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New York Guide

Whew, this week is flying by after arriving back from New York late Monday night. This is my mom and my fourth year in a row visiting and I still haven’t even cracked the surface of everything there is to do and see. I know some of you have no interest in hearing about travel guides, so if that’s you either skip this post or just skim down to see any outfit pictures! I didn’t get the best shots, as we forgot between scurrying around but the weather was way warmer than we have experienced when visiting.

Friday

We flew in Friday morning, Milwaukee usually has reasonable nonstop flights and good flight times as well. We landed at 8:30 a.m. and took a cab to our hotel. We stayed at The Watson, which we found off Southwest’s hotel finder option. It is on 57th street in between 9th and 10th Avenue. We’ve stayed close to Central Park the last couple of years, as my mom usually wants to run at least once there during our trip.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out our room was ready, so we were able to unpack and settle in before we headed out for the day – that was clutch. We then found a spot for a breakfast sandwich, called Rex which was around the corner. It was super tiny so we took it to go and found a Starbucks so we could sit down and eat and get caffeinated. From there we did some scrolling through my Mom’s app she has to find tickets to shows. We had a couple in mind but ended up spontaneously grabbing tickets to see Golden Girls Live, because the tickets were so reasonable for later that night!

In the meantime, we grabbed tickets to a hop on hop off bus for an Uptown tour that basically took us from Times Square area up around the west side of Central Park into Harlem and looped back down the east side and all of the museums. It was a beautiful day to sit on top of the bus in the open air and very relaxing way to see a lot and take in a few fun facts from the tour guide on the bus.

We then went to a cute bar called The Ivy, which is near Columbus Circle and had drinks with Kelsey, one of Caitlin’s best friends from high school who moved to New York years ago. It was so much fun catching up with her and she took us over to this really cool rooftop called PHD which has views of Times Square.

We were having such a fun time with her that we ended up showing up to Golden Girls Live a little late but just in time for it to start. Be warned that they do not have a huge sign like other shows so pay attention if you’re navigating on your own, it’s just the address and a sign on the ground. This show was a hoot! It is a drag show version of Golden Girls and I loved it! They’ve been doing it for fifteen years together and they were all SO GOOD together. It was a Halloween special version and you could tell they just love to perform it. They had everyone laughing, and they impromptu would add little wisecracks which only made it better! Totally recommend it.

We grabbed sushi after the show, just up the road at a place called Ageha Sushi, which was good. From there, we called it a night because it had been such an early morning, but it was an awesome first day.

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Saturday

We had a slow start, but got up and went for a run through Central Park right away. That’s typically been a priority for our trips, as our mom is an avid runner. It’s a great way for us to spend time in the park and get some exercise! We grabbed coffee on the way back. Once we were showered and ready for the day, we headed over to 5th Avenue to brave the crowds and do some shopping! We wove in and out of stores and did some major trying on sessions. We came away with some good pieces, stay tuned to see them on here!

From there we were starving, so we headed over to grab an early dinner at Totto Ramen. My mom had never had ramen before, so it was fun to have it with her for the first time. There was  a crazy crowd waiting, but there are two shops there and people didn’t seem to realize you could go next door and not really wait. The only difference was chicken broth or pork broth. We were uncomfortably full after dinner, and went back to our hotel with the intention of cleaning up and heading back out. We ended up staying in for the night and watching a couple of movies on HBO, which was all good by me!

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Sunday

After our slower Saturday, we were ready to make the most of our Sunday. We headed down to Tribeca to meet up for brunch at Sarabeth’s with another friend who made the move to New York after college. Derek is my college roommate Stephanie’s younger brother and we had such a great time catching up with him! He was nice enough to walk us over to the High Line, and we walked past the “Friends” apartment building on our way. We hadn’t been up on the High Line before and it was definitely a cool stop to make, as descriptions hadn’t really done it justice for people who come from Wisconsin.

