2016

My yearly round-up is here! I can't believe 2016 is over, and good riddance. I seem to feel that way every year. So I enter 2017 with a lot of hope but also a lot of caution. Despite the ups and downs of 2016, my style took a hard turn and I really started to hone in what my taste really is. This look from Saint Augustine really represented that casual and down-to-earth vibe that I gravitate towards. It was also super light, so very easy to pack.

As February rolled in the weather was far more chilly. The Salty Donut had just opened their weekly pop-up, and my friend and I made regular pilgrimages for the fried, sweet treats. Oh, and their coffee was pretty darn good, too. This weather (and the donuts), lasted through March. So I really stepped up my artsy version of my uniform, as you can see from this outfit.

I give Miami credit for a lot of things, and getting back in touch with my art-loving and nerdy side was definitely one of them. Before I made my dramatic chop to bangs, I snatched these awesome No Face tights from Hot Topic. They feature a character from one of my favorite anime films, Spirited Away.

April also gave way to some much-needed beach time. G and I went down to Key Biscayne, which is only a 20 minute drive from my Coconut Grove apartment. It was the first time I'd visited since I was a 10-year-old, and I donned this colorful Albion bikini to celebrate.

May came, and G and I headed down to Key West for a romantic weekend getaway. We did tons of eating, walking and sightseeing. He even braved the Hemingway House and their six-toed cats (he's super allergic). It was completely worth it, and it's one of my favorite memories of 2016.

In June, G and I met up with my father and stepmother in Manhattan, and I wore this dress during one of our nights out in Soho... it's become a wardrobe staple, managing to make it into every single capsule of 2016...

... But during the hot summer day you can bet I was sporting a tee, shorts and sneaks for walking around the city. As a New Yorker I'd never really done a lot of touristy things... Central Park and the Yale and University Clubs were my normal stops with my grandfather during our days in the city together... so G and I went to the Brooklyn Bridge for both of our first times. We then headed up through Chinatown, making stops at my favorite geeky shops, and through Little Italy until we made it back to my old Soho stomping grounds.

I really love this look because it completely embodies my weekends style, and it also features my favorite tote. One item that can be worn like it's two different items? Sign me up.

As you'd expect, the holiday season is all about glitz and glam. Unlike my ultra-feminine getups of 2015, this year it was a more edgy take on holiday dressing. This meant crop tops, skinnies and sparkly touches like blazers and shoes.

I mean, how else should you wrap up 2016 but with subtle reds and greens and a chic pair of Manolos? I can't think of a better way to bid farewell to a year that pushed my limits.

See you all in 2017! I hope it's a healthy, prosperous one filled with love... and far better than the last. ;)

xo