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Gift Guide: Jet, Set, Go

By |December 15th, 2015|Gift Guide|

airplane wingHaving just flown five hours from Hawaii to California and planning to fly another five hours back to New York later this week, the importance of having all the right tools to stay comfortable while looking cool became leg cramping painfully clear.  Other than having their own airport lounge available on call or a guarantee that they will get the entire row to themselves, there are several items that any frequent flyer on your holiday shopping list would appreciate receiving for their in flight entertainment.

Rather than doling out cash for a synthetic blanket that can only cover either your upper arms or your ankles (take your pick) or those janky headphones that make you feel as though you may be going deaf in your left ear (time to schedule an appointment with the local audiologist), prepare your loved ones with all they need to fly the friendly skies.  A cashmere blanket set, functional headphones, heavy duty lip balm, pens are always a great choice and travel guides for their final destination are both thoughtful and useful.  You may not be able to protect them from a crying baby or the guy who brought his salami sandwich on board, but you certainly can ease their airport anxiety with the gifts below.

travel holiday gift guide1. Original & Mineral Hair Travel Essentials Kit, 2. Rodin Lip Balm, 3. Chinti and Parker Cashmere Travel Set, 4. Graphic Image Personalized Leather Luggage Tag, 5. Eddie Harrop The Voyager Fringed Textured Leather Weekend Bag, 6. FRENDS x Mira Mikati Taylor Eyes Headphones, 7. Books with Style The New York Times 36 Hours: Europe, 8. Flight 001 SpacePak Travel Bag Set, 9. MCM Rabbit Passport Holder, 10. Anya Hindmarch Vanity Kit Patent Leather Trimmed Cosmetics Case, 11. LUXE City Guides Fashion Gift Box, 12. Globe Trotter Safari Leather Trimmed Fiberboard Vanity Case

 

Sponsored Post: Simply Stylist x Dove Dry Spray

By |December 4th, 2015|Beauty & Trends, Sponsored Post|

dove dry spray simply stylistIt’s true, I do have the luxury of sleeping in later than most nine to fivers, but on those days where things are jam packed and hitting the snooze button isn’t even an option, I find that every minute counts.  From the moment my feet hit the hardwood, I’ve got each and every second accounted for– from mixing up my morning health potions to hitting the gym for a quick HIIT, to making my way uptown for important client meetings.  A queen of to-do lists, I make it my mission not to miss a beat, but there are times when even the most organized individual fails to remember the minutest detail.

And nothing stinks more than forgetting something- namely your antiperspirant.  That’s why I was so excited when Simply Stylist introduced me to working with Dove Dry Spray, a spray that goes on instantly dry, protects against wetness and odor for 48 hours, and as an added bonus, leaves your skin soft and moisturized with all the benefits of skincare for your underarms.  So, even in the tightest time crunch, there’s no need to skimp on the essentials while waiting for your antiperspirant to dry.  Even better, Dove Dry Spray won’t leave behind any visible residue. Another way to take care of yourself and look amazing is through Advanced Dentistry!

So, while rushing around the city to and from meetings, errands, and events– even on those days where nothing seems to be going according to plan, Dove Dry Spray makes it no sweat.

Why Did You Wear That: Blurring Lines in Gempicket

By |November 30th, 2015|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

gempicket whydid kirsten smith2Upon entering my apartment, one of the first things people notice, besides the fact that it took them twenty minutes to navigate the maze like hallway to get there, is the collection of nightgowns hanging on the handles of my closet doors on the left side of the hallway.  Some of them are vintage, some of them I’ve never worn, others I wear all the time.  You could say that my obsession with nightwear began while watching Golden Girls as a little girl.  That’s right, instead of Big Bird and Mister Rogers it was Murphy Brown, Sam Malone, and Blanche Devereaux.  I still fall asleep to the sounds of Nick at Nite and all of this ties back nicely to the potential narcolepsy I suffer from.  Another hypothesis as to my penchant for boudoir attire is the time I spent buying lingerie for Henri Bendel.  One never knew she was missing a waspie or the imperative need for an embroidered kimono until she spent time in a showroom full of silk, chiffon, and lace.  I only have one dresser in my apartment and its sole purpose is to house my bras, panties, and bathing suits.  You may be wondering why I ever even bother getting dressed.  Spoiler alert, I rarely do.

