2016's Top Spring Trenches

I LOVE a trench coat. I love a classic trench, a colorful/patterned trench, a trench made from non-traditional fabrics...the sky's the limit! If I could have an entire closet dedicated to coats and jackets (which I did before I moved to New York City) over 50% of it was filled with trench coats...All of which went to live with a nice family on a farm when I ended up in Manhattan, but that's neither here nor there. Since my last remaining (favorite, comfortable, just right) trench literally began to disintegrate into mere fibers held together by prayers after wearing it for 3 straight seasons a year for maybe 10 years, I've decided to pull the trigger on a better trench that will last a lifetime. Price point is not a concern, as long as it's great quality, a flattering style, and something classic enough that I could see myself wearing it forever. Below are a few I've added to my list to try on. I will absolutely keep you posted on this journey and share pictures of the winner this Spring! Wish me luck!

1  Gap Short Trench | $98 USD
2  Kate Spade Classic Twill Trench Coat | $498 USD
3  Banana Republic Suede Trench | $698 USD
4  J. Crew Icon Trench Coat | $298 USD

What's New at Modcloth?

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, whatever you were up to, and that you're ready and raring to make this week a great one. Today I spent a bit of time browsing new arrivals and can I just say? I am such a longtime fan of Modcloth and have so many of their items on my current wish list. After the holidays, I get a little obsessed with spring clothing...Mostly because it helps me wish the winter away! Do any of you guys do that? Below are some of my fave new arrivals from Modcloth that I've been coveting. I hope you enjoy and you're surviving whatever crazy weather this winter is bringing you!

1  Miss Mix-It Dress  |  $129
2  Edgy Meets Elegant Jacket  |  $69
3  Made for Each Color Dress  |  $99
4  Your Bubbly Side Skirt  |  $60

#Blogmas Day 12: Pantone 2016 Color(s) of the Year

I know I'm not the only one who was a bit mystified at Pantone's announcement that they've selected not one but two colors for 2016 - Rose Quartz and Serenity! I personally have a soft spot for Rose Quartz (not that I'm very into crystals) but on a special vacation with my aunt quite a few years ago, during a time when I was going through a bit of a heartbreak, I first heard about the rose quartz and how it symbolizes unconditional love, peace, and comfort. Ironically, I find myself in a similar position today...and while Rose Quartz and Serenity are certainly not my favorite colors ever, I definitely aspire to the feelings of calmness they bring! While I know, with any setback in life, that I'll be fine if not better than ever after some time passes, I do know that makeup tends to act as a beautiful band-aid in the interim!

That being said, Sephora + Pantone Universe wasted no time in debuting their 2016 makeup line showcasing these two colors. From spot-on Rose Quartz and Serenity pastel lipsticks (not sure about these) to a palette of shadows and a line of lip glosses that I kind of love, we'll be able to step out in the pastels that will dominate 2016. How about you guys? Did you like the colors Pantone chose for 2016? Leave your thoughts on the comments below!

#Blogmas Day 8: Holiday Wish List - Quay Australia

Not only do I need new glasses, I am also itching for a new pair (or 3) of new sunglasses! And I have been lusting after a bazillion pairs of Quay Australia sunnies since last spring. I think these create such an edgy, trendy eyewear look for an AMAZING value – Most pairs retail for $50 bucks! These are totally statement pieces that would work perfectly year-round and really give your everyday look a polished, chic finish. I'm drooling over the pairs below at the moment. If you could pick one, which would you choose?

1  Girly Talk in Tortoise Shell
2  Delilah in Black with Smoke Lens (currently sold out)
3  Steelcat in Gold with Gradual Gold Lens
4  Isabell in Black Tort/Silver
5  Envy Nude
6  Love Child in Tortoiseshell with Smoke Lens

Questions and Answers - Beauty Edition

1  What's your favorite eyeshadow to wear? The entire Urban Decay Naked 3 palette is my spring/summer favorite, with its golden pinks and neutrals. With fall right around the corner though, I'm excited to play with the Naked Smoky palette.

2  What's the one product you wouldn't leave your house without? That would be eyebrows... I have sparse, light brows, so enhancing them is a must to give my face structure. My one-stop-shop for eyebrows is the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but I really lock them in using the Anastasia Brow Gel.

3  What's your favorite makeup look? This season, I loved a fresh face and playing up rosy, glowing skin. My top products for this are Nars Orgasm, with its rosy, golden shimmer, on the apples of my cheeks and Benefit Watt's Up! cream-to-powder highlighter on my cheeks and brow bone.

