Inspirational Pieces

By Amra B. 

With the summer fast approaching, and the warm weather already here in NYC, I have been gravitating towards easy pieces that can be worn everyday. Flat sandals, flowy dresses, and simple jewelry is what I wear most days when running to the meetings or enjoying the weekend walks around NYC. Also, I have been searching for some inspiration, and was able to find it in the form of jewelry – the ring and the arrow necklace, which I am wearing below; they both carry wonderful messages that help me stay positive. 

Like anyone, I have my ups and downs, and I love to surround myself with people, places or things that I find healing. I was pleasantly surprised when I found these jewelry pieces and read the message behind both: the mini arrow “can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it is going to launch you into something great.” The moon ring signifies “new beginnings, intuition, and purity. It reminds us of the life’s cyclical nature; it will always have its ups and downs, its lows and its highs. Embrace the changes that life brings and remember that as the sun sets, the moon will be there to provide light and clarity.” 

I wore my inspirational jewelry pieces with a pair of golden sandals, a cut out boho dress, fringe bucket bag, and a hat. To further refuel and clear my mind, I visited one of the most beautiful bookstores in NYC, Albertine Reparue at the French Consul, and immersed myself in some amazing reads about architecture and art (photo below). 

Wearing: Salvatore’s Dream jewelry, Zara dress and hat, La Paire sandals, and Saint Laurent bag. 

Details: the Mini Arrow necklace and the Moon Ring

In front of the Albertine Reparue at the French Consul 

Albertine Reparue 

Debut: New Hair, New Beginnings

By Elma Beganovich

I have been wanting to change my hairstyle for a while, to create a new and fresh look for the summer. Thus, I went on a "hunt" and looked at hairstyles of various style icons. After much digging, I spotted a perfect summer cut: Brigitte Bardot's choucroute hairstyle (a sort of a beehive hairstyle with fringe-bangs and all of its teased, tousled glory). 

To help my look come to life I found two amazing hairstylists at Arrojo NYC (@arrojonyc): Corrinn (cutter) and Eve (colorist). These two astonishingly-talented young stylists made my look come to life. Corrinn (@corrinndoeshair) did a pristine job with shaping my bangs and Eve (@thehaircolorexpert) colored the tips to make sure that my hair was one glistening color: chestnut brown. I would highly recommend these two ladies to anyone who lives in (or visits) New York City; the salon is located in Tribeca. 

For the fashionistas, I am wearing an H&M dress and hat; Yves Saint Laurent fringe bag; and Chloe sandals; haircut with bangs by Corrinn and chestnut brown color by Eve. There you have it fashionistas, my complete look and some of my daily style inspirations. Until next time, stay fresh and fabulous, xoxo form the Big Apple!  

New York City: Best of Central Park

By Elma Beganovich

One of my favorite places in this bustling and busy city is the Central Park. There the city's noisy is drowned out and one can enjoy some spectacular scenery, from a myriad of flowers to the waters of Jackie Kennedy Onassis reservoir. We took advantage of the gorgeous weather this weekend, and did this amazing shoot on the Upper West Side. I wanted to share the beauty of Central Park in the summer with some spectacular views of Manhattan in the background. Below, I am wearing a dress from H&M, Stella McCartney sunglasses, and sunglasses from Stella McCartney. I opted for a barefoot look since climbing on the rocks in heels is probably not such a good idea. :) Enjoy the scenery and the vivid color hues of Central Park in the summer, until next time, xoxo from New York City! 

Mirrored Sunglasses

By Amra B.

I have been searching for the perfect pair of mirrored sunglasses to combine with the seventies style pieces I am currently obsessed with for this summer. I love mirrored sunglasses, but found that many ones out there have an overly futurist design and don’t compliment the seventies vibes of my summer wardrobe. I finally was able to locate these perfectly shaped mirrored sunnies, and have been wearing them almost every day.

The shape of the glasses is not the typical aviator, and I find this refreshing; I also love the platinum color as it easily matches different pieces in my wardrobe. I combined my new mirrored sunglasses with a bohemian red dress, a denim vest, and a fringe bucket back I acquired recently. Seventies style has always been my favorite, and this combination of fringe and mirrored glasses is something I will probably continue to wear into the fall and winter. 

