Made to Fit

Being petite sometimes it's hard to find something that fits me perfectly. I'll find something I absolutely love but I'm met with disappointment as it's either too long, big, high, and so on. So when eShakti contacted me to join their real fashion for real people campaign I was happy to be apart of it. eShakti specializes in custom made clothing, perfect for a petite-sized gal like me. My style lately has been leaning more towards relaxed and I decided to dress my skirt down. Perfect for the muggy, humid weather in Manhattan.

I'm happy with the skirt and I'm looking forward to dressing it up and down. Check out eShakti:

Website

Instagram

I'm wearing a vintage Takashimaya crop top, eshakti's custom midi skirt, Superga Cotu Classics, Urban Outfitters hat (similar), suede tote by Jo, moon necklace from an artists' market, earrings by Satya, and rings from Moon Angel and a popup shop in Williamsburg.

Photos by Ian Cruz

x Yzabelle

The Art Complex

TGIF guys! I hope your finals are finally over, if not, you can do it! It was a bit of a challenge to push through, especially with all this sunshine. It's just screaming "come outside and have fun." Uber hard with endless final papers (5-20 pagers no less). These photos were taken in my school's visual arts complex, a space I wish I'd spent more time in. I thought it was a great compliment to where I'm leaning towards with my style. And I feel like it might be my new uniform. P.S.: I think I really, really love joggers.

I'm wearing a Club Monaco shirt, J.Crew trouser joggers (similar) and Superga Cotu Classics

x Yzabelle

The Photo Booth

"A NOSTALGIC, KIND-OF MOOD"

I just finished my paper, and I'm celebrating with a new blog post! I've been feeling super nostalgic lately. I'm enjoying the longer, sun-filled days and doing things at a slower pace. It might be spring and the approaching summer season, not laziness (I swear). With finally getting into film photography, I'm looking forward to capturing more moments (stay tuned). I love the uniqueness and quality that you truly can't with a digital. But for now, here are some pictures captured with Photo Booth, which I've been neglecting for way too long.

I've decided that I want to post more than once a week, I've been feeling so inspired and there's so much that I would love to share. Before I forget here's a song to jam to and get ready for those dreaded Monday blues. Enjoy!

As always, thanks for reading.

x Yzabelle

First Day of Finals

It's officially finals week (brace yourselves)! This is the week for late-night studying, endless coffee refills, and productive music. I had my French final yesterday, hoping I rocked it! Since I take so many photos I wanted to share some with you guys! Step into my world...

Lorraine + iced coffee = happy — Lorraine + iced coffee = happy

Anny and her über adorable jacket. — Anny and her über adorable jacket.

Wishing you all good luck on your finals and here's to a wonderful weekend. Bon week-end!

x Yzabelle

#ifchic24

Hey guys! Recently I had the opportunity to shop on ifchic's site for their special event, ifchic24. It was fun, and definitely difficult to choose out my favorite items. I decided on two items, a striped dolman top and a button-up shirt. Of all the brands, my favorite was Cameo.

There's something I really liked about the event, you have to collect the ifchic coins that are scattered around the site. It's like a scavenger hunt! You can collect up to $6 a day in ifchic coins for 30 days. Perfect for collecting the coins before the event starts.

ifchic coin

As for the goodies I was able to pick up, scroll down to see what I bought with the coins.

J. Crew Cashmere scarf, Teen Spirit striped top

Pilcro and the Letterpress jeans, Acne Studios boots

Cameo formidable shirt, Pilcro and the Letterpress jeans, Superga Cotu Classic in white

I'm looking forward to their next ifchic24 event, how about you guys? Check out their site and other social media pages below. P.S.: I had to stop myself from reblogging every single photo on their tumblr.

