LE CATCH

$119, zara

This bohemian beauty might as well come with a tag that says Ibiza or bust!

1. Zara dress, $119, zara.com

2. Roxanne Assoulin beaded ring set, $85, shopbop.com

3. Kilometres Paris crochet straw bag, $370, matchesfashion.com

4. Amanu Studio anklet chain sandals, $345, amanustudio.com

My back-to-business Monday morning detoured into back-to-summer-shopping due to Moda Operandi's sale that's fantastically stocked with coveted summer (and, yes, soon-to-be-fall) styles. I just treated myself to the fringed Johanna Ortiz skirt, above, for 50% off, and this Johanna Ortiz cute cotton shirt with attached bralette. Also great: this asymmetric button-front Ulla Johnson cardigan and crochet knit dress, below, these iconic studded Valentino flats, this fringed Zimmermann cotton mini skirt, and this striped Toteme cardigan. Shop it all here.

Earlier this week my sister landed on Nantucket--but her luggage did not. Another reason to travel light!

It was challenging to keep my eye on the tennis ball this morning as my opponent was wearing the cutest outfit. What was further distracting was that it was by an Australian brand I had not heard of--and needed to know more about before the match was up! As soon as I got home (post-loss), I learned that the activewear line is sustainably made with textural organic fabrics--which look unlike any other sports bras and leggings I've seen before. I also scored with some on-sale finds here and here!

Right now, I'm inclined to resurrect my wardrobe as a Seventeen Magazine editorial assistant in the 90s, with all the slip dresses, cropped cardigans, and bike shorts back in fashion. But, IMHO, this summer's most exciting old-is-new must-have is the strapless dress. Because it looks minimalist-modern and super sexy, plus it's day-to-night, casual-to-polished versatile. For my summer whirlwind, I want these strapless stunners by Staud, Tibi (on sale), Tove (below), Norma Kamali, Matteau, and Gabriela Hearst (similar looking to Chanel pictured above and on sale!). Note how all of these dresses cited are more voluminous on the bottom to compensate for bareness on top! Read: elegant!

$498, netaporter

This cotton-blend knit dress screams summer night-sexy!

Nowadays it's rare to come across a dress that's not $400.

It should come as no surprise that the scene outside the Chanel haute couture show in Paris looked a lot like a runway show, replete with signature chain-link bags, nubby tweed and embellished boucle. But the real eye-opener was all the abs on display. Crop tops were out and about--and actually all over Paris this past week. And not just on the young and six pack-fit, but on women, like me! The key to pulling off this look is an extra high-waist bottom and some coverage on the arms. I'd like to get in on the action with these slightly cropped t-shirts by The Frankie Shop (last two pics), along with these unabashedly elegant statements from Ninety Percent, Prada (under an oversized blazer or button-down shirt), The Reformation, Good American, Jonathan Simkhai, and Isabel Marant.

I promised myself I wouldn't buy another sheer summery dress, but then Zara just served up this one for $129, laden with sequins and crochet, and. . . I couldn't resist. I suspect I won't be alone in purchasing it though--and certain it won't be available for long.

I wrote about this Toteme jacket way back last winter--and it sold out before I bought one for myself! (I hate when that happens!) But I just discovered that Toteme not only re-issued it but rendered it in this amazingly new versatile color, too. Sold!