the $100 handbag challenge: UPDATE!

I know, I know, I said I would get to this like, a month ago. But you know how it is... Ugh, I'm sorry. Anyway, are you excited? I want to thank everyone who chimed in with some great tips for budget bag hunting - your options were excellent! I decided that your research was far better than mine, so I combed your selections and picked my favorites!

Becca: Urban Outfitters & Quiksilver Women

We all know what we're getting when we make a purchase at Urban. It's going to be trendy, a little more than you think is reasonable to pay (but not so much that you won't do it), and on the disappointing side of durability and quality. That being said, it's still a great option when your wallet is thin. I've found that if I treat my UO purchases well, they return the favor. I think the best move is not to purchase an imitation leather bag (which will show it's price immediately) but something in canvas or a print that isn't so obviously inexpensive. Here are my favorite bags from their online shop:

Deena & Ozzy chain tote - $58

Cooperative Washed Canvas Satchel - $59

I think both these bags are perfect for summer, could be from anywhere, and are probably worth their price based on how versatile and on-trend they are for S/S 2011.

Quiksilver Well Traveled Bag - $78.50

 Quiksilver Spree Backpack - $74.50

I'm pretty much obsessed with both these bags. I have a couple long weekend trips lined up for this summer, and I have been on the hunt for a casual and sophisticated weekender bag to tote around from plane to train to Greyhound, you name it. I love the bright red canvas of the Well Traveled bag: easy to spot amongst the black, and super-durable.

Jenny: Aldo

Aldo Mudd - $60

As Jenny mentioned in her comment, this is a pretty blatant knock off (very Proenza Schouler PS1) and made of a synthetic material. You are most definitely getting what you pay for, and it's hard to gauge quality based on online photos, but you can bet it's probably not great. However, it's a quick fix to get the look you want and not trouble yourself over spilling or general wear and tear.

Lindsey: Deux Lux

Deux Lux Paris Lock Pouch Messenger - $93

Deux Lux Ipanema Medium Duffle - $93

I love the first little bag, and I actually saw it in person at my cousin's friend's boutique in Boston, LIT Boutique. I think it's an ideal "party purse" as I like to call them, meaning one you can sling over your outfit that goes with everything and holds your keys, card, phone and camera. The second bag may be the most glamorous weekend bag I have ever laid eyes on. It comes in a few different color combinations, but the olive and aqua is my hands-down favorite.

Alyson: Melie Blanco

Melie Blanco Edith Top Handled Frame Bag - $70

Melie Blanco Jane Fold Over Cross Body - $68

Both of these bright little bags remind me of Kate Spade's current collection of bags. They're at a great price, and come in both notice-me and neutral hues. The top one is my favorite, and comes in a stunning orange that is unfortunately on back order until mid-June.  

What do you think of these options? Did we meet the challenge? Did we fall short?

{outfit post} among the vines...

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

{outfit post} home turf happy hour...

I swear to you guys, I don't spend my entire life going to brunches, happy hours and parties with other bloggers. However, it really seems like it sometimes, doesn't it? We just have an understanding. A no-judgement-if-you-want-me-to-take-pictures-of-you-crossing-your-ankles-and-admiring-your-own-shoes understanding. Aside from that though, we style bloggers are really genial and fun-loving people, so why wouldn't we get together all the time and eat omlettes and/or drink $3 beers? Exactly. Hence we get together all the time. If you want to get technical, the transitive property proves that the more I socialize, the more outfit-y my blog gets. Just go with it.

To that point, I met up with Sonia on Friday afternoon, just around the corner from my apartment, for a happy hour drink and some serious catch-up. We sat at the bar of this sort of random-but-cute-and-nicely-air-conditioned restaurant on 8th Avenue called Donnatella. The beer was cold, the conversation was lively, and then we took pictures.

7 for All Mankind jorts (cut from old bootcut jeans); H&M tank; Forever 21 vest (borrowed from Tully); Persol sunglasses (similar to these); Lyndi bag c/o Kooba; vintage necklaces; Urban Outfitters wedges.

Here's the part where I say, "Hey Tulls, thanks for letting me borrow your vest while you were out of town,  even though I didn't really ask, since we share a closet and you hijacked my shirt to take to Salt Lake City. I realize that it's the best part of the whole outfit, so really this post is like an homage to our shared good taste." Or something along those lines. (I've said it before and I'll say it again: What is the point of having roommates if you can't treat their closet like an extension of yours?)

 Michael Michael Kors watch (similar to this); Tiffany & vintage rings.

a little peek at cinco de mayo...

I often look at nights like Cinco de Mayo with the same balance of hope and pessimism that I do New Years Eve. It always sounds like a night of great promise and epic fiestas; tequila, sombreros and what not. Then one thing doesn't lead to another, and you're eating chips and salsa on the couch watching Brad Pitt in The Mexican, by yourself, again.

Luckily though - as has been the case with this type of occasion since my move to New York - this year's Cinco de Mayo really was an epic fiesta of tequila, sombreros and what not. We kicked off the night at our apartment, and hosted some friends and neighbors for homemade guacamole and "skinny girl" margaritas made from scratch. The guacamole was sort of terrible (blame the unripe avocados and amateur chefs), but the drinks were perfectly dangerous. My darling friend and fellow style blogger Meghan joined us for the first half of the festivities, wearing her new and absolutely amazing Madewell dress.

Me: H&M blouse; (Gina's) Urban Outfitters skirt; vintage necklace; MK watch & Tiffany bangle.

Meghan: Urban Outfitters Ecote Surplus jacket; Madewell dress; Rebecca Minkoff bag.

Once we were all feeling sufficiently festive and the themed playlist had run it's course, we hopped in cabs and made our way down to the main event - a show at Tammany Hall on the LES featuring my favs, The Knocks, who were DJ-ing with the different acts all night. Needless to say, we danced until the early hours and Friday night was spent in; recapping all the fun and watching a terrible movie called Frozen. (Don't see it, even though it's streaming on Netflix. People act like idiots on a chairlift and get eaten by wolves. It's just - awful.)

Most of the cinco crowd @ Tammany, complete with sombreros, colorful ensembles and cheesy faces.