I recently featured some looks in collaboration with Members Only to style two of their outerwear pieces. Members Only is an American based fashion brand specializing in outerwear since 1975. Given their heritage history, I went with two more classic styles; a camel/cream varsity jacket and a brown faux-leather bomber with shearling detail.

The first jacket, the Camel Varsity, i styled with a other retro looking pieces, keeping the rest of the palette black and white as to make the jacket the statement piece. A plain black tee, and cropped fringe denim jeans. I like the cropped jeand because it allows my athletics inspired socks to show their striped detail which compliments the varsity jacket. Lastly I put it all together with some classic vans.

The second jacket, a Heritage Bomber, is one of my favorite jackets of the season. I am a big fan of the shearling detail on the collar and brown faux-leather. I was inspired by classic American western style to complete this look. Mix and match denim pieces allow this jacket to maintain the highlight of the look while keeping true to the heritage aesthetic. I paired with a plain white tee and all white hi-top vans.

This post is sponsored by Members Only, but all opinions are my own.

I had the opportunity to collaborate and style a pair of boots from one of my favorite shoe companies, Eastland Shoes. They make the perfect boots for fall/winter, so when they contacted me I didn't hesitate to accept! The boot I chose was a bit different from their classic moccasin style, but more in line with my urban setting that I'll be using them in. The Max 1955 Alpine Boot is the perfect boot to face any weather conditions, but also goes perfectly well with a tailored look. The boot is rugged and sturdy enough to take on any hiking trip, and the choice of black or yellow laces gives the boot two totally different looks. See below for how I styled 'em!

This post is sponsored by Eastland Shoes, however all opinions are my own.

I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with an emerging brand in the menswear accessories world, Stephen David Leonard. The products they offer are the perfect addition to any man's wardrobe. The pieces are stylish, but rustic and edgy; perfect for any tailored look but also complimenting any casual look. I decided to go with the Forge A Path Handcrafted Cuff, which is customizable  with your own quote. For mine, I decided the engrave it with "Live + Learn", as quote I have kept close to me since college. This quote means a lot to me because it is something I have used to help me get through tough times in the past. It is important to remember that all experiences through living are an opportunity to grow and learn! 

The second piece I chose was the Strong + True Square Ring, in a black sterling finish. This ring compliments so many of my outfits because of its darker finish, and it is bold but also subtle because of the rustic finish. I think it adds the perfect edge to any outfit I wear. 

This post in sponsored by StephenDavidLeonard, however all opinions are my own.

Every Autumn I look forward to spending at least one weekend in Upstate New York. You may not know this, but I went to Marist College for my undergrad in Poughkeepsie, NY. And during my time there I garnered a great appreciation for quaint and charming towns throughout the region. This year I went up with a friend and decided to explore the towns of Hudson and Catskill, and surrounding area.

We arrived late Thursday night after driving up from work. I think it's best to get the driving out of the way so that on the full first day you can fully enjoy from the moment you awake. In the weeks leading up to our getaway we were pleading with mother nature to give us cooler temperatures as the temps had been unseasonably high into October. You know that expression be careful what you ask for? Yeah, we were sorry we asked for it because it was below freezing all weekend! Given it was so cold we balanced our time between coffee shop snuggles and sight seeing. We started our morning at the most eclectic coffee shop in Catskill, HiLO. After warming up with the perfect latte we drifted in and out of shops along Main St - I particularly recommend Magpies Bookshop.

From Catskill we crossed the Hudson River and drove up to the beautiful Olana State historic House. It is my absolute favorite destination in the Hudson Valley and I couldn't miss the chance to see it again. Luckily the cold scared away most, so we were able to get on a tour without pre-planning (which I recommend doing). The house is designed by a 20th Century artist and it is modeled after his worldly travels while creating art. The house and surrounding grounds are sublime. After braving the cold for long enough we made our way into Hudson and straight for a some warm coffee. The MOTO Coffee/Machine was the perfect chill hang out. Once our bodies thawed out, we braved the cold again and meandered in and out of the vintage shops along Warren St. There are so many cool spots here which I'll list at the end of this post! 

The second day was planned to be all about nature and so we decided to hit the trail up to Giant's Ledge. But first coffee (always). We went a little out of the way to Gracie's Luncheonette, but totally worth it. This place started out as a food truck, but now is the coziest place for breakfast (and the best donuts). We filled up our table with eggs, waffles and an abundance of caffeine to prepare us for our long hike. The drive down to the trail was scenic and worthwhile. The peak foliage colors were on their last leg but the winding roads were enjoyable nonetheless. The trail was faintly marked but we found it and began our journey. The cool temperatures weren't a bother once we got moving and the trail certainly challenged us at points. An hour and a half later we reached the peak and were rewarded with a wonderful view of the entire valley. It was truly worth the trek. We took our time at the top for some pictures and to soak in the views. We descended the trail slowly really enjoying our time in the outdoors. Before heading out to our Air Bnb in Saugerties, we decided to explore the town of Woodstock, and we were glad we did! We warmed up with some hot cider at the Garden Cafe and explored all the diverse shops, I recommend checking out Candlestock in particular.

