STYLE STOP: Viva Aviva

Aviva Falk (shown above) is the powerhouse designer behind her eponymous line, Viva Aviva. A transplant from Wisconsin, she arrived in NYC five years ago and quickly made her mark in the fashion industry: in 2008 she interned for Diane von Furstenburg, by Spring 2009 she had launched her own line Viva Aviva, and just three years later she was picked up by ShopBop.

We recently caught up with the fellow Brooklynlite and, true to her free-spirited nature, kept our questions anything but ordinary. Scroll down to hear her responses and see highlights from her latest lookbook, shot by none other than Micol.

What's the most unlikely place from which you've draw inspiration?

AF: Strangely enough, I get a lot of inspiration while riding my bike over the Williamsburg Bridge.  There’s a point where you hit the water and your mind opens up and all of a sudden, the dresses start twirling.

Percentage likelihood of rocking a Canadian Tuxedo?

AF: I like to say that if you always dress for a party, life will always be one--and to that end, I don’t own very many casual clothes. It’s not that I’m politically opposed to the Canadian tuxedo specifically, jeans just so happen to be my arch nemesis in life. So by default, I would say .1%

Describe one your most memorable NYC moments.

AF: Years ago, I was at the premiere of “Bill Cunningham: New York” and I wore a black gown with a cape from my Spring/Summer 2009 collection. It was beautiful: almost full length, covered in 500 silk chiffon roses I’d spent hours hand rolling [you girls remember]. I tied my hair up, wore burgundy lipstick, my highest heels. While I was searching for my seat, I turned around and there was Anna Wintour. We locked eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up. Was it a smile? I can’t go that far… did I have a moment with her? Obviously. Did she with I? I presume it’s one of the many secrets hiding in that brown bob of hers.

How would you describe your personal style in three words?

AF: Fashion. Sensory. Overload.

Tina Fey or Amy Poehler?

AF: Amy Poehler, hands down.

Photography Credit: Micol Cortese

Letting Loose

Reiss button-down, 

Zara harem pants, 

Vintage crossbody bag and wrap-around belt,  

Vintage aviator glasses (similar style here), 

Misc jewelry (H&M, vintage, souvenirs), 

Zara pumps.

I think we've all been there: you're really excited for the new season, but when you dig out your wardrobe from wherever you stored it, suddenly nothing you own seems that exciting anymore. I'm definitely at that point. And so was Lauren until she went on a little shopping spree and picked up so many new (and unexpected!) items that I'm having trouble not following suit. A Zara trip may be in my near future.

I can't pull off these harem pants, but Lauren does so in style with a tailored, black button-down and sleek, plum pumps with an unexpected ankle cuff. And please, can we all give a cheer that the pointy toe is back? I'm ready for it.

xx, M

Black & Blue

Thrifted sleeveless blouse (similar here), 

Joe Fresh jeans, 

ASOS studded booties (similar here), 

Vintage leaf necklace, 

Alexander Mcqueen box clutch (last seen here).

It's such a gorgeous day, so I'm going to keep it quick. Micol & I have a bbq this afternoon that I have to prep chicken + veggie skewers for, so I'm off to the market asap!

As Micol mentioned previously, I've pretty much been addicted to wearing bright sleeveless blouses with just about anything - pants, skirts, shorts, you name it. They're so comfortable, and easy to dress up by pairing them with a collar necklace to add a little bling. I've also been really into everything Cobalt... it's such a great color on anyone! And so great for Fall. Not to mention, these new booties that are my favorite new Fall wardrobe item. Studs + tassles? Yes, please!

What are some of your favorite Fall trends?
xL

Open Knit

Thrifted caftan sweater (similar style here), 
Navy Headband c/o La Di Da Dee,

Union Jean Cut-Off Shorts (last seen here and here),

Sam Edelman  Lulu Two-Tone Boots (also worn here), 
Vintage moon belt, 
Dooney & Burke vintage crossbody bag.

My schedule lately has been totally out of sync with Lauren's, so it was a welcome sunny afternoon when we were finally able to meet and catch up. Of course this also involved meandering through our neighborhood, picking up new items to add to our collective closet and indulging in small bites across many different restaurants... and maybe a bloody mary. Or two.

I absolutely adore this spiked navy headband that Lauren picked up at La Di Da Dee. She's not one to do much with her hair so this was an effortless way to kick it up a notch. This was also the first time I'd laid eyes on her bag (where has she been hiding this!?) and I think I'm going to have to add it to my fall swap list*.

xx, M

* Although Lauren and I swap clothes on the reg, every season we do a major clothes return and swap. It's the perfect way to welcome a new season without causing a credit card headache.

That's a Wrap

Another NYFW has come and gone but, as always, left us inspired. Some of our favorite moments from on the runway included 3.1 Phillip Lim's footwear and smart melange of patterns, BCBG's harnesses, Rebecca Minkoff's playful floral treatments, and Prabal Gurung's elegant daywear and exotic cocktail dresses.

Outside the tents, showgoers, bloggers and fashion fanatics grabbed our attention with some fun baubles, slick shades and colorful ensembles we managed to capture here.

