The Natty Style Files for Cosmopolitan: Where I Went & What I Wore: 2 Parties, 1 Dress

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The Natty Style Files for Cosmopolitan: A Wedding in Monaco

Welcome to The Natty Style Files, a peek into the world of a fashion-obsessed gal, making a name for herself in the Big Apple, bite by bite. Expect plenty of style advice and tips to share in the fun! Read Natty's first column here.

Recently I was invited to a wedding in Monaco. The bride: a vivacious, twentysomething, Jersey-born brunette who works for a storied fashion house in NYC. The groom: a handsome banker from a well-to-do French family, with eyes for nobody but his betrothed. The two address each other with a mix of French and English pet names, live a life deemed comfortable by anyone’s standards, and above all, exude the sort of romance and passion that inspire Nicholas Spark novels. You want to hate them but you can’t because their warmth and love radiates to everyone and anyone they come in contact with. Of course, I didn’t know most of this at the time — because the invitation came in the form of a “plus one” from my best friend, Krystal.

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Vogue & Brahmin Host Dinner at the Hotel Giraffe

No matter what your size, shape, age or hair color – just about every girl loves a little arm candy.  But before dessert, there must be dinner… Which is why Vogue’s dinner party for Brahmin handbags made for a perfectly balanced meal!  On the enclosed rooftop of the Hotel Giraffe, about 30 stylists, editors and bloggers met for an evening of gabbing and bagging.  The hosts of the evening were Brahmin and Vogue’s ‘Style Council’: a team of tastemakers, including Hannah Bronfman, Kim Pesch, Ann Colville Somma and Lisa von Weise.

The storied handbag brand, Brahmin has been family run for decades, and the passion of it’s employees is contagious.  Details like handles inspired by guitar straps, and clasps from antique bags add to the brands rich heritage – while pops of cobalt blue and crossbody styles appeal to modern style-setters.  One of my personal faves, the Mini Kathleen in black – is a killer combination of rock n’ roll cool, crafted in lux, crocodile stamped leather, which rings in at a reasonable $225.  And as promised, after dinner must come dessert… Imagine our delight when the meal ended, and servers brought out an Ophelia bag from the Polished Party Collection for each and every one of us!

[CLICK BELOW] For more photos & wardrobe credits.

Me n' the lovely Cara Crowley (head of special events at Vogue)

[Wearing: Helmut Lang top, Chanel bag courtesy of Bella Bag, Paolo Errico skirt, Ralph Lauren Collection Sandals]

My date, designer Hunter Bell et Moi with our new scores!   Thank you Brahmin! <3

Head of Marketing/PR for Brahmin, Natalie Joos

Natty Style Files for Cosmopolitan: How I Became a Professional Stylist

I am Natalie Decleve. I am a New York-based stylist and fashion correspondent, and founder of Natty Style, LLC. I am a travel addict, aesthete and foodie, feminist, and hopeless romantic. Home is a fifth floor studio in Manhattan’s West Village, which I’ve dubbed my Treehouse because of all the stairs you’ve got to climb to get there. I spend my days dressing my clients — the men and women of NYC — and writing for various media outlets. I spend my nights soaking up all that this rich and wild city has to offer. I am thankful each and every day to be living the dream that I envisioned as a kid growing up in California, many moons ago. Well, not exactly my dream, because as a kid, I dreamed of working in a flower shop during the day and bartending at night to afford a shoebox apartment in the center of Times Square. Thankfully, I came to my senses before I made that move. I realized that Times Square was the last place in NYC (and on Earth) where one would ever want to live, and re-calibrated my career compass toward fashion...

[CLICK HERE] To read the first edition of The Natty Style Files for Cosmo: details on how I made my dream a reality, and get tips on how to do the same with yours!

20 Frighteningly Fashionable Halloween Inspired Pieces

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A Valentine from Natty Style for Valentine-NYC

Valentine was begun by two gals, looking to bring romance to every day reality.  By photographing individuals in their own homes, own clothes, and interviewing them on their most intimate moments - the site breeds an authenticity that's charming and seductive.

So it makes sense that what started as a simple blog, has snowballed into a brand that will include products that speak to a the amorous lifestyle.  An exclusive fragrance and lingerie line are both due to launch in December, along with a host of events at Art Basel Miami.

As a female entrepreneur, I was thrilled to support these like minded ladies by working with them to create a feature for their site.  Below are highlights and video from the shoot, or click [HERE] for the real Valentine.

Gros bisous!

xx

Natty Style

NATTY [Life] STYLE: Gypset Gemini Travels to Tulum, Mexico

For my birthday this year, I decided to go all out to celebrate.  The theme: “Gypset Gemini” began with a big bash that included a tarot card reader and Mediterranean feast at a friend’s place in the city, and finished with a trip to Tulum, Mexico with my best girlfriends.

