Fall Goodwill Pieces

I went to Goodwill today to drop off some clothes and other knick-knacks that have no place in my shoebox home anymore, and I decided to browse around and look at the sweaters and coats to see if there was anything worthwhile for fall. I LOVE buying winter stuff from Goodwill because the pieces are so...different? In stores, at least the ones that are on the typical fashion cycle, have pretty similarly cut clothes. And I'm always on the lookout for something a little bit different. And that I don't have to spend pre-fall prices on because well, unemployed.

And I think I had a VERY good day.

I am completely aware that it is too hot to wear any of this except the last dress, but hey. Just getting ahead.

1. Eddie Bauer Sweater - $5.49

The first thing I found was a long sweater-hoodie hybrid. It is extremely cozy and has a detachable fur lining on the hood. I would wear this out or even around the house - it's the perfect sweater for when you want to look a little bit put together but not put in much effort. And I think it would fare well even as outerwear till the end of this year - till the snow comes in, that is. Factoring in Eddie Bauer as performance wear cold weather, I'm hoping that it does it's job.

2. ABG sweater dress - $5.49

This baby still had the original tag on. It's in an XL, but works so well as a slouchy sweater dress. It looks oversized on me but hangs nicely. I love the leather detail on the sagging pockets. I'm sure I'll get loads of wear out of this. I'm also on the hunt for a pair of thigh-high boots, so paired with this, I think it'd both keep me warm and look like I tried at life, too.

3. Giacca coat - $6.79

This bomber styled quilted jacket is EVERYTHING. I've been on the hunt for a khaki coat, but I had enough jackets last season, so this was a welcome change to that line-up. It is ridiculously warm, and the (faux) fur detail gives it a nice touch. It also keeps me warm without making me look like I'm in my third term and about to pop.

4. Diane Von Furstenburg slip dress - $4.99

Need I say more. This silk (yes!) slip dress feels amazing on the skin, and I've worn it NON STOP. As a dress both belted and without and as a top tucked into shorts. It's so versatile and I think I can even get away layering it for the fall.

Like I said, the Goodwill Gods were definitely on my side today and I think for the prices, I snagged some insanely good deals. Now for the next haul...

Goodwill 101

I've gotten quite a few questions over the past few months relating to one thing - Goodwill shopping.
It's something that I wanted to do as soon as I came here because I've heard SO much about it from US based blogs and vlogs. Back in the UK, there is a similar concept called Charity Shopping but the stores are smaller and more full of bric-a-brac than clothes.

I thought I'd do a series of posts that basically help you all (well, my US based friends) shop at Goodwill!

There are a few things you need to know straight off the bat.

1. Goodwills can be HUGE. Some of them have clothes organised by size, some don't. Some organise by color, some don't. Some don't even organise past men's/women's. But that is exactly what makes it exciting. It's like a treasure hunt.
2. There are tonnes of Goodwills in NYC. Don't just look at the ones in midtown. The best ones are the ones that are in Brooklyn or even uptown (cause that's where you can score some designer shi*).
3. You need patience. Go through all the racks. It takes a few visits to really know what is worth it, what's overpriced and what you need to buy RIGHT NOW or you'll spend the rest of your life regretting it.

Items are typically priced between $5-25 (this is mostly clothing) but when you figure out the half-off color (will talk more about this later), you can score for as little as $1.50-2. I've gotten skirts for $2. With the original label on.

So here's a step by step to get you started.

1. Before you go, set a budget. It's VERY easy to buy a bunch of crap you won't even wear. There is a 7 day return policy, but who has time for that. I can say with pride that I've probably made only 2-3 bad buys out of the 38749832 things I've bought in the past six months.
2. Check which color is half off this week. Each item is color-tagged (I think it's blue, purple, green, pink, orange, yellow and white) with a specific price - so if all the blue tags are 1/2 off that week, you're going to be paying half of the price 
3. Make sure you have a good 2-3 hours set aside for this. Hit up a couple of Goodwills, not just one. Get lost in the racks.
4. Try on stuff. The lines to the changing rooms can get a bit crazy - but with the assortment of clothing, you never know what will look good on you - sometimes the most unexpected things do!
5. This is just my personal rule of thumb - either get things that look new or if they don't, at least they should have some sort of aesthetic value. Like a worn denim jacket where the previous owner has stitched on buttons and studs. NOT a ratty sweater with holes in it which looks like it's falling apart at the seams. 
6. Check out the homeware section. You can get new Ikea plates and mugs for less than a dollar. And some really cute crockery.

