jakenna 2.0: topshop + steve madden

SOMETIMES BEING A secret agent spy affects my wardrobe choices. JaKenna! We need you in Bogota to assassinate the world's most deadliest man. ON IT! Oh wait, can I grab my combat boots? My outfit really isn't the same without them and I don't think I can effectively kick with sling back peep toes... This blog post will self destruct in 10 seconds. 

♥
JaKenna
Lace Bustier: Victoria's Secret

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?)

rocknrolla: american apparel chiffon + topshop jeans

BLACK STUDDED BOOTS. Check. Black shirt. Check. Black pants. Check. Actually they're Navy... but dah-ha! Black & white pictures win again.





RocknRolla Status. Achieved.

Anyone who has seen me during the last 30 days has seen this outfit no less than 28 times. Truth. You won't see me in it tomorrow, though. False.

AND since there are SO MANY American Apparel button-up colors to choose from, you may see a variation of this look as we leap gleefully into Summer. I just want to remain as honest as possible about that :)

Dusty Violet! Tiffany! Grenadine! Oh My!

♥
JaKenna
Boots: TopShop

it's raining: think closet coat + vintage boots

I THOUGHT THE saying was April showers bring May flowers.





Dah well. The weather gives me the opp to wear the bombest raincoat I've ever bought... except that I didn't buy it! I stole it.

JK :)

Think Closet decided to be awesome and clear out their fall inventory with a buy-one-get-one sale and voila! Mama got a brand new coat!

Sidenote: Sammy Davis Vintage (impeccable taste w/unmatched vintage style) thinks I like my boots because they're cinched at the waist. I'm not arguing.

Love,
JaKenna
Raincoat: Think Closet
Jeans: TopShop

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

from formal dresses to american apparel sweatshirts

I LIKE TO diversify my apparel wearing. Hence, dressing down for this post...

Ok, ok, so this might have been an impromptu shoot with my roommate when we were frolicking on Sunday, but whatevs :-)

Sweatshirt: American Apparel
Red Jeans: J Brand
Boots: Vintage! I can't remember the name of the boutique and no amount of Google stalking has resulted in an answer. I'm now convinced it was a lovely dream.

♥
JaKenna

Latchkeys @ Mercury Lounge

MY NYC MUSICAL debut happened this past weekend at Mercury Lounge. I feel big league.

My very musically gifted brother formed a very musically gifted band, Latchkeys, in which I play keys/synth. Our first show was the bombest.


Top: All Saints (actually, it's a dress hehe)
Skirt: Urban Outfitters (actually, it's also a dress hehe)
Boots: Borrowed from the roomie
♥
JaKenna

brights: forever 21 red pea coat + topshop white jeans

IT'S LATER AND I must reiterate: how beautiful and awesome is this coat? I scavenged it from a deep, hidden coat rack in Forever 21 and the color makes me happy. Sublimely happy.

White pants in Autumn? When paired with pops of color & grounded with neutrals, tis acceptable. Give me a navy striped shirt and I'll show you a girl who... how does that saying go?
And we all know how much I love these Michael Kors boots...

Red Pea Coat: Forever 21
White Jeans: TopShop
Navy Striped Shirt: Zara
Boots: Michael Kors
♥
JaKenna

holy jeans! topshop jeans + madewell shirt +urban outfitters leather jacket

FULL DISCLOSURE: THESE jeans did not come with holes, they created themselves. Why? Because I wear stuff. And I wear stuff I like... A LOT. Alas, they now serve 2 purposes:

1) Strategically placed air-conditioning vents now provide much needed circulation. We walk a lot in NYC and it's natural to sweat. IT IS.

B) 90's grunge holy jeans and plaid shirt + 80's hair band rocker curls strangely = 2011 NYC gal. You do the math.

And S/O to the cropped leather jacket! The Urban Outfitters sale rack will forever have a place in my heart for this one. You + Me = Us. 


Leather Jacket: Urban Outfitters
Plaid Shirt: Madewell
Jeans: Topshop
♥
JaKenna

seeing red: j brand wide leg jeans + rena reborn top

HOW BEAUTIFUL AND awesome is this coat? More details on that later...

HOW BEAUTIFUL AND awesome is this shirt!? I visited my good friend, Rachael Rush (owner of the fashion boutique Rena Reborn in the East Village), last week and stumbled upon this beautiful printed top. Rachael has an eye for vintage pieces, some would call her an expert :-)

 Remember that obsession with anchors? Yeah, it's alive and kickin'.
Peace baby!
Red Coat: Forever 21
Wide Leg Jeans: J Brand Jeans
Top: Vintage! From Rena Reborn

♥
JaKenna

autumn attire: topshop sweater + uniqlo corduroy pants

IT'S SO OFFICIAL. Autumn is here and I've broken out my staples: Scarves. Boots. Blazers.


Monochromatic-ism is fun! I wanted to play up this dope men's scarf, so I went the gray-black route. Also, sometimes I get addicted to things... I don't know if you've noticed (ahem, J Brand red jeans). Currently, it's these combat boots. NON-STOP. They're so perfect for this weather!

What are you wearing this Autumn?
Blazer: Express
Sweater: TopShop
Corduroy Pants: Uniqlo
Combat Boots: Steven Madden
♥
JaKenna

how to: choose labor day weekend attire

I LOVE ME some brightly colored denim. Since Labor Day marks the beginning of my FAVORITE SEASON EVER, I can't imagine this trend fading during Autumn (ohpleaseohpleaseohplease don't go!), so I'm riding this train as long as I can.

I'm also slowly checking these items off my to-do-need-to-wear-immediately list. I've got the TopShop top already and I'm coming for you next SUNNIES!

