More in the NYC restaurant series! Plus, a little outfit talk! This morning we visited Ralph’s Coffee, the coffee shop associated with Ralph Lauren’s flagship store. (And I believe they have locations in various other major international cities as well!) I took this as a fun opportunity to put together an oufit I had been conjuring up in my head the last couple days. Do you that? And then you try it on and it goes one of two ways: you realize you’re a total genius or you start to doubt your entire way of thinking when it comes to fashion! It’s usually the latter for me but for I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of this combo.

I’ve always loved the look of a cardigan tied around a lady’s shoulders but I’ve not really tried it before today. What was I waiting for?? I love how sophisticated it looks!! It’s a great pop of color and it elevates the entire outfit!

While I can’t link this specific lightweight cardigan because it’s sold out in this color - and on top of that - Reward Style won’t let me link to LOFT anymore - here’s the same sweater in navy, which I wore in this outfit. In the “Shop This Post” section at the bottom of this post, I’ve linked a similar light blue cardigan from J.Crew, however it is not a v-neck, sorry! But it is a great price today, like under $25… (And here is a similar but not the same fabric or color cardigan from LOFT that is 40% off today.)

Also, pro tip from the blessed-in-the-chest: this cardigan tied around my shoulders look is PERFECT for hiding the fact that one of the buttons on this shirt bulges a little over my bosom!! LOL (Hey, it works…)

Now switching gears to talk about the coffee (and tea)! I ordered an iced vanilla latte with nonfat milk. It was perfection! Seriously, so good. I wasn’t sure how fabulous the coffee would really taste because I don’t want to sound weird for saying that but I kinda figured it was more of a branding strategy / customer experience tactic for Ralph Lauren and less about the coffee itself. Wrong! SOOO GOOD! Granted I got a latte which isn’t exactly complicated but it was hot and that’s what sounded appealing - and it was delicious!

Darrell ordered the iced green tea and after about the second sip said in a very surprised tone, “This is possibly the best green tea I’ve ever had!”

So not only a fun experience for those who appreciate the work of Ralph Lauren among the fashion industry, but also a great stop for coffee or tea lovers!

The charming tables and chairs on the sidewalk were appropriately spaced out for social distancing and displayed pretty little white flowers in mint julep cups (obviously appreciated by two Kentuckians!)

And please note the bright blue sky - while super hot for even the morning hours, it was a beautiful morning for a walk across Central Park over to the Upper East Side! The sun was in just the right spot for tons of shadows in pictures (along with squinty eyes).

As for the rest of the outfit, it’s basically all items I’ve mentioned one or more before - great pieces that can be worn for a variety of looks. I’ve linked it all below. I’m especially loving these vintage-inspired cat eye sunglasses! I’m so drawn to the cat eye shape, even my prescription glasses (the last two pairs) have had a bit of an understated cat eye shape which seems to work well for my face shape.

While Darrell jokingly takes photos of me from this angle just because I don’t like it, I kinda like this one… despite it not being the most flattering - because it captures the happiness of the moment. :) So grateful he supports my endeavors. He’s such a good blogger husband, always willing to take photos, and more photos, and more photos! I’m one blessed gal!!

Speaking of the hubby, I love this selfie we snapped strolling through The Mall in Central Park on our way back from coffee this morning. It’s quite possibly my favorite part of Central Park. There is a saxophonist who is there every day, playing lovely music for passersby. It’s such a serene part of the park, shaded and lined with benches. Maybe I’m drawn to the symmetry? It’s just a very pleasant place to visit, to sit and think awhile.

One more note about the outfit: I’ve been wearing these earrings so much lately! They’re very grand millennial, and just grandiose in general, maybe even a little royal-inspired. (Granted they’re not very visible in these photos, but they’re linked below!) Whatever it is, I’m digging it. Giant pearls and tons of ornate detail. 😍

Shop this post below!

Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian or medical professional and while I share what ingredients work for me or what I choose to eat (at my own risk) while dining out, I advise you do your homework when choosing ingredients and places to eat. I highly encourage everyone to do their own research when it comes to the products they cook with or restaurant’s procedures. I do not have celiac disease but rather a gluten-intolerance and I’m not an expert on gluten or other food intolerances, autoimmune diseases, or food allergies. I simply share the ingredients I have found work for me, the places where I’ve dined and my personal experiences.