Working from home most days doesn’t require putting on much more than a whisper of clothing.  Other than slipping into something spandex to catch a yoga or pilates class, I’ve become quite comfortable in the very basics– as have all of my deliverymen.  My freedom in dresscode and days of solidarity have taken some of the stress out of my normal work day, but it has also left me somewhat socially awkward and also in a panic when it comes time to piece together an outfit fit for public consumption.  And this is when the beauty of blurring the lines between “your eyes only” and “all eyes on me “comes into play.  When you can pair a Gempicket silk cotton batiste cami with your favorite skinny jeans or throw a vintage t-shirt on with your delicately demure tap pants, you’ve perfectly bridged the gap between wallflower and woman of interest.  Or you could just call the whole thing off and stay home in your skivvies.

gempicket whydid elodie cami

gempicket elodie cami grace tap pant

gempicket grace tap pant

gempicket loungewear kirsten smith whydid

whydid gempicket kirsten smith

gempicket loungewear whydid

gempicket new york whydidGempicket Elodie Cami, Grace Tap Pants, and Suki Socks

Photos by Michael Stiegler

Why Did You Wear That: Over the Knees and Through the…

By |November 21st, 2015|Why Did You Wear That?|

over the knee boots suedeFall basically gives you any and all reasons to step up your shoe game- and by that, I mean boots.  Motorcycle, stiletto, fringed, and flat, one that always stands out (and up) is the over the knee boot.  Don’t look to the OTK boot if you’re not trying to garner attention and perhaps a handful of suitors.  Wearing an OTK option adds instant sex appeal to any outfit and there’s something to be said about Julia Robert’s boots in Pretty Woman.  But, if you’re not looking to get picked up by the likes of Richard Gere in a Porsche, then perhaps these flat show stoppers are the more modest in between option for you.  Wear them with skirts and dresses while the weather still allows for a glimpse of skin and then pair them with your jeans and cozy cashmere when winter rolls in.

over the knee boots1. Seychelles Sardonyx Thigh High Boots, 2. Dolce Vita Neeley Suede Boots, 3. Gianvito Rossi Suede Over the Knee Boots, 4. Robert Clergerie Fee Over the Knee Boots, 5. Stuart Weitzman Lowland Over the Knee Boots, 6. Toga Pulla Embellished Stretch Leather Thigh High Boots, 7. See by Chloe Fringed Leather Over the Knee Boots, 8. Free People High Noon Tall Boots, 9. L.K. Bennett Delila Over the Knee Boots, 10. Isabel Marant Etoile Brenna Stretch Suede Over the Knee Boots

 

 

Why Did You Wear That: American Splendor

By |November 17th, 2015|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith why did blog denim skirtSaturday afternoons during the fall in Manhattan often involve something some lovingly refer to as and others scoff at called “brunch.”  This past Saturday presented me with an especially relevant reason to partake in daylight libations because my oldest (not in age, but in duration) friend was in town for work.  Upon his arrival, we wandered down the street without an actual location in mind– this is an analogy for my life.  Stopping in front of a restaurant to inspect the menu, deeming it acceptable, and ordering a bottle of rosé as soon as our seats touched the chairs (I refuse to believe it’s out of season), we were off to a running start.  I thought myself clever asking for a turkey burger sans bun only to later find out that many restaurants use bread crumbs as a binder in their patties, canceling out all of my gluten free intentions.  We met up with a few friends at a neighborhood watering hole a few blocks down and much to my chagrin, said establishment was out of rosé, so Sancerre it was.  Typically dead on a Saturday afternoon before the evening rush of anyone but locals, the bartenders thanked us for making them laugh and keeping things “interesting.”  As we parted ways with one group of friends, we met up with another at a cash only joint that can almost lead you to believe you’ve been transported from the West Village to Southwest Detroit, almost- the plaid shirts and Patagonia vests are dead giveaways as to your geolocation.

At this point, I was fading fast and knew that the only last glint of hope for me was to order pizza (since I’d already fallen from the gluten wagon).  A few people are privy to the fact that in most instances of ordering pizza, I’ve fallen asleep before it’s been delivered.  Basically, I pay my doormen’s holiday bonuses in literal dough.  But alas, I was still standing when it was time to tip the delivery boy.  Unfortunately, even a Pandora dance party and pepperoni slice could not save my sad, sloshed soul.  I waved my friends on without me- okay, I fell asleep with my arm in the air- and called it a night, all before 9pm.

I sat straight up in bed around 1:30am and realized that I had slept the entire night away and wondered where my friends had ventured off to and whether I should gather bail money now or later.  I didn’t have to wonder for too long before my best pal was haphazardly trying his luck with the key to my door and Smitty all but lost it at the prospect of an intruder.  I rescued him from himself and he stumbled in to tell me what I’d missed (hint: not much).  After a chat session worthy of a highschool sleepover, and a critical dissection of our relationships, he passed out snoring on my couch and I found myself wide awake on Saturday night at 4am watching American Splendor.

kirsten smith whydid denim skirt

denim skirt whydid kirsten smith

kirsten smith whydid fall 2015

whydid kirsten smith denim skirttop: American Eagle, skirt: American Apparel, sweater: Henri Bendel, shoes: Steve Madden, bag: Chanel, dog: Smitty


Photos by Richard Smith