KimboNotKimmy Has Moved!

Well, the time has finally come for me to move on to greener pastures. KimboNotKimmy can now be found at www.kimbonotkimmy.wordpress.com and www.kimbonotkimmy.com.

Hope to see you on the new site!

Altuzarra for Target: A Long Island Report

If you're looking for a great selection of the Altuzarra collection for Target, come on out to Long Island. I woke up Sunday morning and checked the Racked Report and social media. Twitter user @tammyesco tweeted "Empty racks at #altuzarrafortarget!! Good luck shopping!!! @ Target Westbury" with a picture of a lone pencil skirt and a single black sweater with crane embroidery. That part of Westbury is always hectic on a Sunday so I had never planned on going there, but this news made me less than hopeful for the trip I'd planned to the Target in Levittown. You can imagine my surprise when this is what I found:

   

 

The selection was fantastic! They had most of the collection and plenty of sizes to choose from - and it was all so well organized! A saleswoman was straightening the racks when I arrived and I asked if there was a limit on the number of pieces from the collection that you could buy. After a quick check with a manager on her radio she informed me that there was no limit. I repeat, NO LIMIT.

Now, I have been blinded by the allure of these capsule collections before; when the 3.1 Phillip Lim collection came out I purchased the black peplum top with beaded collar even though it didn't fit right. I never wore it and only recently gave it to my mother who was quite excited about it. With that in mind I was far more cautious this time around.

As you can see below the oxford shirts didn't quite fit me. The shoulders were too big and the sleeves were too long for my petite frame. The fabric is nice and I thought the detail of the decorative "Altuzarra" top button was a nice touch. A good value and $29.99 and $34.99 respectively, just not a smart purchase for me.

The dresses on the other hand are amazing. I had fallen in love with both of these when I previewed the collection and thought for sure that the tailored dress with crane embroidery would be sold out everywhere (Racked NY reported that it had sold out at the Target at Atlantic Terminal around 8:30AM). Needless to say I was thrilled when I saw plenty of each on the racks at the Levittown location. The wrap dress in that gorgeous "Ruby Hill" color is a 2 and and the Crane dress is a 4 (note: there's a lot less give in the fabric of the latter). My measurements are usually 2/8/4 (bust/waist/hips), so I would say that the fit of the garments is true to size. At $39.99 and $49.99 respectively I seriously felt like I was getting the deal of the year with these dresses.

The only item that they did not have in stock that I really wanted to try on was the velvet tuxedo, but according to the Target website there are a few locations in Suffolk County that still have it in stock. I may have to swing by one of those later this week. Until then, happy shopping, my friends!

Treat. Yo. Self.

Happy Friday! I've been pretty good about not shopping lately, but yesterday I heard a little voice (that sounded an awful lot like Aziz Ansari) saying, "treat yo self" and off to Old Navy I went. I don't know about all of you, but Old Navy might be my favorite member of the GAP fam. Their quality has seriously improved over the years (have you felt their gauze scarves?), but their prices have stayed the same. Plus, they have really stepped it up in the accessories department.

Exhibit A: This fabulous canvas tote that I scored for just $5.50! They also have a "Holy Chic" t-shirt that is the perfect option for when you're going for that high/low mix with your outfit. For some odd reason neither of these items are currently featured on their website, but hopefully they are carrying them in an Old Navy store near you. 

Whether you had a great week and you want to congratulate yourself or you had a crummy week and you are in need of some retail therapy, I say, go ahead, treat yo self!

Outfit Post: Labor Day Weekend Dinner in the Hamptons

V and I have been trying to relax lately, which of course means that we have been as busy as ever. This weekend we were at a dinner party in Brooklyn on Friday, the Hamptons on Saturday, entertaining friends in RVC on Sunday, and Monday we sat in the stifling heat at the U.S. Open, despite the fact that neither of us knows a thing about tennis. The only thing we were missing was a trip to the beach (it was Labor Day weekend, after all).

Saturday night we decided to be brave little Hamptonites and go to dinner at a restaurant that doesn't take same-day reservations. It's called Cowfish and it's in Hampton Bays and, despite being a total sh*t show, it was totally worth it. (There was a debacle with an older couple over seating, but I'll just say that we took the high road - and our seats - and leave it at that.)

