Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself

Hi there, welcome back to Stylish and Starving at Twenty-Something! My name is Chloe Sekhran and I am your resident twenty-something blogger. I started this blog the day I turned 20, and I figured now that I am 24, I should provide a life update; a lot happens in four years!

When I first introduced myself, I was attending the University of Iowa, pursing degrees in Marketing and Dance. Well, now I can say that I am a proud alumna of the University of Iowa and have both a BBA and BA!

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Let me create a quick list of some of my most recent life changes and then we can dive into them a little more:

• Got a new puppy
• Graduated from the University of Iowa
• Started a new career and traveled the country
• Experienced Nashville, Tennessee
• Moved back to Minnesota
• Currently: wearing a mask because we’re in the middle of a pandemic

We’ll start with a quick puppy update. My family got another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in 2017, named Luna. She is the sweetest little munchkin and easily one of the most outgoing dogs I have ever met. Except she hates getting her picture taken so please enjoy this photo of her as a puppy.

We already covered the college graduation part, but that was back in 2018. So it’s been a hot minute.

For the past two years (2018-2020) I worked for my sorority’s headquarters (Alpha Chi Omega) as a chapter consultant. In this role, I had the opportunity to travel across the country and visit 28 college campuses. Oh, and I mastered the art of living out of three suitcases (see below). This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and was the best post-grad job I could have asked for. I also met some of my best friends! Over the course of these two years, I got to travel to all of these states: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. This role is still hard for me to summarize sometimes, as it was so multi-faceted. But among others things, I focused on leadership development, creating strategic marketing plans, conflict resolution, risk management and harm reduction and assisting chapters during the planning process for formal recruitment, as well as during recruitment. Being a sorority woman is something that has shaped my life unlike anything else, and I am so thankful for every opportunity it has given me.

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In my summarized list, I mentioned that I experienced Nashville, aka my second favorite place on earth (Minnesota comes in first, obviously), for the first time. With the rooftops, live country music and fun neighborhoods, I seriously could not love that city more if I tried. But if I had to recommend one thing and one thing only to do, it would be to go on a party wagon with Off The Wagon Tractor Tours. Trust me, it will be the best two hours and is an excellent way to see different areas of Nashville!

I am now back in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and am writing this post in the midst of COVID-19. As we all know, this has certainly turned many of our lives upside down. But it has allowed me to pick up some new hobbies, including: baking sourdough bread (duh!), reading, running and going for 5+ mile walks with friends. Oh, and Hamilton just came out on Disney+ so watching that a million and two times.

Also a quick PSA: wear a dang mask, wash your hands and for the love of God, stop going to bars. Rant over.

As far as what comes next? I am currently in the job search process for roles in buying/planning/merchandising or marketing. I am super excited to see what life has in store for me next and am ready to start a new chapter of my twenties!

Thank you for reading my little life update, I am hoping to have more fashion, food and fun content for y’all soon! Until next time, stay safe and healthy and again, WEAR A MASK!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty-Something

FLWR PWR: Denim Edition

Embroidered denim. Not a new concept, but certainly one that hasn’t been around for a hot minute. Until these past couple of seasons. And let me tell you: I love it. Last spring I was doing the usual online shopping, when I stumbled upon a couple of styles of embroidered jeans on Nordstrom’s website. I was immediately excited that this was gonna be the next big thing. I love denim. Like I don’t know how many pairs of jeans is acceptable to own, but I might own more than that. But at some point, they begin to look somewhat alike. You’ve got your dark washes and light washes, high waisted and low rise, skinny and boyfriend fit. But embroidery is something that makes jeans stand out; it definitely adds a a little something-something that makes them unique and exciting.

Looking at the various styles, I immediately knew I wanted a pair, but I knew that the likelihood of wearing ones with bright colors and bold designs was a little beyond me. I very much wanted to get behind the trend, but in a way that I knew I could pull off. I knew that I would be able to style pairs with more muted embroidery because you can match more with them (gotta start off lowkey, you know?). And realistically, any embroidery at all is a bigger risk than no embroidery. So, as I’ve accumulated pairs of embroidered jeans, I’ve opted for styles that still have all over embroidery, but in more solid colors and simpler patterns than other styles out there. And you know what? I love them just as much as I expected.

Because embroidered jeans are still a clear and exciting trend coming in to Spring ’18, I thought that I would share with you two of the pairs that I own, as well as links to new pairs you can invest in yourself. Take it from me, embroidered jeans come in all washes, making them perfect for year-round wear. I have had the most success finding pairs at Nordstrom and Anthropologie, and those are probably the places I will continue to pick up pairs in the future, just because I really enjoy the quality of their denim. But, nonetheless, I’ve included styles that fall under different price ranges, because in the end, we should all invest in a pair (or three if you’re like me).

First up, we have my first pair, which I received as a birthday gift (thanks Mom), but are from Nordstrom and they are actually Madewell denim.

These light wash jeans are better suited for spring and summer in my opinion, so I usually let them hibernate during the winter months. They don’t have much stretch to them, so that makes them a little bit different than many of my other pairs from Madewell, but they are not uncomfortable by any means. I like how the embroidery makes them look kind of vintage with the light wash, and while they are easy to style with a plain white t-shirt like I have, they really can go with a lot of different colors.

I purchased my second pair over the summer from Anthropologie, and let me tell you: these are the softest pair of jeans that I own.

I love the unfinished hem, and they have a bit of a boyfriend fit to them. I actually really enjoy the navy embroidery because it makes them match with more, and the embroidery on these is kept solely on the front. Because they have a darker wash and a darker embroidery, I do wear these year-round, because I feel like they can still be pulled off in the winter months.

