Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Warby Parker

I am so excited to be partnering with Warby Parker to showcase their (fabulous) Spring 2015 collection!

What's that? You've never heard of Warby Parker? Well, they're pretty awesome. I first heard of them at the Social Good Summit in 2013, and I've been hearing about them ever since.

Basically, you buy a pair of glasses and give a pair at the same time. But instead of just handing out glasses, WP also partners with non-profits to train people to give basic eye exams and sell the glasses- this means that the glasses fit local styles and promote businesses in under developed communities. Pretty cool, right?

If you're not already convinced that Warby Parker is a great company, just check out their new collection. It. Is. Nautical. Inspired. (cue screaming)

The collection has eight brand new shapes and six new colors, combining WP's signature vintage-inspired designs with fresh, nautical themes. Take a peek ;)


Maybe it's the little compass inspiring my inner traveler or the killer pattern on the frames, but I'm in love with these! Maybe if I had these I would wear my glasses more often like I'm supposed to (oops...).

How cute are these? I love tortoise shell to begin with, and these frames look like they were crafted out of sea shells (I mean, they are called the Carnaby Blue Coral...)! I'd love to pair these with big, turquoise Kendra Scott earrings and a lacey white dress, like so...

Warby Parker Spring Collection


Perfect for summer! This outfit also pairs well with these matte brown and turquoise frames below- there's something about blue glasses that seems so chic- it shows you're not afraid to go with something just a little more daring!


Look at this chic pair- Zac doesn't wear glasses but he loves WP and has asked more than once for a pair. Knowing his love for all things nautical and deep-sea-inspired I'd say this collection is just for him...


If you're feeling adventurous I'd go for this multi-colored pair. They make such a statement and ensure you'll stand out.

If you still don't love Warby Parker, you'll love this- when you want to buy a pair, you don't have to pick just one; you can pick five! With free (yes, free) shipping, you get five pairs sent to you, and you then have five days to take them all out for a test spin. When you pick the winner, you send back the others for free!


I would rock every single pair from the Spring collection, and you can too- pick your top 5 and try them all! I'm thinking it's time for me to pick up a new pair...

While you're all shopping for new glasses (or sunglasses!) I'll be flying to Amsterdam for my semester abroad! I can't wait to share and play with my new camera.  Bon voyage and I'll see y'all in Amsterdam!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Autumn in New York

Now that I'm home for winter break, before all the craziness of pre-study abroad sets in, I have, dare I say it, too much free time. It seems like I have all day to blog and not much to blog about!

So, I'm dipping into some of my adventures from this semester. Early in November Zac and I took a full day to explore the city, running all over the Upper East Side. Zac had been dying to take me to the Frick Collection all semester, and we couldn't help but window shop up and down 5th Avenue, popping into Barneys, Bergdorfs, Bendels, Tiffany's...you know, the usual (I wish).


Our first stop was The Frick, a museum I knew nothing about. It's housed in Henry Clay Frick's Gilded-Age-era mansion, one of the few remaining in New York, and the house itself is a museum


It's very different from walking through the Met or the MoMA, as the old furniture and decorations remain, with most of the art hung on the wall as casually as a family portrait. You almost feel like a guest in Mr. Frick's home, admiring his impressive collection while wandering through one of his sitting rooms. 

The front entry is the only place where you could take pictures, so we took full advantage!



After the Frick we strolled (literally) across the street to Central Park, where the Sunday crowds hadn't quite filled the park yet, making it movie-set-perfect.



Funny story: I was admiring a woman's hat while we were walking, and happened to look at her companion and realized it was Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser! I made Zac double back so we could get a better look. You never know who you're going to see in New York!


The weather started to warm up mid-morning and I was able to shed my coat. The fall weather stuck around- we were lucky and managed to avoid snow all semester!

After a little window (and a little actual) shopping we were in need of a brunch break. Serendipity was packed as usual so we opted for a little Greek place on the corner. I cannot remember the name of this place but it was adorable, and sooo delicious!



After a little more shopping, a hankering for hot apple cider drew us to Bryant Park, where the Christmas market had just been set up and the ice rink was in full swing. 



I love New York in the fall, when all the leaves are changing, everyone is layered up in sweaters, and the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is still being strung with lights. We had a packed day in the city but it was picture-perfect (so perfect I forgot to take pictures of half of it!). Commuting to the city twice a week made it hard to appreciate the city anymore- I saw it as the place where I worked, and riding in on the train became a chore rather than something exciting. But somethings (or some people) make you fall in love with a city all over again, and New York changed seasons at just the right time.

It's crazy to think that I won't be back in New York until probably August for my (eek!) last semester of school!! But I'm looking forward to my semester abroad and one more summer of freedom!

Outfit details: Button-up, J. Crew (similar). Sweater, Gap. Skirt, Gianni Bini. Fleece tights (similar). Trench coat, H&M (similar). Bag, vintage Coach. Bracelet, KJP 'JFK' bracelet