I'M ALSO TRYING to wear all of my peep-toes before it gets too damn cold outside and I have to cover up my pedi with tights. These booties are puurrrrrrfect :-)

And loving the long sleeve dress for Autumn. I still get to show leg, but I'm not absolutely freezing in the chilly air!

Sidebar: Must have fox wrap ring. MUST HAVE.

TopShop Cobweb Necklace and Fox Wrap Ring
♥
JaKenna

there's a hurricane a'brewin!

HURRICANES IN NYC? And Earthquakes too? #themayanswereright?


But we can't be bothered with such things now, we've got a hurricane to prepare for. HUNKER DOWN NYC!

If you must venture OUTSIDE:

But you should probably stay in INSIDE:

What other PROVISIONS would you need?

Be safe! 

♥
JaKenna

seriously rain, go away: topshop tank top/booties + urban outfitters skirt

THESE THREATENING RAIN clouds can go the EF back to April Showers. It's August in NYC for cryin out loud. Where's the sun? Where's the warmth? The choking humidity and sweat stained shirts? Jeesh.

Moving on... I LOVE THIS SHIRT. I previously posted it paired (say that 3 times fast!) with Zara culottes. People trend to combo flowy with tight, but flowy + flowy is much sexier. Leave some to the imagination girls :-) And isn't this heart print sweet and sugary?

♥
JaKenna
Heart Top + Booties: TopShop
 Black Lace Skirt: Urban Outfitters
 Belt: Vintage! Dooney & Burke

rain rain go away: one shoulder floral + vintage boots

OH, IT'S RAINING? Does that mean I can't wear my one-shoulder-hey-this-dress-reminds-me-of-Pebbles-from-the-Flintsones dress? NO. But, you already knew the answer to that question :-)

Despite the weather, you still have time to rock your shoulders before the leaves fall. Now, get to clicking!

ASOS sale is #killingmesoftly

ASOS One Shoulder
Rare Floral Ruffle
Paprika Chiffon

♥
JaKenna
One Shoulder Floral Dress: Nameless
Boots: Vintage!

every nerd has her day: star wars/darth vader printed tee + topshop body-con skirt

#NERDALERT. But you love Star Wars and don't pretend like you don't. I know I'm not the only one who bunned my hair like Princess Leia and you've seen Natalie Portman in the new old Episodes! Enough.Said.




It's so hot. I'm melllllting.
This printed-tee was a bday gift, and it feels right to pair Darth Vader with a body-con skirt + combat boots. Why? Because we're BADASSES. I tend to hate printed-tees, but when one comes along that oh-so speaks to my heart, I will do 3 things:

1. Roll up those sleeves
2. Pair with something edgy/studded (because t-shirts are inherently girly/sweet and we all know how I feel about that)
3. Rock that ish.

Big ups to the nerd/geeks/dorks.

Sidebar: @ErikaJanelle deserves a shoutout for being 1. my oldest and bestest friend and 2. for introducing me to Star Wars at the age of 12. #Thanks :-)

♥
JaKenna
Darth Vader Printed Tee: Old Navy
Body-Con Skirt: TopShop
Combat Boots: Steve Madden

nighttime florals: jack for bb dakota cahill dress + topshop booties

YOU MIGHT HAVE noticed my slight obsession with florals. But I swear, THIS ONE, is my favorite. Daytime ➤➤ Nighttime transition? YES! Cutout back for much-needed-ventilation-jesus-NYC-is-sooooo-hot? YOU BETCHA!


And the bustier style top is so sweet (as in lovely, not rad, although I suppose it's rad as well). I just love a good neckline :-)

Scope these for more floral sweeties with cute cutout backs ➤➤ do it! yes! you love it!

♥
JaKenna
Bustier Dress: Jack by BB Dakota
Boots: TopShop 

hippie + cowgirl = hipgirl: urban outfitters lace dress

This is the closest I will ever get to a fringe-ish dress and ya know what, I love this thing.
It kind of reminds me of a vintage wedding dress.  
I could see my ma gettin' hitched in this here dress, yessir.
Oops, digressed to COWGIRL... I'll keep it HIP from here on out.
Mhhmmm, sure will. Dangit.


These boots were purchased alongside my-first-big-girl-shoe-buy, so they have a special place in my heartsie. I folded them to make ankle booties because no one's legs should have to sweat. Really.

Urban Outfitters, those geniuses (slash design thieves?), made this dress in 4 DIFFERENT COLORS. And I want them all. Check them out here and other lace lovelies here and here!

Say WHO?

♥
JaKenna
Lace Dress + Owl Locket: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Michael Kors

skyhigh florals: jack for bb dakota cicily dress + vintage boots

CRAWLING THROUGH MY bedroom window reminded me of middle school. I used to sneak out... sorry mom. #confession

But, it was worth it to snap some pics on my fire escape!
You might remember this dress from an earlier post, when it was a newly arrived package. It has now made its debut on my blog. Well, that's because IT ROCKS. I love the button detail on the back. I've said it before and I'll say it again: its.the.little.things.

Florals are a summer fav because of their incessant ability to make the wearer smile :-)
Here are a few to draw those lips into a grin:

Zara: Tulip Skirt Dress
Alice + Olivia: Matilda Dress
Paprika via ASOS: Floral Chiffon Dress
ASOS: Floral Print Dress
Sidenote: This umbrella'd building next door was taken over by hippie squatters due to the "Adverse Possession" law. Awesome crazy homeless hippies.

♥
JaKenna
Floral 'Cicily' Dress: Jack for BB Dakota
Boots: Vintage!
Crossbody: Vintage Dooney & Burke