Coney Island Baby

 
When my Fire Island plans got derailed this weekend I decided to go to Coney Island instead. I really love this place in all it's funkadelic glory.


Shorts by Diesel, the charm bracelets are my mom's from high school.

Shoes are Elsee Anita's –favored by nightlife queens everywhere. Bag is Tano

Top is Fraiche

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Henrik Vibskov - What I'm Wearing Now

I had this brilliant idea to take this photo next to plants on the roof/garden of my building. What I didn't anticipate was how much the background would compete with the pants –hence the desaturation.

The pants are by Henrik Vibskov –who I'm currently in love with–and I picked them up at Eva NYC recently. I would never think of myself as someone who'd wear a print that included green polka dots but I love how loose and drapey they are and they're a nice alternative in the super hot weather we've been having. I've paired them with borrowed-from-a-friend Tory Burch white slides (which to me are sort of an ironic juxtaposition) and a basic black tank top.

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J Brand highwaisted jeans & Diana Orving top - What I'm Wearing Now

I have not always been a fan of high waisted jeans. In fact, I'd say I've been the exact opposite: they always made me think of the dreaded "mom jeans" and seemed terribly ass flattening. (and trust me I have a flat enough ass as it is!) But ever since Marc Jacobs showed his colorful satin high waisted pants styled a la Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, I've been intrigued. So a few weeks ago I let me friend Beth, who owns a boutique, bring me a pair to check out: the "Bette" jean from J Brand. My first thought was that they were too much an exact replicate of something from the '70s with their patch pockets in front, than a modern reinterpretation. But I tried them on and realized they're really soft and comfortable and it was really nice to have a different silhouette –so I decided to keep them and I'm sure they're going to be a major summer into fall staple!

I paired them with a cropped top by Diana Orving that I picked up at Opening Ceremony awhile back. I love the asymmetry in the hem of the top and how it's more revealing in back then in front. And worn with the higher jean there's no fear of the dreaded muffin top! Also wearing my favorite straw summer hat to protect myself from the sun, gold earrings that I've permanently borrowed from my mom and super comfortable "Lively" shoes by Nicole –on sale now at Piperlime!

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Giambattista Valli top-as-dress: What I'm Wearing Now

Technically a tunic, I wore this recently as a dress...a short one! The volume in the sleeves and belted waist create a dramatic silhouette in an otherwise fairly simple piece. I didn't want to add any necklace and kept the accessorizing minimal –the orange Kelly bag was added for a pop of color!

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V-V-Versace! What I'm Wearing Now...

Like LA loves prescription drugs and celebutantes New Yorkers love their black. And I am guilty of this as well.  But sometimes in the summer black can seem so...dark! Last week I stopped in Allan & Suzi's vintage store to add a little color in my life. Recently re-located from the UWS to  237 Centre Street near Broome,  it's a mecca of great designers of the past 30+ years. When I stopped by both Allan and Suzi were in and when I explained that I was a fashion blogger Allan's eyes lit up and he started rattling off specific pieces he thought I would absolutely love. (and he was so right) I felt like I was having my own private tour of the history of fashion featuring everything from a Hermes Kelly bag to vintage Lanvin platforms to insane '80s club kid gear.

I told them I was looking to add a little color to my life –starting with my wardrobe. Suzi told me she had the perfect dress for me and with a little flourish presented me with this Versace gown. I took one look at it and thought "No WAY is that going to look good on me".  As someone who is 5'3" when I stand up straight and not exactly curvaceous, the idea of wearing a full length column dress seemed insane. But not wanting to be impolite, and being a little bit curious,  I tried it on. And I fell in love. I felt transformed into some sleeker more sophisticated version of myself, and the experience taught me not to jump to conclusions as to what I can and cannot wear.

I won't be doing my everyday kind of shopping here but for special one of a kind situations I'll definitely be stopping by Allan & Suzi!
Also! Allan & Suzi have a space below their store that they are willing to rent out to a young designer as a workspace with the added bonus of having your clothes sold in the store. In addition they're looking for someone to help them part time with their website and social media –this would be a few times per week in the store. So if you're interested stop by and tell them you read about it on Style Defined!

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What I'm Wearing Now...DVF silk flower jacket & Brahmin bag

I am not overly fond of the little dress –black or otherwise. So in the summer I'm always trying to figure out appropriate yet fun yet still a little glam outfits for going out at night. My favorite this summer is my Diane von Furstenberg cropped jacket paired with denim shorts!  Together they seem to solve the whole casual/dressy conundrum. This jacket has handsewn silk and vinyl "roses" on it so I'm loathe to throw a bag over my shoulder and crush them. My Brahmin Anytime Mini Bag which I got at a recent Vogue Influencer network event works perfectly because I can carry it by the strap or like a wristlet.

I just pair with Paige Denim shorts (formerly jeans I cut myself) and a black three dots tee and Steve Madden heels and I'm out the door!

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What I'm Wearing Now...Peter Pilotto blouse & Deux Lux Bag (Giveaway Alert!)

