brrrr: vintage sweater + broach


Peek-a-boo. I see you argyle socks and vintage broach :) It's chilly, but you keep me warm.

Remember when I said I was excited to start blogging again? Allll the way back in my last post? I think I'm most excited about the NIke photos about to launch in a few days... Whaaaa did she say Nike? Hells yeah, I did. Hells yeah. Stay tuned.

Love,
JaKenna
Vintage Teal Sweater & Broach
Ralph Lauren Argyle Socks

pink leather: urban outfitters jacket + american apparel top and jeans

Friends. It has been too long. So much has happened these last few months! I moved to Brooklyn (like JayZ is practically my neighbor), I started a new job at The Estee Lauder Companies (beauty products as far as the eye can see!), I went to Peru for two weeks (photos to come!) and most recently, realized that this pearl necklace was actually put on this Earth for me to wear every day. Hizah!


With all that being said, I can't wait to start blogging again. Note: I'm hoping my New Year's resolution of blogging consistently will take affect before the New Year starts so as to gain momentum going into the New Year and thus, make it a lasting human trait. Done.

Love,
JaKenna

stylelist + jakenna changing: 1 turtleneck, 6 looks

IS IT CHEESY to say that I almost teared up while reading and clicking through my Stylelist feature? Christina Anderson, the Fashion Editor, writes beautifully and somehow makes me sound... well, like me. Or the me I hope to live up to someday :) And Raydene Salinas takes the most stellar pictures. Thank you both so much, for a fun- and fashion-filled day!

Full Feature: 6 Ways A Turtleneck Crop Top Can Take Your Wardrobe From Summer To Fall

Love,
JaKenna

snoozerloser + jakenna changing















SECRETLY, I'VE ALWAYS wanted to be a witch. From ages 6-11, I was a witch for Halloween. Hocus Pocus might as well play as background music to my life. Sabrina? My role model--wait, you flick your wrist and your room is clean? Jeal.So, when Sonia Tay, the design mind behind SnoozerLoser, asked me to work with her on a witch-themed fall collection, my nose twitched and my mind conjured up the glorious scene of Jack, the pumpkin king, singing to the moon from a curled mountaintop.And in reality, the shoot was more than I could have imagined. Sonia has an incredible eye and her taste for skeleton themed, silk-screened dresses and blouses goes right along my addiction to biological anthropology. Skull, don't be jealous. I'll be posting separate looks of my favorite pieces in the coming weeks. Be on the lookout, my friends :)

happy: bcbg max azria maxi dress + lilly pulitzer bangle

JUST TO BE CLEAR, it's definitely Spring in NYC right now... right? Sunshiny and warm with a slight chill in the air. Aaaahhh, you can almost see the lightning bugs :) And don't even think about locking them in a mason jar for a live nightlight, you jerk. 



This BCBG MAXI AZRIA maxi dress actually makes my heart sing. And it sounds like cherubs. And it makes me happy.

Find something colorful that makes you happy and wear it until the seams rip. Advice taken.

♥
JaKenna
Blazer: Express
Dragon Bangle: Lily Pulitzer
Maxi Dress: BCBG MAX AZRIA

naughty nun: topshop dress + american apparel chiffon

NAUGHTY.NUN. I mean, right? Black on black on black WITH SKULLS! Somewhere my mother is quietly muttering, Oh Child. 




You might be thinking, good bejesus it's too hot to wear all that black. You have a valid point. But I shall say that these doubled-up blacks are both sheer and therefore, both breezy. Plus, I'm wearing this TONIGHT, when the sun is set, the moon is risen and the summer night is perfect. Duh.

So, in conclusion: BE BOLD. WEAR BLACK. IN THE SUMMER. DON'T WORRY. THERE WILL BE. PLENTY OF TIMES. TO WEAR. COLOR.

♥
JaKenna
(jesus TS, what kind of name is that?)

grey days: topshop midi






HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAHAHA. Trying to balance on a fire hydrant is surprisingly difficult. Also, it's hilarious. Also, always never trust a photographer to help you because the shot is never always more important than your safety.

Love this dress. Easy. Breezy. Sexy. Cool. It's an: "Aaaahhh what do I wear today. Oh right, that dress I can wear anywhere!" type of dress. Perf.

♥
JaKenna
Midi Dress: Topshop
Wedge Platforms: 80%20
Mint Snake Mini Belt: Topshop
Sunglasses: Pixie Market

P.S. Do you set your iPhone to random & let the music play? #NowPlaying: STRFKR: Bury Us Alive Aimer :)

east village romping: pinky otto culottes + steve madden virrtues

LEAPING + BOUNDING! I thought: "This cabbie must think I'm ca-razy! Jumping in the street to get these shots. HA!" And then I realized that a girl jumping in the street is the sanest thing dude has seen all day. #NYC





Culottes (aka women's pants cut like a skirt). All the rage. They say so much (What? Purple snakeskin doesn't do it for you?), so I like to keep the rest of the look simple. I'll also pair with a black tank for a nighttime look and am always just as hippie-pleased with myself. ✌

P.S. Do you spy SKULL hiding in the accessories pic? Sometime she's my inner shy coming through. Belie' dat.

