cupcakes and cashmere x club monaco holiday party

Last week, just before all of the holiday madness officially set in, we attended a party hosted by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere at Club Monaco. In celebration of Club Monaco's new flagship store opening in NYC, we enjoyed hot chocolate and treats from their all pink candy bar while shopping. We couldn't get enough of the beautiful space; the 5th Avenue store is also home to Toby's Estate Coffee and a small Strand bookshop. Here were some of our favorite holiday picks and a few photos from the evening!

from left to right: julie stripe turtle - shayla printed dress - shae faux fur topper - 

lourdes printed silk tank - abby angora gloves - adriana angora sweater

matilda faux fur vest - micala contrast sleeve dress - sienna split back jacquard top -

theresa textured top - ana embellished hat - susanna jacquard skirt

shopping sample sales

We've always been fans of perusing sample sales; it's definitely one of the perks of living & working in NYC. Racked NY keeps a great running list of sales, which you can take a look at here. Below are some of our tips for shopping these often-chaotic sales!

Do Your Homework
Familiarize yourself with the brand and its past season of clothing. The last thing you want is to pay more for an item that you could get for a better discount online or in store.

At the past few J.Crew sample sales we realized that many of the pieces could have been purchased in store at a cheaper price. J.Crew retail offers extra discounts on their sale merchandise so usually you can get a pretty good deal. 

On the other hand, sometimes you can find unique pieces at samples sales. My biggest regret was passing up on a lilac peplum top from the J.Crew sample sale that never went into production (gasp! a real sample).

Decide what is more appealing to you, access to the best pieces for a higher price, or less stock but at a discounted cost? Sometimes it pays to wait to shop the last few days of a sale when items are marked down and sometimes it definitely doesn't.
 
Read Up On Past Sales
It's important to know what to expect. Will you have to fight for the most coveted pieces? Or is this particular designer known for re-stocking their sale? It's always good to know you'll be walking into a complete mess before you do.

Bring a Friend
Bring a friend to hold your wallet while you try on clothes or have them act as your mirror when there just isn't one around. In an environment where you need to make a quick decision, it's great to have a friend to convince you to purchase a one-of-a-kind piece or talk you out of buying something that you definitely don't need.

If you missed it, check out our review of the club monaco sample sale for more info on shopping sample sales. Stay tuned for a post on our best sample sale finds!

kate spade x elle holiday shopping party

This past week we attended a glittery holiday evening hosted by Kate Spade New York x ELLE. In celebration of Kate Spade's 20th Anniversary we enjoyed pink bubbly while shopping at their Bleeker Street store. Here were some of our favorite holiday picks and a few snaps from the evening!

from left to right: glitter bug stacy wallet - niesha flat - things we love coffee table book - haley top - west valley valentine shoulder bag (on sale!) - long studded gloves

from left to right: idiom pencils - seanna glasses - all that glitters emanuelle clutch - fairmount park uptown/downtown salt & pepper shakers - owl coin purse - festive bubbles resin iphone 5 case

scout: free people new arrivals

I was in the 10th grade when I first discovered Free People. In fact, I still own (and wear!), one of the first FP pieces I (my mom) bought. Almost 10 years later and I am still obsessing over almost everything the brand puts out. I’m not gonna lie, there was a time a few years ago where the clothing was TOO hippie for me, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve finessed my ability to mix a funky FP piece with something more work appropriate, like black slacks or a blazer.

Lately, Free People’s emails have been off the charts with pretty.things.I.must.have. Not a day goes by that I haven’t forwarded Holly an email from them. Below, some Free People picks perfect for the holiday season, and beyond!

from left to right: bow & arrow henley dress - jaquard print pom pom beanie - 

tea length knit tutu slip - lurex romper - printed cat tipi - on the go mini - 

shimmy shimmy party dress - tattered paisley loop scarf - shala swit pant

review: martha stewart american made

A few weeks ago I stopped by Martha Stewart's American Made Market in Grand Central Terminal. Countless vendors had set up small pop-up displays in Vanderbilt Hall; there were so many beautiful products to look at, purchase, and even sample. I wish that I had blocked out more time to shop around, as so many artisinal and homemade items caught my eye.

I browsed a few of the many booths and even spotted 

Florian Bellanger, famous pastry chef and judge of 

Food Network's Cupcake Wars. 

My favorite vendor was Chez Sucre Chez. Even though she was tucked away in a corner (probably not the best spot), her display of adorable needlepoint projects caught my eye from across the room. I purchased this adorable squirrel cross-stitch project, which I just finished!

I found the perfect spot for my cross-stitch project.

Shopping this small pop-up made me wish that Martha Stewart hosted this closer to the holiday's, as I could imagine purchasing all of my gifts for friends and relatives easily. Sadly I'm not a shopper who purchases all of my holiday gifts early in the season, but I made sure to pick up a few business cards so that I could shop online.

For a full list of Martha's American Made nominees and those 

involved in the pop-up at Grand Central, visit the site here.

scout: asos neutrals

from left to right: slouch coatigan - full midi skirt - sweat skater dress in color block - midi dress in animal print - shell top with dramatic ruffle - sweater dress with heart elbow patches - midi skirt in soft touch - sweater in angora with foil print - knit dress in leopard with leather look pockets

scout: terrain

Lately Terrain has been hitting it out of the park with so many different and inspiring fall decorating ideas. Between the photos in their emails and The Bulletin, Terrain's blog, I've bookmarked (and pinned) more items than I can count. It's really no surprise that I've fallen in love with this retailer, considering Terrain's sister companies include Free People, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and BHLDN - all of our favorites!

fall entertaining email & fall succulent centerpiece

These two succulent centerpieces are perfect for dressing up any fall table. They're much more sophisticated than your average orange pumpkin table-scape. And the succulents can be used to decorate your home year round.

campfire on a chilly evening

Wouldn't you just love cozy-ing up to this outdoor fire? Homemade s'mores are kind of my weakness and I could imagine making so many over this fire. Check out Terrain's post for a few nontraditional s'mores recipes.

autumn pumpkins & enchanted lighting

White pumpkins have already been on my mind since Molly decorated her apartment with these adorable minis. A path row of white pumpkins would be perfect lining a driveway for a fall party or even incorporated into wedding decor. A simple but very impactful decorating idea. You could also easily substitute lanterns for pumpkins and create a very similar feel.

These are just a few of my many favorites from Terrain. I'm dying to check out either of their two locations, one in Glen Mills, PA and the other in Westport, CT. Each location hosts private events and even has its own restaurant. The restaurant spaces and their menus each look amazing. I wish they would open one closer to NYC!