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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.

January 9, 2024

Tumble | Kyoto, Japan

Today, we’re in Arashiyama (嵐山), a quiet, touristy district on the western outskirts of the city.

When I say “touristy” though, I don’t mean American; we have yet to encounter many English-speaking tourists on our trip – if any at all.

Arashiyama is particularly popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons (and as a result, I’d suggest visiting in early April or mid-November, when the color seasons are at their peak).

After an indulgent breakfast of kaiseki ryori (lol–white rice) in the morning, we set out for a jam-packed day of culture and sightseeing from sun-up to sundown.

We left our ryokan and headed out over the Togetsukyo Bridge – one of the city’s most well-known landmarks, where we were began hiking the Arashiyama mountains to Iwatayama Monkey Park.

After a 30-minute climb – during which animals were literally running alongside us – we stumbled out into an open area where hundreds of Japanese macaque monkeys were roaming freely. I remember thinking that this type of tourist destination that would never be legal in the United States.

We sat for an hour, watching them play and bathe one another. I welcomed the ass-on-bench time, as I was exhausted from our first real form of physical activity in quite some time. Plus, we were able to take in the stunning panoramic views of Kyoto.

arashyiama-kyoto zara-leather-jacket

To get down the mountain, you had to take a mini-slide — and, well, I’ll let this super-short video put into context what happened next.

… My mother always said she should’ve named me Grace.

After cleaning the dirt off my clothes and ridding our stomachs of laughing cramps, we continued our walking tour of Kyoto. We ended up strolling the Zen gardens of the Tenryuji Temple and getting ourselves lost deep in Arashiyama’s famous Bamboo Grove – a beautifully serene forest of sky-high bamboo stalks.

Nearly every merchant in town is cash (yen) only, and ATMs that take American debit cards are far and few between abroad. Travel tip: Regardless of your location, the local post office will always have an international ATM you can use.

By mid-afternoon, we were freezing (it was 40 degrees in Japan) and starved for something other than bites of raw fish. Despite the entire town shutting down around 4 p.m., we lucked out and stumbled on an udon restaurant, where we happily slurped beef tenderloin, hot tea and noodles.

*In this post: westward \\ leaning sunglasses, Zara moto jacket, Zara leggings, SoulCycle tee, Converse chuck taylors (aka my Japan travel uniform); Dana Rebecca rose gold Sylvie ring

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22 comments

Jessica on January 9, 2024 at 7:07 am

OMG so happy this video made it in to your recaps. Still laughing from when you texted it to me. Most graceful tumble I’ve seen!

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Alyssa Longobucco on January 9, 2024 at 8:09 am

HAHAHA I literally just peed myself at that video oh my god–hilarious! I just kept expecting the slide to end, only it kept going. Seriously, your travel posts are so on point. I love your refreshing perspective of the trip!

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Heidi on January 9, 2024 at 7:54 am

LOVE YOU! Seriously, that video was awesome. Academy award winning actresses never get close to that level of realness and the crotch shot was awesome. I’m just happy nothing broke, sunglasses included, and you were able to laugh that off.

http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com

Reply
Rachel on January 9, 2024 at 8:13 am

Those monkeys are pretty adorable/hilarious!

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Shannyn @frugalbeautiful.com on January 9, 2024 at 8:21 am

I would seriously freak out about those monkeys but love that you’re in Japan. It’s on my “list” so I’m having serious travel lust on this post!

Happy travels.

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Annick Noel on January 9, 2024 at 9:11 am

Oh my goodness haha, I can’t believe you caught that tumble on camera! Love that about you - most people wouldn’t post a video like that, but you’re not afraid to laugh at yourself! I <3 you Hallie! Hahaha

Bold Subtlety

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Rebecca {at} Preppy Panache on January 9, 2024 at 9:11 am

OMG I want to play with the monkeys!

Rebecca {at} Preppy Panache

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Baubles to Bubbles on January 9, 2024 at 10:28 am

That video just made my day a whole lot better! Props for taking such a graceful tumble AND for being brave enough to roam around with monkeys. Let’s just say there’d be (lots of) tears involved if I were in your shoes!

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dana mannarino on January 9, 2024 at 11:03 am

Literally LAUGHED OUT LOUD. That was amazing! Looks like you are having the time of your life!

Pink Champagne Problems

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Lisa on January 9, 2024 at 1:15 pm

Hahaha that video kills me every time.
Love the photos of those monkeys, they’re so cute!! The Bamboo forest looks beautiful too. Jealous of your trip!

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Kiri on January 9, 2024 at 4:06 pm

Ah the monkeys! I have to go there in April!
We went to the Bamboo grove too when we were there in 2012. We got this great little bamboo dragon fly that balanced on your hand from an artist in the grove.
It looks like you had heaps of fun once again!
Kiri
http://www.fashionblender.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/FashionBlender

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Deanna on January 9, 2024 at 5:53 pm

LOL. That video <3
You poor thing. That crash landing looked pretty painful.

xx
Because I’m Obsessed

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Kat on January 9, 2024 at 8:02 pm

Holy buckets you look like you’re having so much fun!! And that video is so great
Great pictures too!:)

Kat l Ivy & Cedar

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Johanna on January 9, 2024 at 10:04 pm

These travel posts are the best. And that video…I laughed out loud. Great photos and great narrative. Living vicariously thought you…have a blast!

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Merritt on January 10, 2024 at 8:27 am

I’m SO FREAKING JEALOUS of your trip! I’ve been following along on Instagram. My dream!

The Style Scribe

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Amy on January 12, 2024 at 10:53 pm

I love that you posted that video - HILARIOUS. Looks like you are having so much fun

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Tina @ My Highest Self on January 14, 2024 at 7:57 am

That video was the highlight of my morning!

Reply
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Aileen on January 26, 2024 at 6:11 pm

OMG… that video was priceless! It made me forget about those cute monkeys completely lol.

Reply
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