Going For Gold // metallic culottes + black peplum

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing gold flowy pants and a black peplum top
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but gold definitely runs a close second. And while I love wearing gold on my wrists, fingers, neck, and in my ears, there's just something so glamorous and fun about decking out your LEGS in the metallic hue! If anyone's chasing that gold, it's THIS girl - in THESE pants. Amirite?
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing Dior tattoo lipgloss
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing gold pants and a black peplum top with heels
I recently made a conscious decision to "get more into" pants. While I normally turn to skirts or dresses in the summer, and plain ol' blue jeans in the colder months, I told myself that I would branch out more with my bottoms and experiment with culottes, trousers, joggers, and beyond. Let's just say THIS lovely pair of flowy pants makes that commitment super easy. I can already think of 10 ways I want to style these bad boys! 
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing metallic gold culottes with heels
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's summer street style
With pants this flashy, it can seem challenging to try and find a suitable top. You need a piece that's able to hold its own next to such shine, but at the same time, not upstage. This sleeveless peplum top is elegant and chic, and proportion-wise, a fitted option like this looks great paired with flowy, flared-out bottoms. 
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing black peplum top for summer
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing black peplum top for summer
Lucite heels are here to stay! I'm kind of obsessed with how trippy these strappy shoes look from the side. At a quick glance, it almost looks like I'm floating. 
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing black and lucite heels from Zara
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing an office appropriate outfit to work
Yes, this purse is JUST as special as it looks. I love having pieces that are rich in memories and sentimental value, and this item has an abundance of both. I got it with my mom in a gorgeous Furla store while in Paris, and it was a bag she had been wanting to show me. It's part of Furla's build-your-own-bag collection, and so you pick what color bottom you want and then you pick the top part of your bag. I chose this specific combination with help from my mom, and to our delight, the saleswoman informed us that the top I had chosen - the pink part with parrots on it - is a limited edition only-available-in-Paris-stores top. It was even shown during Paris Fashion Week this year. I couldn't think of a better Paris souvenir than that!  
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper holding a Furla mini bag crossbody
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper on the streets of new york city
This exotic necklace adds major attitude to my outfit. Without it, I would feel a bit too plain. I love how it radiates the same pizazz that my pants have, but it's not overpowering. 
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing a gold and black statement necklace
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper showing off her summer street style
Sometimes it's hard NOT to wear these sunglasses with every single outfit. I feel like they take all my looks to the next level, and I love how fresh yet retro they are. And is it just me, or do they actually make me look as sophisticated as I feel?
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing The Row round sunglasses
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing gold culottes for office style
I feel ready for just about anything in this outfit. It's super comfy - let's be real, I'm basically wearing sweatpants - and it's breathable enough for a hot summer day. Without missing a beat, this look can easily take me from desk to dinner, which is what NYC living is all about. And while I haven't test-driven this ensemble during a weekday yet, I did wear it to a party over the weekend, and it passed all my comfort and style tests with flying colors. 
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper carrying a parrot Furla bag
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's outfits
So I'm kind of obsessed with Dior's new lipstick line: Dior Addict Lip Tattoo. This is not an ad, I swear, but I own two different shades of this product now, and I can't wait to get a third. This liquid lip stain is super long-wearing, feels extremely weightless, and boasts a luminous, semi-matte finish that looks natural and light. It's easy to apply and each shade only boosts and builds upon the natural color of your lip. Amazing!  
Antonio Owens' street photography nyc
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing gold culottes and a black peplum top
Photos by Antonio Owens 
[pants: & Other Stories // top: Urban Outfitters (old, but I  also like this version) // heels: Zara // purse: Furla (champagne colored bag here) // necklace: Ann Taylor (I also like this style) // sunglasses: The Row (another version here) // lip color: Dior Addict Lip Tattoo in "Natural Pink" // Eyeshadow: Urban Decay's Naked palette]

Where did June go? All of a sudden I'm sweating profusely and craving ice cream even MORE than usual. Guess that means summer has officially arrived! 
nyc fashion blogger Kathleen Harper wearing gold culottes and a black peplum top
// SHOP //


