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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.

Photo Recap: Lori’s Shoes Capsule Collection

December 20, 2023

Earlier this month, Lori’s Shoes landmarked nearly 30 years of fashion, shoes and accesories and unveiled Lori’s own capsule collection for winter ’11/spring ’12.

Of course, I had to head up to their Lincoln Park shop to partake in the celebration .

In addition to previewing Lori’s newest collection, I had the pleasure of meeting Italian shoe designer Maurizio Celin of Bacio 61. Maurizio told me the inspiration behind his animal-print and tribal-patterend spring ’12 collection was the Chicago girl, because, after all, “the city is a jungle!”

Swoon.

My friend Amy, on the left, was keen on Kimber. My favorite pair (and my New Year’s Eve shoe for this year) was Viktoree by Steve Madden, on the right.

Guests enjoyed 20% off and gift bags filled with treats from Lori’s favorite local- and women-owned businesses. Amy ended up winning the evening’s raffle and went home with the Knockout, this killer black-and-red platform pump below. It was a tough decision, though; how awesome are the snake-print pumps on her? Some girls have all the luck!

Wearing: Topshop jacket, Romwe chiffon skirt, Forever 21 booties, Cynthia Rowley bag

My Offline Life: November Photo Review

December 1, 2023

Last month, I introduce a new series I’m planning to implement on the first of each month: a look at my offline life through the lens of my mobile phone.

Appropriately enough, November’s theme is thanksgiving: for my followers, friends and family. If you’re new here, I’m so happy you stopped by. If we’ve met, and you’ve stuck around awhile, thank you! You’re my voice of inspiration and you breathe life into corals + cognacs every single day. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Enjoying Chicago

and what remains of fall

in preppy penny loafers

sequin-studded flats

and not-so-pretty outdoor running shoes. (It was raining!)

Weekends spent wine tasting

or out on the town

and Sundays filled with shopping

watching football

and caffeine-fueled blogging.

Heading home for the holidays

makes me feel thankful… for family

for festive holiday food

for travel companions

and for good friends - the kind that bake and help you eat too many birthday cupcakes.

Christmas lights line the streets

and window displays are full of merriment

which has lead to lots of holiday shopping.

Happy December, everyone. ‘Tis the season! What was special about your month?

Photo Recap: Gilt City Chicago Warehouse Sale

October 25, 2023

This past weekend, a few friends and I set our alarm clocks on a Saturday to raid the Museum of Contemporary Art Warehouse for Gilt City Chicago’s second annual sample sale.

Though a few of us (myself included) left empty-handed, it wasn’t unhappily: In addition to shopping, great music and drinks, 19,000 square feet of exposed brick and architectural details made for an all-around worthwhile event.

Wearing: Topshop Jacket / Romwe Skirt (similar) / Tory Burch Wedges (similar)

Sample sale shopping makes my soles tired.

If you’re planning to attend a Gilt City warehouse sale in the future, don’t worry if the early time slots sell out (tickets are available in two-hour increments from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) The stylishly-clad Gilt City staff efficiently stocks the floor after each group.

Until next time, I’ll be getting my sample sale fix online at 11 a.m. CST everyday. How ’bout you?

Celebs, Shoes & Champagne: A Photo Recap of FNO Chicago

September 12, 2023

At this year’s Fashion’s Night Out in Chicago, the most coveted accessory was an umbrella. Nonetheless, the city’s style scenesters united to navigate the well-dressed waters of Chicago’s FNOutings.

From Michigan Avenue to Oak Street and beyond, this year was bigger and better than ever before. In a nutshell, my celebration entailed shoelebrities, shopping and champagne!

SAKS:

Yes, that’s the famed Brian Atwood, but can we talk about those flesh-toned Prada boots?!

From the B Brian Atwood collection. That pair on top is my favorite! So much sparkle.

10022-SHOE by Brian Atwood

Textured Louboutins

TOPSHOP:

Frame-worthy, no? My roomie took this awesome photo

Did you celebrate Fashion’s Night Out in your town?

Oh, and don’t forget to enter c+c’s first-ever giveaway to win a $200 professional flat iron! All you have to do is like us on Facebook. Happy Monday!

Photo Recap: @WhatIWore’s Book Signing + Shop Crawl

August 26, 2023

Whether or not you’re a style connoisseur, you’ve probably heard of and drawn inspiration from Jessica Quirk and her blog, What I Wore. Earlier this week, Jessica took the Windy City of Chicago by storm to celebrate the launch of her new book.

Does fruit salad count for dinner?

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The event was hosted at Julie Watson Style by Shop it To Me and attended by a swarm of fanatical females and Chicago-based bloggers. I was especially excited to meet the latter of these ladies, as I’ve followed many of their blogs religiously since long before I launched mine. There were lots of new fashionable faces to meet, too. Check them out!

Tenisha, Qlix Magazine / Rachel, The Working Wardrobe

Andrea (and those a-mazing JC booties), Blonde Bedhead

(from left) Amy, Style Cadezna / Emily, Sartoriography / Me / Lisa, Archive Vintage / Merl, Clyde’s Rebirth /a pal

Elena, Caffeinerd

Elena’s zipper necklace, thrifted for $2

Lisa, Tall Girl Tales / Emily, Emphasis Added

Check out Merl’s Etsy shop - she designed all of the jewelry she’s rockin’. That necklace took center stage!

Natalie, Street Smarts

Laura of Shop it to Me and On the Racks

My date for the night, Brittany

The coffee-table-worthy page-turner is jam-packed with seasonal outfit suggestions and illustrations (all done by Jessica herself). It oozes achievable fashion ideas and smart style. In addition to each section’s “I never knew that” tips, here are my two favorite excerpts from What I Wore:

“After all these years, I’ve realized that getting dressed is a lot like cooking. Just like an expert chef in the kitchen, a chic woman is able to open her closet doors and put together a perfectly styled outfit with ease.”

“My goal for What I Wore is to help you create your own twist on a basic recipe – to take stock of what’s in your closet, help you with a shopping list and cook up outfit after outfit that makes you feel great bout yourself.”

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Preview

And yes, she is as lovely in person - it must be those Midwestern roots!

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