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Hi, nice to meet you.
I'm Hallie, a Midwest native, New York City transplant and the mind behind corals + cognacs. If you're looking for an online destination for stylish inspiration and musings on Manhattan living, you've come to the right place.
Here's a bit more about me (and if you'd like to keep in touch, you can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook).
I hope you enjoy reading corals + cognacs as much as I enjoy writing it.
FAQ //LOCATION: New York, New York •BY WAY OF: The Midwest (Cleveland/Chicago) •HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Attainable, trendy and fun. I’m constantly wearing unexpected pairings – like statement pumps and a graphic tee. •FAVORITE ITEM IN YOUR CLOSET? The vintage Gucci clutch I thrifted for $40. •ANY OBSESSIONS? I like my coffee black, my heels high and my martinis dirty. •GUILTY PLEASURES? Complex carbohydrates and shoe shopping -- both in excess. (And SoulCycle, as a result.)
ARE YOU A FULL-TIME BLOGGER? No, I work as a Development Manager and Contributing Editor at Glam.com. •WHY DID YOU START YOUR BLOG? I've spent nearly seven years on the corporate grind, where sartorial humor and an expertly crafted color-block can get lost in the boardroom. As a result, I decided to create a blog -- a space where I’d hoped my writing, styling and excessive shoe collection would be better comprehended. •WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Living stylish and spontaneously in New York City – and beyond. I aim to inspire others to have fun with fashion and to live lightheartedly •HOW’D YOU THINK OF THE NAME? To be honest, the name just came to me. I’m a big color-blocker and a sucker for alliteration in writing. It just fit. •WHAT’S THE CORRECT WAY TO WRITE IT? corals + cognacs.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT? corals and cone-yaks. •WHAT KIND OF CAMERA DO YOU USE? A Canon T3i with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. •DON’T YOU FEEL WEIRD TAKING PHOTOS OF YOURSELF? Absolutely. Everyone looks at me like I’m insane – especially when it’s cold. Wouldn’t you? •DO YOU WORK WITH ADVERTISERS/SPONSORS? Yep! Shoot me an e-mail and let’s talk. •HOW ELSE CAN WE KEEP IN TOUCH? On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Much of Day Three was consumed by a video I filmed for Glam Media, so for today’s recap, I’m going to give you an outtakes version to let you in on what exactly it takes to film a two-minute video.
After we get past the first few hours of the day, that is…
All right, where did we leave off?
Ah, yes. SamRo had just told Jess & I she liked our… Jewelry. For whatever reason, that was IT in life for us, so we rode that high (figuratively speaking) downtown to the Lower East Side, where we danced and sipped on vodka sodas until, well, read on….
3:55 a.m. The decision to go home wasn’t chosen, it chose us. Because the bar is closing. C’mon, ten more minutes and some JT, DJ!
4:15 a.m. Drunk food. Drunk food. I should get drunk food! Pizza? Onion rings. TACOS!
4:32 a.m. Another late night, another disapproving smirk from my judgmental doorman. (The one man who knows all of my secrets!) Note to self: You actually AREN’T invisible after 2 a.m.
4:40 a.m. My indecisiveness worked to my benefit tonight, as I’m now home without drunk food, face-down in bed — focused (ha!) on salvaging a full REM cycle.
New York Fashion Week | Day Three
7:30 a.m. My cell phone rings. I wind up to launch it across the room, but then I remember my blogging bud Ashley is arriving to New York on a red-eye this morning.
7:31 a.m. “Huh… Huh-llo?” I grunt. My voice is always alarmingly deep in the morning, but this is some next level shit.
7:32 a.m. “Hiiiiiii sunshine, I’m heeeeeere!”
I am fairly certain my brain just imploded.
8:30 a.m. My doorman (now the daytime dude who thinks I’m a saint) rings to announce Ashley’s arrival. My hair is a mess, my breath is not minty fresh and I’ve only risen from the dead a matter of minutes ago to put pants on. I sleep hard, ladies.
8:55 a.m. After many swigs of water and a quick catch-up sesh, I brew a pot of coffee and get to work on cleaning my apartment. The production crew is coming over in an hour to film a Day in the Life video segment!
9:15 a.m. How can one person have so much STUFF in a 450 square foot space? This is a much larger task than I’d anticipated, we’re going to need to call for back-up.
10:15 a.m. I place a $20 delivery order — a(nother) large coffee (yes, you can get coffee delivered in New York) and a fresh salt bagel with chive cream cheese should do the trick.
10:40 a.m. GIVE ME ALL OF THE CARBS! Poor Ash, I’m getting hangry as ever. Need. Sustenance. Now.
