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.

Powdery Fashion Palette

December 7, 2023

All fall, it seems, I took a fundamental approach to color — but as the temperatures dip, I’ve actually started to gravitate more toward a powdery fashion palette…

Continue reading →

10 Tips for Cyber Monday Shopping

November 25, 2023

Black Friday and Cyber Monday kinda snuck up on us this year, no?

Personally, I tend to avoid the in-person shopping insanity over the next few days at all costs. Reason being, I’ve found that I can usually find better deals and steals online (and with free shipping, right to my door).

So join me this week — stay in your sweats, sit on the couch and grab a cup of coffee (or, you know, a glass of wine depending on the time of day). Best way to shop, no?

Here is my advice on how to get the very best deals online and ultimately make the most of your Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

10 tips for a successful Black Friday/Cyber Monday:

Continue reading →

The Most Amazing (Affordable) Winter Jacket

November 19, 2023

One of the funniest things about this Internet biz is how style bloggers (myself included) will stand in next-to-nothing when it’s 20 degrees outside to shoot their outfit photos….

Talk about an occupational hazard…

Continue reading →

How Jawbone’s Fitness Tracker has Forced Me to Live a Healthier Life

November 18, 2023

You might have noticed recently, but I’ve been wearing a pretty gold-colored fitness tracker in almost all of my fashion-focused posts over the last month.

… In fact, a lot of you have asked me about it specifically!

In sum, it — it being the Jawbone UP3 — has forced me to make a lot of better health & wellness choices, overall helping me lead a significantly healthier lifestyle. Today, I’ll share how:

Continue reading →

Vest Weather

November 11, 2023

It is indeed the most wonderful time of year… But I’m not talking about the holidays — yet.

(I literally just put away my Halloween decor. Ha!)

Continue reading →