From there, we were pretty uncomfortable in the heat, as we didn’t bring appropriate stuff to wear. We ended up hopping in a cab to get over to Soho and we had to buy cheap tank tops from H&M to get through the rest of the day. We stopped in some stores but probably spent the bulk of our time in & Other Stories. I was semi-familiar with the brand but had never seen their stuff in person and we were all over it! Stayed tuned for more about them!

Once we had our fill of shopping we walked over towards Greenwich, which has such beautiful streets to just amble through. We found a happy hour advertising margaritas which sounded like the best idea ever in that heat and sat on their sidewalk seating drinking margs and eating some guacamole. We scrolled through the tickets app one more time but waited too long and no shows were intriguing enough to us to buy tickets.

From there we took the subway back to our hotel and got cleaned up. We had some wine and snacks and then decided to go get some pizza for a late dinner. We’ve eaten at a place near Times Square twice now, called Angelo’s Pizza. I think it’s pretty good pizza, especially for not leaving Times Square area. From there we called it a night.

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Monday

We slept in, and then ran in Central Park again, but this time we made it up and around the Reservoir which we hadn’t done yet. It was misting out but still beautiful to be in the park. We stopped and grabbed a yummy Bagel and Lox sandwich on our way back to our hotel at a hole in the wall called Lunch Box. From there we showered and packed up to check out of the hotel. We gave them our bags to hold for the afternoon and headed down to find a Nordstrom Rack. We usually try to stop there when we’re in New York because they have more of a large shoe size collection in the city.

We got off the subway at Union Square and were pleasantly surprised to see a fresh air market set up. We strolled through and then headed to the Rack, where we did have some luck finding shoes – stay tuned to see what we found there! We wanted to explore areas we hadn’t previously so we kept heading south from there and made our way to Katz’s Deli, which is pretty well known. Even though it was 2 p.m. at this point there was still a line out the door. We grabbed a pastrami Reuben to split and it was plenty big!

We were wanting cheesecake but Katz’s didn’t look like the answer so we walked down toward Nolita and found Eileen’s Special Cheesecake. Totally recommend this spot – they are mini round cheesecakes and completely delicious. We were walking a bit more and ended up back in the Soho shopping area but only stopped in one place. I realized we were going right past Dominique Ansel’s Bakery and mentioned it to my Mom. We had just enough time to stop in and grab an almond pastry to eat in the airport. We hopped on the subway to get back to the hotel and had our only creepy experience of an old man blatantly trying to take pictures of us.

We brushed that off and made it to the hotel where they had our transportation to the airport waiting for us, which happened to be a limo. It was a completely unexpected fun ending to our awesome girls trip! Plus on our flight home, I ended up getting the exit row for my mom and I, with the bonus inner seat that has no seat in front of it. Tall person victory!

I know I listed a lot of stuff, but if anyone has any questions about anything else New York related, I’d love to hear them and see if I can answer! We’d also love to hear your New York recommendations, sound off below!

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Bomb(er) Athleisure

Y’all it might be Monday, but I was blessed with the day off of work. Even if Columbus Day isn’t a good holiday to celebrate, I’m celebrating not being at work and coming home from New York today. I’ll be sharing more on our trip later this week, watch this space!

Caitlin ended up switching her plans due to the terrible weather forecasted and heading up north to stay at the cabin. Nothing like camping in the rain and mud and cold to get you down! Sometimes you have to cut your losses and change your plans. And now she will get to surprise our grandma with some quality time!

Does anyone else have leggings that are “workout” leggings but you feel like they’re too nice to actually sweat in? That’s how we feel about these Lululemon leggings. They feel too luxurious to ruin by sweating all over them. They definitely aren’t too nice to take with you ANYWHERE else though. Case in point, these leggings accompanied me last year to Iceland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. They are absolutely perfect for traveling purposes, when comfort is the name of the game but you’re still attempting to look put together.

We love the variety of color options they provide as well, and don’t be fooled by the short looking inseam, they are definitely long enough for my legs comfortably. We both have a love affair with the high waist panel as well. Is there anything more flattering than a high waist legging sucking you in while still being comfortable? For any non believers, these leggings definitely have smoothing power for helping your legs look their best!

