The Fine Print

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You, my readers, and overall editorial integrity are the two most important aspects of corals + cognacs. Know that I will always retain 100% control over the content on corals + cognacs, all opinions are that of my own, and that I will always disclose to you the items for which I have been paid and/or gifted.

Lastly, please note that the sentiments expressed on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent those of my employer. If you have any questions, I encourage you to contact me. Thanks again for reading corals + cognacs!

Hi, nice to meet you.

Hi, nice to meet you! Welcome to corals + cognacs, a life and style blog of sorts. I’m Hallie, a twenty-something fashion fiend, shoe hoarder and the Editor/Chief Style Officer behind this blog.

Here, you’ll find outfit inspirations, wardrobe creations and musings on my ever-evolving list of latest obsessions.

I hope you enjoy reading corals + cogancs as much as I enjoy writing it

FAQ // LOCATION: New York, New York • BY WAY OF: The Midwest (Cleveland/Chicago) • HOW WOULD YOU DISCRIBE 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? Silk blouses, diptyque candles and SoulCycle. • GUILTY PLEASURE? Eating trail mix and shoe shopping. Both in excess. • WANNA GRAB A DRINK? Always – Ketel dirty martini, please.

ARE YOU A FULL-TIME BLOGGER? No, I work at an agency doing social media strategy. • WHY DID YOU START YOUR BLOG? Style tends to take a back seat at the office. Since sartorial humor and an expertly crafted color-block can get lost in the boardroom, I decided to create a blog, 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. • 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/1.8 lens. • DON’T YOU FEEL WEIRD TAKING PHOTOS OF YOURSELF IN THE CITY? Absolutely. Everyone looks at me like I’m insane – especially when it’s cold. Wouldn’t you? • DO YOU OFFER ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES? Yep! Shoot me an e-mail and let’s talk. • HOW ELSE CAN WE KEEP IN TOUCH? On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

My 45 Favorite Presidents’ Day Shopping Sales

February 18, 2024

As I’ve mentioned, I have a love/hate relationship with holiday shopping. That is, I love sales and hate crowds.

Thankfully, I’m shamelessly skilled at shopping online, so I’ve rounded up a list of my 45 favorite online retailers offering President’s Day shopping sales. Happy browsing — from the comfort of my couch to yours!

Step away from my sale finds.

Apparel + Accessories

80s Purple: 15% off $50+ with code PRESIDENTS50; 20% off $75+ with code PRESIDENTS20; 25% off $100+ with code PRESIDENTS100
All Saints: Free shipping
Ann Taylor: 40-50% off select styles with code ANNSPRING; Extra 50% off sale items
ASOS: 60% of leather items; 10% off ASOS Outlet items
Athleta: New markdowns; free shipping on any order $50+
Banana Republic: Additional 25% off already reduced items with code BRPRES25
Endless.com: Up to 50% off site-wide
Express: Buy 1 Get 1 50% off everything
Forever21: Up to 75% off select styles
Free People: New markdowns, select styles under $30
eBags: 20% off most items; free ship $100+
Gap: Up to 40% off select styles; free shipping $50+
Inhabit NY: Site-wide sale up to 70% off
Kohl’s: 30% off entire stock of Rock&Republic for Kohl’s line
Last Call by Neiman Marcus: Extra 25% off your entire order through 2/22/12
Macy’s: Extra 15% off + free ship with code PRES
Madewell: Free shipping on all orders
Manhattanite: 30% off your order of 100+ with code FLAG30; flat-rate shipping for $5
Modcloth: Free shipping on orders $50+
Nasty Gal: Tons of new markdowns on shoes, bags and clothing
Old Navy: 15% off any purchase or 20% off $100+ with code ONSAVEBIG
Sunglasses Hut: Extra 30% off all sale items