♥
JaKenna
Culottes: Pinky Otto
Tank: TopShop
Belt: Vintage Christian Dior
Sunnies: Stolen Acquired from Coachella

one shirt, one love: american apparel chiffon button-up

AFTER "TAKING THE month of April off from blogging" (read: working like a crazy person/kicking serious a-town at my new job), I'm back! Staying up to write blog posts is wayyyyy better than sleeping. I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm. So. Scared. Thanks for that Jesse Spano. 

Moving along...

My upcoming posts will feature this simple, American Apparel chiffon button-up worn in a variety of ways. Why? Because I often look at my overflowing closet and like many of you, scream: UUGGGHHHH I HAVE NOTHING TO WEARRRR! But I do. We all do. We just need a little creativity to help us through the hard times.

Quick accessories breakdown!
Ring: Gifted from my secret neighborhood store. Sssshhhh :)
Shoes: Marni. I LOVE THEM. And now you do, too. The peep of purple sets my heart ablaze.
Sparkly Tie: C'mon. You know why.

♥
JaKenna
Chiffon Oversized Button-Up: American Apparel
Lace Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Knee High Socks: Zara
Platforms: Marni
Ring: Gifted from my secret neighborhood store :)

the ides of march: et tu brute?

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN fascinated with the Ides of March. Besides being a Shakespeare lover (and I say that with the utmost pretension...JK, but seriously that dude is responsible for our modern language), I'm also intrigued by Caesar's ignoring of his murderous prophecy. If it were me, I probably would've hidden in my bed while watching MadMen and eating pints and pints of ice cream until midnight rang and the Ides of March were officially done-so.

But this also makes me think about how many times I've ignored my intuition and ultimately regretted a decision. Well, not exactly regretted... more like screamed DOH! whilst slapping my forehead.

Note to self: must trust self.

Anyway! In the spirit of this Roman remembrance, I've chosen a few of my top SUMMER choices inspired by the great empire... with a twist. Obvi :-)

Love,
JaKenna

the navy series: zara striped blouse + knee high socks

IT TOOK ME a sec to figure out the best way to wear this Navy Zara striped blouse, but shaazzaaaaa I did it! And now I want to wear this outfit overandoverandover again. #DONTJUDGEME. Let's welcome this outfit to The Navy Series.

Special SHOUT to the one and only RenaReborn, where I never fail to find one-of-a-kind jewels. Like you don't love this piece. Psh.

Red Pea Coat: Forever 21
Striped Blouse + Knee High Socks: Zara
Lace Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: RenaReborn
Belt: TopShop
♥
JaKenna

stylish bird: jess

Jess is kickin' off my new Stylish Bird series, featuring the birds in my life and the birds I meet on the streets of NYC... So, without further ado:

JESS.IS.A.BADASS. And, she's a friend who will (at any time of day/night) hop in a cab and meet you for a shot of whiskey, help you move into a new apt, whisk you away to FIT for a Daphne Guinness exhibit and tell you which books you should be reading. In short, she's a keeper. 

Where are the items in your outfit from?
Jacket & Dress, Necessary Clothing
Belt & bracelet, Flea Market
Embellished Ring, Forever 21
Boots, Steve Madden
Scarf, H&M
Bag, Vintage Guy Laroche

What is your favorite part of this outfit?
Well, I love leather and I was searching for a cropped leather jacket. It happened to appear in my face. Literally. I took it as a sign, so I bought it. The dress is lace and has an asymmetrical hemline. It also dances in the wind. Need I say more? 

Please!
It really grabs your attention and the way the dress flows is just supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (holy crap I spelled that correctly without Google-ing). It’s perfect for summer, but I had to break it out on a 60 degree day in January. 

Who is your style icon?
There’s no one I specifically look up to. My style is derived from a mélange of New Yorkers and everything around me. In a sense, NYC is my style icon. Nothing says sexy & stylish like the Chrysler building.

Your current beauty product addiction is...
Buxom Lip Tarnish in “Scandal” - My lips feel tingly and plump.

The last song played on your iPod was…
Ben L’Oncle Soul – Come Home

What is your earliest memory?
I remember the day my newborn baby brother came home from the hospital and I got to hold him for the first time. Le sigh.

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received is… 
My dad always told me to look for the best in people, even when I didn’t like them. It would make me a happier person.

If you spent an entire day with your friends, what would you do?
Eat. Walk. Drink. Shop. Explore. Eat. Drink. Play. 