The restaurant is on the water and, while the vibe is relaxed, the crowd generally goes for that "summer chic" look (I am aware that this term is slightly bougy, that's why I used it). This out is extremely comfortable and I feel like it looks pulled together, but easy-breezy ("Hey, you can't say you're breezy, that, that totally negates the breezy."). This Linea Pelle belt was a consignment score from Lucky Finds in RVC and I wear it all the time – I don't think I've ever worn this skirt without it. BTW, if the colors look a little off it's because I had to play around with filters and contrast when using PicStitch (don't judge me for using filters, the florescent lighting in my parents' basement is harsher than Tye from Clueless).

As much as I enjoy my summer wardrobe, I'm ready for the fall, aren't you?

 

T-shirt: Isabel Marant for H&M Maxi Skirt: MINT Belt: Linea Pelle Sandals: Naturalizers "Naya" Bag: Tory Burch

Outfit Post: Summer Sunday in The City

V and I recently went into the city for lunch and a show with his family. The show was Off-Broadway (iLuminate at New World Stages for the America's Got Talent fans out there), so we could be a bit more casual. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the skirt has a neoprene feel to it that makes it perfect for the warmer weather. The shirt is the women's version of "That J. Crew Gingham Shirt" (which, in case you were unaware, now has it's own Instagram account). My style is increasingly functional and I am full-on obsessed with cross-body bags at this point. This Gorjana bag can used as a handbag or, since my arms are small, worn as a shoulder bag, but 9 times out of 10 this is how you'll see me wearing it. I only noticed as we were walking out the door that the yellow zipper matched my skirt, call it a happy accident.

This post could have also been titled, "Hooray for Natural Lighting!" since I actually remembered to have V take these outfit photos before we got back to the apartment. The best part was that in the last photo where I'm sporting a big, goofy grin, we'd just noticed that a couple was sitting in their car at the train station watching our mini-photo shoot. Caught in the act of blogging!

 

Shirt: J. Crew Skirt: Zara Sandals: Tory Burch Bag: Gorjana Sunglasses: Rayban

Outfit Post: Something Missing

There are some pieces that are difficult to style. You want them to work in a certain way and they just don't quite come through. This gray, sheer Vince top with keyhole back is one of those pieces. There was a time in my life when a sheer top paired with a black tank were all I needed in the world (Express was also my favorite store, don't judge) and every so often I go back to those roots. Unfortunately, when I go to wear these items I have trouble reinterpreting them; the 16 year-old inside of me instinctively reaches for black

ass-pants or flared jeans and black belt with a huge buckle. (Hey, at least I'm not busting out the platform Steve Maddens and, on an exciting note, flares are rumored to be making a comeback this fall.)

In an attempt to make this top appropriate for dinner with the girls at a casual restaurant on the South Shore of Long Island (The Boathouse in Merrick for you fish lovers out there – get the Chilean Sea Bass over fresh spinach, it's delicious) I wore it with simple J. Crew crops and flat sandals. I like the look, I just don't love it. It's hard to tell here, but the neckline is beaded, so I feel like a necklace or earrings would be too much and I don't really love the idea of tucking it in because then you miss out on the back detail. Suggestions on how I might style it would be greatly appreciated. Help a sister out and leave some love in the comments.

 

Top: Vince Tank: Excellent question, I've had it so long that the printed tag has worn off. Pants: J. Crew Sandal: Nine West Bag: See by Chloe Bluebell Small Bag (it's new and I got it on sale and I love it!)

Outfit Post: Sunday Funday in NYC

This past Sunday V and I went into the city with some couple-friends of mine (now ours) who had yet to meet his acquaintance. The game-plan was brunch at Catch in the Meatpacking District, a spot I was happy to revisit as I had only been when they first opened, and while brunch is casual, Meatpacking is scene-y. My compromise? Sporty-chic.

Dressy track pants have been the rage for awhile now and I'm happy to see that this trend will be continuing into the fall (partly because they're comfortable and partly because I overpaid for the ones I'm wearing here). I was originally going to pair these pants with white Converse, but I changed my mind last minute and wore these sandals instead. In my last outfit post I neglected to call attention to them, but they're new, they're super comfortable (it's better than wearing slippers) and they were only $27. I couldn't resist, I bought them in black too (last I checked they were still available on the Naturalizer website). It feels like you're wearing slippers out, seriously, your feet will thank me.