The term “Gypset” is a hybrid between Gypsy and Jetset - so Tulum was a perfect destination, with it’s eco-centric economy and rustic, bohemian charm…

Tulum is notorious for feeling more removed and relaxed than it’s noisy neighbors, Playa del Carmen and Cancun.  However – don’t be fooled by the thatched roofs and jungle backdrop.  This spot’s secret has been out for a while; and plenty of big city folk have since decamped to enjoy the simpler life - or just spend a few days off the grid and unplugged.  With this migration, comes a certain caliber of dining and shopping studded along the dirt roads and lush landscape.  Luckily, even those associated with celebrity restaurateurs (such as the insanely delicious Hartwood – owned by Peasant’s Eric Werner of NYC) are executed with such respect that they blend seamlessly into Tulum’s wild vibe.  That being said, I enjoyed every fish taco and michelada I had from the moment we landed; be it from a roadside stand, beach shack, or recommended dining “destination”.  So don’t be afraid to explore!

Speaking of exploring… Besides lying in the sun and stuffing your face with the best guacamole of your life, there is plenty to do in Tulum.  Located on the Riviera Maya (at the eastern end of the Yucatan Peninsula) – Tulum is home to several archeological sites housing Mayan ruins that have been impressively preserved through the decades.  While we didn’t make it as far inland as Coba, we did enjoy Zama’s spectacular bluff side views that are responsible for it’s name, meaning City of Dawn.

Not to be missed is the unique, natural wonder of the cenotes.  Created by collapsed limestone bedrock, these sinkholes reveal crystal clear groundwater from deep below the earth - occasionally reaching as deep as 100km!  There are several in the area, but after a morning tour at Zama, we drove across town to the Gran Cenote for our Ariel-mermaid-style adventure.  Stalactites reach from below and above – and birds and bats alike fluttered above our heads while we swam around in the glowing waters.  Believed to have magical powers, many locals visit daily – and I certainly did my best to soak up a little extra birthday magic...

On the way back through town, we stopped at Charlie’s where we loaded up on authentic Mexican cuisine before picking through the local shops for treasures like woven hammocks, richly embroidered clothes and textiles, silver and brightly painted pottery.  My favorite scores of the trip included an embroidered muslin dress (which, I later realized was meant for a 9 year old and consequently had to be expanded in the armpits lest I resemble a quasi-moto-scarecrow while wearing it) and an impeccably crafted, tan/white cowhide bag.  Each for less than the price of it’s counterpart at Zara.

When the sun sets and bedtime looms, there are dozens of boutique hotels to choose from along the resort strip, but don’t expect to see a Ritz Carlton, Best Western or any other big chain hotels of any kind (thank God!).  With the exception of Be Tulum and a few others, most of them don’t have air conditioning, and some even limit their electricity to certain hours.  So for those of you who hate to sweat, or can’t function without a hair dryer – bring a hat, wear a braid or just get over it.  We stayed at the limestone stacked Coqui Coqui, famous for it’s lux line of essential oils and fragrance.  The vibe was whisper quiet and relaxed, with spacious rooms and a concierge girl so hip we wanted to befriend her.  Amansala is well known for it’s yoga and bikini bootcamp programs, and Ahau Tulum offers hip digs at affordable rates.

[TIPS]

[PACKING]  Don’t bring heels of any kind, jeans or even makeup.  Do bring gauzy, lightweight dresses, cover-ups, flip-flops, straw hats and bohemian jewelry.  Bras and bikini tops optional.

[SHOPPING] There are loads of chic boutiques all up and down the resort strip.  For the most local, inexpensive and specialty crafts – head toward the north end.  And of course, in town there are tons of beautiful artisanal creations mixed with cheesy souvenirs for next to nothing.  Don’t be afraid to barter!

[BRING THE BUG SPRAY] The jungle landscape and tropical climate are a heaven for mosquitoes...and a nightmare for bare legs and arms.  On the beach there’s generally no problem, but around sunset on the jungle side it's like a plague of locusts every single evening.

[WALK OR BIKE]  There’s no need to rent a car in Tulum, which is great news for New Yorkers who may or may not even have a license.  Cabs are plentiful and cheap, and bikes are simple to rent.  But it’s easy to go through an entire day on foot as majority of shopping, hotels and restaurants are conveniently located on one main strip.

Happy hippie travels xx

Natty

Racked Shopping Confidential: My Stationary Secrets!

Recently, I was asked to contribute to Racked's "Shopping Confidential" section to highlight one of my favorite undiscovered shopping destinations in NYC.  I Pay Day Loans chose one of my favorite gift shops, which also specializes in custom letterpress stationary.  Click [HERE] for the full story on Racked!

Natty Style's Shopping Tips for METRO NY

[VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE] Or pick up a copy of Metro NY TODAY for a print version!