Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur was my favorite travel destination on my recent excursion to Europe. In the month of August, the south of France begins the destination for chic French and Americans as well. Since most French get the entire month of August off from work, I found there to be more natives than Americans which I thought was great!

I selected Nice as the town to stay since it has the airport and lots to do. There are TONS of small towns and villages on the Cote d'Azur, and each one is equally amazing and beautiful. Nice offers an airport, public and private beaches (which are stone), a promenade, and port. 

Why is the Cote d'Azur my favorite place? As you can see from the images, it looks like a postcard everywhere you look almost everyday. The water is truly a deep azur blue. Additionally, as someone who speaks French, it is always great to get to use and practice the language. It makes restaurant and travel experiences much more enjoyable and less stressful!

It is very easy to get from Nice to neighboring towns such as Antibes, Cannes, Villefranche, and Monaco. I took the train to Villefranche (2 minute ride from the nearest Nice station) and to Monaco (17 minute ride). The trip to Monaco was only about $6 roundtrip.  My favorite town was Villefranche. It was absolutely incredible with its famous "Citadelle" overlooking the bay filled with swimmers and yachts. The town itself is beautiful with narrow stone streets and pastel colored houses.

I choose to stay in an apartment rented from the owner rather than a hotel. In Nice, this is definitely a less expensive option as hotels can be quite expensive, but I also feel like it provides for a more authentic travel experience. Ours was quite authentic as we got to deal with native Francophones who owned the apartment- French came in handy once again! Our place was right near the port of Nice and the Vielle Ville which was great. If you are traveling to Europe I definitely recommend apartments before looking at hotels!

Have you been to the South of France? What was your favorite town? There are a few on my list that I didn't get to go to so that will have to be saved for the next trip!

Sharp Lines and Clean Aesthetics for Fall

It is hard to believe that summer is (unofficially over). It seems like not long ago we were all writing about our favorite summer pieces and colors. As we transition seasons, it is time to transition our wardrobes as well. For me, summer dressing is all about classic preppy styles- bright colors and patterns. For fall, I begin to mix contemporary with preppy, opting for darker colors and a more refined silhouette. 

Kai-aakmann, designer by Korean designer Soonjin Pak, offers an Autumn/Winter '13 collection that is perfect for the urban man with minimalistic silhouettes and sharp, assertive lines. For the fall collection, the brand is focusing on military tradition and incorporating a vintage American feel into its usually urban aesthetic. Elements such as quilting and color-blocking have been incorporated into many pieces in the new collection.

For the key colors of his A/W '13 collection, Pak selected orange, coral blue, grapefruit red, and mustard. I am loving the more relaxed, slouchy silhouette of some of the pieces. I think Kai-aakmann will offer some key pieces for men looking for a fashion forward way to enhance their fall wardrobe. 

I am loving the double breasted and shawl collar cardigans as well as the slim silhouette on the trousers. What are your favorite looks?

Photos: Barbarian Agency

CREAM Style Saint Laurent Duffle Giveaway

I recently wrote about the trend of social fashion, and featured the new style app, CREAM. I am excited to announce that CREAM is hosting a giveaway in which you can win a Saint Laurent Duffle 6. 

Since the rebranding of YSL to Saint Laurent, I have really been drawn to the accessories of Saint Laurent. They have classic, refined, and sophisticated. The duffle up for grabs is no exception. How to enter? It is actually quite fun!

Download the CREAM style app from the App store, and share any looks in the app via blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Every time you share a look or item, an entry is generated. So that means more sharing means more entries!

The winner will be randomly selected on September 9th...happy styling! 

Life in the Mediterranean

After a brief hiatus, I am back and slightly more tan from the Mediterranean sun. I was fortunate enough to travel throughout the Mediterranean and Dalmatian coast in France, Italy, and Croatia. The lifestyle in these areas is beyond relaxing- slow mornings, arriving to the beach, a drink in the early evening, and a late dinner. Adjusting back to the fast paced lifestyle we live here in the US will take a bit of time!

I have a bunch a great photos that I will share specific to each location, but here is a glimpse into life on the Mediterranean:

It was great to be in many of these places during the high season as many Europeans have the entire month of August. We noticed that there did not seem to be too many Americans, so it provided for an even more authentic experience. 

Look for more photos to appear in the coming weeks!

Fashion That Gives Back

A Nielson's statistic states that 66% of consumers worldwide would prefer to shop with a brand that gives back to society. I agree with the majority- why not shop with a brand you love that gives back a portion of your purchase to a charity? It is almost effortless on the shopper's behalf. 

Some of my favorite brands and as well as brands that have become quite popular are all part of this "social shopping" trend. From lipstick to shoes, you can truly find an array of fashion that gives back. Some of my favorite brands that can easily be incorporated into a preppy style include TOMS, Warby Parker, and FIGS ties. 

TOMS: Im sure many of us are familiar with this casual, comfy shoe by now and their one-for-one rule: With every pair of TOMS purchased, the company donates a pair of shoes to someone in need. They currently participate in over 50 countries around the world. TOMS

Warby Parker: This brand has become incredibly popular in the last few months. When I look around the streets of New York, I feel almost everyone is sporting a pair of Warby Parker glasses. The frames have a retro inspiration and are very affordable, starting at only $95. The company has partnered with Vision Spring, ensuring that with every purchase, a pair of glasses also goes to someone in need. Warby Parker

FIGS Ties: FIGS crafts ties out of an array of fabrics- wools, silks, cashmeres, cottons, and linens, The company has a "thread-for-thread" program. For every tie purchase, a school uniform is donated to a child in need in Africa. FIGS

Photos: Paramount PR

James Turrell At The Guggenheim

James Turrell, known for his work with light and space, is on exhibit at the Guggenheim through September 25th. This is his first exhibit in any New York museum since 1980. I visited the exhibit this past week, and entered Turrell's world of light, perception, and color. 

Pieces of Turrell's work are located in galleries around the main rotunda, however, the focal point of the exhibit is Turrell's transformation of this large, famous space that is iconic to the building. The space is now filled with a blend of shifting artificial and natural light. It is best viewed from below while lying on the mats placed on the floor. I snapped a few pictures of the various colors that can be seen:

All the photos above are of the main rotunda, which many of you are used to seeing as the open space which spirals around the entire building to the different levels. Turrell completely transformed this into the focal point of his exhibit. 

If you like more modern, perceptual art you will love the James Turrell exhibit. I did find the rotunda interesting, but I am more of a classic art type so the other works were not as interesting to me. If you find yourself uptown, I recommend a stop by the Guggenheim to visit this exhibit before it leaves!

The Knit Tie

Ties have become quite popular in the world of menswear. Gone are the days when ties are only for business formal. Now, a double windsor can be worn with a skinny tie, oxford, and jeans for a casual Friday look or a night out on the town. 

The knit tie, an iconic Ralph Lauren style, is a preppy way to bring modernity to wearing a tie. I am not a huge tie wearer, but recently tried a knit tie. I must say, I really liked the look. The style was narrow, making it modern, but the bright color and texted brought preppy aspect to my outfit when paired with a classic white oxford. 

I started with a navy pair of chinos and white oxford for a simple base, and added on the brighter yellow tie for a pop of color and contrast against the navy. Tucking your tie into pants is actually a preppy twist to try. I finished the outfit with an Hermes belt and colorful wrapped leather bracelets by Ralph Lauren. 

Have you tried wearing ties in a more modern, casual way? Share your styling tips!