Top: Project Social T from Urban Outfitters Pants: Theory from the Theory Outlet in Riverhead Glasses: Prada Sandals: Naturalizer Watch: Michael Kors from Nordstrom Bracelet: Vintage

Summer Jam: All About That Bass

My music taste is all over the charts (#punintended), but one of my favorite guilty pleasures is bubblegum pop music. I'm not just talking about Britney and Christina either, I'm talking about random stuff too (Ever heard "Viva la Radio" by Lolly? You can thank me later.). Whenever I hear a wonderfully infectious track I'm compelled to share it with others, which brings me to my latest obsession, "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor.

I'm not going to get into the lyrics or comment on the song as a "body acceptance anthem" like Jenny Trout does on her blog (interesting read though, definitely check it out if you're into that type of thing). Why? I don't care. It's pop-tastic and I'm a petite woman with a "cakey booty," as a salesgirl at Alice + Olivia once told me, and this song makes me want to "shake it, shake it, like I'm supposed to do." Keep the bubblegum coming, Ms. Trainor.

Enjoy:

Outfit Post: NYC Birthday Drinks

This week V and I went to a birthday party for a wonderful friend in NYC. It was at an intimate venue on a Thursday night so I wanted to be comfortable, but stylish (I guess that's pretty much anyone's goal on a random day/night). It's still pretty hot in New York (80's during the day, 70's at night) so I seized the opportunity to wear these Rag & Bone shorts I'd scored at a sample sale a few months back. The waistband is undefined and there are no belt loops, so I didn't want to wear a top I had to tuck in. They also have leather trim. V actually selected this great ASTR top that we picked our together at Nordstrom and I love the beaded detailing.  It's the details that pull this look together and it was really fun and easy to wear.

 

 Top: ASTR Shorts: Rag & Bone Sandals: Naturalizer Bag: Tory Burch

 

And how could I forget my fabulous new lipstick? Tom Ford

Color Corrected

Changing hair salons is not a decision that I take lightly, but I recently decided to make the move to a salon in my town because, besides being a 20 minute drive from where I currently live, my old salon changed ownership and I wasn't a fan of the new regime. 

As anyone who colors their hair knows, you want to plan your appointments around major events. Since V and I had a family trip and the wedding of a dear friend over the next two weeks, I put it off until right before we departed for the trip. My roots were out of control. With almost 2" of white roots I looked like I was slowly turning into Rogue in X-Men (think of Anna Paquin's portrayal in the live-action version, not the comics).

My appointment was at 5:30 and construction traffic made me almost 20 minutes late, but the lovely ladies at Defusion in Rockville Centre squeezed me in. I had stopped in earlier in the week for a consult and explained that, in addition to getting my roots done, I really just wanted them to make my hair healthy again. Previous attempts at pink lowlights and ombré had left my ends fried and if I'm going to have my hair this long that simply won't do. 

Dee covered my roots with the perfect shade of chocolate brown (I had emphasized that, while I was okay with 'warmth,' I did not want red tones. Long Island ladies know why it's important to stress this, lest you wind up with a color I call "Long Island Hairdresser Red."). One of the assistants rinsed out my color and covered my hair from root to tip in a glaze. 

The result? Right back to the dark and shiny locks that I love. Bring on the upcoming events!

Outfit Post: Adventures in Conservative Crop Topping

Crop tops have been all the rage for awhile now and, while my first instinct was to groan at the thought of exposed, dangling belly-rings (sorry, my last mental image of this type of top is from the 90's), my second thought was that this could really work in my favor. You see, at 5'1" I am petite. When paired with high-waisted pants and skirts, a crop top can really add length to my little frame. And so I began to experiment...

Here I am in Montauk back in June. V and I went out late Friday night and stayed at a fabulous little place called Hartman's Briney Breezes. The room and grounds were immaculate, the view was spectacular (an unobstructed view of the ocean, which was just across the street, no complaints here), and the location was great. While Montauk has gotten a bit more scene-y in the past few years, it still has a reputation for being laid-back, so I figured this was the perfect place to try out this trend.