Some of my favorite Goodwill stores are at:

• 217 W 79th St - UWS - Great for designer/contemporary stuff. The shit that rich people throw away...
• 157 West 72nd Street - Same. I found some amazing shoes for $4
• 258 Livingston St - This one is huge. Stock changes almost every three days. My favorite buy is my camel Armani coat. 

I hope this helps! I will do another post with my favorite Goodwill buys next - seriously, this has become something of an addiction.

Post Break Detox: How to fix your life

Now that break is over I finally have to face reality. I have two more semesters left till I graduate. Therefore, I have to make some lifestyle changes.

Like waking up.
And going outdoors.
And interacting with humans.

Although all that sounds very, very difficult, I know I need to start somewhere. And I decided to make some skincare and other updates to my jet-set, riveting life.

The weather is now colder. It literally happened over night. One day it was 15C and the next day, it was 0. I guess it's officially winter when you can't open your window to let fresh air in because you're scared you'll die of pneumonia. My skin freaks out every time the seasons transition, be it back home or when I'm away. When it gets colder, my skin gets drier, therefore (bless it) it overcompensates with producing oil which gives me zits. It's a lovely cycle. There isn't much I can do when it starts, but I've gotten better at making sure it doesn't happen after the first couple times.

The first thing I'd like to talk about is the Vernal Spot Corrector. I don't know what N-E means but whatevs. It's a serum that is meant to erase acne scarring of which I have a bit thanks to my lovely zits. It's a slow working product but after three weeks of use, I saw results. I use this at night, under my moisturizer to even out my skintone.

I'm sure you've all heard of the whole stigma attached to how you shouldn't use oils on oily skin. Boo. It's all a lie. I find that when I use my deep pore cleanser, my skin dries out. And I need to put some oil in to kind of balance it out. I jumped on the Rosehip oil bandwagon months ago and I haven't looked back. It's a light, barely scented oil that absorbs really quickly and is brilliant for multipurpose use. I put it on my skin, my face, my hair and my nails. I got mine off Amazon (woot for Prime) but you can find it almost anywhere these days. I highly recommend it. It also dulls scarring so if you can't get your hands on a spot - correcting product as such, use this. I dislike the fact that a lot of the anti-scarring products have bleach - so thing is a nice, natural alternative. I don't know enough science to tell you what in Rosehip oil removes scars. Google it. And PM me.

I've been using charcoal and mud masks/products from the time I was a teenager and they've always, always worked for me. I jump between oily and combination skin, and charcoal is good for both. One thing I will say is that, never overuse charcoal. It's something that sucks all the crap out of your pores and dries you out. While that all sounds satisfying, using a charcoal based product every day will leave your skin feeling like a piece of paper. There are two products I've been using in particular, but of course, there are tonnes of alternatives. This Liora Organic Dead Sea Mud Mask Treatment is one of my favorite masks. It's almost like a mud-serum (trust me, it isn't as gross as it sounds) that goes on super light and dries, giving you a nice, light mask instead of those cementy ones where you feel like you'll crack your face off if you smile. It always leaves my skin feeling smooth and bouncy. I commit to using this around once a week and it works really well. This again, is off Amazon but you can find so many dead sea/charcoal masks on the market that work just as well.

Now, to the thing that my mother called a dish sponge. The Konjac Sponge is a natural exfoliator made from the Konjac root. Fun fact: another name for the Konjac flower is Voodoo Lily (I LOVE THAT). It's one of those Japanese beauty trends that has gone global. I have two - a white one and this black charcoal activated one. The white one is for every day use and this one is meant for a couple times a week. I first thought it'd be gimmicky as hell but NO. I cannot tell you how amazing my skin feels. I wet it, put my cleanser in the center of it and gently buff it into my skin. It removes EVERYTHING. Definitely on my holy grail list of Shit That I Put On My Face.

Lastly, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the number one rule to save your skin and fix your life is water. Hydration is basically the best thing that you can do to your skin. No amount of fancy cleansers, masks or serums can even level with the things that flushing out your system with those 6 or 8 or whatever the number of approved glasses is. I drink tea a lot too, which is a great anti-oxidant. I'm hooked to this fancy artisan tea that I treated myself to which is Ginger-peach. No milk, no sugar.

Also, being a dog person that lives in NYC, I know that it's going to be a while before I ever get a dog. So I bought a plant instead. Meet Cindy. She's a succulent and she can basically never die. Also, having plants around me keeps me calm and happy. Placebo? We'll never know.

