Olive My Love

Blooming Leopold S/S 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Lauren Winter, the designer behind Blooming Leopold, is known for her foray in DIY projects in addition to her lovely handmade designs. I've always loved her tutorials, and I was really excited to see her trying out more home dyeing. I'm thrilled to see those experiments turned into an amazing new collection inspired by muted colors and folkish costume patterns of old Japanese film.

Lauren's strength is creating loose-fitting, yet structured feminine shapes (like this dress!) that are perfect for summer, and almost every garment in the S/S 13 collection is hand dyed using natural dyes like indigo and onion skins. My favorite is the shibori which yields such beautiful one of a kind results.

You can shop the Blooming Leopold S/S 2013 collection online now.

Photography: Drew Tyndell
Styling: Rhiannon Tyndell
Model: Maya Mansour

Swedish Hasbeens NYC Pop Up Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:07:00 +0000

You know I have a penchant for clogs, especially Swedish Hasbeens, which is why I'm so excited for their NYC pop up this Thursday at the Kiitos Marimekko concept store on the Upper East Side. The event is from 6-9 PM and is hosted by the lovely Miss Christina Caradona of Trop Rouge. Come hang out with me and check out their SS13 collection, "Call of the Wild," in person! Plus there will be sweet treats, savory bites and plenty of bubbly.

See you there!

Giveaway: $30 to LKF Vintage!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:40:00 +0000

Photos courtesy of LKF Vintage

Today I'm excited to host a $30 giveaway to LKF Vintage! This curated shop is run by San Francisco-based Leanne Feely and everything she selects is not only adorable, but totally wearable, which can be a rarity for vintage. So many times I find fantastic vintage pieces, but I'm not quite sure how to style them. Leanne has a knack for making such items feel current and fresh and her shop is a constant source of inspiration for me.

To enter, follow Leanne on Twitter and Instagram (Leanne is studying botany, so be prepared for lots of lovely flowers in addition to vintage finds!), and comment here telling me what's your favorite item from Leanne's shop. This is open to international readers as well!

Not into giveaways? Leanne is also offering 10% off for you lovely readers with code LKFandOlive until June 1. Happy shopping and good luck!

UPDATE 5/20: Emma is the winner! Thanks to everyone for participating and don't forget that you can still get 10% off LKF Vintage through the end of May with code LKFandOlive.

St. Lukes In The Fields

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:40:00 +0000

Photos by Greg

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Clubmaster
Shirt: Madewell
Jumper: vintage
Bag: Madewell
Boots: Wolverine by Samantha Pleet Arc Boots

There is a secret garden in the West Village, and while there's no Mary Lennox or Colin to be seen, it's still pretty magical. It's right on Hudson St. and looks just like any other unassuming old church, but if you're lucky enough to find the small entrance, it leads to a pretty darn large campus filled with winding paths, tulip patches, blossoming trees and plenty of benches to sit on. It really is a little oasis, and I felt like I wasn't in the city just for a few brief moments.

On another note, I won a Need Supply contest a few months back (I know, right?) and finally spent my prize on these amazing Arc Boots. I've been hemmin' and hawin' over them for months, and last week the fates aligned—They went on sale and I had a discount code. They're probably the most comfortable boots of all time and even more beautiful in person. Samantha puts so much love and care into everything she makes, and her shoes are no exception.

May Sponsorships!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:54:00 +0000

Calling all patrons of vintage, hand made, and shops big and small - I'm now accepting sponsorship and ad spots for May and beyond! Get in touch if you have a special project, look book or new items you want to promote this spring and summer. E-mail me for rates and other info - don't be shy!

Pop of Red

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Photos by Greg

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Clubmaster
Jacket: J.Crew (similar here)
Shirt: Saint James
Jeans: Wrangler
Boots: Rachel Comey Mars Boots
Ring: In God We Trust Signet Ring
Bracelet: In God We Trust Rapunzel Cuff
Bag: thrifted

It was mild for about two second after I arrived back in NYC from LA, and it has been frigid ever since. I refuse to go back to my winter coats, even for just a moment, so I've been walking briskly to and from my destinations instead. Try as I might though, this jacket could not shield me from this past weekend's cold front. Needless to say I could not feel my hands after these pictures were taken.