Outfit #1 Lunch at Navy Beach
It was a bit chilly so I actually layered a Ralph Lauren Supply Company "Boyfriend" button-down over this look (not pictured). The outfit was super comfortable and I almost didn't want to change for our evening out (almost). Crop top: River Island Maxi Skirt: MINT Shades: Ralph Lauren Sandals (not clearly pictured): Nine West

Outfit #2 Dinner at Clam and Chowder House at Salivar's Dock and out (The Harbor Raw Bar & Lounge, The Electric Eel at Ruschmeyer's*, and The Surf Lodge)
I've never been one for dressing scantily-clad on my birthday (did I mention that that's what this staycation was for?). Instead I usually opt for light-weight tunics or feminine separates. This year I decided to mix it up and go for a look that could probably be best described as Jenna Lyons-inspired (I dunno, you can see it, if you have something more clever feel free to leave it in the comments). I love every single item that went into this outfit and I was beyond comfortable. Every outfit should feel like this. The only bummer is that you can't see how adorable this crop top truly is in this photo since I layered my favorite drape-y cardigan over it. Oh well, I'll just have to wear it again... Tank: Nordstrom Pants: Banana Republic Petites Cardigan: All Saints Kicks: Converse Crossbody Bag: Tory Burch Specs: Chanel

*Fun fact: Ruschmeyer's is an old summer camp that was turned into a hotel with cabin-inspired guestrooms.

Verdict: I "heart" crop tops.

Fire Island Style

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a bachelorette party for one of my nearest and dearest friends, J. With more than a dozen girls in attendance, we were traveling as a fairly large pack and it was a blast.

To those of you who are not familiar, Fire Island is the large center island of the outer barrier islands parallel to the south shore of Long Island (thanks, Wikipedia!). It's a great place for families to go on vacation, I've been going to Fire Island since I was seven years old, but it's also no stranger to bachelorette parties. This weekend we saw several other brides-to-be and each one was having a great time.

Many groups donned matching t-shirts, but we declined in favor of breezy maxi dresses, sundresses, and chic shorts outfits. I've included my outfit from Saturday night in this post. The dress is from the Old Navy petite department and it is beyond comfortable! It has this lightweight mesh lining that allows it to float away from your body, even on sticky summer nights. Last I checked it's still available on their website, I highly recommend purchasing one for yourself before they sell out.

Sunset view from our dinner table at Schooner's our first night

Black maxi dress twins

Dress: Old Navy Sandals: Prabal Gurung for Target Cross-Body Bag: Tory Burch Earrings: Random boutique in college (Sorry, every once in awhile I forget where exactly I bought something.) Sunglasses: Rayban

Gray hair, don't care

Not sure if I've ever mentioned this before, but I'm going prematurely gray. Last time I asked my colorist for a percentage she told me about 80% - that was a few years ago. While I used to be religious about getting my roots touched up, lately I've been embracing the silver streaks. Who knows, after the wedding I might let it all go!

Getting silly with the adult ring toss game at Flynn's

Taking it down to the beach on our last evening.

Outfit Post: 4th of July Fashion

V and I spent this 4th of July with friends in Williamsburg. The weather in the NY area was not great, but thankfully the rain held off and we were able to see the Macy's fireworks display. 

We could call this look preppy and patriotic. (I don't really do "Williamsburg" well - I can't even mismatch my bathing suit tops and bottoms.) We stopped at Bloomie's Soho so I could grab that fabulous Tom Ford "Cherry Lush" lipstick I'm wearing here. The extra pop if red really completed the look for me. 

Hope you enjoyed the 4th! It's always been one of my favorite holidays. 

Shirt: J. Crew Shorts: Banana Republic  Belt: J. Crew Kicks: Converse Watch: Michael Kors Bag (which you can't really see): Kate Spade Saturday

Outfit Post: Shopping in NYC

There are some big doin's in my life right now which require some serious apparel purchases. My mom and I went into Manhattan to look for a certain white dress and I wanted to be comfortable, but look put-together at the same time. This is the outfit I came up with and as soon as the weather is crisp again it's going to be one of my favorites:

Flats are my new obsession - I can't believe it myself.

