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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.

Mood Board | September 2013

September 4, 2023

In labeling today’s post, I accidentally typed “Temptember” instead of September. I’m not sure why — Freudian slip in oogling the collage below, perhaps — but I almost left it as such. Seems more than appropriate for this time of year, right? Should I e-mail Hallmark?!

With Fashion Week, the turn of the season and a new wave of trends splashing across the web (and in print), it’s hard not to obsess over the latest and greatest style seemingly at our fingertips.

Instead of fast-tracking my way to credit card debt, I’m focusing on a wardrobe revamp by updating my closet with a few key pieces that will breathe life into the rest of my outfits. In the cooler-weather months to come, I’m feeling jewel tones, minimalism and monochromatic palettes.

Here’s what’s inspiring me for September:

Shop my September inspirations: 1. rag & bone t-shirt with leather pocket, 2. Modcloth scarf, 3. Lulu Frost necklace (also available via Rent the Runway), 4. Tibi geometric-print dress, 5. Ray-ban oversized wayfarers, 6. H&M cable-knit sweater, 7. NARS body glow, 8. Tibi sling-back pumps, 9. lace Tibi dress, 10. Joie printed silk bomber jacket, 11. rag & bone boyfriend jeans, 12. Markus Lupfer sequin sweater, 13. Essie Carry On nail polish, 14. J.Crew strappy metallic pumps, 15. Joie blouse, 16. NARS lipstick in Honolulu Honey, 17. Gap leather ballet flats, 18. Balenciaga wallet, 19. J.Crew leather sleeved top, 20. jewel-tone Zara pumps, 21. Madewell estate tote, 22. Julie Vos ring, 23. Madewell bien fait tee

**
For more Mood Boards, click here.

Mood Board | August 2013

August 6, 2024

August is the month that starts getting me excited for fall. Football teams take the field for training, September issues hit newsstands, and my hair finally doesn’t look like a hot, sticky mess after a 20-minute walk to work. (Knock on wood!)

Most excitingly, Fashion Week planning is poised to embark. This is reason alone for why it’s crucial that I invest in a functional wardrobe of pieces that are simple and can be styled a number of ways. That, and you know I’m about that snooze button.

Here’s what’s inspiring me for the month:

… No fuss frills for the month of August, ladies. No fuss frills. That’s what we’ll call it.

Shop my August inspirations: 1. Zara backless top, 2. Zara pointed-toe pumps, 3. rag & bone hat, 4. C.Wonder arrow bangle, 5. Illesteva sunnies, 6. BCBGMAXAZRIA Hailey pumps, 7. Madewell tote bag, 8. Madewell silk cami, 9. NARS nail polish in Dovmina, 10. 3.1 Phillip Lim boxy cropped shirt, 11. Madewell heathered linen tee, 12. Nicole Miller ARTELIER skirt, 13. Madewell tux vest (and you know I can help with how to style this one), 14. J. Crew cashmere sailor sweater, 15. J. Crew houndstooth scarf, 16. C. Wonder vintage twist bracelet, 7. Loeffler Randall d’Orsay flats, 18. 3.1 Phillip Lim 31 minute clutch, 19. Zadig & Voltaire shorts

**
For more Mood Boards, click here.

Mood Board, Vol. 3 | July 2013

July 3, 2024

In my Pinterest-curated fairy tale, July is all about green grass, gingham picnic blankets, firework-watching and summer brew.

In New York, I’m learning, it’s actually about unbearable humidity, inevitable pit stains, dropping way too much money for a (worth it) weekend in the Hamptons, and, well, summer brew. As a result, I’m working a variety of simple shapes and no-fuss frills into my wardrobe this month.

It’s all about Aloe Vera and a laid-back aesthetic for the next few weeks. Cheers!

*Shop my July inspirations | Top: J. Crew summer hat, 3.1 Phillip Lim sunglasses, H&M pineapple tank, J. Crew striped t-shirt, Jennifer Zeuner eye necklace | Middle: J.Crew baseball tee, C. Wonder stud earrings, Zara sandals, C. Wonder monogramed enamel bracelet, 3.1 Phillip Lim satchel, Target denim vest, Miu Miu bow-embellished bathing suit, Bottom: CURRENT/ELLIOT denim shorts, BCBGMAXAZRIA mosaic cuff, J.Crew Everly pumps, Proenza Schouler PS1 in light banana, J.Crew floral top

Mood Board | June 2013

June 7, 2024

Summa, summa, summa-ti-ime! Here’s a dose of pretty things that are inspiring me for the month of June.

*Shop my monthly inspirations; top, from left: Ray-Ban sunglasses, Zara double-breasted waistcoat, Madewell linen lobster tee, J. Crew neon drop earrings, Charlotte Russe straw fedora | Middle: Jo Malone fragrance, essie nail polish in Sunday Funday (yes!), Zara shopper tote, Joie green blouse, Loeffler Randall woven flat sandals(on sale), Sarah Chloe monogrammed bangle, Joie floral blazer, rag & bone Mila moto shorts | Bottom: C. Wonder ikat pillow covers (more colors avail), Madewell striped tee, Wallis wedge espadrilles, Clinique chubby stick, C. Wonder Starfish ring set

Mood Board | May 2013

May 7, 2024

Happy May! Although, wasn’t it just Thanksgiving? Feels like it on my end.

Truth be told, we East Coast’ers have been chomping at the bit for a consistently daily dose of spring. (More on Mother Nature’s unpredictable manner here.) I’m ready to don my delicate tanks, white jeans and floating maxi dresses.

As a result, this month’s mood board entails a lot of transitional separates — pieces you can purchase to take you from spring to summer (and soon enough, summer to fall). Among my inspirations are structured separates, monochromatic pairings and a touch of tough-girl. These low-maintenance looks have lept off the screen in the form of a few recent personal style posts, too.

Top row: J.Crew straw hat | Jennifer Zeuner heart ring set | Michael Kors Selma Saffiano satchel | Tibi silk camisole
Upper middle: Kate Young for Target blazer | J. Crew windowpane pants | Madewell chevron necklace | Cargo eye shadow palettes | Coach Terri heels
Lower middle: Lot78 Hello printed t-shirt | Zoe Karssen Live Fast jersey sweatshirt | MICHAEL Michael Kors neon jetset perforated clutch | Vogue’s April 2013 US cover | J.Crew neon stone necklace
Bottom row: Alice + Olivia skinny cargo pants | Madewell sidewalk skimmers | Tibi striped shorts | Zara sandals | H&M scarf | Essie nail polish | MAC mineralize spring 2013 rich lipstick collection

If you haven’t, be sure to check out April’s mood board, too.

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