Hudson Clearwater & Fab Faux Fur

I love nothing more than eating food with the Frans. I was itching to do a food post for the blog, so my incredible Frans jumped at the opportunity to support. We were planning on checking out Via Carota, the new West Village spot opened by the folks at Buvette and I Sodi, but sadly it is dinner only right now. Disappointed, we did a quick survey of the area and landed at the popular Hudson Clearwater. I've heard so much about this place, I was excited to check it out.

Mentally prepped for a meal at Via Carota, we had to adjust back for brunch at Hudson Clearwater. They have a simple, yet unique brunch menu. Each dish sounded delicious. The restaurant has a rustic casual atmosphere with lots of wood and dark worn metal throughout. They have a lush back porch which is always packed during the warmer months.

I was starving. Still in lunch, not brunch mode, I started with a salad. This salad was packed with baby beets, burrata, watercress, toasted hazelnuts, and topped with a shallot vinaigrette. 

Han nibble on the Avocado Toast sprinkled with chili flakes over Pullman Toast. We were both hungry so I forgot to snap a shot before digging in.

Moving onto the main dishes. I went hardy with their Angus Burger. This beauty was smothered in a Jalapeno Cheddar. The side of fries were not a bad option either. 

The other brunch salad was packed with Arugula, Gala Apples, Fennel, Dates, Pine Nuts, Ricotta and a Balsamic dressing. 

I'm obsessed with fall fashion. It is my favorite season for clothing. The sunlight was perfect in the West Village and I had to snap a few pics. 

(Hat: Hat Attack / Sunglasses: Forever 21 / Shoes: Aldo) 

Two things to check out in this picture; 1) my awesome gel manicure from Paint Box, 2) my jewelry. My bow ring is from Kate Spade and my stackable rings are a steal from Forever 21. The watch is Michel Kors. My necklace was a given to me by my mother, she received it from my father years ago. My pearl ring used to be my Grandmother's. Nothing better than family heirlooms to add a classic touch to a modern look.

 

(Jeans: ASOS / Body Suit: ASOS / Floral Bomber Jacket: Zara / Faux Fur Coat: Forever 21)

Thanks for my wonderful Fran Meredith for snapping all the outfit pictures. She's the best.

Do you think you can pull off the faux fur look?
My tip is confidence, what's yours?

Coffee with a World Changer - Kait from Madly Mignon

I'm hanging my head with shame (picture me doing that), because it has been months since I put out a "Coffee with a World Changer" post. My main hope of this blog is to encourage, inspire and uplift others to live full and joyful lives. That's why I LOVE this series of blog posts. Their purpose is to highlight individuals who are running their race in an inspiring way.

Here is a little reminder of my definition of a World Changer: Someone who lives their life to the full each and every day with purpose.

Qualities of a World Changer:

Has vision for their future.

Thinks of others.

Knows what they do is bigger than themselves.

Does not seek recognition.

Desires to influence some sphere of life in a positive way.

Today, I am highlighting my friend Kait from Madly Mignon. I met Kait at church a few years back and have always admired her personal style. I am so proud of her and the blog she has created. It is beautiful to see someone doing what they are supposed to in life. Kait and I sat down for a glass of Prosecco, instead of coffee, at the beautiful Mondrian Soho for a chat about fashion, blogging, NYC and all things Madly Mignon.

Three words to describe you.

Creative. Gatherer. Jesus.

Tell me more.

Creative - I'm the type of person who always wants to be doing something different. I think that is why I'm into fashion and the creative part of that. I get to live this out through my day to day job and also through the blog. The blog is my own personal way of being creative. I've been crafty and creative since I was a little girl and don't think I fully tapped into that side of me until I started the blog.

Gatherer. I love to bring people together. I enjoy hosting hangouts for people to meet, connect and create bonds. 

Jesus. My faith is the most important thing in my life. It has been interesting incorporating that into the fashion industry, the balance of staying true to yourself, what you believe in, and not conforming to others. I try to be open with my faith and talk about Jesus when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about your blog. 

I've always wanted to start a blog. But I kept thinking, so many people have blogs, I don't have the time and I don't know the first things about starting one. I decided to begin with photography, so I took a class here in New York to learn the basics. Through this, I was able to use the skill of photography to start a blog. You can't start a blog without quality photos. Once I did that, I decided to do a fashion blog, not just fashion but lifestyle too. A blog about me as a person and what I represent in life. I'm also really lucky because my job requires me to travel a lot. It has been something fun to add to the blog and hopefully inspire people.

Madly Mignon. What does it mean?

Madly Mignon means "Madly Cute" in French. It is a part of me. I love everything French and French culture is part of my soul and spirit. Every time I visit it feels like my home. I was just there a month ago and I'm so inspired by its beauty - the culture, art, romance, fashion. It is beautiful. 

Talk about your style.

I don't have the most everyday style. I feel like it is unique and different, something interesting for people to see. Maybe everyone won't wear my full skirts and sparkly tops everyday but it is fun and I like to put it out there. 

Where do you see yourself in a year?

In a year I'll hopefully still be doing what I am currently. I want to grow the blog more and I would love to use it as a means to brand myself in the future. Work is crazy and amazing so I hope to continue with that because I'm so thankful for the experiences it has allotted me. I'd love to do more collaborations with people, working with more bloggers and smaller brands. My goal is to grab smaller brands and highlight them. I'd love to help others reach their dreams.