While both of these styles are no longer available for purchase, I have rounded up a couple of different styles that you can invest in for this coming season. In addition to the pictures, I’ll include a link to the website where you can purchase them, just in case this post has inspired you to make an impulse purchase! (Ps the first two pairs are really calling to me, so I might make an impulse purchase of my own if we’re being honest)

Anthropologie: $158:

Pilcro Embroidered High-Rise Cropped Bootcut Jeans

Anthropologie: $158

Pilcro Embroidered Mid-Rise Slim Straight Jeans

Nordstrom/Topshop: $110

Jamie Embroidered Ankle Skinny Jeans

Express: $88

High Waisted Floral Embroidery Girlfriend Jeans

Asos: $48

New Look Tall Embroidered Skinny Jean

Old Navy: $35

Mid-Rise Floral-Embroidered Rockstar Jeans for Women

Forever 21: $32.90

Distressed Embroidered Straight-Leg Jeans

And lastly, I just wanted to show you these adorable little girl’s embroidered jeans that are even offered in Toddler sizes (so cute!!!!!!)

Nordstrom/Peek: $58

Taylor Embroidered Skinny Jeans

As spring begins to spring, for lack of a better term, you will definitely begin to break out new denim that can be styled with bright colors, and what better way to express yourself a little more than with fun, embroidered jeans. Looking further ahead, embroidered denim shorts are also sure to be in style this season, so you can always invest in those as well for when the weather really heats up! I hope that I’ve inspired you to try one of my personal favorite trends, and I encourage you to embrace the inner flower power that is the theme of many embroidered styles!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

2017: Year of the Shoe

Disclaimer: I bought a lot of shoes in 2017. Like, a lot. And I watched Sex and the City, so that maybe didn’t help.

We all have those trends that we swear we will never try. We see them on celebrities or on the runways of Fashion Week, and think “I would never wear that.” And chances are you won’t, because the price is way more than you could afford. But the trend slowly trickles down the fashion pipeline to be adapted by designers who are more affordable in price. And as you see the trends appear more and more frequently in different stores as tone-downed adaptations of the originals, the trend starts to grow on you. And you finally decided to bite the bullet and jump on the trend bandwagon. Because honestly, if you can’t beat it, buy it.

Other times, we have trends we fall in love with right away. We see them, and immediately know that that is what we need in our closet. It might be a color, silhouette, or fabric. But whatever it is, it sparks our interest. And even if it’s bold, we feel as though it was made for us. While I will 100% admit to needing some time to let trends grow on me, I would like to think that for the most part, I see trends, and fully recognize the fact that that’s where the fashion train is headed, and I need to jump on board. This is especially the case with shoes. Now, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I collect shoes, because that would entail me never wearing them. But, ask anyone who knows me, and they will probably tell you that I have more shoes than any normal person needs. But, as a true Carrie/Charlotte (if you know, you know), I don’t think it’s possible to have too many pairs of shoes.

For me, one of the 2017 trends that I had very mixed emotions about was furry shoes. Between the furry slides and sneakers, I felt unsure. But then, as I was exposed to them more and more, the sneakers with the furry pom poms began to grow on me. When I began to try on different pairs and seriously consider copping myself a pair, I was still hesitant; not because I didn’t want to like them, but because there was just something I didn’t like. I slowly realized that on some styles, the pom poms were too large in relation to the actual shoe. As I was about to put the dream to rest and accept that perhaps the fur-less shoe life was the life for me, I found the perfect pair. They were as toned down as any furry sneaker can be. They were fun, furry, and fashionable.

Shoes: Steve Madden

Top: Anthropologie

Jeans: J Crew

If furry shoes were something that I was hesitant to try on, mules were the complete opposite. Between mules and slides, I was fully ready to embrace the trend. However, when I talk slides, I mean the loafer style ones. Mules became the perfect shoe for summer and fall, and could be worn with almost anything. I fell in love with these blush suede loafers that were part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The color is neutral enough that it goes with a lot, but is still in the blush family. The bow detailing on top also literally wraps up the perfect pair of loafers in a nice little bow. Overall, this trend was one I needed no convincing to take on, and neither should you.

Shoes: Louise et Cie

Sweater: Madewell

Jeans: FRAME

Lastly, I learned that sometimes you need to make your own trends. I don’t know if it’s exactly possible to single-handedly bring slingbacks back, but they kind of have their years where they fly under the radar of the shoe world. That is, until you find a totally cute pair in a beautiful color. The moment I saw these, I knew I needed them. It wasn’t necessarily because slingbacks were all the rage. It was because of the color. And the chunky heel helped. And the fact that Sam Edelman can do no wrong in my eyes. Sometimes you just have a feeling about something. With boys, with conversations, and definitely with shopping. And I just had a feeling that if I didn’t buy these shoes, I would have the opposite of buyer’s remorse: not-buyer’s remorse (not my most original work, I know).

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Top: J Crew

Jeans: Joe’s Jeans

Looking back on the year, I cannot say that I regret buying fun shoes. In fact, I don’t think I will ever say that. Unless they don’t fit, but that’s a different case. Sometimes, you have to find your thing that makes you, you, and for me, that’s shoes. As with all fashion, they’re a great way to express yourself and present who you are to the world. 2017 truly was a great year, full of new experiences and adventures, new friendships, new discoveries, and new shoes. Here’s to 2018 being even bigger and better!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Gingham Girl

There are two things that are certain in fashion: there will always be fads that come and go, and there will always be the classics that stay. So I guess I’m saying that change isn’t the only constant, although it is a certainty. Classics include the obvious, such as the LBD, the white button up, and dark wash jeans. But when it comes to classics, we aren’t confined to just silhouettes. Sure, there are the “it” colors and “it” patterns each season, but there are some patterns we can always rely on. Among those? Stripes, florals, and my personal favorite: gingham.

