Ain’t love grand?

Skirt: Trina Turk, Sweater: Uniqlo, Pumps: Louise et Cie and my grandmother’s antique pearl ring.

Always a fan of communication, just like Mr. Mayer (yes, I was one of those chatty teenage girls who obsessed with my friends about, like, everything via phone for hours), I chuckled while rifling through her snarky-meets-sophisticated collection of canvas bags.

And, when it comes to New York, these are a handful of my favorites.
Because in this town, let’s face it, you can never have too much style…or too much love.

Don’t you love how friends of friends can instantly become your friends too?  I do. And, that’s how I felt when I met Nur-E Rahman, the designer of Knotty Gal, a collection of colorful necklaces, bracelets & earrings made from very simple, straightforward materials (cords and metals, knotted together) with a very deep, meaningful mission.

Nur-E and I were introduced by a mutual friend, who felt that we’d connect. We met up in Tribeca, cracked open her trunk of jewelry and spent most of our time gabbing away like we were old friends. And, then, when it came time to talk about the collection, I learned that Nur-E and her mom started Knotty Gal just last year to raise money for a girls’ school in Bangladesh founded 50 years ago by her great grandfather. Most of the students there, more than 1,000 today, come from very poor families.

The Knotty Gal necklaces and earrings are bold, so they’re strong enough to be worn alone.  The bracelets, ranging from oversized cuffs to chain link cords, are ideal for layering.  A few of my favorite pieces, shown here, are the Lazy Sunday and Good as Gold necklaces and Carpe Diem earrings. Like a lot of good things in life, Knotty Gal grabs your attention based on what you see, but, it’s what’s behind the collection that really counts. Who says that you can’t make the world better through your accessories?!

Necklaces: Lazy Sunday & Good as Gold; Earrings: Carpe Diem, all by Knotty Gal.  Sunglasses: David Yurman.  Top: Forever 21.

Photos by Jennifer Liu Photography.

…paired with this season’s Chanel stacked booties.

Their owner?  Meet Jenna.  She’s a twentysomething self-professed fashion addict.

The purse? A gift from grandma (Nana knows her labels!). The booties? From Bergdorfs, of course.

Topped off with Celine sunnies and Marc Jacobs’ cobalt blue pompom cap-of-the-moment (Bleecker Street boutique), this girl isn’t afraid to mix and match.

I spy: the most gorgeous pair of sumptuous suede boots.

They’re Dior.  The color, the fringe, the hardware.  Hello.

And, meet their owner–Kim. I spotted her outside The High Line Hotel, where her company Redscout, the branding & design agency, was about to host an event.

I adore the rest of her look, too: a cozy cardigan layered over a simple black sheath and topped with a statement piece. Her style? Ladylike with an edge. Way to start the day off chic!

Necklace by Haute Hippie; Dress by Zara.