10:51 a.m. Bagels arrive, at last. I have nine minutes to crush mine, which shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, should I place another order?
11:00 a.m. Right on time, I hear the elevator ding just as I’m swallowing the last large bite of my bagel. The crew has arrived!
11:10 a.m. Quick self-pep talk while the team is setting up: All right, Hallie. Look alive! Wait, more under-eye concealer.
11:16 a.m. Lights, camera… Now, before we go on, I think you should watch the video (if you can’t see it embedded below, click here):
For the initial 45 minutes, we film the interview segment, which is essentially just our producer, Alana, and I having a conversation. There are tons of laughs and many, many takes — my coffees have kicked in and I’m starting to feel a little bit loopy. Or rather, a lot like last night!
Following, we film my rifling through the closet — making a mess. So, basically, recreating the shitshow state of affairs in my apartment that existed before five-person crew arrived.
In the video, I note that I plan my outfits two or three weeks in advance, which is true (0:37). I do a lot to prep for Fashion Week, which you can read about here, but as we’ve learned, that indecisiveness tends to take the cake. Hangover bloating and carb-loading are contributing factors, too.
To wrap up the apartment portion, the crew films me putting on my shoes (an exceptionally difficult task for the time being), walking into and out of the apartment.
1:02 p.m. All done, for now.
1:05 p.m. As the crew packs up and leaves, I collapse on the floor. Literally, the floor, where I remain until I summon the strength to transition to the couch.
2:45 p.m. Ash and I head up to Lincoln Center (in a cab, natch) for the day’s afternoon shows — first up is Mara Hoffman. I run into Nola and Bianca – two of Glam’s editorial heads – on my way in. They see the crew behind me and need no instruction of what to do. (You can see Bianca’s Day in the Life here.)
Ash heads off to sit pretty in the tents, while the camera crew and I spend the next two-plus hours outside filming. It is cold — my cams are frozen and I’m fairly certain they’re starting to sprout a five o’clock shadow.
Here’s how that went:
THE WALK.
It’s been a day when putting one foot in front of the other is near-impossible, which is a situation that’s only amplified when hurried New Yorkers are all like “get the fuck out of my way” and tourists are stopping to stare.
I even heard someone whisper, “Is that a Real Housewife?” Le sigh. That is so not a compliment. #botoxfree
THE SUBWAY.
After we film The Walk, the team and I head down to linger in the subway station for awhile – the next train isn’t slated to pass for four minutes. No, wait, seven. Okay, nine. FOURTEEN? Delayed. All we know is that the train is delayed.
For this portion, I’m supposed to look frazzled running down the subway stairs and into the station. Hot mess? Me? Yeah, no prob.
After the 14 longest minutes of my entire life, I hear the train approaching. I assume the position like a track star coming out of the starting block and take off on cue. As I run (limply and ungracefully, 0:02), the train conductor sees me running and actually waits – stops and waits – for me (1:06). I swear to God this has never once happened to me in the nearly-a-year I’ve lived in New York (this is what I mean by “New York has an agenda against you”). We have to film it again.
THE CAB.
Time to grab some token New York City footage: Hailing cabs, getting into cabs and getting out of cabs. And as a result, pissing off cabbies. We do this for about 30 minutes, until I can feel frostbite forming on my fingers (1:07).
A man standing a few feet from us has been watching us for awhile, which may be why he doesn’t notice that his poor dog keeps puking and… I’ll leave it at that. Lovely.
THE SIGH.
Is everything (at the 2:00 mark), and pretty much sums up the day. Which brings me to:
THE MIC.
For the entire duration of our shoot, I was mic’ed. I forgot after a while and I tend to be a very candid speaker, so let’s just say the crew now knows as many of my secrets as my best girlfriends and that night-time doorman do… I know where you work, guys.
THE FINALE.
Many hours later, I’m cabbing back downtown with Ash, Jessica and the production crew. The final segment we’re filming is me in my natural element: At a Mexican restaurant with a salt-rimmed margarita in-hand (2:09). Arriba!
At 2:15 you can hear Jess animatedly say “Cheers to that!” but what was actually said was “Cheers to New York motherfucking Fashion Week, bitches!” My bad, Z (our sound guy). Love ya.
8:15 p.m. Face-plant. In bed. I’ve got dinner with bloggers in… oh, 15 minutes ago. Sigh. I debate staying horizontal for the remainder of the night, but that’d be Fashion Weak.
11:59 p.m. After dinner, a group of us decides to venture out for a nightcap or four on the roof of the Empire Hotel. I stifle a yawn and join the girls for vodka sodas (with a splash of St. Germaine), opting for YOLO over FOMO.
