Meeting Eugenia Kim

I was ecstatic to meet Eugenia Kim last weekend at p45 and was delighted to see Emma of Tres Awesome (who took the photo above) and Audrey of A Lovely Escape already there.  It was a mini blogger meet up!
The three of us had a couple minutes to talk to Eugenia about her start in fashion. And it's definitely an interesting story. She was going to school at Parsons where she was currently taking a millinery class and working at Allure Magazine. After a bad hair cut, she designed a hat to cover her shaved head and it didn't take long for New York City boutiques to inquire about her hat and her business started and grew exponentially from there! I asked her who she was most excited to see wear her hat or buy her hats and while she doesn't seem to care too much about celebrity, she was thrilled when Jennifer Lopez sported her hat and when Madonna ordered 25! 

We played dress up with her hats and I really loved the red hat in the photo above. I also loved the leopard print berets, which I'm adding to my wish list.

 
Audrey!

50% Off Jewelmint Jewelry!

Need some new, affordable pieces of jewelry? Check out Jewelmint to find cute pieces tailored to your style under $30. For your first purchase at Jewelmint, enjoy 50% off using the code "chicago884" courtesy of the MBA Chicago team. Below are a few of my current favorites!

Halloween Party Details

Last weekend, my boyfriend's roommate, Jessica, threw a super amazing Halloween party consisting of pumpkin carving, eerie cocktails, delicious food and some really fun people. No detail of the apartment was left without a Halloween touch and I thought it may be inspiring for anyone throwing parties this weekend! She incorporated a lot of flowers, hand-cut bat silhouettes and cobwebs to Halloween-ify their downtown Milwaukee apartment.

Black vodka and orange juice gave a regular screwdriver an eerie appearance perfect for celebrating Halloween.

Don getting a start on his perv pumpkin.

Painted black red roses, candy corn decor and black candles decorated with Halloween candy

A delicious juice drink, the only non-alcoholic beverage for the nurse on call that night!

Don and me!

Eleanor and a mini jack-o-lantern in progress

Things I Like!

I'm coveting everything from polka dots to metallics to bold colors right now! Here are some of my favorite items from my "window shopping"!

1. Polka Dot Top, $58

2. Lace Up Hiking Wedge Booties, $105

3. Red A Line Skirt, $58

4. Floppy Felt Hat, $45.74

5. Leopard Print Boots, $190

6. Evening Encounter Cardigan, $69.99

7. Oryany Bag, $238

Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful & Giveaway

 

While I don't feel worthy to enter the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful campaign, I know what makes me feel pretty powerful and who in my life I look up to as a pretty powerful woman. Let's face it, I wake up feeling like a troll every morning, but give me mascara to darken my blonde lashes and some lip color, like the Powerful Lip Color I added from the Pretty Powerful Palette in the photo above, and of course, a six inch heel, I'm ready to go. I grew up watching my grandmother apply her make up and I remember being so excited to someday be able to wear a bold lip color that is my grandma's signature look.
For my grandma, I think make up represents something more than adding color to a face, but a transformation from dependence and a lack of control to independence and determination. My grandma was sent to the Philippines as a child, far from her parents in Hawaii and grew up there, laboring on rice farms where luxuries like shoes or make up didn't exist. Later in life, even when she married my grandpa she still had no control over her own life. It wasn't until my grandma was widowed and raising three children as a single mother in a country she didn't speak the language that she finally gained independence, as rough as it was. Despite the circumstances, my grandma learned English, began a stable career and provided for my dad and uncles. She didn't have much of anything for a long time and when I see my grandma apply her lipstick and put on her favorite perfume, I see these small actions as giant leaps toward gaining her independence, control over her own life and that to me, is pretty powerful.

To win the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Palette, please tweet me at @andreakerbuski who inspires you or what makes you feel pretty powerful using the hashtag #prettypowerful. For an additional entry, visit the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful web site and vote for your favorite submission and tweet it. The giveaway will end Thursday, October 24 at 9:00 PM CST and is open to U.S. readers only.

Lust List: Back to Basics Boots and Shoes!

This fall, I've been wanting understated, chic shoes that are both stylish and practical in neutral tones of black and brown. As I hunt down a few more "everyday shoes", here are a few of my favorites!

