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NEW YORK CITY GUIDE: JEFFREY'S GROCERY



What: Saturday brunch at Jeffrey's Grocery with Will

Where: 172 Waverly Place, West Village

Why: Avocado toast, charming exterior, cold brew iced coffee, nautical vibe, and the perfect weekend playlist. More NYC recommendations here!

Keep up with Design Darling


WEEKEND READING


1. 30% off at J.Crew! I have been living in this blouse and will be stocking up on these shorts.

2. Doable DIY projects I'm dying to tackle.

3. Famous places photographed from above. The one of Central Park is awesome.

4. In case you missed it: a new career spotlight.

5. Is it weird to wishlist a plant? I totally want this beauty for my apartment.

6. Kate Spade for Gap Kids. Think I can squeeze into a size XL?! 

7. My new favorite way to get the news.

8. Oh how I wish I could paint like this! I loved this tour of Teil Duncan's art studio.


9. The perfect striped tee.

10. Why I don't wear makeup: a great read on being comfortable in your own skin.


WEEKEND WARDROBE


Thanks to all your awesome recommendations, I have a fun-packed weekend in Austin ahead of me! I couldn't be more excited. If you want to see what we're up to, be sure to follow along on Instagram! In terms of travel clothes, I kept it super unfussy so we can do lots of walking before my feet start to hurt. Love the look above? Great news: the sunglasses, ring, wallet, shorts, and weekender are all under $75. Happy weekend indeed! xx



GET THE LOOK: SOFA STYLING


I think I finally have the furniture layout of my new apartment figured out so now it's time to decide where to hang everything. I can't decide whether to keep my mirror over the sofa like it is right now or whether to mix it up and hang a gallery wall there (lots of gallery wall inspiration here). When I found this tour of interior designer Ali Fuge's apartment, I was instantly smitten with her sofa styling and thought I'd put together a little guide to getting the look...

scarf  //  sofa  //  blue pillows  //  pink pillow  //  rug  //  peony  //  tray  //  Aerin book  //  Slim Aarons book

I used to sell framed vintage silk scarves in my boutique but it cost an arm and a leg to ship them. So instead I'd find yourself a silk scarf you like on Etsy or at a flea market, order a custom frame (I buy mine here), and admire your one-of-a-kind find. Thoughts on this look? What do you have above your sofa?



ONE, TWO, PICK A FEW...


one  //  two  //  three  //  four  //  five  //  six  //  seven  //  eight  //  nine  //  ten  //  eleven

Just an assortment of pretty little things that have caught my eye lately... Most affordable? This perfect pearl ring. Most colorful? This turquoise toaster. Most dreamy? These bow heels. Most necessary? This metallic jute rug. So much cuteness, I don't know where to start. What's your top pick?


CAREER SPOTLIGHT: ALEX THOMPSON, PERSIFOR

I'm so, so, so excited about this career feature for several reasons. Persifor is one of those brands that's just a perfect fit for Design Darling. The colors, the patterns, the silhouettes... Everything is beachy and happy and has my name written all over it. The founder, Alex, worked for the likes of J.Crew and Lilly Pulitzer before venturing out on her own. She's one of the hardest working women I know and yet she's also the most down-to-earth, making her a total breath of fresh air. We sat down in her Upper East Side apartment to talk all things business and baby (she's seven months pregnant and cute as can be!). Without further ado, meet Alex!


Name: Alex Thompson
Age: 34
Title: Founder, Persifor
Location: Upper East Side, New York

What was your first job ever? Have you always wanted to design clothing?
I worked on the sales floor of J.Crew in Greenwich in high school. My mom is an interior designer and I've always had an interest in fabrics and prints. She would go to pick out fabrics and I would always envision them on clothing. It was something inherent in my DNA but I wasn't sure in high school or college how that would translate.


Where did you work before launching your own line?
My first job out of college was with a small preppy dress designer named Vanessa Fox. It was a small company so I did everything from design to sales. Then I became a merchandiser of accessories at J.Crew and then an accessories designer at Lilly Pulitzer. I got a real sense of the business, how to build a line, the importance of branding, margins, pricing, and creating a lifestyle around the brand.


Now that you've launched Persifor, tell me about the design process for a given collection.
I work a full year and a half in advance. The process usually starts with print development and color selection as well as choosing silhouettes for garments and accessories. I submit the artwork and design and get a first sample back. I send back my comments and wait for a second sample, which is usually close to how the finished product will look. Then there's a photo shoot for the lookbook and line sheets and it's time for trade shows. 