Blazer: Zara (it's navy with black leather trim, kind of hard to tell from the selfies) Sweater: J. Crew Tank: Vince Pants: J. Crew Flats: Chanel Scarf: Burberry Phone case: Kate Spade

Moving Right Along

When I first found my studio apartment I was overly romantic about it: it was my Paris garret (despite being on the first floor), it was Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in Sex & the City. For a studio, it’s kind of huge; apart from the main L-shaped living space that serves as both bedroom and living room, there’s also a separate kitchen, a dressing room, and more closet space than I’d dreamed possible when I first started looking for places. My Aunt has said that any city realtor would refer to it as a Junior One, and she's right.

My studio is also the first place that I could really call my own. I’d lived at home, then in dorms, and shared an apartment with friends in Queens, but I never had a space where I was the sole occupant. For the first time in my life I would need to buy furniture (to this day I love my couch more than any pair of shoes I own), I would decorate a space other than my bedroom, I would be able serve as a true hostess.

The aforementioned couch

My first night in the studio I sat on the floor and ate seafood bisque from a plastic container that was perched on top of a cardboard box holding all of my DVD’s. I toasted myself on a job well done with sparkling wine and, since I didn’t have cable yet, I watched Sex & the City on DVD on my 21” television. It was a perfect evening.

So much has changed in the year and a half that I have lived there; Hurricane Sandy hit, my second niece and first nephew were born, new business opportunities have proved to be both inspiring and successful, and I met the love of my life. Our recent engagement gave the green light to cohabitation (what can I say? I’m old-fashioned at heart) and we are preparing to move into a one-bedroom apartment.

Our new place is in the same building as my old place, so it’s not like I’m going far, but I am leaving behind a moment in time that was 100% mine. So, as excited as I am for what lies ahead, I just wanted to take a moment to pay my respects to the one space that was totally mine and perfectly me.

Home Goods

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved decorating. Lots of girls played house, but my favorite make-believe scenarios were dorm, interior design firm, and figure skating agent (that last one was specific to the '94 Olympics, but that's a story for another time). When my mother would go to Home Depot or Benjamin Moore I would tag along and sneak as many paint samples into my bag as possible.

When I finally got a place of my own I was all too excited to decorate. My first big purchase was my couch which I love more than most of my shoes (and you know how much I love my shoes). Home decorating can get expensive, but there are plenty of bargains to be had if you know where to look. Enter my obsession with Home Goods. If you have never been to a Home Goods, it's like Marshalls or T.J. Maxx for, well, home goods (fun fact: TJX Companies is the parents company for all three of these retailers). They have items for every room of your house and they range from the essential to the ridiculous, the latter being the reason I'm writing this post.

Sometimes when I'm getting lost in the aisles at Home Goods I find a truly bizarre item that makes me think, "who the heck needs/has room for that?" They're often good for a laugh and so I decided to share them with you, dear reader. Feel free to tell me all about the crazy items you've seen in a Home Goods near you in the comments.

This horse had to be 10' tall - down, girl!

The little engine that could... could cost you $2G.

But at least your kids can play inside, right? #totallysafe

This made me think of the totally awesome 80's sitcom "My Two Dads."

Outfit Post: Birthday Happy Hour in NYC

As tired as I am of talking about the cold, I feel the need to point out that it's still frigid in the NYC area. Last Friday V and I braved the elements to celebrate the birthday of my fabulous best friend from College, Laura. Laura writes the awesome workout blog, werkitinnyc, you should check it out.

The temps have been in the 20's during the day and the teens at night, so warmth was an absolute priority. On our way in V and I actually entertained the idea of walking from the station to the venue (Bo's in the Flatiron district), but we quickly realized that that was just crazy talk. In the few minute we were waiting on the train platform the 4" space between where my boot ended and my skirt began were already showing the signs of frostbite.

All my life I've had a weakness for pleated skirts, especially plaid, kilt-style skirts, so when I saw this Burberry number at my local consignment I had to have it. Pairing over-the-knee boots with what some might deem a "Catholic Schoolgirl Skirt" can be tricky, but I covered up everywhere else and felt much more Andy Sachs/The Devil Wear Prada than Pretty Woman.

Still working on these poses...

...haven't quite got it yet #jazzhands

Another consignment score

Turtleneck: Lord & Taylor Skirt: Burberry Boots: Vince Tights: Hue Earings (not pictured): Alexis Bittar Glasses: Chanel