakoff is known for his use of contemporary design created in fusion with subtle femininity and utilitarian concept. With his latest Summer 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection, the idea still rings loud and true.

Featured in this set: Printed silk-chiffon wrap dress, python-print canvas tote, embellished silk top, Raffia palm oxford shoes, wool-sateen and silk blazer. All designed by Reed Krakoff.

FESTIVAL JUNKIE

For the lucky few who have scored tickets to Coachella this month, here’s a bit of festival fashion to have you start planning your outfits (if you haven’t already)!

Besides the unbelievable lineup — Bon Iver, The Black Keys, Radiohead, BASICALLY AN ENDLESS LIST OF AMAZING ARTISTS — we all know the other vital component of the weekend is the fashion! Many blogs and retailers have created their own compilations of boho-hipster looks, but none does it better than Net-A-Porter. I’ve pulled a few of my favorite pieces from the e-retailer’s collection but check out the complete list here.

Featured in this set: Isabel Marant denim playsuit, 3.1 Philip Lim leather sandals, Chan Luu necklace, Eugenia Kim sequined fedora, Thakoon print silk top, Linda Farrow oversized sunglasses, Pachacuti straw fedora, Etro printed bandeau swimsuit

SIMONE ROCHA

Models backstage at Simone Rocha Fall/Winter 2012 runway show

Here’s a bit of eye candy for your lazy Sunday morning! I recently stumbled upon the latest F/W 2012 collection of London-based designer Simone Rocha (not to be confused with fashion model Coco Rocha) — and I am in love.

Simone Rocha Fall/Winter 2012

Simone Rocha Fall/Winter 2012

Simone Rocha Fall/Winter 2012

Simone Rocha Fall/Winter 2012

Designer Simone Rocha

Rocha is a young up-and-comer and recent graduate of the prestigious Central Saint Martins, home to an endless list of legendary alums such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Paul Smith, and Zac Posen. She debuted her first collection at London Fashion Week just this past February, and released a small capsule collection for Topshop featuring six minimalist pieces which stayed in line with the season’s androgynous trend.

Her signature menswear-inspired style is synchronized with small, feminine details such as lace and tulle. And the Doc Marten-esque metallic brogues caught the attention of many editors and critics last season as Rocha’s trademark piece, showcasing the designer’s edgy wearability in her pieces.

What I love most about Simone is her ability to mix the right balance of sexy and edgy, minimal and detail — who else could pull of a metallic crop top with a lace pencil skirt and patent leather Docs? ❤

Simone Rocha for Topshop

Simone Rocha for Topshop

Simone Rocha for Topshop

TOUR THE TROPICS

You know those awful, hideous Hawaiian print shirts (re: Tommy Bahama) that just scream “tourist”? Well this season, fashion houses such as Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney, Erdem, and Mary Katrantzou have all taken a chic spin on a timelessly tacky classic. Yes, really!

Featured in this set: Stella McCartney Hawaiian-print silk pants, Mary Katrantzou printed woven jersey dress, Stella McCartney Hawaiian-print cotton-sateen top, Roberto Cavalli gold-plated Swarovski crystal necklace, Jason Wu printed structured-silk dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs Havana printed silk-satin top.

The trend actually first emerged last fall when Versace released a few pieces sporting a cheeky jungle print in several of its pieces for the much-hyped H&M capsule collection. Erdem followed suit with a Pre-Fall collection revolving around a pungent floral theme. And since then, even mainstream retailers like Zara have mimicked this runway look to bring to the masses.

Versace for H&M collection

Erdem Pre-Fall 2012 collection

Zara April 2012 collection

So how can you pull off this tricky trend and avoid crossing the fine line of chic and shame? Easy. Pay attention to a few key details to prevent falling into the all too-familiar fashion faux-pas.

First, look at the fit. Make sure the piece is properly tailored and that the silhouette is flattering. Erdem adds the popular knife pleat skirt as a feminine touch, detracting from the tent-like camper shape of the aforementioned Tommy Bahama shirt (shudder). The Zara dress shown above features a slimming A-line, accentuating the appropriate features of the garment.

Next, pair with complementary colors and basics to properly highlight the print. Avoid mixing and matching prints at all costs (see Versace). This is just the visual vomit you don’t want to be caught in. The Versace for H&M look may be suitable for editorials, but in the real world, you would want to choose just one statement piece and allow the rest of your look to remain neutral.

With the appropriate accessories, it’s relatively easy to create a balanced look with patterns and prints. The trick is to choose one, and allow other aspects of your outfit to accent the chosen print. See? Easy.

MINTY FRESH

The coolest color of the season is MINT, and it has quickly become my latest obsession in the few short weeks that I’ve seen the trend hit stores. The best thing about this particular trend is that, unlike other currently popular color fads such as the neon techno (how 80′s), mint is a flattering hue on practically everyone, so you can definitely find a piece (…or five) to add to your wardrobe for any occasion. Just be careful not to get too matchy-matchy, lest you look like an ombre colorboard. Personally, I like to pair this color with classic black to really make the paleness pop. So clean, so fresh.

Pictured in this set: Jil Sander cashmere sweater, Marni platform sandals, Nak Armstrong earrings, Acne taffeta dress, Alexander McQueen enamel cuff, Dolce & Gabbana nail lacquer, TOMS linen shoes.

One of my new spring pieces — a chunky knit! (via Instagram)