In the realization that I will shortly be entering the business world, I’ve been making the effort to invest in pencil skirts and blazers. Upon finding a pink gingham pencil skirt at J. Crew that I was absolutely in love with, I was concerned that maybe it wasn’t the most practical style (fun fact, I actually don’t own a simple black pencil skirt). However, I was quickly reassured by my mother that she has had a gingham pencil skirt for years that she still wears, and that it was a skirt that could be cute AND classic.

It’s not often that I sit and think through the items hanging in my closet(s), but I realized that I do, in fact, have a healthy obsession with gingham, and that it’s been around for a while. I’ll also admit that during the past couple of months, it has gotten increasingly stronger. In working on this blog post, I was enticed to online shop, which I am so often inclined to do. Scrolling through Anthropologie’s website, I found numerous gingham dresses that I so badly wanted to buy. But then, I stopped myself. Because I already have an adorable gingham dress, and that dress is the star of this post.

This past summer, I spent a week in New York City for my merchandising internship. In making every effort to visit my favorite parts of the city in a short period of time, I spent one evening alone in SoHo and the West Village, my absolute favorite spots. Every time I’m in New York, I always visit the Madewell store in SoHo. Perhaps it’s because it was the first Madewell I ever visited, or perhaps its because they have nearly an entire floor of sale. Regardless, I always make it there. I wasn’t there for anything in particular, although I did walk away with a new jean jacket that is absolutely perfect. But as I was walking downstairs back to the main level, I saw an adorable gingham dress on a mannequin; suddenly, I knew what I would be purchasing.

Dress:

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The pattern isn’t the only thing that I love about this Madewell dress. The fabric is super lightweight, the silhouette is very flattering, I love the drop waist, and the ruffles on the cap sleeves and bottom are adorable. This dress is super versatile, which I love. It can easily be dressed up or dressed down, it all depends on how you style it. It’s also great because it can easily transition between seasons. It’s light enough to wear comfortably in the hot summer months, but it also looks great with a jean jacket thrown over it in the fall. Suffice to say, I am very glad that I made my usual visit to SoHo that week.

Shoes:

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Sometimes, being matchy matchy doesn’t work; sometimes, you can have too much of a good thing. But honestly in this case, I think it works. These sandals are from Anthropologie, and I bought them this summer during the midst of my shoe shopping frenzy. I just thought the gingham was too adorable to pass up, and they can really go with so many different things. The can go with nearly any color because they are black and white, and they are also just super cute and summery. Plus, they were a great price, so I basically had to buy them.

Accessories:

These tassel earrings are from Primp, my favorite boutique in Minnesota. I have collected a couple of different pairs of tassel earrings during the past year, two of which are from Bauble Bar. While they might not be an everyday style, these black ones are lightweight enough and small enough that they can be worn a little more casually than some. The fact that they are black and gold also makes them more versatile, as the other pairs that I own are light pink and mint green.

While I’ll accept the fact that bold patterns are not for everyone, nor are they appropriate for every occasion, it is fun to break out a ~fun and flirty~ print every once in a while. For me, I’m always into bold patterns; I love me a good solid color, but I always will feel the need to dress it up a little bit with something more fun. Gingham is one of those tried and true patterns that will never go out of style, so investing in a piece with a gingham pattern is definitely worth your while. Now, whether or not you turn your gingham into a whole ensemble like I did is totally your call, but as a gingham girl myself, I will always be down!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Sayonara Summer

“And summer’s lease hath all too short a date”. Same Shakespeare, same. Like William, I believe that summer flies by too fast. The break from school goes by in the blink of an eye. So too, does the warm weather that allows for carefree fashion. While wearing a dress is almost always easier than bottoms and a top (I mean, it is just one piece of clothing after all), it is especially easy to slip a sundress on and call it a day during the summer. You look like you tried without putting much effort into it at all. And don’t get me started on how much easier it is to go out in the summer (bars + parkas = no bueno). So in an ode to summer, here’s one last summer style that will soon have to be put to rest until next year.

Nothing says summer more than bright colors and floral prints. With this outfit, you have the perfect mixture of both. I fell in love with the shoes last spring, because I love pink and I love Sam Edelman, so it was a bit of a no brainer. They are the perfect pop of color that surprisingly go with a lot of different things. They look great paired with blues, white, blacks, and obviously items with the same exact color in them. I actually bought the dress separately from the shoes simply because I thought it was adorable and also very ~fun and flirty~. It wasn’t until I got home and was hanging the dress in my closet that I realized the shoes matched perfectly. So obviously, I felt like a very accomplished and put together shopper.

Dress:

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This is certainly not your everyday dress. But let me tell you, it is so cute for that special summer occasion where you can wear something that is a little scandy but still very cute. The dress is Free People, and the vibrant colors are what originally caught my eye. Upon trying it on, I was a little unsure of the deep cut in front, but I have other Free People dresses that are cut similarly and I love them, so I figured, why not? It might not be the perfect dress for women who are more blessed in the chest area, but for those of us on the IBTC, it works pretty nicely! I also love the open back with the different straps. You can’t quite tell from the picture, but the thicker straps are made of a thicker mesh-like material that is a super cute detail with the patten of the dress. All in all, this dress is great for a summer night on the town!

