The Fine Print

corals + cognacs works with third-party affiliates and advertising companies to serve advertisers. These companies may use aggregated information (not including your name, address, email or telephone) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.

In addition, sometimes I'll share affiliate links of retailers that I personally support via Twitter or Facebook. If you click through an affiliate link when buying an item, I will be partially compensated for your purchase. You're under no obligation to click through via one of the links when shopping online, but, if you do, you'll be supporting my blog as well.

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.

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.

A Statement Isn’t a Statement

July 8, 2024

Nothing says easy weekend wear quite like a little chambray, right?

Continue reading →

Mood Board, Vol. 11 | June 2014

June 10, 2024

I swear, you guys: Every time I turn around, it’s time to create another monthly Mood Board — which means yet another 30 day time-span (give or take) has flown on by. How does this happen? Anyone?

I digress…

This month, I’ve felt drawn to sharp silhouettes and shades of white. I’m reaching for subtle sherbet hues (as opposed to icy pastels, a la last month), which go together seamlessly and embody a perfect sartorial expression of summer.

Here’s what I’m loving for June:

Continue reading →

An Eyelet Affair

May 27, 2024

In spite of my better judgement, I’ve been embracing a palette of bright whites this season.

Don’t get me wrong, I love wearing white — it’s the perfect seasonal palette cleanse — but I’m clumsy. Really clumsy, as dictated by Murphy’s Law.

There are trade-offs to this, of course. On the one hand, wearing white is the perfect wardrobe canvas, which makes getting dressed much easier. On the other, it requires me to severely restrict my diet (to the likes of water, white wine and hummus… Which I’m actually fine with).

Continue reading →

Rulebreaker

May 22, 2024

PSA: I’m wearing white-on-white(-on-white) today.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Oh, God. Here come the YAAAS! White! AND BEFORE Memorial Day!” rebel cry-type blog posts.

Alas, no. Not here.

Continue reading →

Cop-out

May 15, 2024

It’s been another one of those weeks where you constantly seem to be chasing after your schedule. Not in a bad way, really, but do you know the feeling?

Continue reading →