The Inappropriate Fall Color

Anyone that knows me knows that I think a good, strong berry lip is life. And during the fall, even more so. But I've discovered a color that although has nothing to do with the festive season, has been sneakily finding its way onto my face.

Lilac. I've been obsessed with two products in particular, one of them which got me started on this bandwagon. I know that purple works with my coloring well, and I was wondering, what if I went lighter? Would it still work?

And I'm happy to report that it did! The nailpolish pictured above, NYC's Lexington Lilac (how apropos seeing that I go to school off Lex) has been on my nails for the past week. I've bought NYC's nailpolishes before and I've been absolutely stunned at the quality, for the price. It's a whopping 99c and it DOES NOT BUDGE. I put a Wet'N'Wild top coat over it and it has not chipped or faded in any way. It's a nice alternative to the reds, maroons and berries that are on everyone's fingers this season. I do recommend checking out their polishes, they're amazing!

Then I quickly decided I needed to lilac myself out. I went to the Wet'N'Wild section and I've always been a fan of their matte lipsticks. Again, I'm amazed how they can deliver such quality lipsticks at that price point. I picked up the shade Ravin' Raisin and I adore it. It's the perfect everyday neutral, with a hint of lilac thrown in. The formulation is insanely creamy and although I do have to reapply it during the day, I don't mind it.

Although I will always remain loyal to my vampy berry shades, I know I'll be wearing a sneaky bit of lilac this fall too. And these two drugstore brands never fail to disappoint!

Fall in NYC + A good ol' ramble

I think it was in Anne Of Green Gables where I heard of the quote 'I'm glad I live in a world with Octobers.' Granted, October is almost over, but I loved every bit of it. Although NYC gets the color changing deal really late in comparison to anything north of us, it's still a nice, draw out fall. The air feels cleaner (this is a complete illusion, I'm sure it's just as polluted as it is every other day), but it's all crisp and cool and lovely.

I'm usually someone that HATES the cold (Chennai-ite through and through), but thankfully my body has adjusted pretty well. To the point where I find 5-10 C (I still don't understand Fahrenheit) pleasant. Thank god for that.

These pictures were taken one day after work where I had an hour before class. I work really close to Central Park so I walked down to it. Even on the way there, I could see that the leaves were still pretty green, but I decided to go anyway. I went to the duckpond and oh my Lord, it looked like a fairtytale. And it was just what I needed.

So to all of you who have asked me countless times what it's like living in NYC, I can answer that question a bit now.

It's insane. It's a crazy mix of good days, bad days, okay days and weird days. No two days will ever have you feeling the same. I'm someone that likes to spend 90% of my time in the city (I live in Queens for now) and I go there to find both inspiration and energy and peace and quiet. And the city can give you that. If Manhattan didn't have parks, I don't think I'd survive. If it didn't have parades, and art exhibits, and street performers and pop up shops, I don't think I'd survive that either.

I've been here three months now and I can safely say that even though I've valiantly tried to explore as much as I can, I think I've seen a grand total of 5% of NYC. Thankfully, I have more time left to do the other 95. There is so much to see, and it's always changing. As someone that loves being around people and good energy, it is the perfect place to be. I study fashion, so that helps too. And no, I haven't met Beyonce. Or Kendall Jenner. I have, however, seen Anna Wintour (safe to say my life was made that day).

This doesn't mean that it's a super easy place to live in, by any means. It can get a bit too much. There are people everywhere, all the time. I have a secret mental list of quiet spots that I haunt when I want to get away from it all. People can get very rude for no reason at all and you'll hear racist/sexist slurs on the subway all the time. I've (touch wood) never had anyone say anything at me, but I've witnessed some pretty bad stuff. Usually drunk people who just want to say something to be heard. But the awesome part is there's always someone that'll break it up and tell the person who's being insulted to come take their seat at the other end of the car so they don't have to listen to that crap.

This is not my first time living away from home, so luckily I didn't have issues with culture shock or adjustment. I know that there are a lot of people who get really nervous about living abroad and leaving their home country. Especially coming to NYC. Don't be! It isn't that bad, and if it is, it ALWAYS gets better. You just need to find what works for you! Be it your own little set of 'rituals', a list of your favorite haunts and of course, great friends.

The city has so much to offer, and I love my own company now. I think I tend to prefer it (at least I do), because there's a lot of NYC that you should experience alone. Book readings, museums, concerts in the park. It's taught me to be a lot more independent and value 'me-time'.

I honestly have wanted this since I was 14, and I feel like I'm living the dream at 23 (Okay, now I just feel old). New York can teach you so much, and I have so much more to learn from it!