Shoes:

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If I had to pick the pair of shoes in my closet that was my “spirit shoe”, if you will, it would 100% be these ones. These Sam Edelman beauties are simply my favorite. The color is everything, and they are so comfortable (chunky heels are a gift from the gods). I bought these for an event last spring as a pop of color to go with a black dress, and I have been amazed at how versatile they are! It made me so happy when I realized that they matched this dress perfectly! It’s somewhat of a unique color, and you can only wear so much of it at once; so the side panels of the dress and the shoes go perfectly with one another without being overbearing.

Accessories:

I bought these Kendra Scott earrings at the same time as I got the heels, and they are such a beautiful color. These are the Alex earrings in magenta. I love the classic Kendra Danielle silhouette, but these are a fun little twist on the classic. The color is so vibrant, but can really go with almost anything as a fun little pop of color that is more lowkey than the heels. I also love that they are gold, as gold is definitely my go-to metal, so they match with a lot of my cuffs and bangles.

It feels so wrong saying bye to summer when it is still nearly 80 degrees everyday in the Midwest, but I know that fall weather is just around the corner. While I might miss wearing fun, bright dresses like this one, sweater weather season is always an exciting time of year. Plus, knowing that you have a dress this fun hanging in your closet is always a good thing to look forward to for spring break and summer! So even as we tuck away our cutest sundresses and trade them in for sweaters, let’s give summer one last thank you for being a beautiful time of year with even more beautiful clothing options. Thanks for the memories summer 2017, you will be dearly missed!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Hot and Fresh Out the *Farmers Market*

Hello. It’s me. I was wondering if after all these months you’d like to read a post.

It’s surely been a while since my last blog post. Time really does get away from you with a busy school schedule, busy Netflix schedule (kidding, but also not really), and then a busy internship schedule. But if I’ve taken anything away from this busy Spring/Summer, it’s the importance of taking time for yourself. Now of course, there’s a lot of different ways to refuel yourself, and for me, I actually prefer to be with other people when I take time for myself. I know, it sounds odd, but give me a chance to explain.

One of my favorite ways to give back to myself is through yoga. After taking my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course this past year, I am officially a certified yoga teacher (humble brag). And while teaching is super rewarding, there’s nothing more fulfilling than taking a good yoga class and really being present in the moment. If there’s anything yoga has taught me, it’s the importance of showing up and being present in everything that you do. In fact, one of my favorite quotes is “be messy and complicated and afraid and show up anyways” (it’s even been my Twitter AND Instagram bio quote, go figure). But I’m really not here to give you a big lecture about the yamas and the niyamas; I’m actually not here to lecture you about yoga at all.

There’s a lot of different ways to be with other people and feel like you are taking time for yourself. It’s as simple as spending time with friends completely engulfed in your conversation. Or going shopping for a day with no intent to buy anything in particular and no time frame (although truth be told, these are usually the trips where I end up spending the most). But one of my personal favorite ways to give back to myself in the Summer is by going to the farmers market.

Over the past month, I’ve gone to 5 different farmers markets; slowly, this has become my Saturday morning ritual. But this is nothing new for me. Growing up, my parents went to the farmers market in Downtown Saint Paul every Saturday (before CHS Field was even a place, but still, go Saints). I would always come with to get stuffed animals and these really good bagels that were grilled instead of toasted, but I really think I took the experience for granted. To this day, my parents continue to go weekly, picking up farm fresh produce for the week that’s better than anything you could find at Whole Foods. But it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I’ve really taken to roaming around farmers markets for fun. And the biggest draw for me? The food, which is the obvious focus of this post. So without further ado, here are the farmers markets I’ve frequented in the past month, and the delicious food I’ve had along the way.

Weeks 1 & 4: Freight House Farmers Market – Davenport, Iowa

Spending the summer in Davenport, my roommates and I have done our very best to take our free time to explore the Quad Cities. One of our favorite Saturday morning (or early afternoon if it’s a rough one) places is the farmers market in downtown Davenport. The market is right on the Mississippi, and there’s lots of fresh produce, live music, art, and the real reason to go, food trucks. One food truck in particular has captured my heart (or I guess, my stomach): Streets of Italy.

Guys, look at that pizza. If it doesn’t make your mouth water, I don’t know what to say. If you know me semi-well, you know I’m obsessed with Punch Pizza. And while nothing can ever truly top my classic Punch Mimi, this might be a close second. This personal-sized wood-fired pizza is called the Hulk. It’s topped with olive oil, mozzarella, basil, and pesto. And it’s really truly delicious. The last place I ever expected to find amazing wood-fired pizza was at the Davenport farmers market, but alas, here it is. And other markets could really take a note from Streets of Italy; I, for one, would be a loyal customer.

Week 2: Dane Country Farmers Market – Madison, Wisconsin

My first trip to Madison was perfect. It was the first place I’ve ever been that wasn’t the Twin Cities or Iowa City where I ran into friends without any planning whatsoever. It was also the first place I’ve ever been that had a farmers market with a location that could compete with some of the ones in the Twin Cities. The market is surrounding the Wisconsin Capitol building, and it certainly was busy. One of the funniest things for me was that there is a literal flow of traffic there; if you try to go the wrong way, there’s basically no getting anywhere. Half of the experience is just walking around and taking it all in, even if you don’t buy anything.