Designer Apparel + Accessories

7 for All Mankind: Sale items up to 50% off regular price; free shipping on orders $100+
BlueFly: Extra 30% off select sale items
Chick Downtown: $5 shipping, new markdowns up to 80% off; additional 10% off with code CHICK10
Cusp: Take 20% off all regular-priced jewelry
Pink Mascara: 20% off your order with code WELCOME; up to 50% off sale items; Free ship $75+
Shopbop: Free two-day shipping, up to 70% off select items
The Outnet: Extra 20% off designer labels with code 20SHARELOVE
The Hip Chick: Additional 15% off all sale with code SALE15
The Trend Boutique: 15% off site-wide with code flag15
Theodora & Callum: New markdowns
Yoox: Up to 70% off sale items + an extra 10% off for Shop It To Me Members with code SHOPITTOME@YOOX

Shoes

Heels.com: Free Rumba watch ($45 value) with $150 purchase
Jildor Shoes: $5 flat-rate shipping
Lori’s Shoes: New markdowns, free shipping on $50+
Nine West: Power pump promo! Up to 30% off select pairs of shoes
Piperlime: Free ship + returns; final sale up to 60% off
Shoe Box: Up to 70% off new markdowns, free ship $150+
Steve Madden: 20% off your purchase of $100+ with code PRESIDENT

Beauty + Cosmetics

Beauty.com: Free sample bag designed by Marchesa with $150 purchase
Bliss Spa Products: Free skincare set with $75 purchase; use code lovely
e.l.f.: $1.98 shipping with code LOVE198
Sephora: 5 weekly freebie deals (Bare Escentuals, Benefit and Clinique), new markdowns on top brands
Smashbox: $25 off any $100+ purchase with code SMASHBOX25
ULTA: 20% off any one item with code 76005 (in-stores and online)

**
Note: This list will remain updated throughout the weekend; check back often for sale updates!

Holiday Wishes (and Wants) from corals + cognacs

December 25, 2023

Merry, merry, fashion fiends! I wanted to first take a moment to wish you a very happy holiday, and then another to reiterate how grateful I have been for your support.

In lieu of Sunday’s shoe post, I decided to share my style-saturated Christmas wish list, instead — which is essentially a designer dossier of my favorite trends from fashion’s finest.

I have very basic taste. Just a few simple requests. Right? Have a look for yourself… Merry Christmas!

Those peep-toe booties. So classic.

The leopard-print pair is my fave.

If you’re looking to shop these shoes, try Net-a-Porter or Saks for Miu Miu, Charlotte Olympia and Pierre Hardy and Bergdorf’s (duh) for Chanel and Christian Louboutin. What’s on your wish list?

All the best! x H

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?

My 50 Favorite Black Friday + Cyber Monday Sales

November 23, 2023

* Note: This list has been updated from Black Friday and will be kept up-to-date with live sales, so check back often.
Happy Cyber Monday!

I have a love (sales)/hate (crowds) relationship with holiday shopping, and if you’re like I am, you avoid the shopper insanity known as Black Friday at all costs.

Here, I’ve rounded up a list of my 50 favorite online retailers offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Happy shopping — from the comfort of my couch to yours!

#InterventionNeeded

Apparel + Accessories

80s Purple: Blackout Sale - up to $300 off your order + free ship
Ann Taylor: 40% off everything with code ‘THANKS’
ASOS: Additional 20% off everything with code HAPPYBLACKFRIDAY
Athleta: 30% off your purchase with code HUGECYBER
Banana Republic: 30% off your purchase with code ~~BRJUMP30~~ HUGECYBER
Endless.com: Up to $100 off with code CYBERMON
Express: ~~Everything 40% off before noon~~, 30% off ~~after noon (in-stores and online)~~ everything + free ship
Forever21: Hundreds of items on sale starting at $2.99
Gap: 30% off your purchase with code HUGECYBER
J. Crew: 25% + free ship on ALL ~~your~~ orders ~~of $150+~~ with code SURPRISE
Kohl’s: Extra 20% off everything with code CYBER20
LYLIF: Everything in stock 50% off!
Madewell: ~~Up to 30% off plus free ship~~ Extra 30% off sale + free ship with code ENJOY
Manhattanite: ~~25%~~ 30% off all orders with code ~~BLACKFRI25~~ CYBER30
Modcloth: New mark-downs up to 50% off, free ship on $75+, 25% off most-wished-for items
Old Navy: ~~Everything in stock is on sale!~~ 30% off your entire order with code HUGECYBER
ROMWE: Up to 50% off; 20% off your first order with e-mail sign-up
ShopSosie: Up to 35% off with code
Topshop: New mark-downs up to 30% off, free ship ~~on $75+~~ on all orders
Urban Outfitters: Free shipping (no minimum)
White House Black Market: ~~25%~~ 30% off your purchase + free ship with code 10823