And it's a one-woman show?
It's a one-woman show! Hopefully two by the beginning of summer.
(Editor's note: apply here!


That's so impressive. How do you stay organized?
iCal, handwritten to do lists, and a leatherbound notebook that I bring with me everywhere.

Inspiration can strike at any time! What's inspiring you right now?
Travel is my number one and it's also the basis of the brand. All the dresses and tops are designed to be packed up and worn anywhere. I just got back from Harbor Island, which was a source of inspiration for Resort 2015.


How would you describe the woman who's wearing Persifor?
Classic, clean, vibrant, elevated. 

Vibrant is a good choice. So much color! What does a typical day look like for you?
I get up, walk the dog, come back with coffee, and answer emails from China early in the morning. Then I start working with customers and stores or source in the garment district. Every day is different! Right now I'm trying to get everything done before the baby arrives. 


You are going to be the cutest mom of all time. What's the most fun part of your job?
The most fun part is being able to travel, meet customers, and see an item through from start to finish. It's cool when one of my designs becomes an everyday part of someone's life.

And the least fun?
The day-to-day minutia: accounting, data entry, paperwork...


I hear you! What's one "pinch me" moment you've had so far?
When Anthropologie placed an order for our product!

That must have been surreal. When will you know you've made it?
I don't think you ever know! There's always so much room for growth — change is a constant. But I'm a big believer in celebrating the little wins along the way. It helps you move past the not-so-great days!


That's great advice. Any other wisdom you've picked up along the way?
Treat people as you would like to be treated. Stay focused on your vision. It's so easy to get distracted at trade shows and think, "Do I need to be doing pink and green hippo prints?" or whatever other people are doing. But you have to be true to your aesthetic — that's why I got into this to begin with! 

*All photos by Rebecca Dale 

Keep up with Persifor:
Facebook  //  Instagram  //  Pinterest  //  Twitter



SHOPBOP FRIENDS & FAMILY SALE PICKS!

You know the drill. Three days. 25% off. Buy all the things. Or wait too long and kick yourself when you place an order a week later at full price. Not that I'm speaking from experience. ;) Code is INTHEFAMILY14. Have at it and tell me what's coming to live with you!

Dresses and skirts:


Tops:


Accessories and shoes:




OUTFIT {AUSTIN BOUND}


Thank you all for your helpful tips for visiting Austin! I am so excited to explore the capital of live music and visit your favorite boutiques and cafés. Above are a few of the things I'll be packing for the trip: easy t-shirts (this one's on sale for $18!), the perfect white pants (last seen here), and casual accessories like a floppy sun hat and leather tote. The bag is really great quality for the price and will be the perfect carry-on, not to mention my new everyday bag since it fits my laptop! Three cheers for cute basics on a budget.

This post was sponsored by Old Navy. Check out Old Navy's latest fashion lineup in store or online at oldnavy.com.


GIVEAWAY: OH JOY FOR TARGET


Colorblocked cups, gold confetti, scalloped napkins... This is a giveaway for the hostess with the mostest. Blogger Joy Cho designed this party-ready capsule collection for Target and it's perfect for a casual summer get-together. My mom has a "gift closet" in our house where she keeps holiday decorations, party napkins, and wrapping paper... This collection would be just the ticket! Three lucky winners will win an assortment of goodies from the collection. Simply follow the steps in the widget below and I'll contact the winners on Friday. Good luck! xx




AUSTIN RECOMMENDATIONS?


Because you were all so helpful in planning my trip to Atlanta in January, I thought I'd defer to you again for your dining and shopping recommendations in Austin! My boyfriend and I are headed there this weekend as it's one of his favorite cities and I've never been! I'm so excited to see what the city has to offer. So far I've been told not to miss Elizabeth Street Café (pictured above) and Josephine House. What are your Austin favorites? Thank you in advance! xx

*all photos via A Piece of Toast

WEEKEND WARDROBE


pearls  //  lip gloss  //  notepad  //  cosmetic case  //  dress  //  weekender  //  heels

I'm packing my bags for a day trip to Rhode Island, where Carly and I will be talking about the building blocks of blogging at the Lady Project Summit. (And I'm excited to use my cute new little cosmetic case — please check out the new arrivals if you haven't already!) This week really did a number on me so I'm excited to get out of the city for a day and clear my head — road trips are good for that, aren't they? I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well. xx

WOULD YOU JUMP OUT OF A PLANE?

