Essie Giveaway: Closed

I'm back from New York and am glad to say it was all that I hoped for and more.  I even found time for a nice manicure and pedicure at Bliss Spa which should just be called heaven on earth because I got the 'Double Chocolate Pedicure' in which they served me two scoops of chocolate ice cream while I received my treatment.  Another pleasant surprise was that they had the entire Essie Fall 2010 collection, which I fell in love with and promptly bought the set of six to take home with me.  Don't worry, I bought an extra set for a lucky reader too!

All you have to do is...

1.  Be a google follower of my blog

2.  Leave me your e-mail in a comment so I know how to contact you if you've won
That's it!

For an extra entry...
-Follow me with bloglovin, and be sure to let me know in your comment

The giveaway will run until next Friday, November 5th...spread the word!

International entries welcome.

Park Views

There's nothing quite like central park on a beautiful day.  I strolled around the park in my Lucien Pellat-Finet cape, Organic by John Patrick skirt, Steve Madden Boots and new Juicy leather gloves.  These gloves will definitely be one of my staples this winter mainly because they are much more functional than mittens or my cashmere pair which don't allow me to do so much as take out my keys without taking them off.  Do you have any accessories you can't live without?

Times Square By Night

It seems that every time I visit a big city like New York I'm like a kid in a candy store.  I can't make any decisions when it comes to what to eat, where to shop and how to fill my days while I'm there.  I blame growing up in Hawaii for that, although perhaps it's not such a bad thing to want to do everything I possibly can.  In an effort to make the most of my time I made a list of what I wanted to do.  Eat amazing sushi at Morimoto...check.  Catch the saturday night show of Promises, Promises...check.  I wore my Topshop leopard print dress and earrings, H&M tights, Dolce Vita boots and Burberry purse.  (I'm going to blame the repeat purse on my five pairs of shoes which simply did not leave any room for more handbags.)

A Break From Winter

The sixty-something degree New York weather was all I could have ever asked for.  I was able to pull out light sweaters instead of my go-to trench coat that makes far too many appearances in the cold streets of London.  I happily walked through the streets of SoHo in my new Jeffrey Campbell Broome St. wedges and stopped by Lombardis for a slice of New York pizza.

Lucien Pellat-Finet cape worn as scarf, H&M tank, John Eshaya long-sleeved shirt, J Brand shorts, Uniqlo tights, Burberry bag, Jeffrey Campbell wedges, DIY necklace.

Top Of The Rock

New York City has always held high expectations in my mind, mainly because I haven't been there since I was ten and have built it up in my head to be a kind of magical place.  As it turns out my expectations were met as I spent my weekend browsing shops, eating amazingly decadent meals and strolling through Times Square at night.  I met my boyfriend in the city to celebrate two wonderful years and we made our way up 70 stories to the top of the Rockefeller plaza building to get the best view of the city.

When I first laid eyes on this Topshop kimono I knew it had to be mine.  Though the photos do not do it justice, it's actually made of silk and velvet and I thought it added just enough color and texture to complete my otherwise all-black ensemble.  I'm convinced it could go with anything, but I think I'll be wearing it next with a simple dress and booties.  Topshop earrings, H&M tank, Paige jeans, Steve Madden boots, Burberry purse and my new favorite Forever 21 hat

Life In London

Time really flies by in the city of London.  Though I have done a lot, there is still so much left on my list of things to do while I'm here.  For one, I won't go home without having afternoon tea and visiting every street market London has to offer.  That being said, I've done so many amazing things already and have taken too many pictures to count, but here are some of my favorites.

St James' Park


Brighton

England's coast

rain-soaked streets

St. Pancreas Temple Church

The Lake District

Legally Blonde

Covent Garden

Love Never Dies

Day-To-Day

It's been a busy week with classes so I've been putting together simple and comfy outfits that still have something special to them.  This H&M scarf has been one of my best buys of winter, mainly because it was no more than twenty dollars and I've been wearing it like it's my job.  I love wearing it with a blazer because you can use safety pins to attach it to the collar and voilà, it is now a fur-trimmed piece of outerwear that is more versatile than you would think.  Worn with a T by Alexander Wang tank, Topshop blazer, Paige Jeans, DIY necklace and Jeffrey Campbell clogs.

Do you have a go-to outfit for your day-to-day activities?

Up North

I went up to the lake district in northern England this past weekend and had an amazing time in a small town called Keswick.  We rock climbed an did an array of outdoor activities all the while enjoying the scenery which pretty much looked like a scene out of The Holiday.  I've come back longing for more cozy capes and ponchos and some hats and scarves to match.  Here's what I'm eyeing right now...

Red + Leopard

With the grey skies and low temperatures here in London, I'm finding it increasingly challenging not to wear jeans and an oversized sweater everyday.  I decided to fight the temptation and wear the complete opposite today.  Sometimes it's fun to wear something bold on a gloomy day...plus I think red and leopard are a great pairing.

Topshop dress, Urban Outfitters shorts, BCBG cardigan, H&M tights, Steve Madden booties, Banana Republic necklace and ring.

Meow

I'll go right ahead and admit it, I have never been the biggest fan of kitten heels.  Maybe it's because in comparison to high heels they don't seem all that flattering, or maybe I just feel like they don't have much to offer in terms of variety.  After browsing the many styles of kitten heels out this fall, I think I might be beginning to understand what the hype is all about.  Since they are on-trend for fall, designers are getting much more creative with their kitten heels and rather than just put out a pair of pointy-toed black leather pumps, they've opted for fashionable details like zippers, studs and lace.  I have yet to purchase a pair myself, but when I do, these will be the top contenders...

{Click To Enlarge}

Will you be wearing kitten heels this fall?

P.S.  Isabel of Walk of Fashion has posted an interview I did on her amazing blog.  Follow the link but be sure to come back and let me know what you thought!

Lazy Days

Today was one of those days when I had some free time and got a chance to catch up on my favorite blogs, sites and magazines that I'm forced to neglect when I have too much studying to do.  I'm grateful for days like these because at the end of the day I feel like I have full dose of inspiration to carry me through to the next time I have a lazy day like this one.  Here's my favorite spread I came across today...

Jessica Stam for Vogue UK November 2010 Issue

Images via Fashion Gone Rogue

I'm also going crazy for this shot from Jak and Jil Blog...