This is basically my uniform. My new favorite jeans, a striped shirt and my trusty Mars Boots that Greg kindly got me for Christmas (best. Christmas. ever.). Not very exciting—except maybe for the pop of red from my lipstick—but I always feel comfortable and put together in any variation of this ensemble. Do you have any go-to outfits that you have on repeat?

California Pt. 2: Joshua Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Photos by me

I can't begin to tell you how long I've wanted to visit Joshua Tree. I've see countless pictures from friends and bloggers alike, so I couldn't wait to see it myself. Luckily I had three rad ladies to take this adventure with, so my first time out was amazing.

Joshua Tree reminds me a lot of Big Bend, but it's much rockier and has far more vegetation (ie trees). That familiarity made the experience strange at first—I felt like I was in a combination of some bizarro version of another national park, and a Hollywood movie set. The rock formations and twisted trees are truly a sight to be seen and they make you wonder if it's all real.

We only did a short hike and some small town exploration during our day trip, but I would love to plan some sort of camping expedition out there. There's so much history within the park as well (like the Lost Horse Mine), and we didn't even begin to touch upon that while we were there.

Until next time California...

California Pt. 1: Figueroa Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:04:00 +0000

Photos by me

If you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen that I was in California last week. It was a welcome break! Unfortunately I spent more time having fun than taking pictures, but I'm happy to share a few with you in the coming days.

First up is Figueroa Mountain, which might have been the highlight of the trip. It's in the Los Padres National Forest and it's most famous for it's incredible wild flowers. I can honestly say that I have never seen or smelled anything quite like it. The road up the mountain is incredibly narrow and has no guardrails whatsoever, so it was a bit nerve racking. The view and fragrant flowers made it all worth it though—When we finally stepped out of the car the smell of poppies and lupines almost knocked us over. It was like breathing in a bouquet which made the entire experience that much more magical.

Wolcott : Takemoto Fall 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:42:00 +0000

Photos via Wolcott : Takemoto

Wolcott : Takemoto is a small, independent New York City-based clothing line created by friends Joy Wolcott and Natasha Takemoto. The two are old pals from Seattle and reunited in NYC to pursue careers in fashion.

As many people do, the girls swiftly became frustrated by their lack of progress since arriving in the city. In this Synonym Journal interview, Natasha explains, "We were just sitting in the park one day talking about how frustrating it was that we weren’t doing what we came here to do when we had a classic lightbulb moment: why don’t we just do something together?" They quickly got to work and this fall line is their fourth collection as a duo.

I personally love the simple, clean and classic aesthetic (you know I'm a sucker for stripes) and that everything is made right here in New York City. You can find Wolcott : Takemoto at Steven Alan, Bird and online at Anaise.

Photography: Chibi Lai
Model: Jesse Partridge

Good Night, Day 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:06:00 +0000

Photos courtesy of Good Night, Day

Today I'm excited to share with you the 2013 look book from Good Night, Day. Tara-Lynn Morrison is one of those internet pals who I have been following since before I even started this old thing. It's been fun watching her style change and her amazing knits grow. She is a true maker—involved in the creative process from start to finish, hand knitting every single one of these creations herself.

The company is independently run by Tara-Lynn, and she's also the sole founder, designer and knitter. Good Night, Day's aesthetic has a strong emphasis on modern & minimalist hand knit, exclusive one of a kind and often featuring limited run pieces. Tara-Lynn is involved in every step of the highly personal hand made process, including choosing fair trade sourced wool, namely of alpaca, merino and cashmere blends that come from Peru, Uruguay and a women's collective in Argentina. Good Night, Day is one of those lines where you know, can see and feel the craftsmanship and care that goes into every single piece.

My mom used to knit me clothing growing up, and she recently picked it up again. Two years ago she made me a sweater and a scarf and it nearly brought me to tears. There's something truly amazing about clothing made by hand and I'm so happy to see people like Tara-Lynn keeping that tradition alive.

