{shop for a cause} Rachel Roy + FEED...

{ FEED x Rachel Roy India tote }

You might recall my garden adventures from a post a couple of weeks ago (and due to my business lately and lack of posting, you won't have to scroll far to find it) that I was rather uncharacteristically skipping through an Alphabet City garden in heels. Truth be told, I had sneaks on hand for the commute, conveniently stowed in my new summer bag, the FEED x Rachel Roy India tote. The fab people at FEEDprojects were kind enough to help me kick my summer off right with a bag that will travel from Manhattan to The Hamptons as easily as it goes from 13th and A to 6th and C.

[Photos by Lexi Cross]

mid-week music moment: Bruce Springsteen

I'm in one of those classic rock moods this week. You know how it goes. You get totally burnt out on new music, you've heard Phoenix's new album a few too many times and top 40 makes you want to rip your headphones apart, so you return back to old faithful. The good old boys. Fleetwood. Paul Simon. The Stones. 

This weekend I had a glorious afternoon with Meghan and friends up on the roof at Berry Park, and the DJ was playing classic after classic, from Motown to the 90s to yes, Bruce Springsteen. He played a jam I had all but forgotten, and so I thought I'd remind you of it, too. This is "Hungry Heart."

How's that for a palette cleanser? It's good right? Bruce's voice is so gritty and manly -- it's one of the sexiest singing voices in history, don't you think? Strong and full of emotion. Anyway this is one of his oldies, The River, which came out in 1980 -- way before Born in the U.S.A. and Dancing in the Dark. Fun fact: It was originally written by Springsteen for The Ramones, but on the advice of his manager, he kept it for himself!

hey mama...

Cheers to all the fabulous moms out there, especially mine.

{outfit post} black and white remix...

{ Eats 10th Street & Avenue B }

Similar to my post from last week, this is yet another iteration of my spring (and basically anytime) uniform. Button down shirt? Check. Skinny jeans? Check. Flats? Duh. This shirt was a great Zara score - I had to have it after seeing the lovely Meg Biram rocking it so well at IFBcon in February. Also, I can hardly ever resist a giant silky shirt for any reason, so here we are.

Anyway - I love this shirt-and-denim combo because it's so easy to dress up and dress down. Behold:

{ Zara shirt / Paige jeans (c/o) / Tretorn Nylite (c/o) / Ray-Ban shades / NARS heat wave / Lulu Frost 'Impromptu' necklace (borrowed) }

Dressed down: If you're a longtime reader (Heyyyy! I love you!) you might remember these Treton kicks from a post years ago for the Nylite Project. I got a fresh pair for SS13 and have found myself wearing them to the office, out for drinks, running errands — just about everywhere. With light wash cuffed jeans and this shirt, I really do feel like I'm ready for any activity a spring day (into night) might bring.

Dressed up: Are you ready for this? Ponytail and pumps. That's it. Throw the hair back and slip on my go-to sassy suede Aldo pumps (most similar to these) and I feel totally transformed. Let's be honest, a statement necklace from Lulu Frost definitely doesn't hurt, but either way you get a different effect with just two simple changes.

I don't know why really, but there's something that feels very sophisticated when wearing you hair back with heels. It says I'm a no-nonsense fancy person who wants their hair out of the way when dancing and clinking champagne glasses. Oh — and the lipstick. That's key. I always feel fancy in lipstick.

{ Flower petals, cigarette butts and sidewalk chalk. That's Alphabet City for ya... }

 [Photos by Lexi]

mid-week (Gatsby!) music moment: Florence + The Machine

{ The Great Gatsby comes out on Friday, May 10th. }

If you're in a full on Gatsby-induced fever at the moment, you've come to the right place. I'm hot and bothered with anticipation for this movie to come out -- and the soundtrack is not helping. And by "not helping" I mean I can't stop listening because it's pretty great. You can listen to the whole thing on NPR, and here's just a little taste -- my favorite song so far:

Florence + The Machine's  "Over The Love" puts Florence in the place of Daisy, and gets us thinking about that damned green light again. (Anybody got their Cliff's Notes handy?) It's haunting, powerful and is currently on repeat during my workday. 

Thoughts? Feelings? Gatsby quotes?

{met gala 2013} my favorite looks of the night...

{ Rooney Mara in Givenchy on the steps of The Met }

Ladies and gents, let the battle of the "best dressed at the met gala 2013" begin. Above, you have my winner, Rooney Mara in Givenchy. I can't really point to any specifics except wow and yes and more please and eyebrows and zippers. Does that about cover it? Runner up, behold the SJP:

{ SJP wears a custom Philip Treacy headpiece, Giles Deacon dress and (plaid) Louboutin boots }

She's just always so over-the-top for these kinds of events, and I have to say I really appreciate it. Her street cred in the fashion industry is like, through-the-roof, so I'll throw it out there that she's one of the only people who could get away with this. Speaking of industry cred, please join me in a slow clap for the twins Olsen:

{ Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen }

I can't even express how happy I am for the return of this Mary-Kate Olsen y'all. She's back in all her funky, faux-dred, fur-trimmed kimono-wearing glory and I can't et enough. Also, Ashley looks great / interesting per usual in The Row. Now, onto something truly surprising: Annie Hath doing something I actually like:

{Anne Hathaway in archive Valentino from 1992 }

You guys, I have to say I am loving this dark side of Anne "It came true" Hathaway. The blond is funky and actually looks amazing, there's a lot of side-boob and the impression of the look as a whole is really on-point. Girl, you are almost forgiven for that Oscars situation.

Okay, I'm done. Who was your pick for best dressed? If you say Kim Kardashian or Beyonce I'll reach through my computer screen and slap you. Sorry, but it's true. Yikes / snooze all around.

[Images via Fashionista]

{outfit post} secret garden in the hood...

{ 6th street between Avenues B and C }

I have to admit, there are some serious perks to living in Alphabet City. Along with more cool, quaint and delicious bars and restaurants than I'll ever be able to try -- we have gardens. Around corners and nestled between apartments and bodegas are community gardens, lovingly maintained and tended-to by residents nearby. 

My favorite one so far was introduced to me (via an Instagram comment, naturally) by my friend Kate. It also happens to be right next to my favorite restaurant in the hood, Grape & Grain. Right there on 6th street is an oasis that feels worlds away. It's lush, extremely well taken care of, and has a pond and a tree house. It's also quiet. I took Lexi there on Saturday afternoon to snap some photos and just generally enjoy this peaceful little spot.

{ Madewell ex-boyfriend shirt / Paige jeans (c/o) / Coach shoes (c/o) / Ray-Ban shades / Michael Michael Kors watch (similar) / NARS heat wave / Lulu Frost 'Impromptu' necklace (borrowed) }

{ Beyond obsessed with these. Comfortable, easy-to-wear, and cool. }

Truth be told, you will not frequently find me wearing heels for a stroll around my neighborhood, but you will almost always find me in a denim shirt from Madewell. This dark wash (as well as the light wash) are in ultra-heavy rotation these days. (Both were well-worth the $70 investment.) I especially love the contrast this dark denim gives with my stark white Paige 'Skyline' jeans. Easy, spring-y, and very me.

[Photos by Lexi]