1. Steve Madden taupe suede boots, $159.95

2. Boots by Chinese Laundry, $89

3. Platform boots by DV Dolce Vita, $80.44

4. Boots by Wanted Shoes, $49.49

5. Oxfords by Wanted Shoes, $49.99

6. Ankle boots by Seychelles, $79.50

A Ladylike Amy

I was pleasantly surprised by Amy's very lovely and ladylike attire. Since I usually see gwe swooping around for streetstyle photos for her blog, Chicago Streetstyle, I typically see her rocking a casual, but edgy look always with a sweet pair of sneakers. She told me she was inspired by her mother's style circa 1989 when she taught at NYU when she styled this outfit. Her mother obviously had fantastic style to draw inspiration from and Amy pulled off the look flawlessly.

[sweater by Anna Dello Russo x INC, thrifted skirt, vintage pumps by Chloe, ring by Cynthia Rowley, necklace from H&M, sunglasses by RayBan and vintage gold earrings]

Fall Lust List

Collage created using TechSmith Snagit

1. Dress by Mink Pink from ModCloth, $109.99

2. Collar Necklace from Lori's Shoes, $36

3. Latte Poncho from Chloe Loves Charlie (15% percent off code: BLONDE), $52

4. Bow Bridge Kennedy bag by Kate Spade, $445

5. Sunglasses from Bonlook, sale $60

6. Boot by Halmanera, $345

7. Loafer by DV by Dolce Vita, $64

So Many NYC Photos!

Here are some random photos throughout the week during Fashion Week! For Fashion's Night Out, I sported a simple, comfortable look complete with Bonlook glasses, leopard print wedges and a leather jacket in the photo above. We took this outside of the Jane Hotel, a historic hotel we stayed at in the meatpacking district. During the early 1900s, sailors stayed in the cabin like rooms and Tieka and I experienced this history in extremely tight quarters. Imagine two girls, suitcases filled with clothes in a 50 square foot room and one twin bed. It was a tight fit, but we made it work! 

I was glad to finally meet Keiko at Elie Tahari during Fashion's Night Out. Shit was crazy that night and it really the only stop Tieka and I made. 

Jen of Jen Loves Kev snappin' away!

Julie of Orchid Grey is just so stunning!

Amy of Punky Style is so awesome and I loved her dress!

I looked so haggard by the end of Lucky FABB, but I just needed a photo with Alicia of Cheetah Is The New Black

Tieka, Mikhaila of From Aprons to Polkadots, Jen, me, Ashley of Lions Lace Lattes

So wish I had straight hair like Kimberly's so I could do fun colors with my hair!

Helena of Brooklyn Blonde is so incredibly gorgeous and poised! I could stand to learn a few lessons from her!

Kim of Eat Sleep Wear and Marissa of Style Cusp

I had such an amazing time and am glad TechSmith could help me go! I have some products to giveaway soon from them, which are some awesome tools to use for blogs! Weee!

Runways & Sidewalks

Last Saturday, I headed to the Honor show and wore black pants, a sheer, mauve top with a vintage cropped jacket and a pair of my favorite boots. I was happy to show up and know I was actually there at the right time and the right day. Several times I found myself at the Lincoln Center not realizing it was the wrong day altogether. Hmph. I was greeted by Taylor of Sterling Style and Amy of Chicago Streetstyle, thankful since I was wandering by myself. Taylor and Amy both have great styles and are fab--pretty disappointed I didn't get some photos with them as well! 

[vintage blazer, boots and necklace c/o lori's shoes, blouse borrowed from tieka and bag by marc jacobs]

Just before the start of the show

I loved the back on many of the dresses and many of the soft, neutral color palette with just pops of vibrant color like the pink pantsuit below. 

I changed gears later in the day and headed to a Very Stylish Picnic in Central Park where a slew, of angelic looking girls with braids, whimsical dresses and a lot of smiles gathered. I felt a bit out of place in my hooker boots, but I met some wonderful girls and ate some delicious rice krispie treats! I ended my last night in NYFW grabbing greasy food with a group of laidback girls. It couldn't have been a more wonderful end to my time in New York City!

Kelsey, Veronika and Tieka

Nikka of Showgirl Godzilla, Veronika and Bryan crossing the street