// Mulberry England handbag, COS boots, Bleusalt x Christian Siriano dress //

This is a dress that is beyond soft to touch. It is comfort and elegance all in one. After coming back from a late summer holiday, I’m wearing more and more black. It’s the easiest thing to reach for as I get back into busy NYC work life.

The post COMFORT AND ELEGANCE first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

// Khoon Hooi pink gown, Gentle Monster sunglasses, House of cb corset dress, and Karen Millen yellow suit pant and jacket //

I love any staycation at The Mark, especially when it’s for a red carpet event uptown. Here is a little sneak peek into what I had hanging in my closet. A bold yellow satin suit, a stunning pink gown, and a green midi. Which do you think I chose? I love making The Mark feel like my second home. It’s truly a dream.

The post MOMENTS AT THE MARK first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

// AERON blazer, Nisse shorts, Maryam Nassir Zadeh boots //

Time to whip out those trouser shorts! It feels like spring in NYC! There’s nothing better than just spending a day exploring the city by foot then finding yourself horizontal on the grass in the park closing your eyes. I live for days like these. Slow days. Sunny days. Happy days. Even better when you’ve got boots like these to go with it. 

The post COME ON BOOTS, START WALKING first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

// Frame x Carlyle cap, Self-Portrait dress, Pedro Garcia x Amlul shoes, Delvaux handbag //

Currently wearing this Frame x the Carlyle hotel baseball cap just about everywhere. I can’t wait to show you Team Suarez’s shoot for that campaign on VOGUE. One of my favorites really. And honestly, I get stopped and asked about this cap every time on the street. It’s that classic! I wear it on off duty days in the city, or here, with a form fitting ribbed dress by my friends at Self-Portrait. I’m girly, but I’m not that girly. 

The post GIRLY BUT NOT THAT GIRLY first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

// Tanya Taylor blazer and pant, Ninon earrings, Alameda Turquesa handbag, Falconeri cashmere sweater, Kat Maconie heels // 

It is amazing what color has been doing for my mood right now. I just want more sun. I want more vibrancy. Putting on a pink neon suit along with pops of orange and yellow immediately brings me happiness and gets me going as I work from home. For a quick breath of fresh air, you’ll find me on the rooftop, soaking in every ounce of happy blue sky. Keep things bright everyone! 

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NYC. 

You will notice my home decor tastes differ from coast to coast. In my NYC loft, I crave a super clean palette. Everything structured, white, and modern. I like this really simple contrast against my chaotic NYC life. My bedroom is a place of zen! And I don’t like much to distract me when I’m sleeping. A blank slate before bed really helps me unwind. Here in both my NYC and LA homes, you’ll find some really special Rove Concepts pieces that will last me a lifetime. 

In NYC, I wanted something extra simple that went with crisp white sheets and lifted off the ground so I can really take in the my views of the river and Manhattan from the window. The Rove Concepts “Ayda” bed was the perfect fit. I went with it in a King size. I like hopping into a spacious bed that immediately makes me feel like I’m living the suite life in a hotel. I travel so much and sleep is just so important to me. My bed has to be extremely comfortable and roomy, with that fresh hotel feeling.  Complete with the Rove Concepts “Margot” nightstands, it’s a dream. These nightstands are a perfect pair with the Ayda bed. Large enough to hold all of my bedside necessities like my journals and face and body creams. It’s part of my nightly ritual to flick on the lights and just write from bed, complete with a chai tea. 

LA.

In Los Angeles, I like to play with the all the sunlight, giving this brand new space, a lived-in feel. Mixing vintage, second-hand finds like this grandiose lamp against the Rove Concepts “Asher” dresser. Finding this shape in a mid-century modern dresser is hard to come by! Luckily, Rove Concepts has a variety of tall, slim sizes that work well in closet/bedroom spaces. This piece is simple, so well made, and just a stunner. I love the sleek wood with Rove’s iconic brushed copper handles which you’ll find in both my NYC and LA home styles. 

The post NYC AND LA // MY HOME DECOR WITH ROVE CONCEPTS first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

// Bite Studios dress, OneSixOne handbag, Coclico shoes, Eyland earrings // 

This Bite Studios dress is New York City perfect, and it’s a new designer label that I’ve fallen madly in love with. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so artistic. Voluminous sleeves with a full skirt, it’s classically feminine. I have to say, this is my 5 minute dinner party look. Toss the hair up in a low bun, swipe on a brown lipstick, and throw on a metallic shoe. New York City is snowing today, so I’m savoring some down time inside the home. I’ll be using this holiday weekend fo catch up with friends, work on some new editorial content, and snuggle up with a good movie on. Nothing feels better than home this time of year. 

