Choices Determine Character

Scarf + White Tee + Camel Coat: J.Crew; Boyfriend Jeans: Rag + Bone; Mule Sandals: Cole Haan; Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a big television. Choose no television. Choose washing machines, buying a car, listening to music, and electric can openers (wait what?) Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose going to the gym. Choose fixed-interest mortgage payments. Choose renting. Choose to buy a “starter" home. Choose buying a mansion with money you do not have yet. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suit. Choose a T-Shirt. Choose to DIY and wondering who you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing/spirit-crushing shows. Choose chain smoking. Choose eating junk food. Choose to rot away. Choose to exist. Choose your future. Choose your life.

What have you been choosing lately? 

dat metropolitan museum of art tho..

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@ Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side

My first time at The Met was much like how you would imagine. Overwhelmingly beautiful and significant. 'The Steps of The Met,' made famous by one of my all-time favorite TV series, Gossip Girl, and a series of relevant American films prior. The location of this museum could not be more fitting for it's grand stature. The location being, the Upper East Side with it's backyard in the expansive and illustrious, Central Park. 

@ Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side

The perfect setting for a summer's day, and a tour with my new Parsons classmates. Once inside, we were able to have an exclusive tour of a private library within The Met. This library contained fashion magazines, and other important articles that date back to the early 18th century for both American and French publications.. The ability to see these iconic relics was beyond. Check out a few of them I got to snap below: 

The first image is an illustration from a French circulation circa early 20th century, and still in remarkable condition! How cool it was to be up close and personal with something so rich in fashion history. The second and third images are part of ID magazine's anniversary collection. Clearly, my eyes were first drawn to the holographic stainless steel skull, and the legendary Kate Moss. There were only 100 copies of this special edition produced. Rendering it significant. 

Overall thoughts on The Met. It's what you would think when you imagine a typical American museum. What do I mean by that? It's heavy in what the upper echelons of society view and deem as important in the art world, aka: white wealthy folks. In recent years The Met has been contested for appropriating other cultures through exhibits, ex: China Through The Looking Glass. Another topic of controversary for The Met happened when they chose the theme "Punk" for the annual Met Ball. There is nothing less "punk" then The Met. Fashion has only begun to be taken seriously by these individuals. Fashion has come so far, especially in recent times, but still has so much further to go. I mean in terms of being taken by society as a legitimate art form. In a word, I found The Met beautiful for what it is, but would I want to spend a whole lot of time there? Probably not my kind of scene!

Snapchat: @kell_menow. First NY hot dog on the steps of The Met!

I could not leave this historical place without partaking in a NY tradition, the $2 street hot dog. Naturally, being the saucy person that I am I do not discriminate when it comes to condiments. What can I say? I like sauces I'm a saucy person.. so I put everything on it.. This was a hot dog heavy on the bun, light on the dog. Despite this, it did not make it any less delicious. 

Have any of you been to The Met or had a famous NY hot dog? What are your thoughts on both? 

spiked zig zags

Zig Zag Crop: ROMWE Jeans: J. Brand Jean Jacket: Forever 21 Sideways Hat: NYY Sneakers: Nike

When I was first graced with New York's presence as my new home, I was accompanied by one enormous red suitcase (mad thanks to Costco) and two baby suitcases. Rendering my outfit choices limited, at best. At the time, it was a not-so welcomed challenge in the sweltering NY heat. I have always been the kind of gal that feels pangs of anxiety having my clothes in multiple locations. I need them all in the same place. Call me a princess, whatever! Not having this for the first month was unpleasant but I also started to find it fun. How's that for you! I was able to put things together I otherwise would've never thought of. Talk about being pushed out of a comfort zone. As if quitting my job, moving across the country to chase a dream didn't already do that? :) 

Pardon all of the kellfies, there were before I made my NY friends! What do you think? Spiked jean jackets and zig zags? 

stairway railings + book(ing) it

airbnb on 122nd + Broadway (Morningside Heights)

January is always an excellent month for reflection.. or maybe that's just me? Regardless, I'm choosing to reminisce on when I first moved to New York; because as "they" (whoever they are) say, hindsight is 20/20. The above photo is taken in the vanity mirror of the airbnb I got to live in for the first 2 weeks following my arrival while I looked for my own place. I do not find it necessary to relive my experience with airbnb but let's just say that it was so deplorable that I ended up getting my entire 2 week stay ($2K) paid for. My start out in NYC could not have been any more rough.. at least I got this cool vanity mirror to take a #kellfie in :)

Max's Cafe on 122nd + Broadway where I waited 6 hours for airbnb to rectify the situation, @ least I was in great company with these antique couches!

122nd + Broadway (Morningside Heights)

I am always appreciating architecture and especially interiors. Therefore, it's no surprise that I have mad love for this pre-war, brick wall situated within my second airbnb. The wooden sticks make for an interesting atmosphere. By interesting I mean they fell down anytime I shut a door (shut, not slam).. Me thinks they would be better place in a museum.. but what do I know? 

Library (Midtown)

There are many things I like to do when I feel more out of control than usual (let's be honest nobody has control over anything), but moving to NYC and being unexpectedly bounced around had this effect. One of the things I like to do is find the nearest library. Quiet, peaceful, serene. A place where I can be alone with my thoughts in a sincere way. I could spend hours in one just looking at it's interior design and books. Immediately, this one caught my eye. **skull princess** However, despite me initially judging it by it's cover, the book itself was dynamite! The only problem was that I was unable to check it out since I did not have a NY library card. In order to obtain one I had to have an NY address, which I also did not have at the time. I'll never forget the comfort this book gave me during what can only be described as an extremely tumultuous time. Even just sitting there and reading it for an hour calmed me.

The above depicts some of the interiors situated within the captivating Midtown library. The point of this post is that libraries (and their railings.. which have held me up more time than I can count) have always calmed me in one way or another. Be it with books from the libraries, or the libraries themselves. I can't think of one bad memory every happening in a library. Cheers to me not just jinxing that.. :)

XOXO