pop ice cream: pinky otto polka dot dress

WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED by ice cream you can't eat, several thoughts run through your head: Who am I? Do I have the self control to not lick the snozzberries?

But most importantly, what do I wear? I think this super sweet Pinky Otto polka dot dress (w/ adorbs lace collar!) does the trick. And! Thanks to a delicious summer sale, I bought this dress... for free. Yummy, yummy in my tummy :)

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 featureChristina 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 :)

blues-ie: think closet dress + topshop wedges

SOMETIMES I FEEL like the blue power ranger. Billy. I've got blue dresses for dayyyyyys and ya know what? Blue toes, too...


But the blue power ranger def wouldn't wear these shades. Or these shoes. Actually, maybe he would. Who am I to say?

I digress. One of my favorite features of this dress (obvi the short hemline hehe) is how the collar camouflages into the floral print. Big ups to Think Closet for this one :)


JaKenna

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

just lovely: topshop china floral dress + dolce vita wedges


BLUE FLORAL DRESS + brightly graffitied van = the most winningest combination to date. Thank you, East Village, for your endless attractions.

Short dress anyone?  If it's going to be humid + sticky, I might as well have built-in ventilation, a short hemline and a pretty print to keep me company. Can I getta Amen.

Topshop has, by actual count, 1 bajillion fit & flare style dresses. I dig this one, the China Floral Dress, but other bombdiggitys are the Check Floral Lattice Sun Dress and the Embroidered Organza Dress. I think I can actually hear you google mapping your closest Topshop...

JaKenna

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

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

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

birthday birthday

I'M STARTING TO test options for my birthday party in a few weeks! This dress might be too "holiday-ey," but I love-r the beading!

I also spy-with-my-little-eye this Aidan Mattox Beaded Dress via Saks Fifth Avenue and this adorbs Patra Embellished Tank Dress via Nordstrom.

The question is, do I want to be sweet & lovely or chic & edgy for my bday? Decisions...

Beaded Dress: Gifted from my mama
Cape Coat: Forever 21
Velvet Weges: TopShop

JaKenna

laces: zara knee high socks + urban outfitters skirt

MGMT'S ELECTRIC FEEL came on while shooting this outfit and my body... it started a'twitchin and a'movin and I jumped back to 2008-just-graduated-Duke-and-drove-with-windows-down-in-the-jeep-BLASTING-that-ish-JaKenna. #Memories.

I've been wearing this Urban Outfitters skirt at least twice/week since I bought the damn thing 2 years ago (see! see!). It's the bestie and I heart pairing lace + lace for a play on textures. Nice depth.

Top: Forever 21 (syke it's a dress!)
Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Knee High Socks: Zara
Velvet Wedges: 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…

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

the waldorf astoria and a vintage black gown

IT WAS KINDA like a fairy tale... Sneaking away to snap pics at the Waldorf Astoria.

I was attending the *CPJ IPFA Awards, but I couldn't resist using the opportunity for a blog post :-)

The Dress: I walked into the East Village boutique, Rena Reborn, and said, "I need a gown for a black-tie event at the Waldorf Astoria, HELP!" Serendipity (aka Rachael Rush) stepped in and voila! A beautiful vintage beaded black dress appeared. It.Was.Magical. 

And no pumpkin shrinking god mother can take it away from me!

Dress: Vintage from Rena Reborn
Black & Gold Beaded Purse: Vintage from Yumi Kim
JaKenna

*CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) International Press Freedom Awards honored those displaying incredible acts of courageous journalism. To learn more, click it baby

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

animal animal: zara animal print tunic + topshop velvet wedges

FIGURING OUT YOUR digs? The best part. When your room resembles a hurricane-tornado-earthquake ripping through your closet and somehow you put together a perfect outfit.

And by perfect, I mean totally inappropriate to be wearing around the East Village on a rando Saturday-day. But this is for SATURDAY-NIGHT!
Let it be noted that this was my first full-scale animal print purchase. Zara. Nice. Also, knee high socks are the perfect solution to the throwing-out-all-of-your-ripped-leggings-and-forgetting-to-buy-more problem. 

Also, you've seen the Topshop velvet wedges from FNO. 

Also, also, meet OWL. She'll be around. 
Dress: Zara
Velvet Wedges: Topshop
Owl Ring: RenaReborn
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

frilly layered penguin: express blazer + american apparel top + bb dakota dress


THIS MIGHT BE my favorite outfit of the moment. Break it down! 30% because I feel like a penguin on top, 30% because I feel like a frilly girl on bottom, 30% because layering is a great American pastime. If my great American math serves me correctly, that leaves 10%. And boos and babes, it goes to... I like it, it works, but it looks kinda wrong, but that's why I like it and I think that's why it works. That's worthy of 10%. NICE. Logic wins every time.


Blazer + Bag: Express
Sheer Top: American Apparel
Dress: Jack for BB Dakota
Black Bowtie Pumps: Gap
Sunnies: Ray Ban
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



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