January 2017 – Lullabies and Louboutins

Winter Fashion Round-Up

Published on January 29, 2017February 8, 2017 by lullabiesandlouboutins15 Comments

The onset of winter weather elicits a multitude of feelings amongst New Yorkers, some of which include fear, dread, and the desire to hibernate indoors for several months. But for die-hard fashionistas, the extreme cold and heavy snow merely present an exhilarating opportunity for layering and extra accessorizing. It is possible to survive arctic temperatures without looking like an urban Eskimo, even while gallivanting around the neighborhood with a toddler and infant. This winter I traded my maternity long johns and unflattering layers for cozy cashmere, luscious furs, vibrant jewel tones, and luxe footwear. Pictured above (and described below) are my most adored pieces from my own winter wardrobe.

Over-the-Knee (OTK) Boots

OTK boots are the hottest shoe trend of the season and can instantly elevate your look from drab to chic and sophisticated. I fell in love with these “Breley” boots by Marc Fisher the moment I laid eyes on them and knew I had to have them. Made from rich caramel-colored suede, these boots ooze luxury. The neutral color beautifully compliments any color palate and their silhouette is universally flattering. OTK boots accentuate legs by making them appear longer and leaner and can be paired with skinny jeans, a mini dress, or even an oversized shirt. These boots are made for walkin’!

Statement Sweater

This chilly-day companion from Bloomingdale’s exclusive Aqua collection is crafted from thick luxurious cashmere and provides mega warmth without the need for several layers. The vibrantly colored skull design adds edge to an otherwise feminine piece. Lauren Moshi is another designer whose unique cashmere sweaters are embellished with rock & roll themed designs (think Guns N’ Roses meets Breakfast at Tiffany’s). I am currently loving the relaxed-fit “Hollis Heart Breaker” cashmere pullover from her current collection.

Classic Cardigan

This classic never-goes-out-of-style cardigan made by C by Bloomingdale’s strikes the perfect balance between comfort and chic. Its elegant design, delicate hardware and white contrast trim pay homage to Coco Chanel’s classic designs. I usually wear this sweater with skinny jeans, but it can also be paired with leather pants and heels for an easy day-to-night transformation. This is a fashion statement that will last you for years to come.

Down Puffer

This lacquered nylon puffer comes from the Italian-based brand known best for their luxury outerwear – Moncler. Although this form-fitting jacket comes with a hefty price tag, it’s an investment piece worth its weight in gold. In a city where temperatures frequently dip below 20 degrees, freezing fashionistas need to sashay down the sidewalks in style.

Multicolored Fur

This Jocelyn genuine fox fur patchwork vest is EVERYTHING! From school drop-off to grabbing drinks with the girls, this piece is the ultimate winter wardrobe investment. An undeniably chic way to bundle up, this vest makes heads turn every time I wear it. The multicolored fox section vest with hood by Blue Duck Shearling is extremely similar and at 60% off it’s an absolute steal. Buy it now!

Luxe Snow Boot

The Australian Luxe Collective “Foxy” wedge boot is sheepskin done right. An elegant alternative to the long-established Ugg boot, these have a hidden 2 1/2 inch wedge heel and are adorned with authentic, opulent Fox fur. Never before has comfort looked so decadent!

Novelty Jacket

The perfect addition to any winter wardrobe, the J. Crew Stewart Plaid Quilted Lady Jacket is the answer to my prayers. What sets this jacket apart from others is the attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship. The cuffs, edges and pockets are framed by fringy braided trim and the tailored silhouette makes for an ultra-polished look even when paired with distressed denim.

Manhattan Mommy Winter Must-Haves

Published on January 20, 2017August 8, 2017 by lullabiesandlouboutins8 Comments

In the city that never sleeps, not even an apocalyptic ice storm could keep New Yorkers indoors. For Manhattan residents, winter brings with it a plethora of exciting seasonal activities, including ice skating at Bryant Park Winter Village, sledding down Pilgrim Hill in Central Park, sipping hot chocolate at Serendipity, and shopping for the perfect resort wear. Manhattan is picturesque in the winter, but braving the great outdoors in frigid temperatures with little ones takes a great deal of planning and preparation. It can be downright exhausting to dress fidgety babies and toddlers in multiple layers, hats and gloves and ultimately tuck them into stroller blankets. But with all of the focus on the children, who’s making sure that Mom has everything she needs to endure the frosty temperatures? Below are my Manhattan mommy winter must-haves that will make venturing out in a winter wonderland as enchanting as it sounds. Don’t leave home without them!