You can shop the new Good Night, Day collection online now, including Tara-Lynn's new knitting kits and patterns.

Photography: Arden Wray
Models: Kate campbell and Elspeth Hudson

Machpelah Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:06:00 +0000

Photos by Greg

Dress: c/o Darling Vintage
Coat, shoes and "Penny" bracelet: vintage
Bag: Dalaga
Ring: Cat Bird
Necklace: In God We Trust

Its's been almost exactly three years since Greg and I took our first big southern road trip together. The anniversary has me itching for a trip out of the city to some southern Civil War battlefield or any place that has historical charm. Unfortunately we won't be going anywhere any time soon, so in the mean time I've been seeking out historical places here in the city, which is where Machpelah Cemetery comes in.

I've been wanting to visit for a while now because Arnold Rothstein is buried somewhere in the Jewish section of the Cemetery Belt and I after reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, I was happy to discover that Harry Houdini also lies within those gates. We weren't able to find Mr. Rothstein, but Houdini's grave is visible from the street. There was all kinds of relics left on his grave—fake flowers, stacks of wet, decaying playing cards... but the truly amazing thing about this cemetery is how close all of the markers lie. People literally buried on top of other people for miles and miles.

This mini adventure was also the perfect opportunity to take this amazing dress from Darling Vintage for a spin. There's something a little creepy (in a good Jane Eyre kind of way) about bringing something so sweet and pretty into such a morbid setting. The pleating, collar and especially the back buttons give this cambray dress an Edwardian feel, and I felt a bit like I could be the ghost of one of the young girls laid to rest all around me.

Larkspur Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Photos via Larkspur

Today I'm happy to host a $50 (USD) giveaway to Larkspur, an adorable Toronto-based vintage shop run by gal pals Meaghan and Alex. Their shop has me itching for a northern adventure this summer because all of the lovely finds, especially the dresses, in their shop are just perfection.

To enter:
1) Follow Larkspur on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
2) Leave a comment below with your email address telling us which item from the shop you love the most

Contest runs until March 15 and the winner will be notified via email by March 18. Not into giveaways? Well, Larkspur is also offering 10% off all purchases for you lovely readers with the code OliveMyLove until April 1st!

It's the perfect time to grab a new spring dress, especially with Easter just around the corner. I know I have my eye on this gingham jumper. Add a sun hat, some clogs and my trusty market tote and I'll be ready for the warmer weather!

Happy shopping and good luck!

UPDATE: The winner is Lauren Winter! Congrats lady! Thanks to everyone who participated in this fantastic giveaway.

It's Ok My Dear F/W 13

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:11:00 +0000

Photos courtesy of Ashley Cheeks

Today I'm excited to share with you the look book for It's Ok My Dear's F/W 2013 collection. The line gets its name from the sweetest of places—"It's Ok My Dear" is a lullaby that designer Ashley Cheeks' mother sang to her as a little girl. If that doesn't tug at your heart strings then I don't know what will.

For the fall collection, Ashley is playing with texture—combining wools, linens, and silks to create a lovely contrast between the sheer blouses and heavier capes and shorts. I'm thrilled to see her expanding on her custom, hand drawn prints as well featuring some fabric with little hands and lightening bolts!

Ashley is always inspired by 20th century portrait shots - children in their suits, frilly dresses, petticoats and big bows, so her designs tend to have a young, cutesy feel. Ashley continued with her theme on contrast for the look book, bringing the girly collection into an environment that was warm, inviting, and had a rich history surrounding it—shooting in her friend's 19th century brownstone. The result is a look book that gives off an aristocratic and sophisticated air with a hint of that sweet childhood lullaby.

While you have to wait to shop this lovely collection, S/S 2013 by It's Ok My Dear is available online now.

Photography: Anna Li
Model: Rachel Trachtenburg
Hair and make up: Brittany Romney

Stay Warm

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Photos by Greg

Hat, jewelry and shorts: In God We Trust
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Scarf: thrifted
Coat: DKNY
Gloves: Macy's
Bag and shoes: Madewell
Turleneck: Kennedy Holmes

I think Fashion Week has taken my health hostage. It seems like I've been sick since the beginning of the year—first I had the flumageddon that took over all of NYC and now I have what seems to be an unending cold. To put it lightly, I wish winter was over. As much as I love my new coat, I would trade it in for sunny skies, trips to Rockaways and the chance to not wear socks.

