The Fine Print

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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.

Let’s Talk About… Beauty & Confidence

March 20, 2024

Last week, I spoke at a benefit for Bottomless Closet (called Smart & Sexy Day) on behalf of The Women’s Alliance in honor of Women’s History Month.

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(More) Perfect Pairings

July 29, 2024

All right, you guys. I swear to you, the travel gods have a serious vendetta against me.

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Rooftopin’

July 25, 2024

Last week, I hopped on the subway after work and met a few of the girls for drinks atop the James Hotel — one of my favorite rooftops in New York.

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The Serial Snooze Artist Series

July 11, 2024

Soooo… How many times did you hit the snooze button this morning?

Yeah, me too. Read on.

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Perfect Pairings: Floral on Stripes

July 1, 2024

Sometime early morning last week, I was struck by the inability to choose between floral and stripes. (I’m blaming the snooze button, obv.)

Floral and stripes. Stripes and florals. Do you remember that scene in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective? Finkle and Einhorn. FINKLE AND EINHORN! That was me standing in front of my closet.

Side-bar. At any rate, I’m a long-time fan of a good mixed print, so I ended up pairing them together. And, I must say, this unexpectedly chic mash-up has been in constant rotation as of late.

And in case you were counting… I made it five full days without wearing the vest. Not too bad, right?

*Wearing: Club Monaco waistcoat (similar Zara style) | Loft floral blouse | striped skirt from The Limited (sold out; similar styles) | neon clutch c/o Ann Taylor (love this perforated Michael Kors version) | Michael Kors watch | BCBG white pumps

Photos taken by Jessica Sturdy