Happy coin hunting!

x Yzabelle

A Little Bit of Spain

Forever 21 moto jacket, J.Crew cashmere scarf, T by Alexander Wang cardigan, J.Crew long-sleeved shirt, Pilcro and the Letterpress jeans, Acne Studios boots, Vintage Dooney & Bourke bucket bag — Forever 21 moto jacket, J.Crew cashmere scarf, T by Alexander Wang cardigan, J.Crew long-sleeved shirt, Pilcro and the Letterpress jeans, Acne Studios boots, Vintage Dooney & Bourke bucket bag

The day after my birthday was truly a day for the senses. It was uber windy in West Village and before heading to dinner we spent a good amount of time at Anick Goutal, taking in all the wonderful smells. It was still a little chilly so I dressed up in layers. My outfit was simple, but I left it up to my accessories to add a little bit more oomph. I always pass this beautiful tiled mural when wandering Greenwich, the vibrant blue just evokes that rustic European charm. Definitely one of the hidden gems we have in Manhattan.

As for Spain...It's somewhere where I've always dreamt of going. And Salinas has brought a little bit of Spain to New York City.

When I walked in, I was overcome by the amount of flowers that they have in the restaurant. They're everywhere! The flowers were so fresh and so fragrant, I wished that I could take one (sadly, you can't). There's an additional fee ($15) for taking a flower, but that shouldn't stop you from visiting. These flowers are flown in once a week from Portugal, so they're pretty special.

View from our table. We were lucky to get a corner booth table.

For drinks we decided on sangria, available by the glass or pitcher. My brother and Siu ordered the sangria roja and I ordered the sangria seca rosada. The sangria roja was made with Spanish red wine, brandy, orange liquor, and peach liquer. The seca rosada was made with Spanish rose, black pepper infused vodka, orange liquer, and peach liquer. If sangria isn't your fancy they have a variety of cocktails and wines. Next time I'm planning on some cava.

For our appetizer, we ordered the plato charcutero which contained a variety of cured meats, served along with their eggplant-fig compote and bread crackers. In addition to this, we also ordered Iberico ham and a half-ounce of Manchego cheese. I couldn't name which meats were which, but they're all different. One was smokier, one was spicier...it was a flavor explosion. With the spanish guitar and lounge music playing, I was ready to book a flight.

One of the best parts of our meal, even though I loved it all, was the paella. For all my paella lovers, it's one worth trying. The way it works at Salinas is that it's charged per person, about 30 dollars. This works perfectly so you don't get too little or too much. We ordered the Nuestra Paella with bomba rice, free-range chicken, sepia, sea scallops, head-on prawns, clams, mussels, and chorizo. They also offered an option to make it more authentic, by having the rice a little crunchy. The rice was still soft, with a little added bite-- the texture makes a difference.

From L to R: Chocolate Y Pistacho (Siu), Mousse Fundiente (me), Arroz Con Leche Con Membrillo (Anthony)

Can you guess which dessert was mine? The one in the middle was, even though the one on the left has the candle (oops). No worries though, all the desserts were delicious. If it's yours or a loved one's birthday, mention it if you make a reservation.

Their small desserts packed a punch, with the focus being flavor and presentation versus size; it felt much more special.

Salinas' coffee was not the typical machine brewed cup o' joe. Thick and frothy, their coffee is flavorful and strong; it made me want to get up a little early every day just to use my french press. The coffee was served along with milk and if you're not a black coffee drinker like myself. The fun part of the after dinner coffee: frothed milk. We had to scoop the milk out and plop it onto our coffees.

What Chef Luis Bollo has done is bring a little bit of Spain to NYC. If you're looking to take a trip for your senses check out Salinas. Plus, it's intimate and romantic; perfect for date night. P.S. I'm trying to convince my boyfriend to take me here (here's to hoping!).

Salinas can be found at 139 9th avenue

xoxo,

Yzabelle

*Photo cred to my brother and his awesome iPhone 6+ et moi.