There are a million bloggers out there. How have you made a voice for yourself? 

Just staying with it. The encouragement from people helped me to keep going when I was not sure. I think my unique style and ability to travel has helped set me apart a bit. I always try to make each post visually pleasing and interesting. At the beginning I met a friend over twitter, Lauren Cecchi, she's a handbag designer. She invited me to this blogger brunch, and I met a ton of other bloggers. One blogger in particular, Marissa from Stylecusp, has really supported me. We hit it off, did some work together, and she helped me get into Reward Style. That has been a game changer. I prayed to get into Reward Style from the start of the blog, it has helped elevate my blog and brand in so many ways.

Advice for new bloggers.

The ability to have high quality photos and edit them well. Brand yourself in all aspects of social media. Figure out your voice, what you want to show people. Also, learn how to create a website.

Favorite places to shop in NYC.

I love vintage shopping in New York. In Soho there is INA. I just discovered Vintage Thrift West in the West Village. Top Shop and Zara are my other favorites. 

Favorite on-line shops.

BaubleBar for jewelry. ASOS. Goodnight Macaroon is a new one I discovered. One Kings Lane for home goods.

Hottest style trend currently.

Fringe. Fringe is on everything. My personal favorite trends are a high waisted skirt and metallics.

Favorite places to eat.

Buvette. Maison Kayser. Tartine. Palma.

Last words.

Be yourself, embrace who you are. Start each day positive no matter what you face. Try to remember your blessings.

Thanks Kait for letting us into your world, it truly is Madly Mignon.

Photos are courtesy of Madly Mignon. Check out Kait's blog here.

- naturally ginger

Soho Casual

 

There is something about Soho that makes me feel fabulous and fierce.  It is an area of Manhattan where anything goes when it comes to fashion. The simplest look takes on new charm and edge while walking the cobblestone streets.

In the end, fashion is about confidence. If you have confidence in who you are and what you are presenting to the world, what you physically wear makes no difference. 

So when you're getting dressed each day, don't forget to dress yourself in confidence. 

She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future. - Proverbs 31:25

I headed downtown to meet up with a friend (who I'll be featuring in a post later this week). We snapped some pics outside the beautiful Mondrian Soho. A girl can't help but feel fabulous and beautiful in such a luxurious location.

 

Fall is sadly quickly turning into winter, so I chose to layer on some warmth with this luxurious fur vest. Just so you all know, I am a sucker for a popped collar. My fashion is a mix of classic and trend, so I opted for a boyfriend jean and some leather booties to finish out the look. 

 

 

Shirt & Boyfriend Jeans: J.Crew; Fur Vest: Banana Republic (similar here); Shoes: Circus by Sam Edelman; Sunglasses: Kate Spade

Photos by Kait at Madly Mignon.

- naturally ginger

Oh my ASOS

Fall is truly the best season for playing with your wardrobe. If you're feeling adventurous, go for it! My motto is invest in the classics and play with the trends. I fall for a fashion trend just as quickly as the next fashionista, but I know I don't have to break the bank to have a little fun with my wardrobe. Hence my love for ASOS.

Here are my "Oh My ASOS" lust list picks for this week!

**Extra Bonus This Week** One of my favorite bloggers, Cup of Jo, is offering an ASOS discount for her readers! Head over to her blog to snag 20% off!

Photo c/o www.asos.com

(Items from top left to right and then the bottom row)

ASOS Pencil Dress with Peplum Hem 

ASOS Easy Money Pointed Chelsea Ankle Boots

ASOS Leather Jacket with Embellished Sleeve 

ASOS Maxi Longline Cardigan in Fine Knit with Mohair

ASOS Farleigh High Waits Slim Mom Jean in Vintage Wash with Busted Knees

ASOS Body-Conscious Midi Dress in Winter Floral Print

Shimmer & Leather in Riverside Park

Fall is officially here. There is no going back at this point. Temperatures will only continue to drop as the days pass, looming closer and closer to freezing. I learned an interesting fact from a friend that this past week, fall tree foliage was at its peak of color. I hope you all got to be outside and take in the warm hues. NYC loves to show off in the Fall.

Layers are what it is all about during the Fall in NYC. Cold outside yet hot inside since the uncontrollable heat has decided to turn on. It is essential to be able to pull off or put on a layer depending on your surroundings.

I decided to layer up, pop outside and take in the beauty of the city.

I'm in love with what J.Crew is doing this season. I recently picked up their Sparkle Side Slit Sweater  (currently 25% off on-line). It is the perfect piece to dress up or down depending on your mood.

I paired the sweater with my Quilted Faux-Leather Mini from Banana Republic and a basic white collar button up, also J.Crew. My everyday favorite black boots for the season from Aldo, finish out the look.

Riverside Park on Manhattan's west side is often overshadowed by its neighbor Central Park. This thin park, that is only about two avenues wide, runs from W 72nd St up to W 158th St along the Hudson River. It is THE park to watch a sunset in NYC. Less busy than Central Park, Riverside is filled with dog parks, playgrounds, community gardens and tons of space for lounging or outdoor recreation.

A great leather jacket is a worthwhile investment. I picked this beauty up from Zara last year.

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument stands proud at the park's edge, commemorating Union Army soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. Its historical flare reminds me that I live in a city with many years under her belt.

 

(earrings: Banana Republic)

(All photos taken by the fabulous Meredith Anderson)

What do you love about fall fashion? Comment below!

xoxo
naturally ginger