My Instagram Weekend

It was a glorious sunny weekend here in NYC...finally! And I spent as much time as possible out in the warm sunshine. My Instagram Weekend soaked up all the fun photos for you as usual. The sunbathing in Sheep's Meadow was the popular vote on Saturday, it felt the entire City had escaped to Central Park. But fortunately I love people, the more the merrier! 

The perfect outfit for spring! A bright but warm sweater for chilly mornings paired with casual ripped denim shorts, a fun tank with button down back and lace pocket, and gold studded flat sandals! Don't forget your round Gaga shades.

Magnolia Bakery makes the day a little cozier and just like home.

Finally saw The Avengers in 3D. It was great...although 

I wanted more Thor (Chris Hemsworth)...and more romance.

Topped the weekend off by reading out on my apartment terrace while the last bit of weekend sunshine stuck around. Of course in a bathing suit at all times to try and start soaking in a little color. Not orange mind you, but I'd like to not resemble a vampire for a change.

Tampered with mixing prints this weekend too. 

How do you like the plaid with the stripe maxi dress?

What did you do for your 

Instagram Weekend?

Menswear Monday

"American classics and Bohemian ideals" is where cool downtown brand Benson derives. Benson is for the citizen of the world, designed loosely on a transcontinental lifestyle from Europe to Manhattan. Boy oh boy do I love that lifestyle! For this Menswear Monday discover Benson...and note: they have something for us ladies too!

Benson, is for the clever world wanderer 

who loves possessions but not masses of them.

Benson, confident in their free spirit and laid back mentality.

And for this particular Menswear Monday, 

this line has something for us ladies as well.

So shop over at Benson and get ready 

for a wanderlust summer.

Artful Weekend | Brooklyn Street Artist

Be inspired by Brooklyn Street artist, Dain today. And whisk your way into a bright and delightful weekend. It has certainly been a busy and exhausting week...at least that makes the days fly by right?

I love beautiful art.

NYC Staycation | Instagram Weekend

Sorry to be absent lately mes cheris, but it was necessary to put myself on a little NYC Staycation. With all the running around I have done in the last couple months, I finally had the opportunity to rest...and so I Carpe Diem-ed the weekend away. Walks in Central Park, Ferry ride to Ikea, and lots of drinks with friends, it was a fantastic long Instagram weekend to rest, enjoy life, and gear up for the next chapter in my life.

 It has been cold here in NYC lately, and since I'm stubborn and determined to wear my closet full of cute Spring stuff, I have had to add tights to all my Spring outfits to do so. Bummer.

 Went shopping in SoHo. I love passing all the creative storefronts around that nabe. They are the greatest. I especially love the C Wonder storefront. How fun and regal are these doors?

 You know it's going to be a good day when you start off your morning with Magnolia Bakery breakfast. Raspberry crumb muffin, coffee, infinity scarf, and Gaga glasses. Done and done. 

 I watched the Enterprise space shuttle fly over Manhattan as it made its voyage to its new NYC home at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. Bonus points for living on the Hudson River? You get to walk 500 feet to go see a space shuttle fly by your house. Um. Awesome. Not bad for an NYC Staycation huh?

 Had an all day long adventure to Ikea on Saturday which of course consisted of taking the NYC Water Taxi out to Brooklyn's Ikea. The Southstreet Seaport is always a great photo opp place for an Instagram weekend, and I haven't been out past the Statue of Liberty in over a year, so that was a fun ride. 

Ended the weekend celebrating a dear friends golden birthday out in SoHo at The Anchor bar. The DJ was amazing, and every single song had me screaming with excitement. Therefore it was a great dancing night to celebrate life with my really good friends. 

So how do you Staycation mes cheris?

NYC Bridal Week 2013 Recap

Bridal Week 2013 has been clicking along here in NYC and what dreamy week it has been. I have been super busy and therefor constantly checking my Pinterest feed to see all the gorgeous dresses for one very important runway in life. Here are some of my favorites, how about you?

Can Oscar de la Renta really do no wrong? Not from my point of view. 

His gowns were all a bride's dream. He even added a little Something Blue to some. 

 Monique Lhullier never disappoints. I love all of her soft chiffon dresses. 

That top right with the crystals is especially catching my eye.

 Roman Keveza has always been a favorite of mine.

The wrapped dress gives a little Grecian Goddess without being hoakey.

 Vera Wang along with some other designers made some bold red statements. 