We mentioned our love of bomber jackets in our fall jacket guide. If you missed it, check it out here for all of the best options. We’ve both built up our collection over the last couple of years, as these jackets are an easy grab for a casual but still chic look.

My jacket is of course, from Asos and is from the Glamorous Tall range. I adored the khaki color and when I got it, I loved how thick it was and I’ve been able to wear it as an actual jacket on a night out or also in Europe for sightseeing. I layered a Nike t-shirt underneath it I got from my friends in Portland.

Funny story, I was shopping at the Nike employee store and a guy walked past me and yelled Kobe, I smiled and had no idea what he was talking about but my husband started laughing because he realized I didn’t know that my t-shirt was from Kobe’s brand. Oops! I just liked the gold foil lettering. That was actually the same time I snagged my grey Nikes as well. Big feet tip: when you’re shopping for Nikes don’t get discouraged by lack of “female” options. Head to the mens section and size down 1.5 sizes and enjoy finding lots more options!

Caitlin’s jacket is also from Asos, and she was all about the burgundy rich color and the black collar and cuffs. Add in the quilting detail and she’s completely satisfied with her jacket. She paired it with a cami and her leopard print Keds, which are a subtle nod to the animal print trend this fall.

Real Reel – We had so much fun messing around in this mini park space. The picnic table is on rollers and we were having my husband push us while we sat on it. Check out our instagram stories to see footage of that! The below we like to call a series of little sister syndrome…

And sometimes things like this happen..


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Time to Camouflage your Athleisure

I can’t believe it’s the first week of October and I am leaving for New York tomorrow with my Mom! I have been looking forward to this trip, but really anytime I have an excuse to get back to New York you can count me in. This will be the fourth year in a row that I’ve made the trip in the fall and I’m nowhere near sick of it. There is just an indescribable allure to the city and I find it so exciting but surprisingly not intimidating.

We really don’t have much planned ahead for the weekend but we are meeting up with several friends we know who live in the city and we’re probably going to see Waitress on Broadway. We’ve looked at it every year in the past and we’re finally seeing it this time, can’t wait! I know our New York friends would disagree, but half the fun is conquering the subway system for us. We do SO much more walking than we typically do, so by the time we’re done for the day we have no problem sleeping through the sounds of the city.

Caitlin will be heading camping in the South Central part of the state. There are some wonderful hiking trails where they’re camping that will be perfect to catch some beautiful changing fall colors. Tall people everywhere, don’t sleep on this fold up chair, she takes with her wherever she goes. You will sit up at the appropriate height and not feel like you’re unfolding eight different ways like getting out of a normal sized folding chair.

Growing up as athletes, we are no strangers to a good pair of sweatpants. Anyone who knew me in high school or college can attest to that. The sweatpants of my high school and college years frankly were pretty sloppy and incomparable to today’s athleisure options. You’re telling me that we can now look put together but still be wearing the equivalent to pajamas in comfort level? And all the (tall) women rejoiced!

More and more of my old style sweatpants are disappearing either to be relegated to be worn solely in the comfort of my home or being donated or tossed. There was something to be said for wearing the oversize sweat look when I had my basketball shorts underneath so they would fit and not look bulky, but considering I rarely have basketball shorts on anymore they’re a somewhat antiquated option to choose.

Enter the jogger style, which we’re sure most of you are familiar with by now. Both sweats and joggers have the elastic pulled in ankle look but while the sweats look can be likened more to a harem pant bagginess, the jogger is cut closer to the leg and has a wide bottom cuff that lays flatter. It gives a sleeker look to the leg, instead of looking like a bag lady (even though sometimes we all want to have our days of looking like bag ladies thank you very much).

