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

think cool: forever21 skirt + urban outfitters top

THINKING CHILLY THOUGHTS is the only thing getting me through this NYCHEATWAVE. That and the coolhaus ice cream truck... #realtalk.


Sometimes Forever 21 can surprise you. Like when this navy zippered skirt popped out of nowhere and matched perfectly with my polka dot top. Like me + Big Gay Ice Cream or brunch + bloody mary's. Just meant to be.

♥
JaKenna
Shoes: Topshop
Blue Zipper Skirt: Forever21
Polka Dot Top: Urban Outfitters

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

the staples: rachel roy dress

HOW FUNNY IS my hair in that first pic? Ha. Sometimes the wind works against you :-)

Rachel Roy dress. I LOVER the shape.

FUN FACT! I bought this dress to wear the day after mybirthdayparty last year. I knew the scotch to water ratio would trend heavily in the scotch direction and I thought being fashionably prepared the next morning would reduce my chances of being late to work... It didn't, in case you were wondering. But anyway, 1 year later, I'm planning my next bday party and still happily wearing this dress.

♥
JaKenna
Dress: Rachel Roy
Belt + Coat: Forever 21

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

the navy series: american apparel california fleece cape

AND SO IT continues: The NAVY Series. This time, with my how-did-I-ever-survive-without-this American Apparel California Fleece Cape in, you guessed it boo, NAVY. 

I went on a New York City wide hunt for a cape coat last year and finally settled on this. I love it. BUT I'm still looking for something a little more structured/refined. Any suggestions?

California Fleece Cape: American Apparel
Shorts: Forever 21
Velvet Platform Wedges: TopShop
♥
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

the navy series: forever 21 coat + navy leggings

MY LOVE FOR the color NAVY was alive and kickin' this weekend. I realized that all of my outfits had a navy component. When I love you... I really, really love you.

And I often pair with black too (Wait, is that navy or black? It looks like black. But no, the coat is black, so the leggings are definitely navy, right?). Ef the conventional rules! Stay tuned for more outfits in "The Navy Series" as I continue to feed my addiction.

Coat: Forever 21
Navy Leggings: Calvin Klein
 (American Apparel has some Winter Leggings in Navy!)
Suede Pumps: Borrowed from the roomie

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

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

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

animal print fever: topshop top + forever 21 shorts

TRASHY ANIMAL PRINTS are the reason I stayed away for sososo long. You know what/who I'm talking about... Body-con animal print dresses? Too short⎯woah there, I can see ev-er-y-th-ing⎯animal print skirts? NONONO! Shield your fashion forward eyes!



This TopShop top was my FIRST animal print purchase and since it kinda-a little bit-maybe borders on trashy (I mean, what sheer doesn't sometimes?), I combo'd it with structured grey shorts. It's all about balance, ya know? Party on top, business on bottom baby. #lifelesson?

People ask me what I put in that little pocket. Love and dreams and my keys when I'm stumbling home out and about. What? #dontjudgeme #sometimesidrink #jeesh
Anchors keep me, me :-)

Sidebar: I also have this same cut in a different design! Who can say no?
Sidebar II: TopShop printed this same cut with 2 more animal print options: 1: OhMGolly! 2: NO WAY! So, I ask again: WHO CAN SAY NO?

♥
JaKenna
Animal Print Top: TopShop
Shorts: Forever 21
Belt: Vintage!
Anchor Necklace: Gifted from Tom