The Bagel Bible

The true guide to New York City’s bagels.

The bodega around the corner most likely has “bagels” 24/7, but nothing compares to a true, fresh-out-of the-oven NYC bagel. Back in CT, I find myself craving these all the time so now that I’m back, it’s hard to stop eating them! Here’s my list of the top places to hit up (and places to steer clear of).

• Hudson Bagels– Far and away the best bagels you will find in New York City. Luckily, this small, family-owned bagel shop isn’t super trendy and never has outrageous lines like many of these other places (a major + in my mind).
• Murray’s Bagels– Overhyped and not worth the wait for a crunchy bagel. They do, however, have a very wide variety of cream cheese flavors.
• Tompkins Square Bagels– Always incredibly crowded here. The line wraps around the store and out the door. That being said, their bagels are to die for.
• H&H– One of the most famous bagel shops in the city. I don’t think they are worth the trek uptown, but if you’re in the area, may as well check it off your list
• Bagels on the Square– First of all, it’s actually a bit of a walk from the square, unlike the name suggests… That being said, these bagels are just .. blah. Go to Hudson Bagels.
• Bagel Bob’s– This is the NYC Freshman bagel headquarters. It’s right on University so it’s easy to stop in and grab something to munch on on the way to Stern. Unfortunately, the line can get very long during passing time.

Sartorial Stars – Grace

Grace H.
Madison, WI
Junior, University of Wisconsin
Digital Studies & Communication Arts

How would you describe your style in a few words?

“My style ranges from bohemian to chic. I like simple pieces that create a clean, minimalistic outfit.”

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Who is your fashion icon? Is there anyone you try to emulate when getting dressed?

“My fashion icon is Gigi Hadid. her street style is effortlessly chic.”

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What is your favorite trend to wear?

“My favorite trend right now is t-shirt dresses. Although it is difficult for me to find one that isn’t to boxy on me because I’m petite, the tight dress can be thrown on for a quick errand or paired with a necklace and sandals for a classier look.”

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And what’s your least favorite trend right now?

“My least favorite trend right now is overalls. Unless you are a painter, under five years old, or at a Wisco game day, they have no place in your closet.”

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What’s your favorite piece of clothing in your closet?

“My favorite thing in my closet is a pair of short, black leather boots with cut out stripes on the sides from Urban Outfitters. They were on sale for $30 and they are a versatile staple in my closet.”

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When you don’t know what to wear, what’s your go-to outfit?

“My go-to outfit is my grey t-shirt dress, black boots, and leather jacket.”

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What are some of your favorite stores to shop at?

“My favorite stores to shop at are Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Forever21, and Asos.”

New York

“The Big Apple. The City That Never Sleeps. Or just The City. Whatever you call it, we’re all on the same page. New Yorkers are a special breed of human being that can live in tiny spaces and work extra long hours while dressing very well and being very beautiful.” -Homepolish

Killer Heels

I touched on this in Paris, but it’s even more true in Manhattan. If you intend to wear heels on a day you will be walking a lot, be careful… you may never walk again.

As a former dancer, my feet have built up a very high pain tolerance, but sometimes it’s too much for me. A girl can only push through the pain of so many blisters. I’m usually running a few minutes behind schedule and have to rush from one place to the next. Speed walking in heels on the uneven sidewalks of New York, carrying a heavy bag filled with textbooks is always a recipe for disaster.

Here’s my favorite pair to wear around. They look great and are not too tall to be uncomfortable on my hasty runs to class.
I asked around and here’s some of the best advice I got for wearing heels in the Big City:

1. Don’t wear suede heels in the winter because they WILL get wet and they WILL be ruined. forever.
2. Get a pair with a thick, sturdy heel not a tiny little skinny one unless you want to eat s***.
3. Get some comfy gel inserts or wear shoes with platforms. The sidewalks of the City will have no mercy on the balls of your feet.
4. Don’t wear stilettos in the West Village or Chelsea because the cobblestone will destroy the heels.
5. Make sure your destination has a seat!
6. Carry blister band aids with you at all times. There’s nothing worse than blisters you can’t do anything about.

Back to School Shopping. New York Style.

What would a new school year be without some new outfits to freshen up your wardrobe? And while online shopping is good fun, why spend your time hunched over your laptop when you could go out in the fashion capital of the world?

Since we arrived a few days early, I dragged my friends out with me to enjoy the nice weather. We went up Fifth Ave because I am still holding a grudge against SoHo after some unfortunate events last year. Near us, Fifth Ave has a lot of chain retailers so we took a peek around there before heading down some smaller side streets. One of my favorite stores, PinkyOtto, is near the Flatiron so we headed over there next.

I’ve been dying to try wearing hats so with the encouragement of my friends, I finally bought one. We’ll see if I actually end up wearing it though. I also bought a simple, striped t-shirt dress. There is an adorable triangle cutout on the back though, making it more fun than a plain shirt dress.

Back at It

It’s finally move in day! Two of my friends and I get to move into our suite a few days before everyone else (and set up our territory).

My new room is to die for. Even though it’s the small, white-walled cube you’d expect from a dorm room, I managed to make it comfortable, chic, and as close to a pinterest-worthy design as possible.  I’m still setting up and adding the finishing touches, but I’ll post as soon as it’s complete. I may even like it more than my room last year! It’s interesting to see how tastes and styles change over time. Each year, I try to go for something a little different. Last year was classic and girly with a little posh touch. This year, my inspiration words were sleek and chic (with a touch of basic-@$$ pinterest style).

Although I’m not in Paris anymore, there should be plenty of interesting things going on in the city to keep me posting. This fall term, I’m taking a fashion business seminar in which we meet with heads of some large (and hopefully high-profile) fashion brands in order to advise them on the most practical strategies for their businesses going forward. Not going to lie, I’m terrified to be under that kind of pressure, but I know it will definitely an amazing learning experience. My other classes are generic business requirements, but I’m definitely looking forward to them as well.

As if my class schedule isn’t busy enough, I’m interning at a big bridal salon and CollegeFashionista (follow my profile!). I’m thrilled to have these opportunities. Through my ballet school, I had multiple chances to experience the magic of wedding gowns. During one of their bridal fashion shows, I danced as a munchkin from the Wizard of Oz. Over the years, I’ve worn quite a few bridal dresses in various NAYB productions. When I was in 5th grade, I played Clara in the Nutcracker and got to pick my dress from the bridesmaid department at Kleinfeld. The staff was incredible and I can’t wait to become part of the team that makes bridal dreams come to life (as cheesy as that sounds).

I will be posting ‘Sartorial Star’ interviews with peers, friends, and stylish people I see on the street! If you’re interested in being featured, email me at HerseyKissesBlog@gmail.com

It’s going to be a busy busy year, but a fascinating one so be sure to check in once in a while to see what’s new!