We’ve got two different options for you, one tall and the other not, but both are Caitlin’s. The pair I’m wearing are from Gap and are RIDICULOUSLY comfortable. There is some witchcraft in the fabric because they are so lightweight and soft. As you can tell for 6’4 they don’t quite reach my ankles, but they aren’t heavy enough weight to matter to me. I wouldn’t only worry about that if they were winter weight material, when I need my ankles covered. We both also own sweatshirts made from this exact material and are obsessed. I even ordered a second one once I had a chance to wear my first one!

Caitlin’s pair are from Express and she was smitten at first sight with them. Obviously the length was a major concern before she ordered them. (Express we are still waiting for you to be more tall inclusive). She figured she would try them out and could always return if they didn’t work. The length isn’t quite long enough to wear as pants, but because of the tight cuff, she can wear them pushed up as capri length. The rips add another layer of fun beyond your average jogger.

As for the t-shirts, Adidas is having a major moment. If you ask me they were just sitting quietly waiting for the right time to surface and now its like people everywhere live to wear their logo plastered across their chest. Caitlin is no exception in loving to throw on a high quality trefoil T to complete her athleisure look. My tank is from Asos’ tall line and is a great high neck tank to layer.

Joggers are another option beyond your basic leggings to grab. Sometimes they’re preferred, especially if you don’t feel like forcing tight leggings on as you’re headed to the movies to gorge yourself on popcorn. OK maybe that’s just us, but joggers are definitely more forgiving than leggings.

Tell us below, do you prefer joggers or leggings? What is your go to lounge wear?

And as usual when we’ve got them-your dose of Real Reel below

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Faux or Real, That is the Question

Whew, we’ve been welcomed to Fall with lots of rain and brisk temperatures. Leather jacket season is upon us, y’all. There is no denying it any longer. To be honest, who even wants to deny it. Just speaking for ourselves, but nothing ups your cool factor more than throwing on a leather jacket to finish an outfit.

We’ve been resisting the pull of Fall because our temps held out and graced us with warmth. While all other style bloggers have integrated their cool weather wardrobes you’re left looking at us and wondering when it’s going to happen. That day has arrived, and I’m woefully huddled under a blanket at home as I type this.

Caitlin spent the weekend at her alma mater in La Crosse, which does a huge Oktoberfest celebration every year. She packed well for the cooler temperatures and she got into the spirit of the festival with this fun hat. Beware on sizing if you’re considering a purchase, but rejoice all big heads because this hat is for us!

Tim and I celebrated his Dad and Stepmom’s anniversary by scarfing down giants steaks. It was a fun night with family and standing around a giant grill in a restaurant cooking your own steak to perfection. Has anyone heard of Prime Quarter? I hadn’t before this last weekend but my husband has had some great memories of celebrations there, including his bachelor party.

We also finally sat down and watched Season 7 of Game of Thrones in one sitting. Let me just tell you, it was a great night. Very interesting watching the show diverge from the books, but I did just see this book pop up on Amazon to preorder and got super excited. It makes even more sense with how the show left off on why this book took precedence over Martin finishing his next in the series.

Onto the reason we’re here: tall leather jackets. We all know they are a hot topic, because the leather jacket is a stalwart piece in most women’s closets. As a tall women growing up, I admired all the variations I saw on shorter friends and resigned myself to eventually finding my unicorn jacket.

Enter my husband, who was then my boyfriend. He bought me the most beautiful real leather jacket from Long Tall Sally. The arms were the perfect length, as was the body, and I didn’t have to sacrifice the fit to get the length which was the ultimate luxury. Suffice to say, he was a keeper and that jacket has seen me through six years and hasn’t shown any wear or that it will go out of style.

Some women might be thinking, I can’t afford to buy that expensive of a leather jacket. It truly is an investment piece that will serve your closet in countless ways. If you’d rather save, there are many other options at our favorite, Asos. The two options we’re wearing are from Asos.

Since I received my real leather jacket I’ve been able to fill in other faux leather options that are a bit more trendy but will still be keepers for a long time to come. This grey jacket, which unfortunately is from Asos own line and if you’re browsing in the future considering one of their jackets, the sleeves have been a great consistent length for me at 6’4.

