Homme Edition:: Tutorial...

Used some Alexander Olch ties today at work, saw this tutorial when I got home and thought it was too cute to not post.  Take note and practice.


{how to talk to girls at parties}

Don't forget the dimple!

Living For...

If you're a long time Coco Canal reader, than you are fully informed of my unconditional love for DSquared (confidently proclaimed my favorite collection/brand), so whenever I get the opportunity to visit the showroom to preview the latest collection, I react like a kid anxiously awaiting Christmas morning! I calmly pillage the racks, at least three times, examining fabrics, silhouettes and fit, new design details...hoping that the genius and essence of the brand will somehow permeate into my very being.

***SIGH***

I walked away inspired, excited, and with a full memory card of images. When I got home I refreshed my memory (read went back to my happy place), and got to thinking about the pieces I wanted to use for work vs wear. I never thought of my style as being uniform, but I'm starting to notice familiarities (exhibit A below).

{Dsquared jeans & fur pullover:: Margiela sneakers}

Boyfriend jeans + an injection of fur + sneakers.

Yep, this is what I've been all about for..well, unapologetically, quite a while! Seriously though, those jeans with the bottom of a vest sewn onto them with a pocket square. Who could forget those high tops?! And PLEASE for the love of all things holy, do not overlook that fur pullover...Just saying fur pullover gives me a full heart and tear filled eyes! Perfect color combination, proportion, and casualness...you know just throwing on my fur sweatshirt to grab my morning coffee and walk my french bulldog pup!

Homme Edition:: Casual Friday...

Although the week just started, I can't help but think about Friday. That said, if I see another gentlemen wearing a snooze worthy combo, aka chinos with a blue button down, I'm going to flip a table. The creative team at Park and Bond put this look together and I swooned!!

{image:: Park & Bond}

Lets break it down...Consider a well tailored suit to set yourself apart from your chino-dependent coworkers. The first step in owning this look is to give it a good dressing down. Start with a cotton khaki, slim fitting suit and then look for a polo that adds textural contrast to the smooth suit fabric. Keep it all casual with a pair of retro yet fresh sneakers and stick it to them by opting out of socks--a touch that says you don't take any of this too seriously when really you do!

{J.Crew Jacket, J.Crew Pant, Brooks Brothers Polo, New Balance Shoes}

A well tailored suit is in the midst of a serious revival but keep in mind the ol' saying, "you should wear the suit, the suit shouldn't wear you." Need more options to recreate this look, head over to the new Coco Canal store here!

White Noise....

These images have been sitting on my desktop forever waiting for me to share them with you. Last summer (yes that is how long it has been), I assisted on a shoot for Marie Claire (international issue). I loved the all white ensemble and the hair...I want the hair oh so bad!

Testing...Testing...

Happy New Year!

Thought I would take you back a to early December 2011 when I did a test shoot with the incredibly talented Eric and gorgeous Jackie. Here are a few of my favorites...

Get the Look:: Sophisticated Knits...

{image:: style.com}

About Face...

I've been a cargoes naysayer for quite a while and well, I think I might give them a second chance. After seeing this snap shot of June's look, I'm itching to march myself down to the nearest army surplus store and try a new type of fatigue.

I love the slouchy fit with oversized cuffs--however, I'm still not convinced that anyone needs this many pockets :)

You Puzzle Like A Jigsaw...

Friday night a couple of the ladies met me in Park Slope for a low key shoot. I wanted the set to be fun and welcoming...after all this was just a test. The girls (Des, Chinae, and Rachel) arrived with their own wardrobe for me to style with and I provided an abundance of accessories. So here you go... a quick peek into the shoot that took place in a Park Slope studio with lots of aluminum foil!

{Des}

{Chinae}

{Rachel}

images by Nate

I Want To Ride My Bicycle...

Loved the editorial from a job I had yesterday and just wanted to share...

I have a themed party this weekend to celebrate the birthdays of four dear friends...Stay tuned to see what I end up rocking... Yes, leaving you all in much anticipation this week!

Dark and Stormy...

I'm working on a project later this week and quickly put together a mood board for what I had in mind for make up...You'll soon notice that these are all images from Tyra's America's Next Top Model (I admit that shamefully)!

Check back soon to see what this inspires!

Sweet 16...

Here's a sneak peak from a job I worked on yesterday!!!! Can't wait to share the full story and b-roll with you in the weeks to come!

Day Dream Believer...

I believe the saying goes, "dream in color!..." As my roommates would note, I dream in technicolor. Our morning routine goes something like this...Me bursting through my bedroom door expounding, "I had the craziest/weirdest/most amazing dream last night!" I LOVE sleep, but what I love most are the dreams. I can recount every detail, sense, emotion, all of it. Sometimes I think it is a bit strange, but I've been like this for as long as I can remember. Saturday morning snuggled on the couch with my roommates watching the Time Warner guy install cable and internet for us I recited my newest night vision. The dream itself was hilarious and completely unrealistic (aka hanging out with Kourtney & Kim Kardashian at the Grove in LA) but my outfit in the dream was summer time perfection. As the story telling concluded one of my roommates noted, "Wow, you even dream in outfits!" For the rest of the day I kept thinking of the ensemble and how much I wanted it to inexplicably teleport into my closet. I took the liberty of making some small adjustments to the outfit (grey ant instead of ray bans and burberry instead of an acid washed version) but you'll get the basis for where my subconscious was going.

