LE CATCH

For my Mexico trip last week, I switched out my everyday leather Celine bag for a canvas Prada tote that features (oh so suitably) a playful sombrero and cactus print. And I've been carrying it ever since, maybe, because it reminds me of the fun I had, or just because, well, why not, I can! I think like this cute new Topshop bag would work the same kind of happy-go-lucky tricks (it has a shoulder strap so I could sling it across my body!), plus make a super with-it, everywhere-cool statement.

$125, netaporter

My basket bag obsession continues with this little beaut--a spring vacation must!

1. Faithfull The Brand crepe midi dress, $220, netaporter.com
2. Saint Laurent sunglasses, $350, shopbop.com
3. Anne Sisteron ear cuff, $215, annesisteron.com
4. Muun basket bag, $125, netaporter.com
5. Gucci slides, $250, nordstrom.com

These days it seems we all have at least one friend made via Instagram. That's how I met and started corresponding with Candice Miller, a fellow and like-minded New York City native, blogger (mamaandtata), fashion insider, mother, and now designer! She just launched a collection of right-up-my-alley dresses that manage to be pretty and feminine plus versatile and hard-working. In other words, hard-to-find closet keepers. You'll definitely want to check out her entire collection here!

Fashion has a knack for taking clothing that's inveterately practical and making it suddenly posh. The latest example is the fleece jacket, which has segued this season all the way from country parts to Paris couture week! Designers, like Sandy Liang (above, also here) and Loewe (immediately below and last pic) are elevating this functional, easy-to-layer piece with peppy prints, bright zips and luxe leather trims. While Patagonia, the OG fleece jacket maker offers its own fresh (and wallet-friendly) interpretations of this trend (like this and this!), I also dig these takes from Tory Burch, Aries (similar to immediately below), The Frankie Shop, and Madewell.

I've long loved Ulla Johnson's consistent and compelling interpretation of bohemian-chic (i.e., feminine prints, intricate embroidery, hand-loomed knits, ruffles and volume!), but recently I became obsessed with the designer's Instagram selfies. Typically, they don't feature her face, but, of course, her clothing, specifically and tellingly their standout details--and how she wear wears them and brings them to (real) life. It's entrancing, and at the same time, it makes me want to buy everything she shows, including the super cute tie-waist jeans, above, the pretty frilly lace-up dress, below, the floral lavender blouse, and the embroidered sweater. I want it all, plus this, this and this!

Earlier this week my husband and I escaped to Cabo San Lucas for just 52 hours. Despite being short on time, I managed to cram in loads of dress-wearing including the Cult Gaia, above, along with whale watching, taco eating, beach-running, and bikini-ing! It was also glorious to indulge in one-on-one time with my hubby and soak in some (LA-elusive) sunshine. Here are my express style highlights!

My first ocean dip of the trip involved this cute new fringed bikini! As I am wont to do, I wore the top backwards! Even better than its versatility, however, is its $14 price tag. Yup, that's right!

This one-shoulder eyelet from Lisa Marie Fernandez reaped compliments left and right. It's major drama in a dress!

My husband wasn't a huge fan of this high-waisted bandeau bikini--but that didn't stop me from wearing it! ;) I adore its batik print, and layered under my (on sale!) Zimmermann lace blouse, it's lunchtime-perfect.

The embroidery on this Innika Choo is so exquisitely pretty, and I love that it goes from beach to (taco) bar!

Another inexpensive (H&M) bikini, another beach day success!

A few years ago, at the end of a Malibu afternoon on the beach, I began the motherly duty of packing up and schlepping the day's equipment. Lugging the towels, picnic basket, flip flops, boogie boards, etc, (while my boys carried the surfboards and wetsuits, thank goodness!), I headed down the beach, feeling very sherpa-mom-lame-o--i.e. not sexy. Suddenly, I saw a pair of bare feet in front of me and heard a perky voice say, "Hi!" I looked up and beheld the opposite of how I felt at that moment, maybe the most drop-dead pretty girl you could have found on the beach in Malibu that day (and there are a lot of pretty girls on the beach in Malibu). At first, I thought she had mistaken me for someone else, but no, she assured me. Raychel Roberts, she re-introduced herself to me, a model I had met while working at Lucky some years before. She seriously is mermaid-like pretty and her style is California-bohemian perfection. Since that day, we have spent many sunny afternoons on the beach together, talking fashion (she's obsessed with vintage!), watching our hubbies and my boys surf and talking more fashion. Now, you all can get on this girl's style secrets, too, and benefit from her masterful vintage sourcing, as she recently launched a curated shopping site The Chasseresse, featuring the most gorgeous, feminine-leaning finds like the slinky slip dress I am wearing, above in Mexico yesterday. You can read more about her and see just how insanely pretty she is here in Vogue!

My boring, always pulled-back hair could use (at the very least) a statement barrette! With these hair accessories currently all the rage, there's lots of options to choose from, including the (backordered!) Gucci, above, this rhinestone Pixie Market, below, (also cute is this set), this bobby pin-inspired Marc Jacobs and this sculptural Something Navy.

France's pharmacies are famous for their miracle-working beauty products, but did you know Italy offers the coolest cold remedies? I'm talking specifically about the Milanese and their strategies for looking chic in the face of winter's chill! Right now, during men's fashion week in Milan, women are busting out the most stylish winter-proof accessories, from eye-popping jackets (the Prada, above, is on sale here!) to fur-trimmed, outfit-punctuating leather gloves to high-octane scarves and stoles. I'd like to follow suit in these amazing, over-the-top extras from Gucci, Kule, Ugg, Heurueh, and Asos (similar to below).

$168, madewell

Heading into LA's week-long rainstorm like. . . (P.S. Click through the link to see this jacket's true cuteness!)

1. Acne oversize striped sweater, $470, netaporter.com
2. Madewell sherpa-lined jacket, $168, madewell.com
3. Re/Done jeans, $225, netaporter.com
4. Chloe leather tote bag, $1190, nordstrom.com
5. Adina Reyter diamond pin post earrings, $298, shopbop.com
6. Veja sneakers, $140, shopbop.com