My NYC Shopping Finds

Had a fabulous kickstart to Summer - some days in New York as well as a week with friends in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Knowing I would be in NYC, I saved up some $$ to visit new shops I've been wanting to check out as well as some old faves. Typically, I don't tend to purchase a lot of clothes at one time unless I'm travelling where I like the opportunity to visit stores we don't have in Canada, hopefully find something a little unique, and there's the added bonus of a memory attached to the clothing! While I ended up adding several new pieces to my wardrobe this trip, I was careful to remain thoughtful in the process - always thinking back to my existing wardrobe and how these pieces could be worn in my everyday life.

Here is what came home in my suitcase (and, to be honest, some of it ended up in Mike's as I was getting a dangerously close to my weight limit - I swear it's the toiletries that get me every time on a longer trip!)...

New York Sweatshirt

Our first day, we had come off the redeye and were killing a bit of time waiting for our room to be ready. After breakfast, we stumbled upon this adorable little shop filled with very fun t-shirts and sweatshirts. The store was mure+grand which I also spotted in SoHo on my dedicated shopping day. I purchased this pink sweatshirt with green print (a colour combo I always love!). It's fabulous when our clothing truly connects to us...and my love of NYC is no secret!

Summery earrings:

Perhaps one of the most frequently commented on items in my current wardrobe is a pair of J Crew pearl hoop earrings I picked up in NYC two years ago for under $30. On this trip, we visited the flagship Tiffany shop (you'll see more on that below!) and I was also complimented on them by one of the salespeople. At J Crew, I purchased a Summer inspired pair which I ended up wearing multiple times while away. I love the raffia/straw texture which feels beachy and also easily makes an outfit feel elevated yet still casual. For any fellow teacher, if you happen to be in a J Crew store in person (likely when travelling as they are not currently in Canada), they always offer a teacher discount of 15% - I just carry along my teacher card or provide a school-related email.

Denim dress:

Madewell is another brand that offers a teacher discount. I picked up a denim dress which was very reminiscent of something I would have worn in the '90s. It's one of those one and done pieces that is casual yet still feels pulled together - I love to have a few of those at the ready, particularly in the Summer. I think it will also layer easily when we transition into Fall. I wore it the same night I purchased it, out for dinner in Virginia. I love the light wash denim and the capped sleeve silhouette which is one I tend to gravitate toward.

Graphic T-shirts

In SoHO, I visited the shop "Never Fully Dressed" which is a UK brand I have followed on Instagram for a couple of years. I love their bright colours, prints and inclusive sizing (they range from a US 2-24). I picked up a boxy graphic t-shirt with a summery print shown in the roundup image above. It's a relaxed cut that will pair well with shorts, denim or a casual skirt. I also picked up a floral printed tee from the shop Clare V. I love their prints and have a couple of their pieces that I have worn on repeat for several years. I know it will get its cost-per-wear and will work well multi-season both casually or for work. You'll see me wearing it below on the day I visited the flagship Tiffany store.

Sezane dress

I get very excited whenever I get to visit a Sezane store in person. Last Spring break, there was a pop up in Seattle and a girlfriend and I drove down but just missed it by a day - we were so disappointed! While it has become so much easier to shop Sezane on-line, the store is so beautiful and shopping there is a lovely experience if you ever have the opportunity. You truly feel like you've had a little taste of Paris. I ended up with a cream belted shirt style dress. It is a denim-like material (I was inspired by the Madewell jean dress which I am loving), but this one is dressy enough to also wear to work. It feels timeless and feminine. Note: I will not be wearing it as unbuttoned as the model shown in the image above - it looks fabulous on her, but this 52 year old needs to button up a lot more (and I was never that unbuttoned even in my 20s - just not my personal style).

Farm Rio blouse

I was excited to visit the Farm Rio flagship shop in SoHo as I am definitely a fan of print and colour! The day I popped in, everything was 30% off which was an added bonus. I tried on a lot, but wanted to make sure what I purchased was something that I could actually wear beyond a beach vacation. This Brazilian brand has been described as fun, effortless and beachy. However, I try to ensure that the pieces I purchase will actually fit into my everyday life and a lot of the clothing I had in my fitting room had more of a resort vibe.

I picked up the lovely yellow (my favourite colour!) floral blouse I am trying on here which has all the feminine details I love. I wore it out that night to dinner and the theatre. Check out other ways I plan to style it here. It's so important to always think about how a potential new item will combine with your existing wardrobe.

Tiffany sunglasses

The day of our anniversary we ended up in the flagship shop of Tiffany's which was absolutely stunning. I'd been on the main level before, but never walked through the entire shop which is 10 floors with wonderful installations. A wall of sunglasses caught my eye - I tried on a cat eye pair in a bright navy blue. While they are definitely a splurge piece, sunglasses are a cost-per-wear item for me and being in Tiffany's on my anniversary with Mike - it also felt like a memory piece. Plus, they wrapped them up so beautifully with a silver Tiffany charm which we decided we will use for a Christmas tree ornament as we like to add a new memory-connected one each year.

Rothy's Gold pointed flats:

Although I thought my shopping was done, there's always one more thing that manages to catch your eye - especially in NYC! On our last morning, I walked to the FlatIron district on a mission to purchase a big bag of cookies from the Levain Bakery (a longtime fave) to bring home for friends/family. On the walk, I passed by a Rothy's store. Rothy's has been on my radar for a while as I had been in the shop years ago with a friend. I ended up purchasing a gold pair of their pointed toe flats. These are knit, stretchy and mold to your feet (with a cushioned insole). They are so lightweight and made out of recycled plastic water bottles. Added bonus? They are machine washable! As I get older, foot issues tend to crop up more regularly, so something that feels like it will be kind to my feet - with some lovely style - is a win! For most of the NYC trip, I typically paired a white sneaker with my outfits as we did so much walking. But, occasionally I felt I needed to elevate the footwear, so had brought along a light , flat gold sandal. However, when I was walking through Times Square in open-toed shoes, I was regretting that decision...ick! So, these will be a nice, light, comfortable alternative. Highly recommend checking out Rothy's, I've put some of my top picks here.

What I passed on: Tibi

One of the top shops on my list to visit this trip was Tibi. I have read their book "The Creative Pragmatist" (it currently sits on our coffee table) and regularly watch their style class videos on Instagram. I love their styling philosophies and their beautiful clothing. My shopping day was on a Sunday and the store was closed. I did plan to zip back to SoHo our last morning, however; I decided that while I love their aesthetic and styling, I can take inspiration and apply some of their principles using the pieces in my own wardrobe or more moderately priced brands. Tibi has gorgeous pieces, but is very expensive in relation to my clothing budget. That isn't to say I won't visit in the future and hopefully hit up one of their sales, but I felt extremely content with my purchases and where my wardrobe is at the moment so felt happy taking a pass on this trip.

Until next time NYC - Lori xx