Olivia P pretty much always gets it right...

I mean, c'mon.

Navy sweater, olive skinnies, red nails & ballet flats.

Plus cat-eye frames and a casual bun.

A uniform if ever there was one.

(Image via Who What Wear's blog)

the definition of a handsome couple...

I was lucky enough to have my parents finally come visit me out here this past weekend. It was a trip almost two years coming - and I can't express how excited I was to show them around my New York and see them for the first time since Christmas.

We had a great weekend - a perfect balance of their uptown, upscale Manhattan of past visits, and my downtown day-to-day life. All the things we did piece together like a pretty great guide to wining and dining with a dash of culture and shopping from Soho to the Upper East Side:


{We dined.}

• Gotham Grill: White table clothes, amazing seafood and a very 90s New York vibe, like Gramercy Tavern and totally delicious (the seafood salad is unreal)
• The Modern: minimalist, fancy and contemporary - just like the museum (amazing duck confit)
• db Bistro Moderne: fancy and delicious
  
• The Standard Grill: great spot for an early breakfast al fresco
  
• Public: trendy, brunch-y, delicious lentil salad and great drinks
• La Piscine: on the roof of Hotel Americano; lots of delicious fried seafood with a side of DJ
  
• Brasserie Julienne: cute little french joint on 2nd Ave in the 80s, live jazz with your moules frites
  
• Morandi: loud, busy and seriously great Italian fare on Waverly and 7th Ave
  

{We drank.}

• La Piscine: Before dinner every night we had cocktails on the roof with an amazing view of the city
  
• Kingswood: After dinner at db, I brought my parents to meet up with friends and see one of my favorite West Village bars
  
• Public: a dirty martini for Mom, a bourbon iced tea for me and the Bloody Maria for Dad
  

{We saw.}

• The MoMA:the Cindy Sherman exhibit was cool and creepy, but the permanent exhibits are always refreshing and unmissable
  
• The East River Ferry: A fun and unique way to get between Manhattan and Brooklyn - especially on a warm day; we took it to and from 34th street to the flea market 
• Brooklyn Flea (Williamsburg): people watching, antique-ing and artisianal everything - of course
  
• The Met: My favorite museum in Manhattan, and the Steins Collection and Shiaparelli and Prada exhibit were crowded but truly wonderful (unfortunately the Cloud City exhibit on the roof was closed for weather)

{We shopped.}

• Uniqlo @ 53rd & 5th: picked up 4 shirts for my dad, but the crazy atmosphere and sheer amount of clothes is a little too much
  
• Treasure & Bond: cool, well-curated jewelry, gifts and apparel on lower West Broadway in Soho
  
• MoMA Design Store: so many unique and useful knick-knacks, and perfectly sized art prints for $10

let's get caught up, shall we?

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind over here, which has caused my posting to reach a seriously sporadic pace! There's been travel, work, play and visits from friends, not to mention that summer siren call of Central Park, beckoning me away from the computer and into the grass.

Anyway, let's get down to business with a little round up of things that have been tickling my fancy over the past week or two. Starting with a couple of couples that really please me:

Those darn royals, they make even 10-gallon hats look chic.

These two, along with Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson are in the running for best dressed couple in recent history. This is Olivia P. and Johannes H. at Paris Haute Couture week, and you can see more great street style from the shows at STREETFSN. 

I'm currently obsessed with these Charles Philip slipper / loafers. They're dainty and preppy and a great late summer to early fall transitional shoe. You can find them at Bloomingdale's for around $100. Oh, and they come in leopard print. 

I'm having a serious moment for summer sweaters, even though it's mostly much too hot to wear them. This one with a golden lobster (found via Matchbookmag.com) is particularly wonderful.

Just, this. Definitely need to revisit this movie as soon as possible.

(via Sart Inc / HTTGAP, who's abroad right now and having a serious Italian moment.)

Speaking of Tumblr blogs I love, That Kind of Woman posted this song recently, and I just adore it. I'm that kind of obsessed, actually.

 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Michael Kors. So hot right now.

 And finally, the darling Inslee, who illustrates the way we all wish we lived (see above, le sigh), has moved up to NYC! Too bad for you, D.C., we take all the good ones for ourselves.

the $100 handbag challenge...

If there's one thing I like, it's a really, really expensive handbag. Chanel, Hermes, Proenza, these are the things my dreams are made of. However, until the day when I'm a high-powered fashion lady, ruling New York city with an iron stiletto, I'm just your average 20-something gal on a very tight budget.

My roommates are in a pretty similar stage of life and finance, and the other day Tully and I were discussing how hard it is to find a good bag around or under $100. At this price point, you're probably paying too much for shoddy quality, or just enough to make you think you should have saved an extra $200 and gone for the real deal.

I've generally stuck to the policy of "go big or go home" when it comes to bags, and have happily and without regret spent upwards of $600 on a single handbag (and an additional $150 on another one, in the same hour... Don't blame me, blame Paris). But that's just me. I know some of you out there would rather throw down for the perfect peep toe, a Burberry trench or perhaps even some sweet rims for your ride.

When it comes to a great bag, though, is there a middle ground? Does a great bag exist that is not actually a wallet, a make-up pouch, or a wristlet for $100 or less? I've put it to myself to find out. Additionally, I'd like to extend the challenge you. If you can find / have already found a legit, good-looking, not tacky full price bag - leave a link and a note in the comments!

Let's meet back here a week from today and discuss what we've found!

Happy hunting to you and me...