Outfit: Sama Eyewear Ashton glasses, Zara dress, Bershka vest, Prada shoes, bag Saint Laurent

Top Picks: Summer Sunglasses

By Elma Beganovich

Recently, I made a trip to New York Botanical Gardens, about half an hour outside of Manhattan, and I must say the trip was well-worth it. The New York Botanical Gardens are a true oasis and make a perfect get away from the bustling city to gather your thoughts while enjoying the surrounding green serenity. 

For my day getaway, I picked-up a perfect pair of sunglasses (my favorite cat-eye) from Sama Eyewear. The Blake glasses are quite cool because the sides are gold pleated (24k gold). I would recommend Sama Eyewear because of their high quality and ultra sleek design. For the rest of my ensemble, I am wearing a black fringe skirt and flower crown from H&M, Chanel boy bag, and lucky love tank top from Urban Outfitters. 

So fashionistas, when planning your summer getaway, always take the time to pick out your perfect summer glasses, which will make you feel "oh so chic." Until next time, stay fabulous and beautiful, xoxo from New York City! 

Top Sumner Picks: Chic Everyday Jewelry

By Elma Beganovich

I have been looking for beautiful and chic yet everyday jewelry that can add a touch of elegance to my outfits. I stumbled upon this amazing online boutique, Swasey Fashion, that handcrafts and sells unique pieces made of precious metals on the West Coast! I want to provide you with some tips on how to style jewelry to make your look effortless and chic. 

Styling Jewelry Effortlessly: Dos and Donts

Firstly, to make your jewelry stand out, I would suggest always picking out a solid colored ensemble, e.g., white, navy or soft camel for the summer. Here, I am wearing a solid white outfit with a camel colored fringe vest with understated and chic jewelry: double bypass rings (gold filled), eternity rings (gold filled), and cuff bracelet love knot (gold filled). 

Secondly, to make your jewelry stand out, wear a lot of the pieces together. As you can see, I stacked-up rings to give a sense of radiance and vivaciousness. Try to balance by stacking-up either bracelets or rings; do not opt for both for the sake of looking effortlessly chic and not overdone. 

Finally, have fun with your jewelry! For me the best part is discovering beautifully handcrafted pieces, like the precious metal ones from Swasey Fashion. I can see the founders and know the story behind these beautifully crafted and unique jewelry pieces. 

Outfit details: vintage Miu Miu wooden clutched bag; white everyday high neck tank-top from H&M; high waisted trousers from Max Studio; nude heels from Tod's; fringe vest from Zara; and handcrafted jewelry by Swasey Fashion. Until next time, stay fabulous and elegant fashionistas, xoxo from New York City! 

What’s in My Gym Bag

By Amra B. 

Many of you have been asking for a post about some of my favorite beauty products; however, since summer is coming up, and many of us are working on getting into shape for the bikini season, I have decided to share some of my favorite gym goodies I take with me to a workout session each day.  

 

I usually prefer to use large gym bags as they allow me to accommodate everything I need; I have found quilted gym bags to be super comfortable to carry due to their soft material. Additionally, my yoga mat, five-pound weights and a pilates ring are always present. I love to adjust the difficulty of the class exercise by adding my own weights and/or using the pilates ring when doing crunches. I also try and bring my own yoga matt so I can stretch anywhere, improve flexibility, and reduce muscle injury. 

My beauty routine when exercising is pretty simple; I wear sunscreen whenever I go outside (even in winter). For summer time, I use SPF 50 on my face and an SPF 30 on my body. I bring a thermal water spray with me to use after a workout; it helps me get rid of the flush and calms the skin on my face. I also love to add a little bit of a lip-gloss, and I love this nude kind that looks natural but polished. I use Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray to add texture to my hair and tidy it up after exercising. 

Outfit: Quilted Koala Gym Bag, tights Reebok, shirt Victoria Secret, and sneakers JackRabit.

Inside the bag: Quilted Koala Makeup Bag, Eau Thermale Avène (Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+), Eau Thermale Avène (Thermal Spring Water), Sisley Lip-gloss #2, Bumble-and-Bumble Surf Spray, Pilates Super Ring Everlast, and Dumbbells Empower