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In addition to the beautiful location, there was lots of great food (obviously lots of cheese), flowers, music, and produce. I started off the morning with the most delicious cinnamon roll and a smoothie, perfect for a sunny and hot day filled with walking. On the list of great food was Stella’s Bakery, which had a huge selection of fresh baked breads (no surprise that I loved it). The line was long, but it was definitely worth looking around the case and picking up a pretzel.

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Week 3: Mill City Farmers Market – Minneapolis, Minnesota

While the Downtown Saint Paul Farmers Market will always be the OG and the market my dad goes to at 6:30 am every weekend (not sure why/how he does it), my favorite market in the Twin Cities is Mill City. It’s much less of a produce market, but it has a lot more to do, and the view is unlike anything else. To be completely honest, the Mill City/Stone Arch/Northeast area of Minneapolis will always be my favorite area, so I might be a bit biased. But you really can’t go wrong with a market that overlooks the Mississippi (especially in Minnesota, sorry Quad Cities).

In true fashion of that area, the Mill City Farmers Market is very urban. What they lack in fresh produce, they more than make up for in beautiful bouquets of flowers, food trucks, fresh pressed juices, and bakeries. Always a classic when they are in season, you can’t go wrong getting a bouquet of sunflowers (or my favorite, peonies). While you’re there, you also definitely need to stop by one of the bakeries. During my brief 36-hour stint in the Twin Cities, I stopped at Solomon’s Bakery’s tent to pick up a delicious chocolate croissant, and a giant lemon macaroon with fresh raspberries along the outside (sadly, not pictured).

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Now, the beauty of Mill City, is that once you have had enough, you can go explore the area. You might take a walk along the Stone Arch Bridge (my favorite bridge, because who doesn’t have one of those), head over the Gold Medal Park and just lounge around, walk over to North Loop, explore the views from the Guthrie; the options are really endless. But no matter what you do, you can’t really go wrong because you’re in downtown Minneapolis (can you sense the homesickness through whatever device you’re reading this on?)

Farmers markets come in all shapes and sizes, with a wide variety of goods and things to do. But if you haven’t explored your local one, 10/10 would recommend putting it on your summer bucket list and making it one of the boxes you actually check off. I promise that you won’t regret it. You might even find that it’s a pretty relaxing way to take a morning and do something for yourself. Because in the end, isn’t that really what Summer is for? Or at least the weekends if you don’t get a true Summer. So if you’re looking for me on a Saturday morning, you now know where you can find me!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

The do’s and don’ts of a winter trip to New York: Flatiron District/SoHo/Greenwich Village/West Village/Chelsea/Upper East Side/Upper West Side/Central Park

Hey there Upper East Siders! Just kidding, you probably aren’t reading this from the Upper East Side; that’s why I’m recapping the do’s and don’ts for you! I am super excited about this post because if I could only live in one place for the rest of my life, it would most definitely be SoHo. From downtown to uptown, I have a lot to cover in this post, but these neighborhoods truly are my favorites in the city. While Midtown is great, and it is definitely a do, it can just be very touristy and congested. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to forget that there are parts of the city that may be a little less crowded. So my first do is simply this: do explore areas outside of Midtown, especially the ones that I’ll list below.

Do make a quick stop in the Flatiron District, even if it’s only to see the iconic building. While on  the surface it may seem that this area is mostly for native New Yorkers, I love walking around here because it makes me feel like less of a tourist. There are a bunch of cute little coffee shops and bakeries in this area, you kind of just need to wander around for a little bit. Also, the shopping is great here, and stopping by Madison Square Park is always a good idea, although I could imagine it would be even better to visit in the spring or summer.

Of all the do’s that you’ll see on this list, here is the one that I want to emphasize the most: do go to SoHo. As I’ve mentioned, this is where I could spend the rest of my life and be perfectly content. Of all the areas in New York City, SoHo is my favorite because of the shopping and the aesthetic; simple as that, it’s a fabulous area. It’s home to all sorts of trendy stores, ranging from designer boutiques to specialty stores, and classics like Madewell and Topshop. Even though some of the stores in SoHo might also be found further uptown on 5th Avenue, the vibe just isn’t the same. The cobblestone streets and fire escape adorned buildings give SoHo such a unique feeling and style, and walking around here is honestly therapeutic for me (sorry, but there is such a thing as retail therapy). In addition to the amazing shopping, do check out the great restaurants in this area, especially the original Black Tap (no further details right now, look for an upcoming blog post). All in all, my only don’t here is don’t skip over SoHo.

After shopping in SoHo, you’ll certainly want to eat; do head over to Greenwich Village and the West Village to fulfill all of your culinary desires. Honestly, it gets to the point where there are so many options that you don’t know what to choose, but you really can’t go wrong here. While it might just be the name, by Chloe. is somewhere that I would definitely recommend. It’s a vegan restaurant with lots of yummy options, plus they even have Sweets by Chloe. right next door, so you’re all set for dessert. While food might be your primary concern, another do in Greenwich Village and especially West Village is do walk around the area. The walk ups in this area are so beautiful, and are honestly just #housegoals. Wandering around here is so peaceful, especially because you really won’t encounter all that many people on the different side streets. Between the shopping, the food, and the architecture, the trifecta of SoHo, Greenwich Village and the West Village have my heart, so please make sure they are on your do see list.