What is your favorite quality in a man? In a woman?
Humor. You have to be some kind of funny for us to get along.

What makes you a Stylish Bird?
You can’t find real birds in NYC (Note: pigeons don’t count), so when you do you’re pleasantly surprised. I just happen to wear clothes that make people notice me every now and then. I hope you were pleasantly surprised. Tweet. 

Don't you lover her? Follow Jess on Twitter and Tumblr to lover her even more.

♥
JaKenna

jakenna & max: american apparel sheer + zara knee highs

FINALLY! PICS FROM my shoot with my favorite not-to-mention-handsome photographer, Max Bernetz, are trickling in.

Oh, hey old friend old dear old pal, American Apparel sheer shirt! Oh how I need love you. I keep finding new ways to wear this while secretly cursing past-JaKenna for not buying one in every damn color. Paired with these Zara knee high socks, and you've got one naughty very well-behaved school girl...

Sheer Shirt: American Apparel (also seen here and here!)
Pleated Shorts: Forever 21
Belt: Vintage! Christian Dior
Shoes: TopShop
♥
JaKenna

one.last.summer.look: american apparel sheer shirt + bb dakota dress

YOU MAY RECOGNIZE these elements from an earlier post as I seem to have fallen in love with this shirt.dress.combo. It's a healthy relationship. I'm not worried. Should I be worried? NO, I'm not worried. This is the first time I've buttoned a collar all the way up. And no one forgets their first.
Now, how to winterize...
Dress: Jack for BB Dakota
♥
JaKenna

80 degrees & kicking: urban outfitters dress + ben sherman chambray + 80%20 wedges


THIS PAST WEEKEND proved that NYC can still see 80 degree weather in October! WE MUST CELEBRATE! And I did, with one of my fav summer dresses (you've seen this beaut before, howdy!) and a pair of rainbow-colored wedges.

I covered my shoulders with a borrowed chambray shirt to tomboy my style up a bit. And did you notice those sexy scarred knees? Yeah. You like it. Climbing trees and sliding into home base will do that to ya :-)

Shirt: Ben Sherman Chambray
Dress: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: 80%20
♥
JaKenna




ready.set.go: anthropologie dress + topshop velvet wedges

REMEMBER THAT TIME I was obsessed with my TopShop velvet wedges? Well, it's now. I'm obsessed NOW.

And surprisingly, I've only purchased one item from Anthropologie and it's this darling dress. I've worn this number to Broadway shows, dinner parties and interviews. It's like a pink LBD! Multifunctional. Classic. Chic.
Dress: Anthropologie
Blazer: Express
Velvet Wedges + Belt: TopShop
♥
JaKenna



black and gold: topshop sheer top + uniqlo corduroys + gap pumps

PLAYING DRESS UP is fun. Especially when you combine all of your favorite things:

The NYC staple color? BLACK
The trend for Summer/Fall? SHEER
The classic shoe? PUMP >> complete with the cutest bow of ALL TIME.

Check, check and check mate baby. Is there a BLACK SHEER PUMP happening soon? I smell an idea. And it smells fashionably delicious.

Sunnies: Ray Ban
♥
JaKenna



my fashion's night out: drinks at ben sherman, chats w/coco rocha and the man repeller and my favorite jumpsuit

I'M GOING TO just come out and say this: MY FNO WAS THE BEST. It wasn't glamorous, it wasn't crazypartyscene, but it was the best. I peeked in Ben Sherman first (do you like what I bought?) and weaved my way through the crazySOHOcrowds to stop in TopShop.

And then I died. Literally. Actually figuratively. But I 'EEKED' so loud when COCO ROCHA walked in, I thought my heart was going to explode. I was so nervous! I ran up and blurted, "Coco! Can you take a pic with me!?" And OhMyG, she said yes! Sigh. Beautiful and an inspiring voice in the fashion industry, she's truly an icon.
Off to REALM Boutique to catch a glimpse of one of my favorite style bloggers, Leandra of The Man Repeller. And she was so sweet! And she's hilarious. So, read her blog. DO IT! It makes me smile thiiiiiis big:
Meeting two of my personal fashion icons has lit a fire under this girl's cutie tushie. I want big things for myself, BIG THINGS. More on that later...

Anywayyyy, do you like my jumpsuit!? It's the jumpsuit, the myth, the legend from my ABOUT section. Yep, the one I stalked for 3 days and finally found in West Yorkshire, UK. These pics are darkish so I imagine I'll shoot this number again as I don't feel they do THE JUMPSUIT justice. But for now, isn't it the bestestbestest?
And I don't have to tell you how mfing incredible these shoes are. YOU KNOW.

♥
JaKenna
Jumpsuit: Shakuhachi
Purse: Zara
Velvet Platforms: TopShop