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

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 :)

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: 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

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

where's waldo: zara red striped sweater

LATELY I'VE BEEN choosing one piece to build from. This time, the Zara red striped sweater jumped from my closet and I felt compelled to pair it w/my sheer American Apparel top for a nerdtastic Where's Waldo getup. You love it.

Actually it didn't feel quite Where's Waldo until I added my Barton Perreira specs. And yes, they're prescription. Seriously, I can't see for ish.
Instagram makes everything cooler.

Red Striped Sweater: Zara
Sheer Collared Shirt: American Apparel
Blazer: Urban Outfitters
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind
Boots: Vintage!
♥
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

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




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

hipsterish: j brand skinny jeans + urban outfitters tank top

 
AH BRIGHT RED jeans to brighten my day. I mean literally, these pants are so neon blinding right now, I had no choice but to combo them with an equally luminescent tank top. DAY GLOW OR GO HOME.

 

Ok, they're not quite day glow, but I just like saying dayglow.dayglow.dayglow.dayglow. And now it sounds like Diego Lo. Ha.

You might remember these tomato red jeans from my 4th of July post, where I chose stripes to show my patriotism. I mean, if you're not going to wear stripes on the 4th, you might as well get the ef out of my BBQ. And no apple pie for you. They're on the flag for crying out loud.
And don't you love this ring? ME TOO!

Both J Brand and Rag & Bone are nuts on bright hues at ze moment. And TopShop is selling the trend too. And for less, yay!

♥
JaKenna
Red Jeans: J Brand
Tank Top: Urban Outfitters
Wayfarers: Ray Bans
Cyclops ring: Cusp

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

it's just the sheerness of you: cheap monday skirt + topshop shoes

 
 
THE LEATHER JACKET kind of negated the breeziness and therefore cooling effect of the skirt, but no one ever said fashion was comfortable all of the time. I mean really, what's the fun in fashion worth without the pleasure of pain?
No? That's just me then... #awkward


Kind of scandy for daytime, but transitioning to a nighttime affair is seamless and sexy.

More sheerness here and here!

♥
JaKenna

Sheer Skirt: Cheap Monday
Shoes: TopShop
Necklaces: Aldo