{Hang gliding with Grayson in the Swiss Alps}

{Bridge jumping with my dad outside of Barcelona}

{Skydiving with Grayson in upstate Connecticut}

A little known fact about me: I am a tiny bit obsessed with adventure sports. You know that feeling you get during the drop of a really scary roller coaster? I know some people (hi, Mom!) hate that feeling... but I can't get enough! I knocked a couple adventures off my bucket list during my semester abroad in college and went skydiving with my brother (and thrill-seeking partner-in-crime!) for my last birthday. 

So far I've done bridge jumping, hang gliding, skydiving, trapeze, and zip lining — and I would honestly do all five of them again. That adrenaline rush is unlike any other feeling in the world! Would you bridge jump or sky dive? What's the craziest adventure sport you've done so far? What's next on your list? Would love to know how many of you are adrenaline junkies as well! :)

P.S. If you're more like my mom, we've gone parasailing a couple times as part of our family goal to see all fifty states and it's a much more low-key but equally fun activity. Highly recommend!


NEW YORK CITY GUIDE: FREEMANS


What: Sunday brunch at Freemans with Will

Where: Freeman Alley between Chrystie Street and The Bowery, Lower East Side

Why: This bustling brunch spot is perfect for people watching on a rainy day. The long wait was worth it: we got the best table for two in the house (just ask the hostess!) and ordered way too much food. The artichoke dip and mac and cheese were super healthy out of this world — I already can't wait to go back. More NYC recommendations here!

Keep up with Design Darling



10 UNDER $100


I have to say: these 10 under $100 posts are becoming a fun personal challenge for me. Every week I scour my favorite sites to find affordable items that prove you don't have to have an unlimited budget to decorate and dress the way you want. I think I found some real goodies this week: a couple dreamy dresses, the new tote I just added to my closet, and a side table I can't get out of my head. Go ahead and treat yourself!




HOW TO DRESS FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

I get a lot of emails asking what to wear for a job interview or how to spruce up a professional wardrobe. The truth is that, if I'm not shooting an outfit post, I can usually wear an oxford shirt and jeans and get through my daily to dos without a wardrobe change. I've never bought a suit and every office I've ever worked in was the opposite of business formal. (My stint in PR as well as my internships at Jonathan Adler and Ralph Lauren all emphasized personal style over corporate dress code.) 

But I know not all my readers are self-employed or working in fashion and I hate to leave anyone hanging. So I was pretty excited when I stumbled upon the new-to-me blog The Classy Cubicle. Mary works in corporate America and does an amazing job dressing for it. She looks appropriately conservative and perfectly polished in every post, exactly the way I'd like to look if I didn't work from home. Here are a few of my favorite outfits to elevate and inspire your next office look:


If you're taking notes, the following items are must-haves:

1. A bevy of sharp button-down shirts. 
splurge  //  spend  //  save

2. Dress pants tailored to fit perfectly.
splurge  //  spend  //  save

3. A classic trench coat.
splurge  //  spend  //  save

4. A few colorful sweaters for layering.
splurge  //  spend  //  save

5. Sensible heels with flattering pointed toes. 
splurge  //  spend  //  save

I hope that helps you get dressed for your next interview or meeting! I really do try to answer all my readers' style questions so shoot me an email if there's something you'd like to see next. And don't forget to pop over to The Classy Cubicle for more work wardrobe inspiration — I know you'll enjoy her archives as much as I did! 


GO GET 'EM


I'm loving this quote lately (and any excuse to practice my newly acquired Photoshop skills). It's Sunday — get fired up! xx

WEEKEND READING


1. 33 totally surreal places to visit before you die.

2. An adorable Instagram account.

3. Chic summer sandals.

4. I'd like this affordable monogrammed sweater in every color.

5. In case you missed it: a new career spotlight and where to buy affordable art.

6. My favorite bikini is back in stock.

7. My iPhone has a knack for dying when I need it most. I need to take notes on these 13 reasons your phone keeps running out of battery.

8. Really enjoying Jess Lively's podcasts with creative women.

9. St. Germaine margaritas, anyone? Yum.

10. The cutest gingham skirt for $66.


WEEKEND WARDROBE

hat  //  earrings  //  dress  //  luminizer  //  clutch  //  sandals

Hello, April! So good to see you. I'd like to put on a pretty dress and a chic hat (safe sunning, always!) and skip through the sunshine. I'm headed to Rhode Island for the weekend (follow along on Instagram!) but I'm insanely grateful for the sunshine in New York this week. I can already tell spring in the West Village is going to be a magical thing. Brilliant sunsets and iced coffee dates and outdoor cafés, oh my! Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend! xx