It’s the last week before we head out to Germany for the holidays. Things have been really great this year in New York, it’s hard not to get caught up in the spirit…when you see someone dressed as Santa around every corner, all the tree stands, and the lights and the wintery chill that makes you bundle up with a cup of tea under a pile of blankets on the bed. I don’t really have any traditions, being as Rocky and I don’t have kids, we often go to our families for the holidays, so we have to be nimble in our concepts of Christmas as each family celebrates in their own way.
For some reason, I’ve thought that wearing black and white was one of those hard looks to pull off. It seems that black and white naturally go together, but I’ve always felt that the contrast was so severe, too severe. Nowadays, I’m feeling to wear black and white a lot, well black and cream… it’s a bit softer and easier to manage. I got this tunic at H&M one day and it’s sheerness and embroidery feels so girly, not to mention it’s so comfortable. Subway wind is blowing up the blouse.
Oddly enough, I was actually hit by a taxi at this very intersection (East Houston and Bowery) in 1994, while crossing the street at night with a guy who was showing off that he was a ‘native New Yorker’ so we didn’t have to wait for the ‘WALK’ sign. I should have waited because I’m a native Californian and where I grew up, San Diego, we don’t cross streets. Needless to say I survived, but mentally scarred about crossing the street.
See, I can safely cross the street now.I finally got to pick up a wreath… It’s quite a bit cheaper and less of a commitment than a whole tree…
Wearing: Coat and bag: Vintage • Blouse and mittens: H&M • Jeans: Juicy Couture • Shoes: Aldo • Hat: Pinky Otto
Photos by Monica L. Shulman
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Love your post…pretty wreath too…..I learned that about NY….you definitely need to keep your eyes open at ALL times:)
Your black and white outfit is fabulous………………:)
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Collette Osuna´s last blog .. Spoil Me Fashion Jewelry Giveaway!!
haha, yeah, so true… my ‘new’ system is to make eye contact with the driver to make sure they stop. you never know!
Glad to hear you’re safely crossing streets these days and enjoying the city! Love your cozy and wintery white and black look as well as your cute wreath!
You look gorgeous in black and white! I’m seriously envying the way you rock that angora beret. Berets always seem to sit funny on my head or not fit quite right.
lisa´s last blog ..Birds Of A Feather
i think it’s a matter of finding the right beret… i had to try on a lot of them!
I love the hat! The whole outfit is great but I don’t know, the hat really gets me.
I love the black & white together. Usually I feel the same way, that black & white is so hard to pull off because I feel like a lot of the time it looks way too severe. But you pull it off fabulously.
Allie O’Bannon´s last blog ..THE MONDAY MIXTAPE- 12-13-10
i have that tunic in both white and black and it’s one of my favorite shirts, it’s just so pretty on. You’re right by made her think’s studio, which just reminded me that I missed their sample sale this weekend
so sad.
Can I laugh about the taxi incident?
WendyB´s last blog ..Detective Munch Called Me From Lunch!
since i survived relatively unscathed, yes you can laugh.
You look so great!! New York agrees with you.
I’ve been wanting to get a wreath too. I scored a really nice fake tree at the Salvation Army. It has a real wood trunk & everything. $25! I never decorated before having kids, but now it’s such a sweet & fun thing to do. I’m like an ornament addict! It’s really freaky. My husband has implored me to STOP buying Christmas ornaments, so now I’m smuggling them in. No joke! I have one hidden in my undeez drawer right now. HA!
Nickie Frye´s last blog ..Preschool Paparazzi
ahaha, that’s so cute! i guess most of the fun with christmas is the kids…realy, i don’t like having christmas without my niece and nephew, they make it so much more fun. but yeah, ornaments are so great! i love ones that have been collected over time…. they’re so much more special.
love that last pic: you look so happY!
rachel´s last blog ..yea- these are pretty much perfect
I dated a Bronx guy who insisted he jaywalk everywhere. I actually saved him from being hit by a bus in San Diego (by grabbing the back of his shirt halting his “crossing the street progress) because he decided he would just walk out in front of it because in “New York they stop for you”. In California, they don’t so NYC rules do not apply everywhere despite the guy’s insistance that they do.
Me being a San Diego native, I always wait until the walk sign unless it is late at night or the road has no cars on it.
I should get a wreath! We have a tree at the parents house but it is in a bucket in the garage still because they “dry out too fast in the house” according to my mum so we don’t put it up until the week of Christmas.
Needless to say, he was an idiot and we did not date long.
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haha, i didn’t date this guy long either! yeah… i can’t remember but a few times actually crossing a street in San Diego… i mean, except in a residential area…but in an urban area…just because we drive everywhere. it’s just that people aren’t used to looking out for pedestrians so you really have to make sure they see you!
your story scarred me! That’s one of my biggest fears in NY bc the drivers are nuts and don’t look EVER and the cabs…they aim to hit. The irony of that cab whizzing by behind you is not lost on me (it’s one of those times where I saw the image in my head when I saw the cab turn the corner and I hoped that it would work - I was so happy when I saw it on my screen in post processing at home!)…I guess it just means that you have come full circle, you are where you supposed to be and you are looking both ways before you cross the street:)
Chessa!´s last blog ..Christmas and Photos in New York
I have the same top in black. I LOVE it. I have similar white ones, but after seeing your pics it just makes me want to go back and get the white one too! It looks lovely on you. And I always go for a tree, but a wreath is much less clean-up. Happy Holidays.
The BB´s last blog ..A Little Sparkle for the Holidays
great post.., fashionable
Ummm, I hope that Native New Yorker had some sense knocked into him! Jaywalking, fine, but at least wait for a lull in traffic. Oh well, glad you’re still able to cross streets
You look great in these shots!
Alice Olive´s last blog ..Outlined
I never thought traffic and taxis scared me, having grown up near DC and traversing busy intersections was typical. Until I went to NYC and pretty much decided that not walking when the sign didn’t say so, was a good idea! lol. I think it was driving in NYC that really cinched the deal for me… I can’t even tell you how many pedestrians I narrowly avoided who were just weaving through traffic… Yikes!
I love your outfit! Black and white is one of my favorite combinations, especially when you can play with the textures a bit. I know I’ve probably said it before, but I love that tapestry bag!!!
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love the outfit! Gotta learn to rock a hat with the style you have! P.S. The wreath is beautiful! Merry Christmas!