What was your favorite NYFW moment?
xL

High Collared

BCBG sleeveless pleated blouse (similar style here),

Tiered miniskirt c/o Haute Hippie, 

Thrifted fringe necklace, 

Vintage doctor's bag, 

Dolce Vita bootie (lusting after this pair).

Hey guys, we survived! Another Fashion Week has come and gone. Lauren and I have been doing a lot of running around and I promise to edit all the street style and presentation snaps from the week and post them soon.

The above snaps were taken last weekend when Lauren and I had the chance to enjoy a much appreciated cool-down in the weather. No more mugginess means Fall is seriously around the corner. Lately, Lauren has been into high collar, sleeveless button-down tops, and I'm dying over how she paired the collar here with a fringe choker necklace. Sure, it brings me back to my Texan days, but the volume of the top and the ruffled mini make this look anything but country.

xx, M

Red, White & Black

Damask Jeans c/o David Kahn Jeans (last worn here)

Arc & Co beaded top, 

Margiela Bag, 
Tahari Brianna Pump, 
Gypsy Ring c/o Jennifer Fisher, 
Ray Ban Sunglasses.

Hi guys! Wanted to share with you another look from NYFW, this time from when Micol and I hit Lincoln Center on Sunday for Erickson Beamon's glitzy jewelry presentation before running back to catch some football with my boyfriend and his pals at our usual sportsbar in Brooklyn, The Whiskey. Who knew fashion and sports could go so well together?

You can't go wrong with basic black & white, so I decided to start with that formula, then kick the look up a notch with some playful red accessories. I love the ladylike feel of these pumps from Tahari. I really don't have anything in my closet like them, and was so excited to reveal them to Micol as proof that I'm branching out style-wise. They also kind of remind me of the saddle shoes I used to wear in Elementary school. Anyone with me?

We'll be uploading some Instagram and street style pics from our favorite NYFW experiences soon, so be sure to stay tuned for that! Hope everyone's having a great week!

xL

Decked Out Denim

ASOS embellished top, 

Elizabeth and James leather vest (last seen here), 

Alexander Wang platform sandals (last worn here), 

Snakeskin Flirty c/o Rebecca Minkoff, 

Vintage denim skirt.

NYFW is here! On Thursday we kicked things off by participating in Fashion's Night Out in Soho with stops at Haute Hippie, Agent Provocateur, DNKY, Onassis culminating in a brief pit stop at the Soho Grand that led to a late night dinner at Jack's Wife Freda with a tableful of good friends, great food and non-stop wine.

As usual, it's hard for us to leave work to see as many shows as we'd like, but luckily we were able to get away from our desks for a bit to catch the Rebecca Minkoff show. If you haven't already, get a look in the video below! Elegant prints, silky fabrics and clean silhouettes that leave you immediately wanting to leave everything behind and take a permanent vacation.

And for more behind the scenes check us out on Instagram! @Micolina_ and @HeyLogo

xx, M

Rebecca Minkoff S/S 2013 Live Stream

Sadly, it's hard for us to slip away from our desks and catch all the shows & presentations that we'd like to during Fashion Week, but today we'll be making an exception for one of our favorite NYC designers, Rebecca Minkoff.

We're heading up to Lincoln Center at 3PM to check out her show, but thought it'd be fun for all our readers outside of New York to partake in the experience themselves. So tune in at 3PM for a LIVE FEED from the front lines! Hell, you'll probably have better sight-lines than us!

xx, L+M

Pattern Play

Thrifted sheer blouse (loving these prints too), 

H and M leather shorts (last seen here), 

Dolce Vita platform sandals (also worn here), 

Marc Jacobs Crosby Sutton, 

Marc by Marc Jacobs hat, 

Ring from Lundeen's (LA), 

Mudd owl cuff.

Can you believe it's almost fashion week again? Which means the past few weeks I've subconsciously been looking for new, much-needed additions to my wardrobe, from statement clothing items to standout accessories. Lucky for us, stores are rife with sales right now, and deals are ripe for the picking. 

Despite the sales everywhere, I still love shopping at vintage and thrift stores. I spotted this sheer blouse at Buffalo Exchange the other day, and instantly fell in love. The pattern reminds me of sunshine bursting through the leaves of a tree; it's so playful and unique. Imagine my shock when I looked at the label to find out it was made by the Gap! And in my ongoing quest to expand my jewelry collection, I found this ring at a super cute giftshop in LA called Lundeen's. My older sister and I bought matching ones to remind us of our fun night out together.

What are your favorite, off-beat places to shop? And more importantly, what are your fashion week plans? Let us know if you're around and want to grab a drink! 

xL

Fringe Factor

L Space Fringe Swimsuit
Union Jean cut-off shorts
Sunglasses from Etam

It's official - summer is nearly over. But we're not yet mourning long summer days and hot sweaty nights as we're sending off summer in style this long weekend.

Lauren picked up this amazing one-piece while in LA and it's perfect for lounging by the pool during the day and throwing on a pair of short cut-offs for a casual but super sexy look at night.

We've still got two more days to go so we're keeping this short. Hope you're also enjoying the long weekend. See you on Tuesday!

xx, M