4  Which feature do you play up the most? Definitely lashes. My recipe for insane #realsies is to start by layering Benefit Rollerlash to lift and curl, and top with Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume, my holy grail mascara, for crazy umph. Confession: Rollerlash never feels fully dry to me, and tends to smudge, so it needs a finishing coat.

5  Which feature do you try to downplay/cover up? Any fine lines or signs of aging! I know it's crazy, but I'm turning 30 this year and skin care has become even more of a priority as a means of prevention! I've been loving the Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum and the Clinique Repairwear Anti-Gravity Eye Lift Cream. They both have become must-haves in my daily skincare regime.

6  What's your favorite makeup brand, if you could pick only ONE to exist? This is a hard one because I love so many brands, and trying new products, but I'll default to my first-ever beauty counter brand, Clinique. They have every type of product you could possibly need, their packaging is clean and well-designed, and I trust their products...especially the 3-Step Skincare System which I always default to.

7  Which product have you re-purchased over and over again? Definitely the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. It's a sad day when I've used the last of this lip balm, and at $22.50 it's a bit pricy to repurchase over and over, but it's the most moisturizing, nourishing lip product I've ever used.

8  What's one product you would NEVER repurchase and why? The Drybar Cream Soda Smoothing Cream, for sure. I've had a lifelong struggle with my thick, frizzy hair. I've tried many a product that promised to smooth and relax, but this just weighed down my hair and made it look greasy. Yuck! I stand by Drybar's products, especially their dry shampoos, but haircare is so personal and this one was a fail for me.

9  What's one beauty treatment you'd ALWAYS pay to have done? I would always pay for a pedicure. Living in NYC, I walk everywhere and I'm on my feet constantly. It takes quite a toll, so I'd never regret spending the extra money for a professional pedi.

10  What's one beauty treatment you'd NEVER pay to have done? That would be the dreaded bikini wax...enough said.

11  What's one beauty trick you can share with everyone? Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly (at least once a week) is a must. It prevents dirt, oils, and bacteria (read: breakouts) from finding their way to your face! You can use anything from baby shampoo to professional liquid cleansers or even solid brush cleaners. Pick a day of the week and make it part of your beauty ritual.

12  Best advice you've ever been given regarding makeup and beauty? NEVER touch your own eyebrows. Leave it to a professional to shape them, and never ever over-pluck. Trust me, once they're gone, they're gone...unless RevitaBrow actually works. It's on my must-try list!

The Secret to Sensational Summer Legs

Hello everybody! This summer has nearly come and gone, but this tip was too important not to share. Because I, Jenna Sais Quois, have uncovered––after twenty eight summers of life––THE secret to my best ever summer legs! Seriously, they've been smooth, glowing, and most importantly not transparent (because other than freckles, I do not tan #gingerproblems). And while I wish I could tell you that it just happened and requires minimal work, there are a few critical steps involved. But not to worry, I've outlined the different steps and products I use below! Best of luck with your own sexy summer gams, ladies or gents!

Step 1: Dry Brushing

Now, this is a new to 2015 step for me, but beauty bloggers and vloggers have been recommending it like crazy, saying it helps to smooth, exfoliate, and even reduce the appearance of cellulite. I don't just use it on my legs, I use it all over my body, and have definitely noticed improvements. The dry brush I use is from The Body Shop for $12.00 and worth every penny.

Step 2: Exfoliating

I think exfoliating is super important for both the health and overall look of your skin, and it's a step I've always done though my products of choice have evolved over time. The Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator feels gentle and lovely but the best feature for me is the packaging, which takes up very little space on my shower shelf vs. most others that come in large pots.

Step 3: Shaving

This razor was new-to-me for the Summer of 2015 and I'm loving it. It's called the Venus Swirl Razor from Gillette, and the unique ball joint at the head makes the razor perfect for navigating the contours of your knees and ankles. It's kind of like the Dyson Vacuum of razors, in that way! I'm a big fan, and will definitely be continuing to use this razor for the foreseeable future. I just need to order the replacement blades from Target or something, because I can't find them in Duane Reade. 

These next few stops can be either combined, or used independently of one another. I like to use 2 out of 3 for everyday, and a combo of all 3 for special occasions. 

Step 4: Moisturizing

This moisturizer has been my favorite product of 2015, hands-down. It's the Jergen's BB Body Protecting Skin Cream, and it's firming, nourishing, formulated to hide skin imperfections, and gives the skin such a beautiful luster. Plus it smells amazing. Whenever someone catches the scent of it, they always ask me "What is that scent?" like it's perfume or something. I've gone through two bottles already this summer, and they aren't cheap for a drugstore lotion but I don't even care. Give me more. I'm addicted. I will say, I use the medium to dark lotion on my pale skin, because it blends beautifully and gives me a nice subtle tint to the skin when I'm not going full-out with my next favorite product.

