May 31, 2011

Gourmet Food Delivery from 19 Charles Street

Like most New Yorkers I'm quick to order in for dinner after a long day at work, but I actually love to cook and prefer a home-cooked meal to any takeout. I enjoy pouring myself a glass of wine and cooking from a recipe out of one of my many cookbooks. Problem is I don't always have the right ingredients on hand and who has time to decide on a recipe, then go to the store, then come home, then prep the ingredients ... by then I'd rather just pick up the phone. That is until I found the solution ...


I was introduced to 19 Charles Street via DailyCandy and I've been a fan of the company ever since. Launched earlier this year, 19 Charles Street is a "members-only, recipe-specific gourmet food and farmers market delivery service in NYC." They're an excellent resource for the home chef interested in trying gourmet recipes (like me), but with little time to go to the farmers market/butcher shop/cheese shop to source the best ingredients yourself (also like me.) 19 Charles Street does it all for you - crafting gourmet recipes, purchasing local organic produce and meats, packing items into the right portion size and delivering it to you ready to cook a meal for one or more.


Here are some things you should know before you order:
  • The site is members-only so you'll have to request an invite to join.
  • Every Monday four new recipes are offered up to members. You have one week to place an order for delivery the following week (they only deliver on Monday's and Wednesday's.)
  • This service is not at all cheap, but quality never is. Meals cost $30 per serving, though the servings are substantial, so be prepared to shell out big bucks if you're ordering for a dinner party.
  • The recipes may seem complicated, but they're actually fairly simple and generally take under an hour to complete. If you know your way around a kitchen then you have nothing to worry about, but I'd probably save it for a weekend project if you barely know how to boil water.
Whether you want to impress a date or have a girls night in or even if you just want to treat yourself to a great meal, 19 Charles Street is a great option.

May 27, 2011

The Look | What to Wear Memorial Day

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, I'm really hoping the weather in NYC holds up. I've got a lot of summer looks to debut this weekend, but the potential for rain is threatening to keep that from happening. It's especially going to mess up my shoe game ... who wants to be stuck in rain boots?!?

Here are the looks I plan on pulling together for Saturday, Sunday and Monday (outfits read from top to bottom.) Right now I'm feeling blue and white as a palette, it seems refreshing and so right for the first official weekend of summer. Of course I threw in a few pops of bright color, wouldn't be me if I didn't.




I actually own the Banana Republic dress featured, which surprisingly works on a plus-size girl like me. Word to the wise - I'm 5'7" and it hits the floor on me so it is very long.

What are you planning on rocking this weekend?

May 25, 2011

Trend Report | Bright Colored Bags

As I continue to organize my closet and take inventory of my wardrobe I've started to notice that I have a serious lack of color in my bag collection. I have one hot pink Jimmy Choo satchel and one oversized white Jimmy Choo bag (both purchased at a sample sale), but other than that they all fall into [mostly] black or brown. Since bright color is the main trend this season I'm in a sad state of affairs. I'm also kicking myself for not buying a textured turquoise blue Rebecca Minkoff MAC clutch at Lucky Shops LA (it would have been SO perfect for SO many of my summer looks ... le sigh.) 

My current obsession is the Kate Spade Scout Small Crossbody in Orange. I'd love to pair it with a Little White Dress. It took me forever to find where to buy it, but Neiman Marcus now has it available online for $295. Yay!


I'm also obsessed with this Marc Jacobs 'Bamboo' Leather shoulder bag, also available at Neiman Marcus. When I saw it in their Spring Preview catalog I stopped and stared for a few minutes. Unfortunately it retails for $1,495, my pockets aren't deep enough to afford it right now. Perhaps a sale late in the season. *fingers crossed*

This a trend that caught on fast and you can find several different options at varying price points - from Fendi to Target. I will definitely be purchasing the Kate Spade Scout and looking for other options as well. Check out the list of what I've found so far below:




Have you adopted this trend for yourself? Let us know in the comments!