Family Affairs F/W13 Studio Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Photos by me

This past weekend myself and a gaggle of girls paid Nina, one half of the mother daughter duo behind Toujours Toi Family Affairs, a visit at her studio in Brooklyn. We drank tea, snacked on cupcakes and did a bit of dress up while taking a peek at the Family Affairs F/W13 collection. I love getting a glimpse into the world that is a designers work space and learning about the inspirations behind each collection, so I'm happy to be able to share these photos with you.

Nina is playing with rich upholstery and tapestry-like fabics for fall and they create the most amazing textures when paired together. Leave it to Emily to show us the full potential of print mixing! You can even see that influence in the amazing handmade fabric jewelry—it's all hand cut, sewn and embroidered by Nina herself. Talk about craftsmanship!

A.P.C. Spring 2013 RTW

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:55:00 +0000

Photos via Style.com

The most common gripe I hear about A.P.C. is that they're too plain, but that simplicity is the exact reason why I love A.P.C. so much. Each season their retro, but straight forward preppy silhouettes make me completely rethink my entire wardrobe. A.P.C. has always been the epitome of the je ne sais quoi that is French style and one reason I go back to them season after season.

P.S. Can we talk about that cranberry red lipstick?? Perfection.

February Sponsorships

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:10:00 +0000

Well, 2013 is well under way and I'm lookin' to partner with folks in the new year! Do you have a shop or project you're looking to promote in the next few months? You can shoot me a note here for rates and details. I'd love to work with you, so don't be a stranger now!

Office Style with Refinery29

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Photo by Sunny Shokrae via Refinery29

Blazer and shirt: vintage
Skirt: Steven Alan
Necklace: Young Frankk
Rings: In God We Trust and Vera Meat
Bracelet: vintage
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman

Part of me still can't quite believe that this is real, but here I am on Refinery29 today. They contacted me a couple weeks ago about doing a feature on working ladies who "manage to keep professional without compromising their personalities." I'm getting pink in the cheeks just thinking that I would be considered one of those kinds of ladies, but I'm so thrilled to have been part of this fantastic feature along side such amazing women.

You can read the full article and see the rest of the stylish powerhouses here, and my section starts here.

Spring Wish List: Leah Goren

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:59:00 +0000

Photos via Leah Goren, photographed by Kate Edwards

Knock on wood, but this winter has been pretty mild so far. We'll probably get snow next week just because I'm typing this, but one can hope these warmer temps will stick around until May.

The spring and resort collections are making their way across the internet, so naturally I'm pining for some sun. Leave it to Leah Goren to add to that longing. Her prints continue to knock me outta my seat, and these latest photos from Kate Edwards are stellar. Leah's home from a long vacation in California, and obviously back in full swing.

I'm constantly saying that maxi skirts never work on me because of my height, but this floral skirt has me thinking I should give it a whirl.

Mona

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Photos by Greg

Blouse: Silk Boyshirt from Madewell
Pinafore: Mona
Coat: J.Crew
Shoes: thrifted

I can't quite remember when and where I discovered Mona, but I do know I fell even more in love with this Israeli based line after seeing the F/W 2012 collection over on Erin's blog. I think it's obvious why I became smitten - the pinafores, collared blouses and prim detailing are reminiscent of school uniforms, and as one of my friends (who is a Catholic school teacher in Boston) astutely pointed out, I look like I could be one of his students. Hopefully I don't actually looks like a 5th grader, but I definitely do draw inspiration from the clean, buttoned up look of a school uniform when I get dressed these days.

Moriah was sweet enough to send me my favorite piece from her collection—this perfect pinafore dress. She's also kind enough to offer all of you 40% off her F/W collection! Just use the code OLIVEMYLOVE40 at check out. The discount only lasts three days, so hop to it and get a dress of your own before Thursday!