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Other things that you do want to see downtown include Chelsea Market and the High Line in Chelsea; although if the weather is too cold, you might want to save the High Line for another day. Chelsea Market is a huge indoor space with different shops, boutiques, and lots of restaurant options. It’s a super fun place to just walk around and shop while getting out of the cold for a while. The High Line is a park that is built on top of an elevated rail line; while the views are still cool in the winter, the pictures I’ve seen of it when the weather is warmer just makes me want to go back again. There are also lots of other sights to see downtown, including the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Battery Park, and the Statue of Liberty. While I think that seeing these should fall on any general do see list, I would say don’t feel like you have to go in the winter; I feel like you get the most out of these places when the weather is warmer and you can actually walk around without being frozen the whole time.

Heading back uptown, you definitely do want to explore the Upper East and West Sides, especially if you’re a fan of Gossip Girl. These areas are also fun to walk around in because they are less congested, and the buildings are super nice to look at (hello old money). In comparison to other areas, there is less to do in these neighborhoods simply because they are more residential, however, you will find good bakeries and coffee shops here. The places you really do want to make sure you see are right in between the two upper sides: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park.

I will be completely honest with you; you do need to see The Met, however, don’t think you will be able to see all of it. I was completely overwhelmed when I went to The Met for this first time. There were so many different wings with so much art, and as beautiful as it was, I felt very lost. I would say that if you do make a game plan of what you want to see, you will go in feeling a lot more prepared. For me, there were a couple of things that I knew I needed to see; one was the infamous staircase that all of the celebrities are photographed on during the Met Gala (still waiting on my invitation, btw), another was the Anna Wintour Costume Collection gallery, and the last was the 19th and 20th Century Paintings Wing  featuring paintings like Degas’ ballerinas and Monet’s water lilies. One pro-tip about The Met is that their admission price is simply a suggested donation amount; basically, you can pay what you wish; so don’t feel like you have to pay the full $25 if you will only be looking at one exhibit. Also, if you happen to be a fan of Gossip Girl, do make sure to take a picture on the steps of The Met; it’s the Blair thing to do.

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Whether you explore the Upper East and West Sides or not, you definitely do need to visit Central Park. I don’t care if it’s 10 degrees outside; bundle up and walk through the park, you won’t regret it. I’ll admit that while it may be more enjoyable when the weather is warmer, it still has so much charm in the winter. One of my favorite sites is the Boat House, partially because of the movie 27 Dresses. Finding iconic movie or tv show backdrops is part of the charm of Central Park, and on a warmer day, it’s a fun place to just kind of get lost. If you are a fan of Eloise, you’ll also want to make sure that while you’re in the Central Park area, you do stop by The Plaza Hotel; this was one of my must do’s while I was in the area.

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Clearly, there are many, many things to make sure you do in New York City during a winter trip. While the weather might be chilly in the winter, you shouldn’t let that deter you from visiting then. Especially around the holidays, there are so many festive decorations that make the city even prettier than normal. New York City is in a class of its own in my mind, so I really believe that you can’t go wrong visiting at any time of the year. As I make plans for a trip back, I’ve begun having withdrawals; this means that I’ll probably make New York City the center of many of my upcoming posts. Make sure you look out for upcoming blog posts on specific restaurants and *donut shops* that I stopped at in NYC during my trip. If there’s any last piece of advice I can give, it would be don’t be afraid to let yourself fall madly in love with the city; there truly isn’t anything else like it in the world.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

The do’s and don’ts of a winter trip to New York: Midtown/Times Square/Theatre District

New York City is one of my favorite places in the world; it’s right up there with Captiva Island and any J. Crew store (according to my “Favorite Places” board on Pinterest). There’s something about NYC that makes everything feel so fabulous. And while it may be easy to over glamorize the city because it is, after all, New York City, there’s just something so honest about it. The city is what it is, and it hides nothing. After just returning from a trip to New York, I thought it would be fitting to make a do’s and don’ts list of what to do there, especially if you are visiting in the winter. Just as a preface, I spent all of my city time in Manhattan, and have actually never explored the other four boroughs; this is something that I hope to change in the future. But for now, here’s my take on what you need to do and where you need to go for a week-long winter getaway in the city.

 

Do accept the fact that you won’t be able to do everything in one trip, unless you are moving there, or are staying for an extremely prolonged period of time. There is so much to do in New York, and it really does take multiple trips to see and visit everything. Do plan things that might be geared more towards colder weather; while visiting the Statue of Liberty is totally an option year round, this is something that I would recommend doing once the weather is a little bit warmer just so that you can enjoy the experience more without freezing your butt off the whole time. That being said, don’t be afraid to spend some time outside walking around, especially in places like Central Park. The city is very beautiful in the winter, and you have other options available besides walking everywhere.

That being said, do learn how to navigate the Subway. While NYC might not be quite as cold as Minnesota, it will be chilly, and because you obviously want to explore everything the city has to offer, you’re going to want to move about (and not by foot). Figuring out the Subway system is actually pretty simple; I would definitely say do download an app like “NYC Subway” or “Transit” to help with your navigation. Don’t buy single ride MetroCards unless you only plan on using the Subway once. Instead, buy either a 7-day card, or pay as you go based on how many rides you will need. Trust me, riding the Subway is an experience that you won’t want to miss out on, especially if you like meeting interesting characters.

Once you have your MetroCard, do travel all over the city. Midtown is a great area to start out it, and while there may be a lot to do there, you definitely want to explore uptown and downtown neighborhoods as well. Having stayed in upstate New York at my Aunt and Uncle’s house for this trip, I took the train into Grand Central Station everyday, which put me right in the heart of Midtown; so let’s begin there.