Borrowed from the Boys

This post is a throwback, going way back to my brother's birthday. His birthday was in August, smack dab in the middle of summer. We trekked out on a hot and muggy day, definitely a day that called for comfort. But comfortable doesn't need to be boring, gone are the days when these two words were joined. This brings me to my outfit of choice on that day: comfortable, simple, and effortless.

Rag & Bone Tee, J.Crew jeans, Ray ban wayfarers, Ann Taylor snake stilettos, Vintage Coach belt, Michele watch, Zara bag — Rag & Bone Tee, J.Crew jeans, Ray ban wayfarers, Ann Taylor snake stilettos, Vintage Coach belt, Michele watch, Zara bag

Wearing something tight on an extremely humid day is a no-no, unless, you can bear it or already do (props to you). I steered towards throw-on pieces -- jeans and a tee, with a twist. Everything I was wearing was mine, minus the belt; it's my brother's. These two are closet staples and essentials; everyone has jeans and a tee. It's what you do with it that turns it into something okay, or something wow. Add your personality and make it your own.

Before I get to the birthday brunch, I have a little funny story to tell. First things first, ever watched The Wedding Planner with J.Lo? If you haven't, go and see it; it's a cute rom-com. But movie aside, I had an iconic Wedding Planner moment, i.e. getting my heel stuck in a grate. Even better, a worker with a trashcan, along with a huge crowd of people was headed towards me. Talk about adrenaline pumping! So, future note to self and readers: no stilettos when walking the High Line. Now, on to the food.

We had brunch at Cookshop, a greenmarket-driven restaurant that's not even a couple of blocks from the High Line. Starting off with drinks, they have a good-sized drink menu -- alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Siu and I opted for fruit mocktails, mine wasn't as sweet for a reason: jalapeños. Yes, you read that right, jalapeños. I've never had a spicy, fruity drink before, but it wasn't too spicy that it was off-putting. If you visit and they have it, give it a go.

Our appetizer was their lemon curd beignets. I've never had beignets before, real beignets from New Orleans. But, if they taste like these, I want more. Not too heavy, and still light and airy, these were little pockets of sunshine. The meyer lemon curd was tart and refreshing-- perfect for a hot, muggy day.

Siu's peach … — Siu's peach pecan french toast

Siu and I went the sweet route, while my brother went with savory. Either way, you're bound to get something delicious. My pancakes were huge; I don't think the picture do them justice. If you're worried about the ricotta (cheese, in pancakes!?), you won't taste it. Think about it as a flavor enhancer, for both the lemons and blueberries. Like the drinks, the french toast was sweet and tart. Add in more depth with the pecans, giving the meal a nutty and roasty flavor-- perfect with the sweet and tart peaches. My brother's salmon egg hash was perfectly flavored with a variety of herbs, and they didn't skimp on the smoked salmon. The biscuit served with his meal was soft, break-apart, buttery goodness.

I love the greenmarket and rustic approach to Cookshop's food. You can just tell when something's made in a cast iron skillet or griddle. Not going to lie, a part of me felt like a cowboy whilst eating. Maybe it was the decor, music or cast iron but all of this evokes an American Western charm. So, I guess I'm calling this good ole' cowboy food, just taken up a notch.

Cookshop is located past the High Line at 156 10th avenue at 20th street

*Note: Cookshop changes their menus seasonally, some items may, or may not still be on the menu.

xoxo,

Yzabelle

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Color Blocked

*Vince turtleneck sweater, BDG high-waisted jeans, Frye Sabrina lace-up boots, Moon Angel Jewelry moonstone ring, Vintage ring, Satya pearl studs.*

With me finally getting over this cold I spent Friday with close friends. My friend's sister flew in from the Caribbean this weekend and she wanted to have an all-out food day. It was an Indian food kind of day, spent with multiple dosas, lassi (yogurt drink), and kulfi (ice-cream).