Vacation's Over

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:13:00 +0000

Photos by Greg

Coat: vintage, thrifted
Striped shirt: via a swap
Bag, button up, skirt and shoes: thrifted
Tights: Dalaga

Hello, I'm back! I took a much needed vacation during the holidays this year and I feel rested and rejuvenated. Days upon days of sipping freshly brewed coffee on my moms couch in my pjs.

I feel ready to get back to the grind, so I thought I would kick off this year not with a review of 2012, but just a fresh new outfit for ya. I have to confess that this outfit is from weeks ago - Maybe the 15th? I wore it to a small Chanukah celebration at Greg's brothers house in the West Village. It was the first time either of us had seen his nephews since the summer, so it was a blast. Those babies are so damn cute I tell ya.

I will say that 2012 was a rough one. It started out feeling like big things were going to happen, which they did, but neither Greg nor I expected that big thing would be spending most of the year apart. I still can't quite believe it's over and we're already onto a new year.

I hope you all had a fantastic New Year's Eve and an overall good 2012. Here's to the next!

Shop Spotlight: Second Hand Wares

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:22:00 +0000

Photos via Second Hand Wares

Second Hand Wares is an adorable little Etsy shop filled with simple, yet classic vintage finds. To me, the pieces are the ones I'm always looking for when I go thrifting - something timeless that can be worn with just about everything in my wardrobe, new and old alike. For example, these high waisted denim shorts have such pin up appeal. I can see myself wearing these in the summer on a trip to Rockaway Beach, or right now with tights and a silk blouse.

Susie, the lovely lady who curates Second Hand Wares, is offering you guys 30% off with the code OLIVEMYLOVE until the end of the month! Now go grab some of those basics you've been searching for.

Striped Sweater / Red Pleated Skirt

60s Navy and Cream Jacket / Floral Blouse

50s High Waist Denim Shorts / 70s Floral Dress

Winter Warmer

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Winter Weekend by Olive My Love featuring a Pied a Terre Osho Hardware Ankle Boots from House of Fraser

The weather in NYC has been abismal and has left me day dreaming of warmer climates. Unfortunately that is not going to be a reality until like, May, so until then I've been keeping myself busy by thinking up some dream outfits that might make my walks to and from the train more bearable.

I started with three pairs of fantastic boots from House of Fraser, which has a pretty insane selection of shoes. I actually tend to build my outfits from the bottom up, so once I had my favorites the rest came naturally. I especially love the Pied a Terre Osho Hardware Boots. They have a western influence and a bit of a heel, which I love since I'm on the shorter side.

You can click through on the collages to see where everything else is from, but all of the beautiful boots are available directly from House of Fraser.

Dinner with Friends by Olive My Love featuring Aldo Faridett Lace Up Boots from House of Fraser

Brooklyn Stroll by Olive My Love featuring Bertie Peonee Exposed Zip Pony Boots from House of Fraser

And the Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Photo via Secret Lake

Congrats to Tori! You're the winner of the $50 gift card to Secret Lake! Thanks to everyone who entered. I'm thrilled you guys were just as excited as I was about it. Thanks again to Secret Lake for this fantastic giveaway and three cheers for Tori!

Frances Baker S/S 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Liz) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Photos via Frances Baker

Josie kept teasing us with all the snippets of swatches from her S/S 2012 collection on Instagram for the past few months. She has a way of finding the most amazing fabrics and this season she moved towards prints made from organic cotton and linen.

I think one reason I've been so drawn to Frances Baker is not only because the clothing is adorable, but the ethics that Josie stands behind. She believes that clothing should be long lasting, reflective of individual style rather than trends, and be at minimal cost to the environment, and I like to think that my buying habits and personal style reflect that mantra as well.

I think many of you may feel this way too, or maybe it's just me becoming more conservative money-wise as I get older, but if I'm going to spend money on something new it better be extremely well made, will last more than 5 years and outlive trends. Frances Baker meets all of those requirements.

You can shop the S/S0 2012 collection now, and for those of us who are on the opposite side of the world - use these photos to get you through the winter! I'm already fantasizing about my potential vacations...