The shoes you *need* to survive another crazy cold winter...
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It's the chicest way to dress when you're in a rush or have no idea what to wear (or you just want to look cool)!
Read moreA Cool NYC Summer Date Idea, 4 Beauty Faves, and More
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Even More Reasons to L♡ve Sarah Jessica Parker
These two videos confirm SJP is the greatest
There’s something about Sarah Jessica Parker. In every interview, she just seems so cool and kick-ass.
Maybe it’s that her aura and her style are similar to her best-known character, Carrie (duh?!), and like so many SATC fans, I adore Carrie. Maybe it’s that she lives in New York City and treks through the winter weather like any other mom as she takes her twin girls, Tabitha and Marion, 4, to school (she also has a son, James Wilkie, 11). Whether she’s in mom-mode or red-carpet mode, and everything in between, she always has flair and a certain palpable pep to her step.
I might not agree with every style choice she makes, but I admire that she takes fashion risks. Dressing up is no fun at all if you don’t take chances -and perhaps, risk looking a little silly. SJP (and Carrie) wear trendsetting looks that some might think of as silly, but they do it with confidence. That’s their style magic.
Which is how I found myself in semi-freezing weather the past few days, with my ankles exposed to the cold. It wasn’t quite comfortable, but I was channeling spring as I walked to the subway on my way to work or headed to meet a friend for hot chocolate at The City Bakery in the East Village (out-of-this-world hot cocoa by the way). I rolled my pants up each day, just enough so a good section of ankle was exposed, and paired them with ballet flats. Rolled-up pant cuffs isn’t a novel idea, but it’s so spring. (And sadly, so cold.)
I got my ankle-exposing inspiration, of course, from SJP. She talks about why she doesn’t wear socks in winter - ever - even if she’s walking through snow, in the video below. Skip to 2:04 if you don’t want to listen to the whole interview. (Although she talks SATC 3 and surviving the polar vortex in NYC… plus she shows off some of the more beautiful shoes in her SJP collection - so trust, you wanna watch.)
Then I came across this Vogue video interview with SJP in her home. She gracefully navigates through the 73 (73!) questions thrown at her in under six minutes. Who knew she’s lived in her NYC neighborhood - the West Village - for 13 years, her favorite drink is Coca-Cola and her favorite curse word is shit. Must watch! It’s so fun.
Whenever I’m in an outfit conundrum, I channel Carrie. That’s essentially like channeling SJP too. Try it next time you’re heading out. Put on a string of pearls, some sky-high heels or a big, funky hair accessory. It might just add that SJP pep to your step!
xoxo, H ♡
Photo from Brazilian label Maria Valentina’s 2013/2014 campaign.
How Do You Feel About PDA?
Couples can be so sweet on subways in New York. Especially when it’s a little crowded and there are tons of people around, but they are still so engrossed in each other and what they’re saying. There isn’t pretense or an awareness of people nearby. I don’t mean being all over each other, just a lot of strong eye contact, a kiss on the forehead, standing close. It’s sexy and sweet and I love sneakily watching without being obvious. Have you ever noticed this?
Speaking of being all over each other, where do you fall on the PDA (public displays of affection) scale? I happen to be, as my roomie and bffl likes to tell me, a bit sensitive to PDA. Ok, a lot sensitive. Am I alone in thinking that hanging out with a couple isn’t high on my list of super fun nights? To me, excessive PDA in front of friends and in public is just a little gross and overall disrespectful. (Plus, insecure much?) Being in awkward third-wheel situations in the past has made me so sensitive to showing too much PDA around my friends, that sometimes I don’t give my Boo enough attention when they’re around. Not good either.
So what’s a good common ground? We don’t want to ignore our significant other and we don’t want to make people around us feel uncomfortable either.
In my book, all of these are ok in public: embracing and kissing, with little to no tongue (but not for 15 minutes), holding hands (be aware of people trying to walk around you on the sidewalk), head on his/her shoulder… and that’s about it! Anything more and it’s heading for dangerous territory, i.e. making small children cry, being victim of people around you pointing and laughing, and/or gagging… etc. And nobody wants that.
The ones on the subway who are so into one another, and you can tell from subtle hints, not excessive ones (i.e. groping, sitting on top of each other or completely leaning on one another in a drunken haze), do it right. It’s in the nuances, the way they look at each other, mirror each other’s movements, how their bodies and feet point directly at each other. We’ll probably all have moments of PDA where we go a little over the top (I’m not totally innocent myself). Being in love naturally brings about those exciting, can’t-keep-my-hands-off-of-you feelings. But wouldn’t you rather be the couple that people look at and admire, as opposed to the one that people look at and practically lose their lunch? Yeah, me too.
The photo above is from the The New Yorker and was taken by Stanley Kubrick in 1946.