Stroller gloves

Manhattan’s Upper East Side neighborhood is home to more families with young children than any other region of the city. Our sidewalks are lined with stroller-striding moms who systematically weave in and out of sidewalk traffic as if they could do it with eyes closed. Dressed in our heaviest down puffers and thermal accessories, we are often multitasking while running our daily errands. It can be difficult to reach into our wallets, answer our phones, grab a burp cloth or anything from inside the diaper bag, or even touch our babies while wearing cumbersome winter gloves. Continuously removing them and putting them back on is not only an inconvenience, but also a needless time drain. Introducing stroller hand warmers, the no-fuss accessory that keeps your hands warm on the coldest of days while simultaneously making it effortless to attend to our babies needs. Unlike conventional gloves that always seem to go missing, these mitts are securely attached to the stroller handlebar and impossible to lose! Thanks to these innovative gloves, moms no longer need to choose between warmth and convenience. Who said we couldn’t have it all?

Tech Gloves

Smart phones are pocket-sized computers designed to utilize various communication modalities to simplify our daily lives. Their development has revolutionized the way we keep in touch with family and friends and has literally put the entire world at our fingertips. But why is it that we can’t operate our devices while wearing our finest winter accessories to keep our hands warm? How can a thin layer of cashmere suddenly cut us off from the outside world? I didn’t know either until I did a little digging. Apparently, when we swipe our finger across the touch screen it produces an electrical current that allows the user to interact directly with what is being displayed on the screen. When we wear gloves, the fabric interferes with the passage of this electrical current, rendering us unable to operate our smart phones. I don’t know about you, but nothing comes between me and a good online sale, not even my favorite winter accessories! This fall I embarked on a quest to find the perfect tech gloves, the kind with coated fingertips that transmit the electrical current from your body to the device. I was afraid my efforts wouldn’t bear fruit as I sorted through pair after pair of uninspiring options that reminded me of shoddy juvenile mittens. And then, just as I was about to give up, I discovered the Echo tech gloves with fur cuffs. These beauties, still available at Bloomingdales, are made from the most buttery soft leather and are equally warm and sophisticated. Most importantly, they are compatible with iPhones, iPads and other touch-screen devices. You really can have your cake and eat it too!

glovesfur2 — Echo Leather Gloves with Asiatic Raccoon Fur Cuff – $129, Bloomingdales

Aquaphor

Aquaphor healing ointment is the first line of defense against your baby’s minor cuts and scrapes and for this reason it’s a staple item in the diaper bags of most moms. It’s best known for its use in healing baby’s sensitive skin and the treatment and prevention of diaper rash, but unlike most other baby products on the market, Aquaphor’s uses extend far beyond the nursery. It’s a multipurpose ointment that can be used to promote healthy skin for moms and the entire family. Flakey chapped lips are a common cold-weather complaint for everyone in a cold climate, especially Manhattan moms who spend a great deal of time outdoors transporting children and running errands. Sure, you can apply layer after layer of balm to your lips, but this isn’t an effective long-term solution to a chronic condition. Aquaphor, on the other hand, not only moisturizes severely chapped lips, but also adds shine and keeps lips soft by acting as a barrier against cold winter weather. This is one item I cannot live without. Grab some of your baby’s Aquaphor and pucker up, Moms!

Insulated Coffee Mug

melissa — Coat: Moncler Fox Scarf: Optimal Accessories (old), similar here Sunglasses: Prada Gloves: Echo Jeans: Seven For All Mankind

Rain or shine, Manhattan moms are always on-the-go. We schlep our little ones to classes and play dates even in the most frigid temperatures. We arm ourselves with coffee to warm our bodies from the inside out, but how many of us have taken a big gulp of a venti Starbucks latte only to discover it’s quickly gotten cold? We’ve all been there. A durable, well-insulated, and spill-proof coffee mug is an absolute must-have for java-drinking Manhattan moms. The LifeSky mug keeps coffee piping hot for 8 hours and features a one-hand opening mechanism, perfect for stroller-striding moms who don’t have use of both hands. Fill your mug with delicious brew and drink it at your leisure because this mug will keep your coffee piping hot for an impressive 8 hours. You can buy your own here.