I can't say I'd pick this as my wedding dress, but I definitely love the gown! 

 Marchesa's line of sheer, peepholes, and even some high to low gowns was fit for a princess.

 Justin Alexander had really great style. His dresses are beautiful of course, but out of every runway show, his hair and beauty was impeccably done and by far my favorite. 

So who would you pick for your big day?

One More Time with Feeling | Broadway Inspired Fashion

I've been whistling the tunes of my favorite Broadway songs in my apartment the last few days and it got me thinking about the fashionspiration you could pull straight out of the bright lights of Broadway. So one more time with feeling here is some great Broadway inspired fashion you can pull into your modern everyday style.

Source: Uploaded by user via Chandra on Pinterest

Menswear

The vested tuxedo feel of menswear is used directly in Newsies, as well as the glitter version in A Chorus Line. I personally love rocking a menswear look in my wardrobe. It feels empowering and sassy all at the same time.

Newsies and A Chorus Line Inspiration by fashiondiva304 featuring stella & dot jewelry

1950's

The full skirts of the 1950's probably make for a Broadway costume designer favorite since they are dramatic and still free for the dancers' choreography. I added a fedora which of course would have been what the men wore but hey how cute is a fedora with a sundress and wedges? Broadway inspired fashion is just that, inspired, so you don't have to be literal like a costume.

1950s Broadway Inspiration by fashiondiva304 featuring a tahitian pearl necklace

What show gives you 

Broadway inspired fashion?

The Beauty of Harlem

My errands have brought me up to Harlem a couple of times in the past week and I must say I noticed something today... there is a beauty of Harlem. I always had sentimental nostalgia for America's birthplace of Jazz but when you exit the train at 125th Street and all you see are cheap wig stores and cell phone accessory vendors on the sidewalk sreaming at you...I tend to think NO WAY! But upon further exploration you unfold a beauty to this very very uptown hideaway.

If you have noticed via the Twittersphere I officially joined Instagram over the Easter Weekend and I posted a photo of the ever iconic Apollo Theatre. 

If you are on Instagram please follow me @EmbellishedBlog!

Source: harlembespoke.blogspot.com via Cate on Pinterest

{merci RobertaOnTheArts.com}

I have decided I want to find a day to go on a Harlem Adventure. I am going to come armed with my DSLR Camera...which I sadly don't do that often anymore. And I will report back with my findings on the beauty of Harlem. And maybe find some cheap shopping.

Have you explored the beauty of Harlem?

Easter Weekend | Pastel Dresses, Rooftops, and Brunch

Tulips in full bloom, warm weather, and little girls twirling in their new pastel dresses...it must be Easter! My Easter weekend was eventful and spiritually enriching, how was yours?

For starters, I had a Saturday morning pancake brunch and Rooftop Easter Service with friends. We were 5 blocks away from the Empire State Building so it was right in our face. Not a bad way to jump start your Easter weekend n'est-ce pas? This is the view of the Chrysler Building (my favorite), I truly love that this is my life.

Here is me and some of my model friends working it for the camera haha....in a Blue Steel sort of way. For Easter service numero uno I rocked the yellow color fad with an oldie but goodie dress that doesn't get too much free time out of my closet. It is a trapeze dress which I despise, so I cinched in the waist with a vest, and then added tights and boots for the chilly rooftop wind.

I also mastered the art of the Victory Rolls this weekend. Secret tip? You can NOT skip the step about curling your hair first. If it's straight your hair resists being wound, but once it's been curled, it naturally loops right into a little Victory Roll for you to pin and enjoy!

I also rocked my own pastel dress. A sugar coated ice blue dress from Express, that I've owned for ages. I never had much use for it in the Carolina's where dressing up is a four letter word, but here anything and everything goes at all times. I love NYC! To add a little edge to the Polly Anna white bow top, I knotted a plaid button down! Hey, now I would also be allowed in Brooklyn...maybe! Apparently this weekend was all about reviving forgotten pastel dresses for a bright and cheery Easter.

My annual Easter Brunch with the roomies at Alice's Tea Cup was as always divine. As was our walk through Central Park...despite the loads of tourists that have yet again arrived in packs to the city. To tie a bow on the weekend I attended my Easter service at Hillsong Church NYC. It's church mixed with rock and roll, you should check it out and don't forget to find me and say Hello!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter Weekend 

and are refreshed to conquer the week!