May 24, 2011

The Look | 10 Ways to Wear a Little White Dress

I live in dresses during the summer. They're easy, chic and comfortable in humid conditions. Today I came across the below video from FabSugarTV that shows 10 ways to wear this season's key piece - the Little White Dress.


[Video courtesy of FabSugarTV]

As evidenced in the video, the Little White Dress is a summer wardrobe essential - an item that can be that can be styled and worn over and over again. I love the first look and wouldn't have thought of layering a top over the dress. I also love "tribal" option, mainly because I must have that necklace.

I would recommend purchasing a very well made white dress. You may have to spend a good amount of money on it, but it's worth it given how much wear you'll get out of it. If you don't believe me then check out The Style and Beauty Doctor's dilemma with a Zara dress that had to be repaired after the third time she wore it. Spend the money, you'll save in the long run. Then accessorize to your heart's desire with less expensive items or pieces that are already in your closet.

This is a look I will defintiely be rocking this weekend, if the weather holds out. Which look is your favorite?

10 Must Have Flat Sandals for Summer

One of my summer wardrobe essentials is a flat sandal. Unlike cold weather flats, which tend to be predictable and boring, flat sandals are available in so many different ensemble-making styles that are appropriate for day or evening. I can rock a basic white tee, cropped skinny jeans and add life to my outfit with a fuschia gladiator style. They also pair very well with maxi dresses, whether at a backyard BBQ or a summer cocktail party.

I have a few pairs from last summer that will remain in rotation this year, but I definitely need to refresh my closet. Below are my Top 10 picks, all at varying price ranges:



What's your top pick? Tell me in the comments!

May 23, 2011

Style Moments | 2011 Billboard Music Awards

I spent the majority of my evening last night glued to the TV watching the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. Like pretty much everyone else I was blown away by Beyonce's performance of Run the World (Girls) ... a song I initially hated and now have as my ringtone. I was also pleasantly surprised by the looks artists (stylists) picked for the red carpet. It was a great source of inspiration for my summer wardrobe - all white everything, chic bright colored frocks, and rockstar edge.



My hands down favorite look of the night was Rihanna's Max Azria suit. The whole ensemble was perfection - the way the suit falls on her frame, her bright red hair playing off the white, the makeup, the accessories including the Solange Azagury Partridge gold pendant and the pointy-toe Christian Louboutin nude Pigalle pump. In my opinion flawless!

Here are my other favorites from the red carpet:

Kelly Rowland in Herve Leger
(LOVE that color)


Fergie in Herve Leger dress,
Christian Louboutin Daffodil pumps
with an Alexander McQueen clutch
(perfect edged out glam)


Keri Hilson in Rachel Roy
(the dress is adorable and chic)

What were your favorite looks from the night? Tell us in the comments!

How to Start An Art Collection

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of viewing a exhibition of my cousin Gregory's extensive collection of art at the New York Art Academy [Persistence of Vision - The Peterson Collection which has unfortunately already ended it's run.] As I walked the gallery and viewed the pieces he's collected over the years, I thought about the bare white walls in my apartment and my inability to walk into a gallery and by whatever my little heart desires.


 [Harper's Bazaar. Miranda Kerr. Enhanced Matte Print. 16x21.6 by Kasia Blanchard]

I've lived in my apartment for a year now and finding artwork that both fits my vision and is inexpensive has been a challenge. Have you ever browsed art.com? It's incredibly overwhelming and uninspiring. Ditto the random art and poster stores I would stop in on occasion. So I've been stuck with [off] white paint until I could spare the time and save the pennies needed to buy something that truly moves me. That is until my sister said something that I should have thought of back in December ... "You can discover unknown artists on Etsy." Eureeka!
[Endless Love Original Obstract Oil Painting 24x24 {sold} by artinstocks]

I've shopped Etsy previously for vintage clothing and accessories, but I never ventured into the art category. The site is a treasure trove for fashion illustration, photography, paintings and more at affordable prices. I'm enamored with works from Kasia Blanchard of feelingartsystudio, Robert Cadloff of bomobob and Evan and Nichole Robertson of littlebrownpen. My first purchase was this piece from Danielle Hardy's pixelcloud, which I plan to hang in my entryway:


In my searching over the last week I've noticed that most pieces are in the $20-$30 range for an 8x10 size piece, excluding shipping. The larger the artwork the higher the price, but I've never seen anything over $300 and most were around $160. You can also find several discounts and sale items when store owners want to make room for new pieces.