The look isn't a departure from what I would normally wear, but the florescent color combination definitely is--so very LA of me! If only the weather here would warm up enough to start leaving the house sans tights and sleeves.

Monday Funday...

A little inspiration to get your week started!!!!

Stunning...

Catherine Baba...Always glorious and painlessly chic!

Obsessing over this bow tie. Do I foresee an upcoming DIY project?!

{all images Jak and Jil via Style.com}

Back in October I styled a test shoot with some friends up in Garrison, NY. Last week one of the photographers released some B roll from the day shoot, and on Wednesday the video was posted on Fstopper's Wednesday Rundown. Click here to see the video (titled Heavy + Lite).

Wardrobe Diaries:: Turban Twins...

Just after thanksgiving my sister gave birth to a little girl, Addison Julie. I have been anxiously awaiting her arrival, to Texas and into my life. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE and ADORE my nephew, but a little girl to dress up...that's a dream come true! We've been shopping for head wear for Addison and I knew exactly what she was in need of!...

Addison in her first turban!!!

Auntie Mo Mo and Addison...Turban Twins!

Garrison Shoot...

About a month ago I headed up to Garrison, NY to do a photo shoot with some friends. I have been anxiously awaiting to see the final images. So here are a couple to peek your interest...

These were my favorite shoes that I pulled...black and white rabbit fur boots!!!!

Originally I was going to make a skirt out of bubble wrap but with the help from my assistant we opted for a bustle instead. Better than the original idea.

The shoes again, I wasn't lying when I said they were my favorite.

This might be my favorite outfit from the day. It was a super last minute thought and I wasn't sure how it would come out on camera. Francine worked the look like no other and made me fall in love with the ensemble even more.

Style Like U:: Lori Goldstein

I've been meaning to post this for a while now. How can you not just love Lori!?!?!!? J'adore her with every ounce of my being!

Lori Goldstein from StyleLikeU.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

Modern Electric...

A couple months ago I assisted my friend and mentor, stylist Tasha Cain, on a StyleCaster shoot. The shoot was inspired by Guy Bourdin's disjointed photo composition. The clothes, hair, and make up also referenced a particularly lush and luxurious brand of Eighties fashion in what Tasha describes as "rich bitch." The overall take being a fashion and beauty spread appropriately named Modern Electric.

Uhhhh my absolute favorite image!

Photographer:: Bon Duke

Stylist:: Tasha Cain

Makeup:: Jordy Poon using Lancome

Hair Stylist:: Anthony Campbell, Atelier Management

Manicurist:: Mara Taskin, Rita Hazan Salon

Models:: Mackenzie, DNA; Ellie Weston, Marilyn

Creative Director:: Emily Finkbinder

Doppelganger Dress Up...

I'd like to introduce you to my doppelganger, Ryan...

21 years old//Works in the film industry//Comic aficionado//Partner in crime

Really, you don't think we look a like?! I use the term doppelganger loosely. Ok, we do not look anything alike, but we are so similar in life that it feels like we were separated at birth. Ryan was visiting this past week from LA for his sister's birthday. Monday I spent the day running around the city shopping with Des (sis) and Ryan. Towards the end of our shopping afternoon, while in TopMan, I was informed that I could pick out anything for him to try and and we could have a dress up session. I literally think I squealed and was overcome by joy rage!

As you can see, I was more than excited to hit the dressing room with some new digs! Styling makes my heart beat!!

My favorite part of this look::the pants...intentionally shorter than Ryan is used to. I would have finished off the look with either a black bow tie or skinny tie and a pair of oxfords.

Christmas in October!!! We all agreed that this would be the perfect holiday sweater. It's paired with navy wool pants and a denim button down shirt (you all are fully aware of my love and uncontrollable tendency to layer)! For this look I would have thrown on a pair of vintage dark brown lace up boots with the pants tucked in and laces undone.

Here go the layers again!...and I've realized that I like a polished look that is a little undone...hence why shirt tails are often showing! I can't totally strip Ryan of his comfort level so I would throw on a cool pair of kicks (a new pair of denim Margiela high tops I spotted yesterday).

Des, thank you for documenting the day's adventures! Ryan, thanks for ditching your West Coast disposition and letting me play dress up/boss you around!! Just so you know I've sent these images to a couple modeling agencies so it looks like you'll be back in NYC before you anticipated!...

you're welcome! :)

Wardrobe Diaries:: Run Around Sue...

I'm back from the best wedding ever and can't wait to share some images from the weekend festivities. Last week was a bit hectic setting up shop in my new apartment, helping to get things together for the wedding, various meetings for new projects, and running around personal shopping with friends for the upstate nuptials. Comfort was a necessity for my hustle and bustle week but style is always a priority. Before our departure I met up with my girl Jean Michelle (introduced here) for a stroll about Forever 21, dinner in Hells Kitchen, and ended with a wedding day fashion show (aka the boys apartment showing us their outfits for the wedding ceremony).

{image by Nate Poekert}

Jacket:: Juicy Couture cropped leather jacket {gifted}

Top:: F21 beige cuffed short sleeve blouse

Pants:: Custom designed sequin harem pants made by my mother

Shoes:: Dolce Vita x Target black studded oxfords

Bag:: LOGO by Lori Goldstein ruffle hand bag {gifted by Lori Goldstein}

Necklace:: Coco Canal x Fenton Fallon self designed necklace

Glasses:: F21 tortoise shell frames

Head Gear:: Scarf turned turban specially designed by Roxy {seen here & here}