Category Archives: NYC

(I’m Almost 31), and I Still Can’t Dress Myself

It appears this is part 2 of a series in which I try to learn how to dress with more style.

If this is not the only blog you read (hi Mom!), then you’ve probably heard of Stitch Fix. (referral link)

It’s a subscription box, but it’s clothes, not beauty products or running products.

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You start by filling out a style profile.

There were no options for: really really likes Lilly and J. Crew and must bust out of that box, so I just said I really, really like preppy clothes.

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And classic. True story: when I brought a bunch of clothes to get tailored after I lost weight, I brought in an Ann Taylor jacket and dress. I was with my mom, and the tailor was really confused. “Are you sure this isn’t your mom’s?” OMG I JUST FOUND IT ON FACEBOOK.

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So dowdy.

I moved to New York, lost a bunch of weight and still wasn’t quite sure what my style was. I found a Gilt deal for a stylist, and had a session with her. It was fun, and I applied some of what I learned with her…for a while.

But I gained a little bit of weight, and I find myself retreating back into dressing to hide, not accentuate.

I started a new job about a month ago, and I think I still have time to trick them into thinking I have some style before they know me too well.

I was so excited for my first box to come.

Here’s what was inside and my thoughts:

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I saw this dress in the box, and immediately wrinkled my nose. The pattern is not me at all. I was tempted to not try it on, but decided to be open-minded.

It fit REALLY, REALLY well–like better than a DVF but for a fraction of the price–but I just couldn’t get into the pattern. My office is pretty casual, and I walk everywhere in NYC and am usually too lazy to carry heels, so I would probably style it the first way…but yeah, still couldn’t get into the pattern.

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I LOVE THIS SWEATER. I’ve been rotating who I wear it around so I can wear it as much as possible.

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It is comfy, but flattering at the same time. ALSO, IT HAS POCKETS. So far, I’ve worn solid tops under it, but I suppose I can get wild and wear stripes or something crazy.

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So, I liked this top. It fit, and I liked the color. But it was $68, and I didn’t love it, so it went back. (Hey Stitch Fix guys? Can you send the skirt next time? I LOVE that.)

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I loved this top to death. It was completely my style, but it was a little too small. I guess I mostly shop in places that vanity size – J. Crew, Ann Taylor/Loft, Gap – because I said I was a small in tops. I am not really a small. I went in and changed this immediately so that I can get more cute tops like this that my boobs might actually fit into.

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I was very unsure about this jacket. I wanted to like it, but I just didn’t. I can’t tell you if it’s the cut or the fabric, but something about it felt a little conservative for even me

My friends tell me that the boxes keep getting better with time, so I’m going to stick with it. They charge you a $20 styling fee, but if you buy something, that’s applied as a credit, so I was able to get the best sweater of my life for $38 instead of $58.

You can sign up for an invite here (referral link) and get your own box o’clothes. I’m excited to see what comes next month! I do love shopping, but I definitely need some help stepping outside my comfort zone.

What’s your style like? Have you/would you ever do Stitch Fix? What are your favorite style blogs?

5 Tips to Take Awesome iPhone Photos

When I first started blogging, I carried around my phone and took AWFUL pictures of my food. I don’t know why anyone stuck around, but they did. If you’ve been reading since the beginning, thank you and GOD BLESS for nearly five years of putting up with me.

As I started reading more and more blogs and hanging out with more bloggers, I stepped up my game a bit and usually carried around a point-and-shoot, which I used every single day and took slightly more clear, if still not great pictures.

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Eventually, I noticed lots of my blogger friends were using D-SLRs, and I decided to dust mine off. I’d gotten it for Christmas the year I moved to NYC, because I didn’t yet have a ton of friends and thought that photography would be a great hobby to pick up.

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I took a photography class with Ashley before she went and deserted me for the other side of the pond.

But these days, I rarely carry a camera around with me, even though I love my little S90. I love Instagram and being able to share photos instantly.

They say that the best camera you have is the one that you have with you, and I obviously always have my iPhone on me. Also, I now run my work Instagram, and, well, I have some serious competition and inspiration re:photography.

So last week, Emily took an iPhone-ography class. Yes, that’s a thing. I’d seen Juliette taking a similar class recently, and though it sounded like a great idea. I googled and Photo Manhattan was the first one i found.

For New Yorkers, I will give you the quick review before sharing the tips I learned: not worth it. I did learn some good tips at the end, but I also sat through a lot of very general how to use my iPhone camera, how to use the Photo Stream (which I don’t really care about) and that you should print out more of your photos to make them tangible.

Okay…

But I did learn a few helpful tips that might help you.

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1. If there is something you’d like the lens to focus on, tap the screen. The little square comes up, and you can move it to where you’d like it to expose for, and it will do so.

2. YOU CAN USE THE VOLUME BUTTONS as shutters. I never knew this one, and it makes it much easier to take a photo.

3. Turn on the gridlines (Settings > Camera), and use the rule of thirds for more visually interesting photos. Don’t just center your subject. Put it one of the thirds lines to create a more dynamic photo.

4. Edit, edit, edit. Snapseed is a great app for your phone. I’ve been using this for a few weeks and am trying to learn the ins and outs, but even on a basic level, it does some decent editing.

5. HDR. Read more about it here, but the short version: it takes three images of different light ranges and compresses ’em all together. In many situations, it can make your photos look better, but it can also make them appear a bit flatter.

Do you have any tips to take great iPhone photos?