Paris Photo Diary // Shopping + Museums + Montmartre

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper outside the Louvre in Paris France
These are the last of my Paris photos. Well, not really - I have hundreds that I DIDN'T share, but no worries, you'll be seeing them pop up at random times on Instagram ;) The following pics were taken during my last three days in France. My parents and I did LOTS of sightseeing, obviously lots of walking, and saw lots of gorgeous art. 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper at the Eiffel Tower at night in Paris
Day 4: Cafes / MusĂ©e d'Orsay / Galeries Lafayette
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper outside a cafe in Paris France
After brunch (actually not BRUNCH brunch; apparently "brunch" is mainly just an NYC thing,) and of course some macaroons from Laduree, my mom, dad, and I headed to MusĂ©e d'Orsay - aka an art museum located on the left bank of the Seine. In the photo below, the museum is in the background. Fun fact: It's housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, which was a train station built between 1898 & 1900.
While we experienced summertime weather every other day we were in Paris, on this particular day, it was rainy and a bit chilly. So this was the day we decided to visit one of Paris' most famous (and most beautiful) malls - Galeries Lafayette. We went to the flagship store, which was actually not far from our hotel, and we made sure to hit every single level. At the top, the view of the streets below was just amazing! 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's street style in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's street style in Paris France
This photo was taken in Le Sofa, another cafe we had the pleasure of dining in. In the U.S., we think of "cafes" as little sandwich shops or coffee places. In France though, cafes are any restaurant - even some of the fanciest establishments have "cafe" tacked on to the end of their name. 
Day 5: MusĂ©e de l'Orangerie / Le Grand MusĂ©e du Parfum / Jardin des Tuileries
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper inside the musee de l'orangerie in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper inside the musee de l'orangerie in Paris France
L'Orangerie is, you guessed it, another incredible art museum. This particular one is known for its breathtaking Monet rooms. The museum showcases Claude Monet's water lily paintings in these white circular rooms that have loads of natural lighting. It makes for a truly unique and special viewing experience. 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper inside the musee de l'orangerie in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper looking at Monet's water lilies in Paris France
Before coming to Paris, I had read about a new museum all about scents called Le Grand MusĂ©e du Parfum, aka the Grand Museum of Perfume. While all other museums we visited had been about the eyes, this one centered on the nose. Not only was the museum itself gorgeous and bright, but it was fun to learn about how perfume is made, take a blind scent test, and obvi try on wayyy too much perfume! 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper inside the grand museum of perfume in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper inside the grand museum of perfume in Paris France

Back at the park next to our hotel, Jardin des Tuileries, my parents and I relaxed a bit, people watched, and reflected on the day's adventures so far. 

Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's street style in Paris France
It's kind of embarrassing how many times I went to Laduree. But come on, when in Paris...
Day 6: final full day / Montmartre / The Louvre
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper on Montmartre in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper on Montmartre in Paris France
Montmartre is a hill in northern Paris that, once you climb to the top, leads into an adorable and quaint town. Also at the top of Montmartre is SacrĂ©-CĹ“ur, which is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris - aka a gorgeous church. 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's street style in Paris FranceFashion blogger Kathleen Harper on Montmartre in Paris France
My parents and I loved walking around the Montmartre town. It was super picturesque with its narrow cobblestone streets, short white buildings, and colorful storefronts. We passed by this crepe shop that smelled AMAZING, and we almost stayed...but we had to get The Louvre. 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper's summer fashion in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper on Montmartre in Paris France
Ahh, the iconic glass pyramid/entrance to The Louvre. It's a must-see landmark for ALL Paris visitors, and it felt unreal to actually be there. Even better, we ended up eating dinner after hours at the super nice restaurant, Le CafĂ© Marly, located inside The Louvre. We dined out on the terrace and got to watch the pyramid light up once the sun set. *Sigh*
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper outside the Louvre in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper outside the Louvre in Paris France
But while the outside of The Louvre is definitely a sight to see, the inside is JUST as jaw-dropping...if not more. Directly below, I'm gazing up at the Venus de Milo, and below that, I'm admiring one of Michelangelo's sculptures. We also got to see the Mona Lisa, which quite honestly had me giddy with excitement! 
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper at the Louvre in Paris France
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper at the Louvre in Paris France
To say the least, my trip to Paris was everything I had dreamed of and more. It was perfection. My family and I are hoping to go back as soon as 2018, but we'll see what the next year has in store for us. Until then, au revoir Paris, je t'aime!
Fashion blogger Kathleen Harper at the Louvre in Paris France