By Day 3, guys, acronyms is as good as it gets for this girl. Make good memories, not good choices!
//
In case you missed it, click to see Fashion Week Recap Day 1 and Day 2
Laughing my butt off yet again! You just need to get an IV drip of coffee and figure out how to bedazzle that sucker so it looks like an army party accessory.
I am fascinated by all of this. I don’t know how you do it, but I love the way you describe it. And the whole scenario of staying out all night and being filmed in the morning reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw’s “Single and Fabulous Question-Mark” magazine cover. Except your life does really look Single and Fabulous Exclamation Point.
Ok first, I loved your video (and I’m pretty envious of your closet)…and second, girl HOW DO YOU DO IT?! I feel like I’ve been hit by a train after one night out on the weekends. Teach me your ways.
This is so great.. I don’t know how you do it.. I would be passed out! haha! I did watch the video and loved it! So cute! Annnddd ‘cheers to that….!’ ; )
GIRL! Not only am I seriously exhausted for you after reading only three days of fashion week recaps but my feet literally ache as well. How you do it? I have no idea but I bow down to your perserverance. ALL HAIL HALLIE! I look forward to reading about the rest of your coffee fueled, minimal sleep achieved, champagne at noon days!
Hallie, I loved that video so much. Your personality literally translates so well through your blog, and the video just confirmed that! You are just as hilarious in real person as well as on the blog!
LOVED the video! I think I could probably handle one day of NYFW and then I’d go crazy! Your pink skirt was gorgeous!!!
Thanks, Andi! Funny thing is, February is always a bit slower-paced/less active than September. I’m practically hydrating already for next season.
Laughing my butt off yet again! You just need to get an IV drip of coffee and figure out how to bedazzle that sucker so it looks like an army party accessory.
http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com
Holy smokes, you’re right. Do those exist? If not, let’s get on it — that’s our Million Dollar Idea!
I am fascinated by all of this. I don’t know how you do it, but I love the way you describe it. And the whole scenario of staying out all night and being filmed in the morning reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw’s “Single and Fabulous Question-Mark” magazine cover. Except your life does really look Single and Fabulous Exclamation Point.
What an awesomely flattering metaphor. Thank you, Jenn!
I LOVE living vicariously through your NYFW recaps! And you are video gold.
xx Lexi, Glitter, Inc.
Ok first, I loved your video (and I’m pretty envious of your closet)…and second, girl HOW DO YOU DO IT?! I feel like I’ve been hit by a train after one night out on the weekends. Teach me your ways.
I love this video! You’re my hero… Best recap ever and I can’t believe I never thought of St. Germaine with vodka!!
xx,
Kristi
I love this! You always know how to make a girl laugh. Next year, I am coming just to be your coffee girl, okay?
And my drinking buddy! Can’t wait to see you this week. x
This is so great.. I don’t know how you do it.. I would be passed out! haha! I did watch the video and loved it! So cute! Annnddd ‘cheers to that….!’ ; )
Kayla
http://www.lovelucygirl.com
Haha, it’s all about good under-eye concealer, girl. Thanks for watching my video, I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Love this so much. You’re so hilarious, but real talk, I’m not sure how you manage to survive more than one day of this!
Love it! What an exciting day! Your apartment looks so chic! You’ve got more any energy than anyone I know!
-Meg
http://www.dillandscout.etsy.com
www.
GIRL! Not only am I seriously exhausted for you after reading only three days of fashion week recaps but my feet literally ache as well. How you do it? I have no idea but I bow down to your perserverance. ALL HAIL HALLIE! I look forward to reading about the rest of your coffee fueled, minimal sleep achieved, champagne at noon days!
Xo
Brittany
great post!
xx
chicandsequined.com
Oh the disapproving doorman…know them all too well! Another fantastic recap, Hallie!
The struggle is real!
Hallie, I loved that video so much. Your personality literally translates so well through your blog, and the video just confirmed that! You are just as hilarious in real person as well as on the blog!
Pink Champagne Problems
WOW! What a whirlwind day!!
I love your outfit in the interview - you look great and very happy.
Kiri
http://www.fashionblender.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/FashionBlender
adore you lady!! what fun. can picture you saying this exactly story, which makes it even better. Love that: YOLO over FOMO! Yes!
alyson
http://www.theaveragegirlsguide.com
These posts are hilarious and just so intriguing and enjoyable! Seriously lusting after those shoes too! Please tell there is another instalment?
One more… : )
Woo! Looking forward to it!
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