Designer Apparel + Accessories

BlueFly: Mark-downs up to ~~60%~~ 80% off. Extra 30% off sale items
Nicole Miller: Free shipping on all orders
Net-a-Porter: Secret sale for Facebook fans: 50% off editor’s designer picks for fall.
Pink Mascara: 25% off including sale items with code CYBERSALE
Revolve Clothing: Free ship; over 5,000 items on sale up to 90% off
Saks Fifth Avenue: Select styles up to 70% off. Free shipping with code HOLIDAY (ends 11/29)
Singer22: Sale from 10-90% off select styles; up to $400 off your order with code
Shopbop: 20% off hundreds of new items; Extra savings such as $50 off $250+ with code BIGEVENT - up to $500 off
The Outnet: Newer designer mark-downs up to 70% off. Use code NOVFREESHIP for free ship

Shoes

Blowfish: Free ship + ~~18%~~ 25% off everything with code ~~THANKS18~~ CYBER25
Heels.com: Free two-day shipping 30% off everything with code CYBERSALE
Jildor Shoes: New designer mark-downs, ~~$5 flat-rate~~ free shipping
Karma Loop: ~~20%~~ 25% off + free ship on orders over $65; plus additional gift codes with price tiers
Nine West: Up to ~~50%~~ 60% off party shoes
Payless: 50% off select styles through 11/27
Piperlime: 20% off your order with code ~~TWENTY~~ HUGECYBER
Steve Madden: ~~25%~~ 30% off your purchase + free ship with code ~~TURKEY~~ STUFFING
Ugg Australia: Free ship + returns
Vince Camuto: $50 off any boot purchase with code ’50BOOTS’ (Ends 11/28)
Zappos: Holiday markdowns on denim, heels and handbags; free ship + returns

Beauty + Cosmetics

Beauty.com: Full-size gift with purchase, 20% off select styles
Benefit Cosmetics: Free high beam mini with $35 (code: HLDYMINI); free full-size thrrrob with $90 (code: HRTTHROB). Ends 11/28.
Clinique: Holiday specials + free ship
e.l.f.: ~~10%~~ 50% off your order of $25+ with code 50WIDE
Philosophy: Up to 40% off + free full-size gift bag with $85 purchase
Sally Beauty: Free mini flat-iron with $45 purchase with code 444148; free shipping $50+ (ends 11/27)
Sephora: Free ship ~~$50+~~ $25; free mystery gift with code MYSTERY
Smashbox: 20% off with code SBXFF11, free ship + samples (ends 11/29)
ULTA: New markdowns + free gift offers with purchase; $3.50 off with code 66769

Holiday Gift Guide: The Label Lover

November 22, 2023

With nearly four weeks until Christmas, I’m jumping on the gift guide bandwagon to help you get a head start on your shopping for the holiday season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting awesome options for everyone on your list, so stay tuned and check back often!

The holidays are a perfect time to give (and to receive!) those luxury items you’ve been pining over all year, especially since it ’tis the season that many designers price their gift sets reasonably.
Giving a brand-name gift isn’t just for your label lovers, it’s a fail-proof way to make all your recipients feel A-list!

[shop] Top row: D&G Eau de Parfum / Prada Eau de Parfum / Chanel vintage earrings / Burberry scarf

Bottom row: Dior key rings, Marc Jacobs ‘Blade’ watch, Chanel ‘La Vernis’ nail polish, Marc Jacobs cosmetics case, Tory Burch logo buckle bracelets, Michael Kors ‘Madison’ watch, Chanel ‘Rouge Coco’ lipstick, Tory Burch ballet flats

Happy Shopping! -H

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