I didn't want to risk another cold and made sure I bundled up in this 30-degree weather (brr!). Not an ordinary turtleneck sweater, I love the color blocking elements and how it's a high-low cut. I'm really digging statement sweaters and how effortless they can be. I love color blocking in the Spring and Summer time, and I vowed to myself to continue with it during Fall and Winter.

Do you guys like to color block? What's your fave color combo?

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Blue Smoke

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and weekend. Sorry for being MIA... my Halloween plans left me exhausted and with a slight cold. It's been a tea and Emergen-c kind of weekend. I think it's the constant change in temperature; right now it's hard to decide on what to wear. But I think the best solution is to dress in layers.

*3.1 Phillip Lim sweater coat, Club Monaco button-up, H&M jeans, Acne Studios boots, vintage clutch, J.Crew gloves*

Blue smoke is not only the name one of my favorite restaurants, but it's also the color of my coat. It's something I immediately reach for when it gets nippy. It's not only warm, but also a statement in itself. I love the extra edge it adds to whatever I'm wearing.

After the photo shoot with my friend I headed down to East village to meet my boyfriend for lunch. He took me to Weschler's- a place known for their beer and brauts.

We didn't get beer, but we did try an assortment of what they had to offer. I got the platter that comes with two brats of my choosing and two sides (pretzel and sauerkraut). My boyfriend decided on a pork and veal sandwich, fries, and pretzel on the side. No sauerkraut for him (he hates vegetables). The place was intimate when we went, but my boyfriend said it can get pretty packed in the evening. I'm looking forward to trying one of their dark beers and their famous currywurst next time around.

Before ending the day, we spent a good amount of time at The Bean. Every time we head over to The Bean it's always full, there's only been another instance in which we actually got a table. We considered ourselves lucky, especially since it was Halloween.

Other than Starbucks, if a Bean is in the area more often than not you'd find me going there instead. They really know how to make a mean cappuccino. Since it was Halloween everyone was dressed up, including some of the workers. Children also came and went trick-or-treating, alas no coffee for them! The cherry on top was the dog dressed up as Chewbacca.

What did you guys do on Halloween?

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Before the sun sets

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a good Monday. I'm usually not a Monday person, we all dread heading back to work or school; but I tend to psych myself out, thinking about fun things that'll happen later in the week. The weather so far has been consistent with chilly days..it's finally getting dark around 6PM, but the lighting is so beautiful right before sunset. One thing that excites me about the way the sunlight grazes something is that good lighting = beautiful photos. The light definitely creates a certain mood, and it's perfect if you're aiming for a nostalgic, soft, magic hour kind of photo.

Since I don't have traditional Halloween plans this Friday..I'm looking forward to another fun photo shoot with my friend( get ready for a new blog post sometime this Friday!). And since I'm not trick-or-treating, a trip to Economy Candy (heath bar heaven) sounds like a fun way to spend my Halloween.

Do you have any fun Halloween plans?

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En Promenade

After a few days of rainfall it was finally nice enough to head out for a walk. Iman and I headed straight for the park after a Starbucks run, midterms have left us drained and we needed the quick caffeine boost. It's kind of surreal that a place like this is in the middle of a fast-paced city, once you step inside time slows down. When I visit Central park I find that I'm more focused on the journey rather than the destination; it's one location that I don't really mind getting lost in. And Central Park is always beautiful, especially during crisp Fall afternoons.

Since it wasn't too windy I finally got the chance to wear my hat; I bought it during the Summer anticipating for the moment when I could finally wear it. Even though it's my only floppy hat, I love the way it looks and how it pulls my outfit together. I decided on a simple outfit with my outerwear being the statement pieces. As for my jacket, it has quickly become one of my favorites, not only for the style but for the price as well. I also really love how it's a combination of a moto and bomber jacket, I think that's what makes it unique. When it's not too chilly this outfit is my go-to for Fall, but I'm looking forward to breaking out the chunky knits when it gets colder. What's your go-to outfit for Fall?

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