fashion blogger NYC

November 7, 2016

The Difference a Week Makes

Last week at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) the only indicators that fall was in the air was the abundance of pumpkins and a slightly crisp feel in the air. This week a burst of varied, radiant color could be seen on the ground and in the trees, as the leaves began to edge toward the end of their cycle for the year. The paths and trails became quite an idyllic setting, enjoyed even more as it is known that this moment was fleeting, and wouldn’t be quite the same tomorrow or the following week. Before visiting again this week, I had been a bit forlorn, thinking that I pretty much blew it by not going to the NYBG during the summer, but little did I know that the best was yet to come. It just reinforces an adage that a 6th grade history professor reinforced over and over again: “assume nothing.”

This weekend my inclination was to dress rather casually, as there’s not nearly enough time for cozy sneakers and flannel Monday-Friday. Hopefully you are also enjoying this delightful fall weather, taking in the change of seasons with some new fall wardrobe staples in tow!

new york botanical garden fall
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July 24, 2016

The Full Picture

by Julia DiNardo

This was one of my favorite photo shoots in recent memory; loving the pieces in this look and how nicely they all came together certainly has a lot to do with it, but also what is rarely witnessed by the reader is the behind-the-scenes hilarity that ensued. Awkward moments and patience present themselves when you try to conduct a photo shoot on a relatively well-trafficked NYC street on a weekend, and during this particular session some passersby also took my photo (why, and what they will do with them, I will never know),a guy parked his car three feet from me and stared until we were 30 seconds away from wrapping it up, there were some typical “NYC summer” smells, aka sewage, sifting about, and loud, live music was radiating into the air from a nearby beer garden.

You wouldn’t have necessarily gathered that all of this was happening pretty much simultaneously from looking at these images, but anyone, blogger or otherwise, who have attempted to take photos outside in an urban setting has experience with these challenges. You either find it all to be downright hilarious and take it in stride, or it can become maddening. But somehow, I’ve managed to not hear the noise; I think it’s a defense mechanism built into us humans that lays dormant until we live in an overpopulated city setting. On the contrary though, sometimes, when I return home to my parents house and sleep in my childhood room, it’s so quiet that at first it’s almost unsettling. But then I become as accustomed to it as I do blocking out all of that city commotion whirling around me.

Who would have ever thought that filtering what comes through your senses was a skill I would have acquired when I embarked for NYC 16 years ago? Not me! My dad had hopes for a different skill; speaking up and being more assertive. Eh, still working on that one, dad!

In This Look:

Marissa Webb Dress

Henri Bendel Quilted NO. 7 Clutch (no longer available, see similar here)

Aerosoles Bloom Plush Wedges in Pink Suede (c/o)

Jewels: Sorrelli StudEarrings, Assorted Bangle Bracelets (see similar here), Banana Republic Ring

Kenneth Cole Ceramic Watch (c/o; no longer available, see similar here)

On Lips: mark. All Butter Now Lip Treat in Pop Tart (c/o)

On Nails: #ColorCurators: Cupcakes and Cashmere Edition (c/o)

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March 17, 2015

Back to Black

by Julia DiNardo

[Images by Giafrese]

I just got back from a long weekend in the Bahamas with my mom, and feel warm all over; partially because I had a really nice time, but mainly because I’m a bit burnt. It wasn’t the SPF 50’s fault that I slathered myself in, but rather user error in missing small patches of skin and occasionally being lazy about reapplying. Shame on me!

Nonetheless, it was so nice to stop shivering in NYC for a few days, and head somewhere with weather I can certainly appreciate it March! Besides vacation, I was there to visit my good friend Anna, and if you’re in Nassau and in need of any sort of an expert hair service from cut and color to styling, keep in mind her beautiful, boutique salon, Studio Vivo.

Now that I’m back in NYC, it’s time to stash away those tropical hues and sleeveless dresses, heading back to my winter wardrobe of predominantly black for me, at least for a while longer. Wearing black in the weather is a New Yorker’s uniform, perfect for combating and concealing the sludge, ice, snow, and anything else relatively icky with staining potential that you may encounter on the streets or in the subway. I certainly do love my sartorial life in NYC, but like Anna, I could also get used to dressing for the warm weather, year ’round!