summer style
Monday, July 9
I went to a wedding in Palm Beach this past weekend and spent much of my time cooling off in the 82-degree Atlantic and the hotel pool. It left me thinking that seaside (or poolside) style is not so much about your swimsuit as it is your cover-up. From evening dress-glitzy, to bohemian-embroidered, to barely there-gauzey, there are many statements to be made with your kaftan choice. I think this one above is very Palm Beach-chic, with its playful fringe and candy-bright hue. I'd wear it with...
1. Woo kaftan, $39, ilovewoo.com (*enter promo code TODAY at checkout to get this price)
2. Forever 21 straw scalloped edge hat, $14, forever21.com
3. J. Crew paisley bikini top, $60, jcrew.com; paisley bikini bottom, $52, jcrew.com
4. Miu Miu sandals, $750, barneys.com
black and white
Friday, July 6
I own seven pairs of white jeans, each of them slightly different in their cut, length, and comfort. They're all fail-safe though, appropriate for the most summery activities, from picnics to breezing around foreign monuments. I tend to wear them casually, like everyone else, with flat leather sandals, but this picture inspires me to amp them up a bit and try them with tough black strappy sandals, kind of like these.
Photo: Sincerely Jules
slip in
Friday, July 6
I bumped into a stylist (of the uber Hollywood ilk) friend of mine the other night, and as usual, she looked unerringly hip, in black cropped leather-like jeans, a white t-shirt and red ballet slippers, which dutifully worked to give her basic outfit a jolt of French girl-chic. Since I've seen her, I've been steadfastly wearing my red flats out and about with...
1. Vionnet asymmetric silk top, $770, netaporter.com
2. Topshop sleeveless blazer*, $90, topshop.com
3. Alexander Wang washed leather chain handle bag, $923, mytheresa.com
4. Gap ballet flats, $39, gap.com
5. Current Elliot gray leopard jeans, $79, barneys.com
* Wear this sleeveless blazer unbuttoned and open for a swingy vest-like effect..
bag envy
Thursday, July 5
A friend of mine has this iconic Alexander Wang bag in black and whenever she wears it I feel crazy pangs of jealousy. I particularly love the rose gold hardware--such an elegant and original accent. So, it's a nice twist of fate that I stumbled across this light mint version at the Outnet, at more than half off the original price. Yes!
skirting the issue
Thursday, July 5
I am not much of a long skirt-wearing type of girl. But lately I've been rethinking that, as I've been seeing stylish girls sporting them about town in ways that look fresh and new, like with an untucked fitted sweater (such as in this pic), or with a hip-skimming belted t-shirt. I love how this striped pleated skirt looks vintage and also sort of Anna Sui meets Marc Jacobs. I also appreciate its year-round versatility. Right now it would be cute with a simple white tank top, but as soon as fall is in the air, I'd work it in my own fresh and new way with...
1. Miu Miu belted split back sweater, $745, netaporter.com
2. Tassia Canellis earrings, $48, stevenalan.com
3. Topshop duffle bag, $76, topshop.com
4. Vince ankle boots, $498, bergdorfgoodman.com
5. Asos striped skirt, $74, asos.com
red hot
Tuesday, July 3
I have a pair of red pants that I wear pretty religiously. I turn to them when I am feeling uninspired, outfit-wise. (Which is more often that you would think, considering what I do!) Putting them on gives me a foundation on which to build--and yields major zing as well. As it happens, designers from Gucci to Peter Som are big on red pants this coming fall. Here are some options from Jenni Kayne and AG Jeans that are pretty darn hot.
Photo: Thestreetfashion5xpro
off duty dress
Tuesday, July 3
Despite the Fourth of July falling mid-week this year, the celebration, it seems, will be as multi-faceted as ever. With back-to-back barbecues on either side of the holiday, and a parade and fireworks in between, this stylish, throw-it-on-and-go T by Alexander Wang dress I recently picked up will see me through at least part of the festivities...
1. T by Alexander Wang dress, $92, netaporter.com
2. Karen Walker sunglasses, $220, shopbop.com
3. Wayuu Taya bag, $180, netaporter.com
4. Ancient Greek sandals, $255, barneys.com
P.S. This is my version of patriotic-chic!
the great outdoors
Monday, July 2
My husband grew up camping. (Though I've never seen him do it, he's the type who could probably rub two sticks together and make a fire.) In recent years, he has gotten back into it with our kids, but truth be told, I've been apprehensive about going. Though I love the outdoors, and got my feet muddy at my share of Dead shows back in the day, I am a city girl at heart who has never been drawn to "roughing it."
As it turns out though, my kids inherited the camping gene as well (it may be their favorite activity), and thus recently, in what felt going-in like an act of motherly duty, I relented and agreed the time had come for me to camp.
This past weekend, along with my friend Minnie and her family, we packed our cars with tents, sleeping bags, surfboards, and coolers of food, and set out for rural North Santa Barbara County. I had assumed that inviting another city girl with me would somehow make the whole enterprise more palatable, since I would have someone to relate/complain to. Though I got that wrong, since it turns out that Minnie is an experienced and capable camper--it actually did not matter because we (yes - myself included) had an amazing time.
As we all know, there's something freeing about being away from city life. It's just easy to forget sometimes. The lack of cell phone reception and even a shower was rendered quite irrelevant in the face of nature's beauty. We awoke to the sun's first rays casting shadows of rustling willows on our tent, swam with seals in the ocean, came across hawks, cows and wild horses in the surrounding pastures, and nearly wandered into a rattlesnake nest. We also survived gale force winds that violently battered our tent during the night - at one point I thought we'd get swept up into the air like a flying saucer.
But we also did some very civilized things, like made scrambled eggs with goat cheese on our Coleman grill, and we also surfed and paddle boarded. Since this my fashion blog I would be remiss if I did not mention that somehow through it all, Minnie looked chic and perfectly in her element, layering a James Perse tank with a cozy Marc Jacobs sweater, and at night with a puffy Patagonia jacket!
I could go on and on about my voyage into the wilderness but I'd rather not, lest my husband happily forget how much I still enjoy a comfy hotel bed.
statement shoes
Monday, July 2
These are not your everyday shoes. But that's the point. They are over the top yet undeniably fun. Perfect for adding drama to an easy summer sheath--or just going all out big. Here's how I'd roll in them...
1. Topshop ikat print dress, $72, topshop.com
2. Alexis Bittar crystal encrusted extra small gold hoops, $145, charmandchain.com
3. Clare Vivier clutch, $155, shopbop.com
4. Asos pom pom heels, $140, asos.com
summer boots
Friday, June 29
What's your take on wearing booties during the summer? I admit it feels counterintuitive. In fact, I debated wearing my Isabel Marant Dicker boots to a Lucky cover shoot yesterday, because they felt so wintry paired with my black jeans. I ended up not wearing them, but when I arrived at the shoot, lo and behold, Lucky's fashion editor Elle Strauss was wearing her black Dickers with black jeans--and she looked as chic as can be, as usual. Here are some booties that I think are suitable for summer from Acne, Dolce Vita and Chloe. The ones in the picture above are Rag & Bone.
Photo: Hanneli Mustaparta