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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.
Hello and happy Monday! I’m back with another update from New York Fashion Week. Here’s an update on what went down for Day 2:
7:00 a.m. Alarm sounds. Instead of snoozing, I wake up in a panic, not knowing what time or day it is.
7:05 a.m. Still disoriented, I boil hot water for tea and crawl back into bed to scroll through e-mails, Twitter and Instagram… [Hand hits head] Shit, I forgot to charge my phone last night.
8:35 a.m.Bianca swoops me in a cab. We’re both seeing Zimmermann this morning, an Australian designer known for feminine swimwear pieces.
8:55 a.m. I hop in line to check-in as B goes off in search of coffee. Blaire Eadie is right in front of me. WAIT. Ohmigod. Do I look okay? I freak out, compose myself and say hello. That wasn’t so hard!
9:22 a.m.The show isn’t too packed (it’s early for the fashion crowd), so they ask us to move into the front row. Okay!
9:30 a.m.I’m awake now, and wow, what a gorgeous collection — artful cut-outs, romantic pleats and a few swimwear separates that had me seriously second-guessing my eagerness for today’s crisp fall weather. (More photos here.)
10:00 a.m. We wander across the street to the Empire Hotel to charge our phones and hop on the wifi. Lots of coffee is had and I show no remorse in smothering an onion bagel in chive cream cheese (again).
11:10 a.m.Hail a cab downtown for Kate Spade. Bianca’s on the list; I’m not. Let’s just go and see what happens, shall we?
11:20 a.m. I smile, wave at the PR girls and speedily walk past the check-in table. I strategically position myself at the back of the elevator so that no one will be able to question me. I’m not sure what just happened, but I’m in. Boo yah!
11:35 a.m.The presentation is gorgeous. How the hell did they transform this Chelsea loft into a freakin’ garden? The models are poised with the designer’s signature quick-witted clutches in-hand, wearing grids and stripes, pencil skirts and tennis-style sweaters. I wonder if I could pull off that white cat-like eyeliner look? Maybe on Halloween. (A full photo album from the collection is here.)
11:50 a.m.Since we’re technically in a garden party, I decide that it’s not too early for rose. Right?
12:50 p.m.Quick pit stop home for productivity: I need to charge my electronics, write down this morning’s shenanigans and upload some photos.
1:45 p.m.Scratch that. I actually haven’t yet accomplished anything other than finishing two Vitamin Waters, a sleeve of rice cakes and the September Issue of Elle.
2:00 p.m. Although it required a herculean amount of effort, I change my outfit (here’s what I wore). This is mainly because I need to wear more comfortable shoes before my super-cute strappy sandals actually lacerate my feet.
2:15 p.m.Time to head back uptown for Rebecca Minkoff at 3:00. I’m proud of myself for leaving early — I will not be late like I was yesterday!
2:45 p.m. Hmm… I know I’m out of it, but we’ve been underground for quite some time.
2:50 p.m.Wait, we’re not actually moving.
2:55 p.m. God, this would happen. Apparently the train I’m on has derailed and we’re stuck until we can get to the next station (which happens to be hell aka Times Square). Tourists are panicking. I’m sweating. The guy next to me — no, ON TOP OF me — is a mouth breather. Should I punch him in the face or deplete my cell battery and put on my headphones? I can’t decide.
3:02 p.m.After what feels like hours, we arrive in the station. Hundreds of people are flooding out into the street, which means I’m royally f’ed on getting a cab. Once above ground, I take off like a bat out of hell (quite literally) in a full-on sprint in the direction I assume to be West. Good thing I put on wedges, I’m so late.
3:12 p.m.I’ve sweat through my blazer, but I’ve managed to poach a cab from another taxi hailer — snooze you lose, pal. This is New York.
3:25 p.m.I — again — am running up until I arrive at the stage door to Minkoff. I take a moment to compose myself, walk in, identify an empty chair and sit down, pretending as though I know what I’m doing.
3:30 p.m.Just in time — Janelle Monae is performing. I’ve never been to a show with live music! Kelly Osbourne is sitting front row — I think she’s the only person who could pull off lilac hair.
5:55 p.m. After loitering at Starbucks (on the ground and near a power outlet, natch), I head east to Schutz, a shoe brand known for their high-end designer footwear. It’s only a mile, that’s not too far.
6:20 p.m.Almost immediately, I regretted my decision. Do I keep walking? The next 20 minutes are spent debating whether or not I should get a cab. By now, though, I’ve arrived at Schutz and I’m fairly certain my feet are bleeding. Is there booze here?
6:40 p.m.Ah, yes. First order of business, champagne. Second, I spy Jessica Szohr, whom you may or may not know that, oh, I’M OBSESSED WITH. (You’ve seen my Gossip Girl posts, right?) I refrain from any and all mentions of Chuck Bass, and instead, compliment her on her new haircut. She asks “where she knows me from.” I die instantly.
7:05 p.m.A few girls I’ve met through blogging have filtered in by now, and after another round of champagne we decide that Mexican food and margaritas are a required course of action for the night. Onward, arriba!
11:00 p.m. I’ve requested the restaurant charge my phone (per usual), so I’ve just now gotten it back. I’m so exhausted that the only thing I can physically think about is crawling into bed. When was the last time I was sleeping before midnight? Am I really about to get two full REM cycles?! Day 3 is going to bring about a new person — stay tuned!
*Editor’s Note: If you missed my Day 1 recap, click here. In addition, I realize not everyone wants to see photos of the designers’ collections, so instead of placing them all in this post, I’ve created a Facebook album where you can browse them in-full.
There was a resurgence of Hawaiian style on the runway last year, and it’s looking like designers aren’t quite ready to retire the motifs. Hate it or love it?
I’ve been particularly taken by H&M’s 10th Anniversary collection this season. There’s something about the ease of Hawaiian lifestyle — especially when it entails a veritable luau of palm prints, hibiscus blooms and tiki imagery. Alas, the inspiration for today’s post…