So I'm reviving something I started a little while back – which is sharing what I'm wearing once a week! Here I have on the amazing Peter Pilotto blouse I picked up last week at Opening Ceremony. The construction of this top to make the draping is insane! I almost put up a photo of it inside out to show–but thought that might be a bit obsessive! I paired it with Blue Cult wide leg jeans, and I'm also wearing L.A.M.B. Nomad Platform Pumps and Coach Sunglasses.

I'm carrying the Gypsy Satchel by Deux Lux. If you aren't familiar with the label it's unique in that it's super stylish and uses faux leather. We all know Stella McCartney is firmly anti-leather but it's great to find another label that cares equally about fashion and being animal friendly –and a bit better price point in my opinion too! The Gypsy Satchel is a great everyday bag:big enough to throw in everything you need and a great gold metal tassel that adds a big of glam!

I will be giving a Gypsy Satchel bag away at the end of this week! For your chance to win just comment below, on the Style Defined Facebook page or send a tweet to both @katya_nyc and @DeuxLuxBags. Do all 3 for three chances!

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What I'm Wearing Now...TOGA from Opening Ceremony

I literally just came back from Opening Ceremony's sample sale where I bought this Toga Archives dress. Toga is a Japanese line and I don't know where else to find it in NYC. I fell in love with this dress because I loved the mix of fabrics -silk, wool, velvet and metal and the layering of textures. It's really unique and fun. I also picked up an amazing Peter Pilotto blouse (coming soon to this blog) Opening Ceremony is one of my favorite stores because they carry really unique designers that even in NYC it's hard to find anywhere else. Since today was the last day of the sale everything was an additional 50% off–this almost convinced me to buy a mustard colored fur coat that looked made for a pimp...I resisted, but maybe next time!

ps I made the photo black and white because I felt like you can actually see the dress better this way!

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Self Portrait Sunday

I am IN LOVE with my new Diane von Furstenberg jacket. It's silk and covered with fabric roses that are all hand made and is a great boxy cut. What really makes it work for me is that some of the roses are shiny black almost like vinyl and the edges are cut raw with pinking shears – the combination of those 2 details keeps it from being merely floral and gives it more visual interest. I plan on keeping this for life! Also I decided to really blow out the exposure in the photos so you can see the details...I'm so pale that my hair gets lost in the first photo but oh well!
Also wearing: D&G shades (always lately), Seven for all Mankind shoes and vintage Blue Cult jeans.

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self portrait sundays

Okay I'm aware this seems odd for a self portrait and for a street style blog. But I want to keep with self portraits on Sundays and had been working on these characters of mine and it felt as much of a self portrait as anything. I've made some little videos with them but hopefully this upcoming year will develop the project further. Hope you like it, and if not don't fret: tomorrow I'll post more street style photos from the Capital of the Universe. xo ;)

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a not-a-self-portrait portrait in Chanel

I got this vintage Chanel top from The Dressing Room on the Lower East Side. Despite my determination to shop less, my friend Niko set it aside for me when it came in and who was I to turn down Chanel? (if you are insane like me and study photos to see if they are photoshopped this one was not. It's something weird with the shutter that makes my upper arm look oddly thin...not photoshop!)

While I love the sheerness and the pattern I never thought of myself as a "ruffles" sort of girl and there is a slight ruffle on the sleeve...but I love the overall design enough to work with it. Of course for this shoot I had to wear pearls!

Here is CU of fabric in focus

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a not-a-self-portrait portrait

 So last week I had a wonderful experience that was utterly random. I was walking to go to a meeting in Tribeca and happened to pass the former Deitch gallery on Wooster Street. The outside was silver and a big sign said Levi's PHOTO Workshop. I was curious so I peered in the window and then decided to venture in. I went up to Dan, who I guessed worked there since he was sporting a big denim Levi's apron (I'm perceptive like that!) and he gave me the low down on the place. Until December 15th the gallery has been transformed into a collaborative space for photography. There are large scale printers, studio lights, computers and cameras available to check out. And the best –and most amazing– detail is that it's all FREE. That's right it costs nadazipzilchnothing. It's like a 5-finger-discount without worrying about getting caught. So those of you who whine about how you would live in NYC but everything here is too expensive? Well...I'm just saying this is pretty effing amazing. And it's right here. In New.York.City. 

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a not-a-self-portrait portrait

Okay this isn't a self portrait exactly as it wasn't taken by me, but it fits the street style aesthetic of the blog... this is from earlier tonight on my rooftop in Brooklyn with Manhattan in the background at dusk. And I think my boots kinda look too big here but I also like the look and think they work with the vintage leopard coat. I'm also using this post to announce that I'm starting another blog, called Pixie Warhol where I'll post more personal photos, thoughts etc. So if you want, please check it out...although literally I am JUST starting it!

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self portrait sundays

this is me with my dog naz –technically named nasdaq (yes, after the stock market!) I'm in love with these boots. They have studs on the inside and can completely fold down, be worn 1/2 & 1/2 (like here) or all the way up. Happy Sunday everyone. Enjoy it...the work week has not yet begun.

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