I have to talk about these jeans for a second. I snagged these on a KILLER sale for $36 which is unheard of at Madewell. I figured I’d give them a fair shot, after trying to ask several different associates in several different stores what their tall and taller inseams were without getting an answer. GREAT NEWS tall women. These jeans are a new must in your life. The inseam has to be 36, because they fit my leg length perfectly and they are so dang comfortable, while still having a control panel to keep you sucked in. Wait on a coupon if you must, but definitely give Madewell jeans a try and do it soon. They are high quality and true to size!

Caitlin’s jacket is from Y.A.S. via Asos and is real leather. According to the site it’s completely leather but the underside of the sleeves has a panel of soft fabric, but once she received it she realized it was a welcome deviation. It is a buttery fabric, and almost looks suede like and feels delicious. For sizing reference, I tried the jacket on as well and found the fit to translate well for up to 6’4.

Her jeans are from Gap and like we’ve mentioned before have really made a comeback in quality and updated options. If you’re in between sizes for this pair, she would recommend sizing up. The high waist is so good, I feel like neither of us will ever give them up now!

Y’all know we can’t live without our Mei Li bags right now and the leather on leather is the ultimate topper. We’ve both been getting compliments on our bags from friends and family, because they can tell the bag is high quality by how well the structure holds. If you haven’t checked out Mei Li yet, they’re a startup quality handbag company.

Tell us, do you have any leather jackets? If so, any favorite brands to share? If not, tell us why!

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Fall Skirts Re-Worked

Surprise, you get a bonus post this week, hitting you up with three! Contain your enthusiasm please, think of this more like two and a half posts because we both wore the same skirts as this post, but dressed them up to be office appropriate for work.

We’ve spoken before about our personal policy of buying clothes and wearing them in as many scenarios as possible. We’re willing to spend a little bit more on an item, if it’s going to go further in our closet. We are all about getting our cost per wear down to something reasonable. Don’t buy a trendy jacket that will last you one season and you’ll wear it maybe five times and you spent $75-$100 on it. Buy leather boots for $100+ that will last you as many seasons until they wear out, or a timeless jacket that will be reached for over and over again.

In this case we didn’t have to spend more to find versatile pieces. A lot of the skirts at Asos are within the $35-$50 range, which seems to be pretty standard for a skirt today. I give more weight to buying skirts because I know my day to day life means wearing one for 8+ hours a day. Plus there is something so appealing about buying skirts and all the different colors and patterns that are better to me than buying the same print in a top.

We asked y’all in an Instagram poll if you were interested in discovering mainline pieces that will work for tall women, and the majority definitely wanted to hear about these pieces. Good news for us, because although Asos is probably the leader in providing us tall affordable skirts – their selection of mainline options opens the door to many, many more skirts.

The skirts can be filtered by length, and for workwear we always filter to midi skirts and then main range and tall range. There are a couple of mainline skirts that for whatever reason Asos bills as longline – which we interpret as tall! The style are usually just regular cut pencil skirts, but they always have some fun new colors I’m interested in, like the one I wore in this post.

Everyone probably can probably relate to the struggle of finding the perfect white t-shirt and then the secondary issue of making it last. We’re still definitely on the hunt for a perfect length white t-shirt that is great quality. If you have any suggestions, please let us know in the comments! This t-shirt is definitely still in the running for holding up well and being from Gap tall, it is a great length as well. She easily wears her mules to work all the time, they’re business in the front and party in the back.

My shirt is a favorite from Express. I am all about the statement sleeves and this bubble sleeve is no exception. It lets me get away with picking all patternless shirts but keep some sort of visual interest. This shirt was an stretch for me, but I’m glad I tried it on because it is the perfect length to wear with anything highwaisted. I paired it with my slingback flats, which are the perfect work shoe. They look sophisticated without sacrificing your comfort! You can also see how Caitlin paired this top in a different color in an older post here.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, the first full weekend of fall!

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