My advice? Run, don’t walk!

Showing through February 15, 2015.

Ain’t love grand?

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

My look? Preppy chic. Levi’s paired with a lavender cashmere sweater, sparkly gold flats and oversized Jackie O.-style shades.

Do you live in jeans? If so, check out Levi’s Mid Rise Skinny–with the perfect amount of stretch, you’ll actually feel like you’re in leggings…because we should all have as much fun as we can.

Product provided by Levi’s c/o Women’s Health. #LiveinLevis
All thoughts/assessments are my own.

It was the perfect setting to have some fun in relaxed pieces by Nancy Rose, a former nationally ranked elite gymnast turned Parsons graduate. Having studied design in Rome, Rose’s collection focuses on high quality fabrics, not flashy prints, combined with fit and flexibility. It’s a fashionable toast to excellence–at the barre, on the treadmill and in our favorite yoga poses.

Keyhole Short Sleeve Tee in Sea, Odyssey Tank in Scarlett and Plank Crop in Black, all by Nancy Rose Performance.

Product provided by Nancy Rose Performance.
All thoughts/assessments are my own.

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.

Ready, set, go. Warming up in ALALA, my new fitness fashion obsession. With its see-through panels and ladylike details, this collection just may be all you need to work up a sweat.

Sneakers: ZQuick by Reebok; Sunglasses: David Yurman.

Product provided by ALALA; all thoughts/assessments are my own.
Photos by Jennifer Liu Photography.

My latest obsession in fitness fashion is ALALA, a newly-launched brand with a decidedly downtown look. From the collection’s primarily black and white color palette (with a pop of tangerine and teal) to its sophisticated prints and mesh and tulle details, these are pieces that I actually want to stay in all day. I particularly love the Toughie Tank, with its high neckline yet semi-sexy cut, since I find most too low on top, especially for high-impact workouts where I’m really moving, like CrossFit or cycling. For those of you SOULCycle riders, you’ll recognize the face of ALALA, Julie “Jaws” Nelson. She’s one of the those girls who seemingly has it all: she’s beautiful, strong and beloved by those around her. With ALALA, maybe we can have it all, too.

Sneakers: ZQuick by Reebok; Bracelets: Skinny and Rich by Knotty Gal.

Product provided by ALALA; all thoughts/assessments are my own.
Photos by Jennifer Liu Photography.

If you’re this woman, you’d step to the front of the room, cue some music and teach the class yourself.

Meet Carol Scott, the reigning queen of international fitness and founder of ECA, the industry’s most high-profile trend incubator and events organization. We met for decaf skim lattes at the Gramercy Park Hotel to talk lunges, labels and what to look for at this weekend’s One Body One World (OBOW) event in New York City.

Her story: Carol has a Phys. Ed. background; having played college basketball and softball, it was a natural fit. On that day, when the instructor didn’t show up for class, she stepped up, literally, and taught it herself. Shortly thereafter, she decided to become a bona fide instructor, got her certification and started teaching high-impact, dance-based “Donna Summer” aerobics.  In 1991, she took her life’s savings and put on the first ECA show, what she now refers to as “the fitness industry’s family reunion.”

What we’ll find at the event: A jam-packed, 3-day schedule of fitness classes, instructor meet-and-greets, beauty touch-ups (by Benefit!) and previews of new and improved fitness equipment like modified bosu balls and a re-designed FlyBoard to help us refine our dynamic balance.

On Sunday, lace up your Flyknits or Fresh Foams and join in on the ultimate fitness mash-up class organized by FITist featuring über instructors Shay Kostabi of FlyBarre, Noah Neiman of Barry’s Bootcamp, Layla Luciano of SLT & Barry’s Bootcamp, Natalie Uhling of NUfit and Sadie Kurzban, founder of ((305)) Fitness.  Add to your Google calendar now: 11am-1pm!

And, when we started talking fashion, I was giddy to learn that Carol knows her labels.

What’s in her closet:
She’s a self-proclaimed “Nike girl” and calls it the ultimate performance brand.  At the gym, you’ll also find her in gear by lululemon, Splits59 and sweats & tees by Peace Love World.  Otherwise, her look is decidedly city chic: Alexander Wang, Isabelle Marant, McQ, Narcisco Rodriguez, Rick Owens & Urban Zen.

The day we met, she rocked the PS 1 cross body bag by Proenza Schouler and shearling-lined Engineer boots by Jeffrey Campbell.

Wanna meet the hottest instructors, preview the newest fitness trends and get cool stuff? Buy your tickets here.

**WIN IT!**
Two lucky readers will be selected to join me at ECA/OBOW this Sunday, March 9th, including the FITiST mash-up class (complimentary day pass: $99 value).

Let me know why you should be part of my crew by commenting below.  My only requirement?  You have to show up in workout gear and be ready to pose for a few sweaty selfies!

Walking around Chelsea the other day, I spied a chic, new fitness space called CULTURE.  Part “urban country club,” part 1-on-1 athletic studio.

It was the perfect setting for my post about Comes With Baggage, a collection of clutches that double as witty, wearable objet d’ art.  My friend and CEO/über talent broker Lori Levine sold a third of her Coveteur-featured closet on eBay to fund the original collection; they’re made out of leather, woven leather, patent and snakeskin and emblazoned with snarky expressions and edgy doodles.  And, they’ve been spotted on Katy Perry (my pop idol), Uma Thurman and Rosario Dawson.

So, it was just another day in the neighborhood, taken up a notch or two.  Because as another friend, a New Yorker-turned-Angeleno, says: We can all benefit from a little art & culture.

Jacket: Nuan Cashmere; Blouse: Forever21; Jeans (similar here): LOFT; Booties: Me Too; Clutches (all): Comes with Baggage; Earrings (similar here): David Yurman; Nails: essie.

Photos by Lindsay M. Koffler Photography.