snapshots from Scratch NYC

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(Lolli Swim x Free People bikini top and bottom, Goldie Rae cover-up, Worth & Worth hat, Vanessa Mooney cuff, Grandmother’s Buttons bolo necklace, vintage dress, RAEN sunglasses, Chloe handbag, Modern Vice “CARLY” boots)

I still have so so many adventures to share with you, but right now, I am in beautiful Paris, and can barely find time even to check my emails! Here I am snapped by the beach of Barcelona, using my day off to get that much needed tan. It’s been HOT, HOT, HOT in Spain, and without an umbrella on the beach, you’d become a lobster. Luckily, I brought along a lightweight cover-up and sunscreen, crunched up in my overflowing handbag. The ivory crochet beauty is just a little something I discovered back home in NYC, and immediately threw in my suitcase. It screams Spain! Oh so natural and oh so easy to dance in! Making our way down Las Ramblas, we finally found the Port. The water, the people, those topless and avoiding a bikini line! On our way, we found something a little more exciting, ABSENTA…you know, the Green Fairy drink? Strong enough to make you tip over your chair? Yep, just by the beach, we found Absenta…the rad bar that, besides to the old Bar Marsella, sells absinthe! We took the liqourice-like drink for a spin at around noon, and I have to admit, I only took a few sips and already, I felt it’s heat in my head. My boyfriend, downing the thing before we made our way to the beach, was definitely feeling it! YIKES. So there you have it…a straw hat, some good boots, and absenta to help carry us through the Spanish SOL! Despite our hangovers, we did manage to recover before our MANGO shooting. Stay tuned! x

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(MANGO moto jacket, white dress, heels, and necklace, BOERA knuckle ring)

Last night was the gorgeous MANGO runway show here in Barcelona! Yes, I’ve flown all the way to Spain for my work with the MANGO team, and honestly, I’ve missed them! It’s been a while since we had our last shoot, and I am so so happy we all get to back in Barcelona together, and this time, in honor of MANGO THE RUNWAYYY! Morning of the show, I quickly picked a last minute look at the showroom, and I ended up going the super simple and classic route. There are always those nights that I crave just throwing on a great dress and jacket before run out the door. A crisp white mini and black/brown moto jacket with some rad gold hardware. And HEELS! Yes, heels, a bold red lip, and a wavy new do, fresh out of hair and makeup at my hotel. Just a short drive from our place at Placa de Cataluyna, we finally arrived at the venue. We were greeted by a sea of BLUE. The neon lights overhead made everyone look a grey-ish blue…as if we were all from another planet. Talk about wild! Just a few drinks later, we finally plopped down at our seats at the front row as the live electric guitar filled the room. The models, looking completely badass, came out in a pack. Those sheer black stockings, extra thick socks, the plaid shoes, the bold metal hardware, black sequins, and thick leather jackets. SO MUCH LOVE! It makes me want a killer rock n’ roll Fall out in Shoreditch, London. From the biker boots to the black stilleto, I loved it all. A chunky layer on top, and a slim trouser or skirt on the bottom. Perfection. The reds, blacks, and whites have me thinking it’s going to be one beautiful season to come, complete with black eyeliner and a head of messy hair. 

What I love about Barcelona is how the nights start late, and end later. After a quick mid-day nap, dinners are served around 10pm and the party doesn’t even begin till about 2! The MANGO afterparty required dancing barefoot on the grassy field, and downing one too many gin-and-tonics. Gala and her man really showed us how to party, and BARCELONA STYLE! It happened to be “Nasty Mondays” at the Apollo, and entering the backstage, I really felt like I was coming out of some real Spanish coming of age film…complete with good tunes and smoke-y rooms!

(First look: Lauren Moffatt crop top, Hallelu vintage shorts, GANT sunglasses, G.H Bass & Co. shoes, Chloe “ethel” handbag//
Second Look: Paul & Joe top, Seven for all Mankind jeans, Grandmother’s Buttons necklace, Brixton hat) 

Si, Si! I have made it to Barcelona!! Tomorrow I begin my work with MANGO, and after what’s been a wild weekend, I’m so ready. It’s been over 2 years since I’ve been to Barcelona. Tomorrow night I’ll be at the MANGO runway show…I’m too excited, and honestly, I cannot wait to pick out my look in the morning. Right now, I’m in the middle of taking a nap in our hotel, literally trying to recoop from the past few days. So far, I’ve spent my weekend in just about every little corner of Barcelona. My boyfriend and I have already covered so much ground. We’ve walked the winding roads of El Raval, spent our nights at 2 a.m. dancing down Las Ramblas, and crept into a beautiful tapas joint in the charming Borne district with local friends, practicing my Spanish along the way. Finally I was able to really soak in that real Spanish sun at the la playa, tanning our limbs and glistening our faces. Though I live for the morning cappachino (cafe con leche por favor!), I LOVE LOVE the late nights. The city just comes to life. The golden light restaurants, the tables and chairs of the sidewalks filled with people. We had a whole list of bars we planned to visit. Everything from the local dive, filled with the street rats, punks, and cool kids (El Raval, I love you) to the underground jazz clubs, red velvet cushion and all. By the end of the day, I can’t really feel my legs from all the walking and dancing. I wore my travel essentials: a good sunglass, denim cut-off, black skinnies, and easy brogue…but in a flashing silver metallic that reflected off the sun. Really, it was my boyfriend’s idea to have the ideal “Vicky Christina Barcelona” adventure…mapping out locations from the film. And I can see how Woody Allen did it now…the city really is a beautiful gold when the light hits it, and to me, filled with so much mystery and wonder. 

photos by me and Jordan

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