Day 3

 Our final day was planned to be spent at Storm King Art Center, a destination I've been anticipating for years. We started the morning at Bluestone Coffee Roasting in Saugerties for some coffee and quick bites. We headed straight to Storm King so that we would have ample time to explore. And explore we did. The grounds are a sprawling oasis, an adult playground of sorts. Giant and marvelous sculptures sprinkle the open area. The contrast between nature and the man made art is ever-present throughout. There is even an art sculpture that only incorporates the nature which was by far my favorite. We frolicked among the hills and grass for hours. Enjoying the sunny day and taking the immaculate grounds. I would recommend to anyone visiting the Hudson Valley that Storm King is a must see and I regret waiting so long to see it! 

The second leg of our trip took us over the border and into Canada to explore the multicultural city of Vancouver and it's surrounding arctic escapes. The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is a quick and enjoyable 2 hours. Vancouver is  small city with the perfect blend of green spaces and urban hideouts, made to be explored by bike or foot. The surrounding mountains and lakes are otherworldly, join me on my journey through the capital of British Columbia.

Our road-trip out of Seattle started with a stop at the impressive campus of the University of Washington, and the incredible Suzzallo Library - something out of Hogwarts. After taking some very insta-worthy snaps at the library we drove over to the neighborhood of Ballard for a diner breakfast from Skillet and roamed the Sunday Ballard Farmers Market. The 2 hour drive into Vancouver was quick and pleasant, once we dropped our stuff we headed out to the historic Gastown area. We strolled down Water street, and took in all the old buildings, vintage lampposts and steam clock.

The next day was another early start, as we made our way north to Joffre Lakes, and what was anticipated to be our highlight of the trip. It did not disappoint. An early start meant most of the drive in the dark, but the light revealed itself at the perfect time as we found ourselves in a labyrinth of snow capped mountains that seemed to touch the sky. As we drove like wide eyed children on Christmas morning we found a stop off at a lake with a walking trail around it. We ran to the water, icy air clinching out lungs, and marveled at the autumn colors and mountains that surrounded us as the morning mist rose off the lake. We pinched ourselves and completed our drive to Joffre Lakes. We were the first car that pulled into the lot, which was a bit nerve-racking, but also fulfilling because we heard this park is very popular. Early starts and off-season visits were definitely paying dividends. We hit the trail and made our way to the first lake. The first lake was slightly underwhelming, but we continued with hope and after an hour of a difficult climb we sighted the emerald glacier lake in the distance. Our pace increased as we hurried to the lake and were overwhelmed with what was before us. Just the 2 of us and this magnificent glacial lake. We managed to make a few bird friends and continued our way around the lake taking in views from every angle. 

After we rested a bit, we made our way up to the final of 3 lakes. the climb was much more rugged and not for those that don't enjoy a physical challenge. But like everything the effort was worth the reward. This last lake was by far the most enchanting. Again we were alone with this tranquil emerald lake, with the glacial mountaintops within sight. We took our time at this spot and walked around the lake to enjoy all it had to offer. Looking back, this was certainly one of those moments you'll remember for life. The raw beauty that the world has to offer cannot be understated. We ascended the mountain and made our way into nearby Whistler for some much needed coffee at Camp Lifestyle and Coffee Co, the cutest little cabin coffee shop. Exhausted and inspired, we enjoyed the golden hour drive back to Vancouver. This was certainly a day to remember.

         

  

2 days in Vancouver

 Our next day was a little more leisurely as we spent the day exploring the city by bike. Our first destination was Stanley Park. On oasis on the edge of the city, Stanley Park reminds me of Central Park with the winding roads and balance between nature and urban space.After exploring most of the park we had our first hiccup as my bike got a flat tire. Luckily we made it through most of the park and had the bike rentals picked up and we carried on by foot. Ramen was our next stop and we indulged at Ramneman (highly recommend). We walked through the districts of Vancouver Island and eventually caught a ferry to Granville Island where we wandered the endless shops of the market stands.  It was great and relaxing day.

The next day, and our last of this incredible trip, we went to the Capilano Suspension bridge and the surrounding park. This was definitely a worthwhile stop and a cool sight to walk along this 450 ft bridge that was accompanied by walkways among the trees. Our last hours were spent wandering the last corners of Vancouver Island we had yet to see as we waited for our flight home.

PNW you were a dream, thank you for revealing your natural beauty to me I am forever humbled.