Based on my experience, here are a few tips to make the process easier:
  1. Take an hour to look through the site - research artists and 'favorite' pieces you love as you search.
  2. Take advantage of Etsy's recommendations. They do a great job of showcasing items you may like based on your 'favorites.'
  3. When you find an artist with multiple pieces you love, add them to your circle so you can follow their activity. That way you'll know when they rotate inventory and put other items on sale.
  4. If you find an item that you really love, don't wait! Buy it immediately. These are one-of-a-kind pieces and, unless it's a print of an artist's previous work, there is only 1 available. I learned this the hard way and missed on the original oil painting pictured above. However ...
  5. Don't be afraid to contact the artist if a piece you love has sold out. They're always happy to hear from people who appreciate their vision and you'll put yourself in the running to be the first to hear about a similar piece or a print of the original.
I've only just started my collection and have yet to tackle how I want to showcase each work in my apartment. I'll be sure to share the final look with all of you once it's complete.

I'd love to hear about your own personal collections, art or otherwise. What's on display in your home? Tell me in the comments!

May 20, 2011

Prabal Gurung for J.Crew - Capsule Collection Lookbook

I am in LOVE with Prabal Gurung. As a designer his looks are classic with an edge ... timeless pieces that can be worn today and still look chic 10 years from now. Normally the price point for his designs is outside the range of my wallet, but yesterday the designer launched a capsule collection in partnership with J.Crew with the highest price around $450.



May 17, 2011

Jetsetting | Airport Style

Those of you that follow me on Twitter (@StyleSaveur) know I'm currently on vacation in (cloudy and rainy) Puerto Rico. I also feel as though I've been in and out of airports for the past few months, traveling both for work and play. In my opinion, one of the most difficult parts of traveling is what to wear to the airport and on the plane. Most people carefully plan their vacation wardrobes down to organized checklists and photos of looks, but throw on whatever when its time to head to the airport. At least that's what I do since I'm usually done packing about 15 minutes before I have to head out the door. All of my recent jet-setting has allowed me to define a signature style for airport travel, a "uniform" of sorts.

First things first, my airport style is all about function and comfort. There will be no paparazzi following me or greeting me at my destination so there is no need to go glam. If that's your style I'm so not knocking you diva, keep rocking your 5-inch Louboutins. I just know that's not the look for me. I have to be able to breeze through the airport with ease and since it's required to remove jacket, shoes, pancreas to get through security, best believe it has to be easy for me to remove and put back on. That doesn't mean I'm going to look like I just rolled out of bed and threw on some sweats. I always strive to be chic and stylish, which can go hand-in-hand with casual.

[Photos of Halle Berry courtesy of PeopleStyleWatch.com]


May 11, 2011

s+s on tumblr

Hello dolls!

It's been months since I've posted here on style+saveur, but I haven't been completely m.i.a. I must admit ... I've been cheating on Blogger with tumblr!

s+s on tumblr has been in effect for the last couple of months. I'm using it as something of a digital inspiration board. It's where I lift the veil on what sparks my interest, inspires blog posts, things that make me happy and gives you a glimpse into my own personal style moments. The tumblr outpost reflects a little bit of all my passions ... fashion, food, home decor, music, culture and my penchant for inspirational quotes. My hope is that it can be another place on the web to get inspiration for living a fashionable life. :)


style+saveur will remain in affect here at its main home and I'll start posting again (I swear) next week. In the meantime, please visit and follow me over at tumblr (http://stylesaveur.tumblr.com/)

If you have a tumblr page of your own, let me know! Leave your tumblr blog URL in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by.