Do go to Grand Central Station, even if you aren’t actually taking the train. Also, if you’re a fan of Gossip Girl, do take a classic Serena-esqe pic overlooking the Main Concourse (also if you’ve never watched Gossip Girl, do that too). While you’re in Grand Central, make sure to check out the beautiful ceiling, and also just take a moment to stand and observe. One thing you’ll notice is how quiet it is for how many people are in there; it’s really pretty beautiful to notice the calm amongst the bustle of people.

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From Grand Central, you can make your way up 5th Avenue and head to Rockefeller Center. During Christmas time, 5th Avenue and the Rockefeller Christmas tree are definitely things you want to see, so do incorporate these into your trip. The Christmas tree is a sight to see, whether it’s during the day, or when it’s lit up at night. It’s also really fun to look at the window displays, especially the ones at Saks 5th Avenue. Do note that many of these displays come down on January 2nd, but the lights usually stay up. Also while you’re on 5th Avenue, do some shopping; however, don’t spend all of your money here because we have other fabulous places to shop as well.

 

Once you’ve made it to Rockefeller Center and you’ve seen the tree, do visit Top of the Rock. Having visited both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, I would say that the reason I like Top of the Rock more is because you actually get a view of the Empire State Building in addition to the rest of the skyline. You really can’t go wrong with either, but that’s just my two cents. Also, at Top of the Rock, do visit the upper observatory levels first; the top level definitely has the best view and it doesn’t have clear barriers making your pictures blurry or reflective, so it’s for sure the best place to go.

 

After seeing the city from above, head a couple of blocks uptown to MoMA. A big do for me is visiting the Museum of Modern Art. While there are many great museums in NYC, and you should visit more than one if you have the chance, MoMA is my favorite. It is full of infamous paintings like Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s waterlily paintings that take up huge walls. I would also say do visit the museum with an art history minor if you know one (thanks Mom!), but even if you don’t know all that much about art, you can definitely go just to experience it and appreciate the beautiful and interesting pieces.

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Even just staying around Midtown, you have many options as far as where to go next. One classic spot that you can’t miss is Times Square. Do go to Times Square, and do take in (and take pictures) of the lights. But honestly, don’t waste too much time here; there are a lot of people, the shopping isn’t all that great, and the restaurants aren’t all that amazing either (it’s a lot of big name restaurants that you can pretty much find in any city in America). Also, don’t let the off-brand characters walking around convince you into taking pictures with them unless you want to pay. My favorite part of Times Square is how close it is to the Theatre District, so with that, let’s go there next.

 

Do go see Broadway shows while you’re in NYC. I cannot stress this enough. While the allure of seeing big name shows that have been around for a while like Wicked and The Lion King can be appealing, I would honestly recommend seeing shows that either haven’t traveled nationally yet, or are having limited runs on Broadway. Also, do see shows starring famous actors and actresses if you can. While I was there, I saw Falsettos and Waitress, and they were both phenomenal. I wanted to see Falsettos because it was having a limited run that ended shortly after I left, and it starred Broadway greats like Christian Borle and Andrew Rannells, who I love from other Broadway and tv shows. Waitress was also an amazing show that made me feel all the feels, from happy to sad, and I would just strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone (also the music is amazing, thank you Sara Bareilles). While you’re in NYC, do enter the Hamilton ticket lottery every day that you can, but don’t get your hopes up (like I did) because they only give out 21 tickets per show; but who knows, you might be one of those lucky 21.

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I can almost promise you that to get the full experience out of everything I’ve listed above, you couldn’t possibly visit all the places or do all the things in one day; and we haven’t even left Midtown yet. There is much more left to do on a trip to New York, but I’ve decided to make this a little mini-series, so as not to overwhelm anyone. So do keep your eyes out for another New York travel post coming soon. Until then, I’ll be looking at flights so that I can go back soon, just in case you need to find me!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

A goodbye letter to 2016

For me, 2016 could have been over a long time ago and I would have been grateful. It was a year that was uncharacteristically difficult in my personal life, and it was also a year that sucked for the world. I won’t deny that there were some good things that happened, however sometimes when I would try to look for the good, I felt like I was clinging to anything that I could possibly grasp; in comparison to the bad, the good just seemed so insignificant. I don’t know if I’ve finished processing all that happened in 2016, and I think that learning from the bad experiences and being strengthened by them will continue for years to come as I process why certain events happened. But I guess that the best way to understand the past is to reflect on it, and I hope that by writing about what I have learned, maybe I can discover more. And I sure hope that 2017 will be much better.

The best way that I can describe my 2016 is that it started by knocking me over, and every time I tried getting back up again, I was pushed back down. So honestly, all I’m looking for in 2017 is to be able to stand on my own two feet. My dad losing his job and an unforeseen breakup was how I began the year. These events were followed by discovering that my grandma had cancer and my dog had congestive heart failure. I spent most of spring semester getting over heartbreak, and just trying to make it through to summer. During the summer, things got a little better, but towards the end I spent every day worrying that I wouldn’t get much more time with my dog. Fall came, and I thought that maybe the new school year would bring more positivity to my life; instead, things got worse. Being heavily invested in her campaign, Hillary Clinton’s loss felt like a personal one. Additionally, my dog had to be put down without my being able to say goodbye to her, and my grandma also passed away from the cancer. In retrospect, 2016 was a year of great loss, and loss isn’t really something that I have dealt with much before, which made it even more difficult for me to process everything.