Step 5: Tanning

I am very happy I discovered Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs, a product I've seen in drugstores for years - but was a little too scared to try the airbrush can because it seemed, I don't know, too intimidating. But behold - there's a new lotion formula. I like to apply this after my Jergen's lotion, so it's a bit easier to blend into the legs. I just let it dry-dry-dry completely before I dress for the day. It is truly a miracle product! It evens and perfects your legs until they literally look like Hollywood Barbie legs or something. And it isn't like most self-tanning products that have a chemical smell and leave a permanent affect (where if you mess it up, you're stuck with it for quite a while). Small Disclaimer though: This comes off with a scrub in the shower. But if it rains, it may rub off on clothes so check the weather! And don't ever sit on a white couch, just in case...

Step 6: Glowing

If I'm not doing the full tanned leg bit, I do quite like to add a glow to my moisturizing lotion (all over, not just on my legs) and just strobe out my whole body by adding a bit of the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector ––I use the shade Opal––and it gives a gorgeous effect. I don't actually love a liquid luminizing product on my face, but I love it for body. it looks beautiful on legs, shoulders, décolleté, wherever you want a healthy summer glow. 

Hope all your gams are glowing out this August! xo Jenna

Spring Has Sprung at Anthro...

...And it's also sprung in New York City as well. Yesterday I walked from my office to the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle with only a light jacket, and it felt perfect. I even lingered to snap a few Instagrams. What is this feeling!? But back to the point of this post, I am just as smitten with these beautiful, frothy spring pieces from Anthropologie. Especially the long peach blossom number at the bottom, which is reminding me of something Betty Draper in seasons 1-3ish. How about you guys? Are you experiencing Spring's better-late-than-never arrival in your necks of the woods? I hope so!

Flora Vignette Dress

Silk Tableau Shift

Galen Dress

Embroidered Bleuet Midi Top

Peach Blossom Maxi Dress

Spring Looks from Anthro

While I've been in Manhattan caught in a polar vortex, I've been daydreaming about Spring and sunshine and, of course, clothes! While I'm normally an Autumn gal, these looks from Anthropologie may have me singing a different tune. Plus, I'm loving the styling of this photo shoot. Take a look below!

Sunchart Peplum Dress

Draped Chambray Popover

Patula Maxi Skirt

Faifo Jacket

Dash-Dash Shorts

Kate Spade Queries

My fashion philosophy revolves around a bit of wisdom passed down from my mother: If you really love it, get it in every color! This has served me well, especially in moments where I just can't quite decide between two amazing items. In fact, it is in those very moments where I'm confronted with a tidal wave of self-reflection and existentialism. Who am I? What does this say about me? Am I a Joan or a Betty? A Jessa or a Marnie? A Samantha or a Charlotte? (...An advertising drone or a blogger...hmmm?)

Anyway, my unwavering enthusiasm for Kate Spade is large in part due to the diverse color palettes, style offerings, and perfect balance of kitsch and classicism. Lucky for me, this means I don't have to make any rash decisions just yet!

So...tell me. Who are you today?

Celina Dress in Zinnia Pink and French Navy

Karolina Pump in Silver  |  Karolina Bow Pump in Pale Pink

Lincoln Square Little Kennedy in Fresh White/Natural and Belflower/True Navy

Christian Siriano: Spring 2013 RTW

I have spent most of the morning pouring over the beautiful lines, textures and embellishments of this gorgeous Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear collection by the already-iconic Christian Siriano. Since his debut collection winning Project Runway Season 4, he has proved time and again that he knows how to dress a woman and make her incredibly beautiful. This pastel, ballerina-esque collection is just another gorgeous feather in his cap. What do you guys think? Do you love the collection as much as I do?

This trio of finale dresses are my absolute favorite part of the collection.

Madewell for Spring

It's been a while since I've talked about Madewell. In fact, it's been a while since I've shopped there! But that's because my favorite thing about the brand is their Summery dresses. When the heat kicks up, I want to wear leather sandals and flouncy dresses, and long pendant necklaces, and maybe even a straw hat. And that is always the perfect mood for Madewell! What are your Summer go-to pieces this year?

1  Chambray Eyelet Dress   I   2  Silk Shapesketch Twist-Back Tankdress

3 Stucco Stripe Songbird Dress   I   4 Stitched Dress

Kate Spade: City Guides

I was beyond excited to find these Fathom for Kate Spade City Guides in my e-mail yesterday! I would by no means call myself a traveler, since I compare myself to my best friend who checks plane tickets to far away destinations before she even checks her e-mail each morning...or another who is zipping off to China for three entire weeks, just for fun...but I would certainly entertain the idea of planning a trip soon. There's been talk of Paris and Ireland, but these trips are getting bumped to next year because I have been enjoying my own little permanent vacation every day.