The post THE BLACK DRESS AS ART first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

Coat: A.W.A.K.E. Sweater: Naked Cashmere. Pant: Gucci. Boots: Reike Nen. Bag: YSL. Scarf: G-Star Raw.

I am currently in Los Angeles, so I have certainly shed a few layers though we’ve had more rain than ever. I’ve come back for a few work projects, all while squeezing in loads of family time. This weekend, I’ve spent my mornings scouring estate sales like old times, scoring on some incredible vintage pieces. I’ve spent my nights going through dozens of home videos. It’s amazing how you can fall in love with your childhood self all over again. It’s like a little reminder to embrace the silly kid in you. That freedom and that curiosity. But I have to be back in NYC in just a few more days already and back to the work craziness. This trip has certainly given me a breath of fresh air and a new perspective to thoroughly enjoy every single moment we have in life. 

One thing I always look forward to back in NYC is snow! On the East Coast, I wear a ton of plaid and I simply pile it on. It’s all about finding colors that work well together when it comes to mixing loads of textures like pinks and grays and dark blues. I adore these wool pink Gucci pants with a super oversized A.W.A.K.E coat. I even gave my pant a little tuck into my boot. The more slouchy, the better. The more effortless and wacky, the better. It is my childhood self who would love this freedom to layer and layer all of my favorite pieces in one very statement winter look.

The post ALL THE TEXTURES first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

Dress: Preen. Handbag: Prada. Shoes: Coach (few seasons ago). Ring: Olivia Burton London.

It is pieces like this Preen dress that really excite me. Exaggerated shoulders. Unexpected colors. I could go on and on and dissect this one incredible piece because I just love it so much. Oh, and catch a glimpse at my newest obsession, the Prada Sidonie handbag. See below for all the colors it comes in! I got to really paint Manhattan blue and green on this very gloomy day just before it began to rain. These two luxurious statement pieces just work. Preen and Prada. Those are certainly my two favorite P’s.

So far, I have been spending a lot more time in NYC. It has allowed me to be super productive. Winter hibernation is the perfect time to cook up new ideas and really visualize what I want my new year to be like.  It’s so important to take moments for yourself, to wrap your head around goals and aspirations. And believe me, I have plenty. There will always be that constant need to continue to create meaningful and thoughtful content, just on to the next level. I’ve just wrapped up some really amazing projects this month, with exciting new work on the horizon that I’ll be documenting on here every week. Spending all of this extra time in NYC has allowed me to focus and re-center. It’s allowed me make my house feel more like a home. It’s allowed me to tap into the things that move me like creating short fashion films and singing and dancing and discovering new ways to express myself. I’m certainly using this time in the Big Apple to do what fuels me before I have to pack up again and fly to another destination for work. And being somewhat of a homebody in my own bustling city is exactly what I needed right before a very hectic fashion month. And boy oh boy, am I excited for another inspiring NYFW. This season, you’ll see me in a lot of color. Bold shoulders, loads of plaids, and statement dresses! I think everyone is going to be ready to party after this short winter hibernation.

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Handbag: Cartier. Coat: Vintage. Sunglasses: Poppy Lissiman. Sneakers: Nike x Vogue. Pant: PushButton. Rings: Eyland.

It officially has a name, the iconic Cartier bag is now called the Guirlande. Delicate, and oh, so gorgeous. It will forever remind me of Paris. Remember the time it was hand delivered by a handsome Cartier courier at my hotel room at the Crillon? The wow factor is still there. The Guirlande is a perfect pop against an eclectic mix of plaid and a little tweed on my Nike x Vogue Jordan sneakers. With plaids, it’s all about finding the right colors when it comes to eclectic pairings. This mix of grey, yellow, and red just worked! I am finally back in full NYC work mode after a really long few weeks in my other hometown of Los Angeles. I just wrapped up a brand new Suarez Sisters campaign shoot and besides that, I’m running around to meetings bundled up in my heaviest of coats over long johns and heat tech. With the NYC weather, I’ve become a pro at experimenting with layers and colors and fabrics! The more the merrier. Layer me up!

January is off to a fabulous start. I still have that excitement and fresh mentality of planning for a brand new year on a positive note. My family’s been in town this week and it’s amazing having the whole clan here to really be my sidekicks as I organize and settle back in! There is always so much to do, and so little time! Sometimes you just need a few extra hands to make some magic. And believe me, there’s so much magic to come.

The post IT HAS A NAME: THE CARTIER GUIRLANDE BAG first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.