14 Monday Mar 2016
after two pairs of my flats decided to die (and my cobbler regretfully told me that even he could not bring them to life), i found these beauties during the very tail end of bergdorf goodman’s winter sale.
the red is surprisingly versatile, and still adds a nice pop to your outfit. they are going to my cobbler for protection before they brave the streets of new york.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
07 Monday Mar 2016
on a recent (relatively) warm saturday, i finally took a trip down to red hook, brooklyn and toured the cacao prieto distillery. cacao prieto is both a chocolate factory and a whiskey distillery, so it is basically heaven. although they make one of my favorite bourbons, widow jane, it wasn’t until a friend told me that i realized that the distillery was a subway ride (an short uber) away. and the chocolate? that was the cherry on top.
$20 gets you a tour of both the chocolate and whiskey-making facilities, and tastings of both.
the most beautiful wrappers i have every seen. sorry mast brothers.
old school chocolate making machines.
the whiskey distilling machine. meeting the individuals who make these goods by hand gives you a good sense of the skill, care, and time it takes to make artisanal, local products.
my leopard isabel marants were key for standing during the 1 1/2 hour tour.
raw cacao nibs.
they had chickens and a peacock in the courtyard. because why not?
if anyone is looking for a fun and interesting excursion for a few hours in new york, i highly recommend the tour. plus you can get some goodies to enjoy long after its over.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under food, nyc
29 Monday Feb 2016
this cold month has me missing the hot texas sun. i took a quick trip to austin in october, and far and away, my favorite thing in that city was the breakfast taco. eggs, guacamole, salsa, beans, and cheese, on a tortilla, before 10am? yes please. why isn’t this a thing everywhere?
i did my best to re-create them at home. not nearly the same, but still quite delicious.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under food
15 Monday Feb 2016
as we’re well in february, i’m a little late to this new year’s resolution health game. i wouldn’t call it a resolution, but i think my body has just been craving something better lately…and a lot less sugar. i am usually of the camp that if i’m going to eat a cookie, it will be a real cookie. but when i saw this recipe for karlie kloss’s perfect 10 cookie, i thought i would try it.
verdict? they are quite delicious. not low fat by any means, and certainly not as good as the butter/sugar/egg ladened cookies, but when you want something a bit different that is not as unhealthy, i think they make a great alternative.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under food
07 Sunday Feb 2016
clearly navy is the only color i’m interested in wearing in 2016. i found this gorgeous alaïa dress at a consignment shop in my neighborhood, with the tags still on. when i tried it on and it fit perfectly without alterations, i knew it was coming home with me.
i have never tried on, let alone owned, an article of clothing that was made with such integrity. the pleats are so precise and heavy, but at the same time make me want to twirl. and the jersey is so thick yet comfortable, so i can look good and feel good all day. i can’t believe the entire dress – even the dentelle – is constructed out of jersey.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
30 Saturday Jan 2016
okay, i admit it – i went a little crazy during sugar paper’s holiday gift wrap collaboration with target. marie kondo would not approve.
i love the whimsical designs and the elegance the collection brings back to the art of gift wrapping. while i often put a gift in the nearest gift bag and call it a day, sometimes its nice to put in a little more effort to make the experience of receiving the gift even more special.
the pink gift box is surprisingly sturdy and has an adorable polka dot print inside. i paired it with matching polka dot tissue paper.
all tied up with a white and gold chevron grosgrain ribbon.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under random
17 Sunday Jan 2016
now that we are officially in the midst of winter here in nyc, i have been relying prettily heavily on my sweater collection to get me through the week. my skin gets incredibly dry and itchy in the cold, so i need sweaters that are either 100% cotton, 100% wool, or as a luxury, 100% cashmere.
true cashmere freaks swear by a few choice brands (chanel, loro piana, brunnello cucinelli), but those prices are out of the question for me. i’ve tried a lot of brands that are much cheaper (though some are admittedly not cheap), and i thought i should do a round-up of how they have held up over the years.
vince (top right): this sweater is just okay. even on sale, vince cashmere is pretty expensive. the softness is okay, but the sweater still pills like crazy. plus, after a few wears, i don’t feel like this looks as plush or as high-quality as some of my other sweaters.
j.crew factory (middle right): my j.crew factory cardigan is the best quality cashmere i have gotten from j.crew as of late. i can’t stand the j.crew featherweight cashmere (just asking for holes), and i haven’t found much of the regular j.crew cashmere to be thick or as soft as i want. plus, it is regularly over $100 for a sweater. i think this cardigan came in at about $50 on sale, and it is a true workhorse for me in my freezing office. i would say the pill factor is pretty average, though it still looks as plush as the day i bought it.
demylee for j.crew (bottom right): this is probably my favorite sweater in terms of quality and price point. the full price is very expensive, but as j.crew does, it got marked down to about 70% off before i took the plunge. the cashmere is soft and thick, and i haven’t seen much pilling. the navy has not bled onto the white, and every time i wear this, it feels like i am wearing a great big cashmere hug.
eric bompard (top and bottom left): these are the newest to my collection, and also the most expensive. these sweaters are not as soft as my j.crew cardigans but they feel much thicker and don’t pill as much. plus i love the various design options that really elevate these sweaters into something fancy enough to wear for dinner or to dress up with a pencil skirt for work. the fitted gray pointelle pictured above looks great with a gray pencil skirt (ala my style idol rachel zane below), and this navy and lace does just as well with a black skirt.
SUITS — “Heartburn” Episode 314 — Pictured: Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane — (Photo by: Ian Watson/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank)
isabel marant (middle left): although isabel marant is my homegirl, as you can see from my collection, i don’t think her cashmere sweaters are worth the price. while they are undeniably soft, this sweater is pretty thin and pills like crazy. plus, i think it has stretched out to a weird shape.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
03 Sunday Jan 2016
happy new year everyone! i hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are as excited about 2016 as i am. i’ve sat out most of the holiday sales, trying to save some money and keep my closet as clutter-free as possible. although perhaps not the most exciting purchases, i did buy the two navy items below to fill some holes in my wardrobe.
the navy pants are by joseph. they have been on my wishlist forever, and i finally found the perfect pair on sale on yoox.com.
the navy peacoat is billy reid, of course. i love the shearling trim under the collar. and the material is so soft i want to sleep in it.
what, your coats don’t have a leather pocket inside?
or a silk striped pocket? 
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
27 Sunday Dec 2015
i was very lucky to ring in my 30th birthday earlier this month in beautiful cartagena. we stayed at the casablanca b&b in the old walled part of the city, and it was something out of my south american dreams. open air hallways filled with plush vegetation, white washed walls and furniture, and a semi-outdoor shower in the bedroom. not pictured is the gorgeous rooftop plunge pool, perfect for taking a breather from the colombian heat.
our room door. i wish i could enter my apartment through a door like this this…
sorry for the mess – i forgot to snap pics before we started unpacking/taking over with our clutter.
semi-outdoor shower.
walkway to the lobby.
the hotel surprised me with a cake to celebrate the day. such a perfect finishing touch.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under travel
22 Tuesday Dec 2015
its looking a lot like christmas in nyc these days. i spent last weekend writing my holiday cards. last year, i sent everyone the same card. after christmas, i hit up the abc carpet christmas sale to stock up on an assortment of cards for this year.
it was so fun picking and choosing the right card for the right person. for example, only my most juvenile friends received the card below (sorry in advance for calling you juvenile if you are reading this and you got this card…).
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under random
aubergine moon 