Anyway, these adorable, illustrated packing guides on Kate Spade make me infinitely happy. They have totally inspired me to spend more time illustrating things for this blog...So you can perhaps look forward to that! But for now, I insist you check out the rest of the City Guides, ASAP. Enjoy!

Tokyo Packing List via Kate Spade

London Packing List via Kate Spade

Los Angeles Packing List via Kate Spade

Tahiti Packing List via Kate Spade

New York City Packing List via Kate Spade

Derby Day

I'm off to the races today for a Cinco de DERBY party. There's nothing better than margaritas and mint juleps...but a belly full of bourbon and tequila could present a problem. We'll see how it goes! Happy Derby Day!

Eye Candy

It's been kind of a dreary week, and having a quite a few long lunches in Bryant park in the month of April have made me very spoiled. But today the sun is shining, and it's Friday, and I hear there are early Cinco de Mayo margaritas happening in the office very soon... I love Spring. And I'm really not in a hurry toward a blazing hot New York Summer. So for today, some Spring-has-sprung eye candy for all of you. Have a very merry Friday!

Macaron Trinket Boxes from Ruche

Apricot Plaid Bow Tie by Forage

Mint Oxford Brogues by Goodbyefolk on Etsy (neeeeed these!)

Olivietti Typewriter "California Love" from TheAntikeyChop on Etsy

The Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs

Wandering...

Adorable print from Malobi on Etsy

You guys! I am alive I promise. I could never have imagined how hard it would be to move to a new city, start a new job, completely redecorate a new apartment, AND have time to blog about all of the amazing, inspiring, crazy things I'm seeing on a daily basis. So please bear with me while this dust settles a little. And in turn, I will give you a mini-update on all of the madness happening in my life:

1  Work
Work is good. Work is work, of course, but work is good. I love designing, and I love waking up every morning and getting on the train like a worker bee swarming midtown with all the others as we pour out of the Rockefellar Plaza subway station headed for 5th avenue. The novelty of that still hasn't worn off, and I'm hoping it won't for at least a year...

2  Apartment
Still chaos. We've painted every room but one, and we've technically finished none of them...But the kitchen is the farthest along. Pictures coming ASAP. My own bedroom will be spectacular, and just for a teaser, I've done a little matte/glossy tone-on-tone paint stripe that I can't wait to show you. But for now, there is just stuff everywhere. Nothing organized. Stressful? yes. But somehow we're all managing...

3  Life
Fun. I am having a ton of cool, new experiences. And I am seeing a ton of live theatre, which has always been one of my favorite things in life...For that aspect alone, I couldn't be more at home in NYC. I am enjoying making new friends in the workplace, through roommates, and on my own too. I am just having a blast.

4  The City
I am confident that I feel about New York the way people feel when they've met their soulmate. When you know, you just know. I was always meant to live here, and for now, I can't imagine ever leaving.

5  A Promise
Things are stabilizing so much that I can guarantee you regularly updated (DAILY) content every day starting in May. In fact, that is a goal I am forcing myself to stick to. So you can all, hopefully, look forward to that!

Lots of love,
Jenna

Skirting Around

I have been eyeing this polka-dotted skirt by Kate Spade lately. I really, really, really want it. And I want to style it exactly like this. If only it could be mine...but alas, I spend waaay too much money on theatre tickets to justify dropping nearly 400 bones on a skirt right now. Though my mom is visiting this weekend and delivering my sewing machine, so perhaps I will just go ahead and play copycat.

Image via Kate Spade online

Hipster Babies: Spring 2012

It's that time again, folks! The seasons are changing, the air is warming, the birds are chirping...and that means it's time to check in with some of the most fashion-forward eight-year-olds you ever did see! This also happens to be known as the Zara Kids lookbook. Check it out. Get some inspiration for your own springtime looks. And while you're at it, try not to feel as bad as I do that these children are better dressed than we will ever be, and they don't even have their molars yet...

All images via the Zara Kids Lookbook for March

Burberry Prorsum Spring!

I have a bit of a crush on the Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012 collection... The looks are clearly strong, but the styling is definitely my favorite part. Christopher Bailey has blended so many different ideas together to create this sort of hand-made, tribal, equestrian, preppy, hipster explosion. There's really something for everyone. Fantastic outwear pieces, punchy color palette, beautiful patterns, sensational hand-crafted details... Also, those pom-pon hats are adorable. I am so getting one. Bet me!