The Navy Blazer

I've been searching high and low for the right lightweight blazer - ideally, it would have cropped sleeves, not scream "finance interview outfit", come in some neutral color, and be short enough for my petite frame. I think I've found one as close as I can get, short of designing one from scratch. This Rag & Bone blazer immediately caught my attention while browsing one day, so I took a chance and ordered it.



Let me tell you, it is not easy taking photos of yourself when you've lost your camera remote shutter. Not only did I set up a light, I used a tape measure from the camera to where I was standing so I could figure out where to manually focus the lens to. For each shot, I'd hit the shutter, head back to the mark on the tape measure and wait for the 10 seconds to run up. It sounds crazy, I know. A live-in photographer would be nice, but you do what you gotta do. So if these look a bit silly, that's because I felt quite silly doing it.

I think this blazer feels polished without looking too stiff. I also tend to push up the sleeves and always wear my blazers unbuttoned for a more casual look. I sized up because I do have wider shoulders, but I think I could have stuck to my usual too. Though this blazer is not a particularly wallet-friendly option, it's a piece that will get a lot of wear (and bonus, it's made in the USA).

Blazer (I ordered mine from Matches - insanely fast shipping for being in the UK) // Jeans // Tank // Shoes

La Garçonne

I was pretty excited when I heard that online retailer La Garçonne had opened a brick and mortar in Tribeca. I've long admired the minimal and refined aesthetic of the brands they carry. I stopped in one weekend and the interior is pretty much exactly how you'd imagine it would be, a total reflection of their online personality. You can easily walk past the store on the street and miss it (and I did) because it's got that cool unmarked facade going on.

Also I don't know what kind of magic they put in their fitting rooms, but the lighting is airy and perfect and the mirrors make you look at least 10 pounds skinnier (untrustworthy!). They also carry some beautiful ceramics and understated jewelry. A few sneaky iPhone photos below.

La Garçonne
465 Greenwich St.
NY, NY 10013

Chef Collection by Samsung

"You have to really share your heart in the dish when you're preparing it," says Éric Fréchon (well, says his translator), chef of the restaurant at the Hôtel Le Bristol in Paris. And "butter", he declares without hesitation when I ask what is the one thing he always has in his fridge. I can get behind that, of course. Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with some of the chefs who collaborated with Samsung on their new collection of premium kitchen appliances which include a dual-temperature oven, fridge, and dishwasher. It was an intimate chat session just for me and three other bloggers/photographers (Tiffany of Offbeat and Inspired, Byron Talbott, and Jeanine of Love and Lemons).

Later that evening, we watched these chefs in action in the Samsung Living Atelier "test kitchen" where they prepared little treats for a much larger press group. It was really like a game of "how many Michelin-starred chefs can you fit in one kitchen?"

Alongside Chef Fréchon, Christopher Kostow of The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa, Michel Troisgros of La Maison Troisgros in Roanne, and newcomer of the Club des Chefs, Daniel Boulud of too many restaurants to name, chatted with us about their cooking philosophies, inspirations, home cooking life, and involvement with Samsung. While we were on the topic of how little details can make a big difference, Chef Kostow mentioned how important it is to make every member of your team realize their importance and impact on a guests's experience as a whole, so the demands don't just feel arbitrary. I really liked that sentiment. Meanwhile, I admired his striped socks.

Above, Samsung CEO BK Yoon pins Chef Boulud with the Club Des Chefs badge during the evening session. Then the fun part began. And finally, a benefit of being petite! I elbowed my way through crowds of press photographers who were armed with telephoto lenses, and managed to sneak in some shots with my tiny camera and iPhone. Even when they have a million cameras and flashes in their face, the chefs work with a neurotic precision. I'm sure it's just in their blood now, but I could not help but notice it.

The four of us walked away with the kindest parting gift - signed aprons! The best part had to be when Michel Troisgros (who is such a rock star) was about to write my name and didn't quite understand me. Then his eyes lit up as he said, "Ah! Like Alice Waters?" Yes, I'll take that. (The second best was my selfie with Daniel Boulud.)



Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Samsung.