Illustration: Fall Style

Happy Weekend!

Rent the Runway Loves Chicago (We Love You Too.)

We had no fun at Chicago Blogger Network's RTR Party.







No fun at all.

Actually, we had a total blast. Earlier this month, the beauties and brains over at Chicago Blogger Network teamed up with Rent the Runway to showcase a sampling of winter dresses just in time for cocktail party season! The W CityCenter was totally packed with fashionistas, bloggers, and loyal customers to the brand. It was our first official blogger's event so we were a little nervous, but we grabbed a few glasses of wine, made some new friends, and drooled over dresses for a few hours. In other words, our dream night.

If you're not familiar, Rent the Runway is a service that allows you to rent designer dresses for a fraction of what they would cost to buy them retail. They'll ship you two sizes so there's no worry about fit, and you can also chat online with a stylist if you're worried about making the right choice. You can check out photos of real girls in the dresses (sort by your height and body type!), read reviews, and you won't be fined for those life-happens spills, burns, etc.

We know, it's genius, right?

We couldn't snap any decent photos of the dresses because it was pretty dark in there (and fine, our hands were full of wine glasses, thanks again CBN!), so instead we hopped online to pick out New Years Eve outfits from RTR -- we're still working to finalize our plans for the holiday, but if they even REMOTELY qualify as dressy, we've got a plan.

"I was going to conquer the world, but got distracted by somethingsparkly..."

Quote by unknown :)

I saw this photo of Scarlett Johanssen the other day and while I can't find the source of it for the life of me, I am officially obsessed with the look. I'm thinking a beaded skirt needs to make its way into my closet this holiday season.

Choices, choices...

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NYC in Pictures

One week later, I'm finally ready to wear heels again, the extreme bloating from Cuban food/rose/halal cart/bagels/more rose/the BEST DINNER EVER at Bell Book & Candle/vodka sodas/late night pizza/mimosamimosamimosas has gone down, and I'm safely above water on the work front.

Totally. Worth. It.

I am so very sad it's over.

I am finally posting my pictures from last weekend! Three things I'd like to call out:

1. I should have taken many, many more photos, and preferably with a real camera.

2. It was three thousand degrees and nine million percent humidity - so I have a whopping two pictures that I allowed myself in and only one with Shai, which is particularly sad.

3. If you're looking for a real peak into NYFW, I'm going to point you over to DrunkOnShoes just as soooon as she gets her pictures up. She'll do it much more justice.  She really experienced NYFW as you'd imagine it - the shows, the celebs, etc.

So enjoy, in no particular order. Click to enlarge!

[gallery orderby="rand"]

Randolph Street Market

I think I comfortably speak for both of us when I say that the Randolph Street Market far surpassed our best expectations.  Though it was quite a trek (trains, planes and automobiles…no joke) and possibly one of the hotter days of the year, we spent hours perusing the incredibly diverse stalls and pressing our eager little noses against cases of vintage Chanel and crocodile Temporis watches.  We made a few fun purchases, avoided the luring temptation of crystal chandeliers and walked home happy.  We’re already looking forward to next month.

Book Review - Mrs. Kennedy and Me

I just finished Mrs. Kennedy and Me, a memoir by Jackie Kennedy Onassis' lead secret service agent during the time JFK was in office. I can't recommend this book enough. Even putting aside the obvious allure of the Kennedys, a peek into the way the Secret Service works is pretty fascinating in itself. Clint Hill earned the trust of a woman notoriously private by going out of his way to keep her safe while allowing her the one thing she wanted more than anything - freedom - to the best of his ability.

It was really touching to read about his dedication to her and the friendship that grew between the two during their time together and I loved reading as the dynamic between the two of them grew and changed.

However, the very obvious draw here is the intimate look into Jackie's life and the book does not disappoint. I always knew she had some serious style, but I had no idea just how much she impacted JFK's presidency and in short, how awesome she was. She led a life that most of us can't even imagine, but the book shows this incredibly human side of her - mischievious, adventurous, and funny.

Read it! You'll love it.

Ali, if I show up to your pool this weekend wearing a scarf on my head, you've been warned.

I'd really like to read One Special Summer, a book she authored with her sister about their summer together in Europe. Apparently they don't have this for Kindle which frankly is baffling, but maybe I'll go old-school and get the... hardcover?

All images via Pinterest