Headgear

All fashionista moms would agree that the one thing sabotaging their perfect blowouts this winter is none other than the traditional winter hat. There is nothing worse than arriving for an event and removing your hat, only to discover that your perfectly tousled tresses have fallen victim to “hat head.” But what is a Manhattan girl to do in a city plagued by abysmal winter weather? Earmuffs and thermal headbands are cold weather accessories that won’t wreak havoc on your hairstyle like hats do. From cozy cashmere to luxurious furs, there are plenty of options in all styles and price ranges. I received a pair of Surell ear muffs for Hanukkah and never leave home without them. Get yours here.

Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions

Published on January 9, 2017August 8, 2017 by lullabiesandlouboutins1 Comment

Happy New Year from my family to yours!

For many Manhattan women, the start of a new year marks the initiation of healthy diets, exercise regimens and other self-improvement resolutions, many of which are decided upon while nursing New Year’s Eve hangovers and vowing never to drink again. New Year’s resolutions are both optimistic and fundamentally flawed, as most of us set unrealistic goals, thereby setting ourselves up for failure. This year I have a different strategy – rather than making resolutions that I’m unlikely to attain, I’ve formulated smaller, more manageable lifestyle “tweaks” that if adhered to will contribute to a healthier and more productive 2017.

1. Clean-out my closet

Every city girl remembers the iconic “Take or Toss” scene from Sex and the City when Carrie has the girls over to help clean out her closet. Much like Carrie’s, my closet is in dire need of decluttering. Having too many clothes actually makes getting dressed much more difficult and sabotages my morning routine on almost a daily basis. And even more crippling, it leaves me with no space for new clothes! Although every item in my closet has at one point made my heart flutter, Manhattan closet real estate is far too precious to house pieces that aren’t part of my current rotation. While it might be tough parting with some of my lesser-worn pieces, regaining control of my closet is a small undertaking that can really make a huge impact on my day-to-day life.

2. Get more sleep

Sleep – the elusive slumber sanctuary of moms everywhere. “Just nap when the baby naps,” people eagerly suggest. What an innovative idea! How have I never thought of that? I suppose these very same people will pay my bills, tidy up my apartment, check my emails and do all of the hundreds of other things I do when my toddler and infant are sleeping. I should also mention that only occasionally do their naps actually overlap. In any case, sleep deprivation is real, especially for nursing moms who are waking for night feedings. Going to bed early is an effective means of counteracting my high sleep debt and I wake up feeling well-rested and prepared to tackle the needs of my toddler and infant… not to mention that restorative sleep helps prevent fine lines and promotes a glowing complexion. Here’s to sleeping my way to a brighter, fresher, and more vibrant 2017!

3. More “Me-Time”

As busy moms of the Big Apple, we try to take advantage of having the world’s greatest parks, museums, theaters and play spaces all at our fingertips. Our days are often spent toting our tots to music classes, play dates, story times and workshops, leaving little time for sanity-saving solitary moments. Although time apart from our babies can be guilt-inducing for many busy moms (myself included), it’s an essential part of contemporary parenting. Avoid confusing self-indulgence with self-preservation and give yourself permission to unwind for a few moments every day. Whether it’s perusing the racks at Bloomingdale’s, getting a massage or meeting a friend for lunch, taking some much needed “me time” every day will help me gain a fresh outlook and a renewed sense of perspective in 2017.

4. Drink more waterWe all know the health benefits of drinking water, but how many of us are actually drinking the recommended 10 glasses per day? Not only does staying hydrated flush out toxins and leave your skin looking radiant, but it also has the beauty benefits of helping to strengthen hair and nails. Although it seems like the busy lifestyle of a Manhattan mom isn’t conducive to meeting the recommendations for daily water intake, it’s actually easier than it sounds – just take it on-the-go. The best way to make sure that I’m drinking around 10 glasses of water a day is to keep a bottle of water with me throughout the day. Recently I became the proud owner of a cheetah-print S’well bottle and it accompanies me wherever I go. Not only does it keep my water ice-cold, but its sleek appearance makes a fierce fashion statement. Let’s raise our glasses of H20 and drink our way to looking more radiant in the coming year!

5. Prioritize family dinner

Despite knowing the long-term benefits of eating together as a family, pleading with a 2-year-old to sit at the table rather than paint the walls with ketchup is a monotonous routine that would send even Mary Poppins into a tailspin. At the end of a long day, it can be so tempting to give the kids an early dinner, put them to bed and indulge in Chinese take-out with my husband while playing catch-up with our DVR. Despite chaotic schedules, we will prioritize family meal time 2017 and eat together as a family as often as possible. Sitting down at the table and talking about our days is the perfect way to connect in today’s busy world. Besides, food tastes better when you eat it with your family!