While my personal life was marked with pretty large losses, I can’t deny that there were rays of sunshine every once in a while. The biggest highlight of my year by far was seeing Beyonce in concert; I may have cried five times, but they were definitely tears of joy. Both of my parents also got new jobs this year, which was another positive note. I gained the courage to begin my own blog, which is something that I am so happy that I chose to pursue (thanks for reading it, ily). I also got elected to serve as Chapter President for my sorority, and although my term does not begin until 2017, it definitely gave me hope, and it became something to look forward to. I also recognize that overall, I am lucky. I have wonderful friends in my life who love and support me. I have amazing parents who encourage me to pursue my passions, and believe that I am truly capable of anything. I get to attend college and dance every day, and I am even in the process of becoming a certified yoga teacher. Although the small victories may have seemed insignificant at times, I do think that they are what helped me get through 2016.

If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that you have a choice about how you look at your life. You can choose to focus only on the negative things, you can choose to focus only on the positive things, or you can choose to recognize both. We all have days where we just want to focus on the bad things, and that’s okay (God knows I had plenty of those days this year). But really what’s best for us, is to recognize all that is going on in our lives; there is space for both the good and the bad if we let ourselves recognize it. One day, when I was in a rather bitter mood, I decided to make a list on my phone of all the crappy things that had happened to me in 2016. Once it was complete, I looked it over, and I cried. But then I realized that looking at the shitty things I had gone through wasn’t going to make them unhappen, and it wasn’t going to make me feel any better. So below the list of bad things, I made a list of good things. The list of good things took me a lot longer to write, and there were significantly less things on the list, but I will say that writing it made me feel better. It made me feel proud that even in a state of negativity, I could still recognize that my life wasn’t all bad.

I found a piece of writing near the middle of 2016, and it was something that really stuck me. It’s a poem by Rupi Kaur, and it reads as follows:

Now in reading it, I don’t think that I have learned everything that 2016 was meant to teach me. I think that I still need time for reflection. I need time to understand why things happened the way that they did. But I do think that my year has changed me as a person; it has made me more independent, it has made me more appreciative of the little things, and it has made me realize that life involves change, and you have to be ready for it whether you like it or not. I know that I am still healing from many things that happened this year. Some of them came full circle for the better, such as my dad losing his job, and then getting a new one. Others, came full circle for the worse, such as my dog being diagnosed with congestive heart failure and then having to be put down. And still some events gave me no closure, especially my breakup. But as I am healing, I am growing. I am becoming a stronger individual; I am becoming all that I am meant to be, and more.

So as much as I hated 2016 and I don’t think that I will ever come to appreciate it wholly, I can at least look forward towards 2017 with the hope that it will bring a bigger and brighter future. I look forward to 2017 hoping that I will continue to find myself and grow. I look forward to 2017 hoping that I will learn from the past. And I look forward to 2017 knowing that I deserve to be happy, and I hope that 2017 is a year of pure happiness. As C.S. Lewis said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Goodbye 2016; you were not that great, and not very fun, but you did make me resilient, so I thank you for that. And on that note, hello 2017!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Sending my love to my grandmother, Margaret Sekhran, and my little bugaboo, Daisy. I miss you both dearly, may you rest in peace.

Black: Coffee and Waffle Bar

When it comes to meals, there’s no doubt in my mind that brunch is my favorite one. I’ll admit that it probably has to do with the fact that you get to sleep in and still eat breakfast food, but regardless, a classic Sunday brunch is something that I will never turn down. While there are many great brunch spots in the Twin Cities, you sometimes have to pick a place based on what type of food you are feeling that mid-morning. And if waffles are what you are hungering for, there’s no better place to go than Black: Coffee and Waffle Bar.

 

Black opened its first location a couple of years ago on Como Ave, and I fell in love with it right away. Especially when it first opened, it had a very hipster feel to it, which high school Chloe very much loved, despite her innate preppiness. Over time, it has become a classic go-to for weekend brunches, and I am so excited about their new location on Marshall Ave. Depending on the time or day, you might have to wait a while to get your waffle, but the wait is well worth it in the end.

 

While you can certainly get waffles at many different restaurants, you can rarely find the assortment that Black offers in regards to toppings. You can choose from one of their 8 signature waffles, or else you can build your own with a wide assortment of toppings to choose from. Black also offers a great selection of hot and cold drinks; I always love the designs that are made in their hot chocolates, but they also make great seasonal lemonades in the summer that I also adore. Below are my personal favorite waffles on their menu.

S’more:

 

The S’more waffle was the very first one that I tried at Black, and I have to admit that it might just be my all time favorite. It is topped with chocolate chips, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate drizzle. You just can never go wrong with a s’more in general, especially not when all of the ingredients are atop a waffle.

Fat Andrew:

 

The Fat Andrew is one that I’ve only tried more recently, but it is absolutely magical (honestly, truly). The Fat Andrew is topped with peanut butter, powered sugar, cinnamon, bananas, and whipped cream. The peanut butter and cinnamon combination is amazing, and the combined bananas will make you want to come back for more.

Naughty Waffle:

 

The Naughty Waffle is a little something different than what I normally get, but it tastes great because of the fresh fruit that it is topped with. The full list of toppings include strawberries, bananas, blueberries, almond butter, granola, and whipped cream. This is my mom’s personal favorite, and I do have to admit that it probably photographs the best of all.

What makes Black so cool is not only that the waffles are topped with so many yummy things, but the presentation of the waffles is also very aesthetically pleasing (no wonder you’ll always see people post pics of their waffles). I truly believe that when you are doing brunch, you can do no wrong wherever you go. But I do have to say that I love Black a whole brunch, and if you’re ever craving waffles, it really is the place to go.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something