I'm going to have to keep it short and sweet today as I'm Minnesota-bound. Enter two Spring dresses from Edelweiss by Sarah, a Brooklyn-based label whose loveliness speaks for itself.
June Dress, with black chiffon obi, in the most perfect sky blue. So great for summer weddings. $325 @ Thistle and Clover.
Kelly Bergin is quickly becoming one of my favorite designers, The LA-based talent's gorgeous Spring/Summer collecton is full of light, breezy looks infused with just the right amount of sex appeal. It seems to meld the casual, laid-back style of a California girl with the effortlessly chic Parisienne. Paging through her lookbook, one would think such cleverness would cost a small fortune, but the price point is refreshingly affordable for a consumer still going through recession recovery (i.e. me).
I posted a couple of her looks yesterday, but I've decided you need to see more. It's hard to pick favorites from the current season, as I'm in love with most every piece, but here's a sampling. You can check out the lookbook in its entirety on her website.
Round out your summer wardrobe with a playful, sheer top or two. The styling possibilities are endless – you can dream up countless new combinations by layering them over contrasting tanks (nude + neon brights = winning strategy), or take your swimwear from the beach to the city streets by throwing it on over your bathing suit (an excellent solution for days when you haven’t any clean laundry). And if you dare, tease your fellow barflies on a night out by letting it peek out - sans base layer - from under a white blazer. Some excellent options:
Kelly Bergin Crochet Tank, $153 @ Otte.
I'd probably buy this just for the gorgeous bottle alone (it would make the perfect accoutrement for my vanity table!), but the excellent quality and rich, saturated color are what make YSL's La Laque in Ultra Orange my new favorite nail polish. It's a limited edition shade for summer, so make haste for the nearest YSL counter before they're all gone.
Don't be intimidated by its intensity -- it's surprisingly flattering and works with most skin tones (it pops like neon on darker complexions and looks beautifully dramatic on the fairest of the fair). If you like the look but don't want to go that orange, I'd suggest a punchy coral as a compromise. Essie's Flirt, is an old favorite, and won't set you back 20 bones.
YSL La Lacque in # 142 - Ultra Orange, $20.
Whoa. Vale's studded wraparound bracelets double as belts. My mind is blown.
I'm in love with the blue one. Vale Tiny Studded Bracelet in Blue/Gold , $85 @ Acrimony.
In which we shop with imaginary money and indulge our fanciest fancies.
The sunglasses of my dreams are $695 away. Of all of Persol's iconic designs, the Ratti in dark tortoise is my absolute favorite. Oh, how I'd love to hide behind those dark brown lenses.
Available at Silver Lining Opticians (who also have an awesome blog, by the way).
I'm currently crushing on this tunic from LA-based, Americana-inspired label Civil Smith. In a lightweight, perfectly washed out chambray that somehow manages to make a bleach accident look sexy, it’s the perfect unfussy throw-on for summertime strolls, days spent lounging in the park, and last-minute, haven’t-got-a-thing-to-wear meetups.
Civil Smith 26PC Tunic Dress, $136 @ Otte.
Do my eyes deceive me, or are these beautiful, creamy wedge oxfords with woven detail really only $58?
As New York remains suspended somewhere between winter and spring, my wardrobe grows ever more confused, and as a result, increasingly sloppy. Though rays of resplendent sunshine may peek through my blinds in the morning, a most unfriendly chill greets me the moment I step out of doors, causing goosebumps to spring to attention. Alternatively, a dark, forbidding sky might yield a surprisingly warm and gentle rain. My biggest complaint about such capricious weather is that I’m not able to embrace either season, and the resulting hodgepodge of neither-here-nor-there, multi-seasonal “outfits” (if they can be called that) are either boring or off or just awful.
I cannot wait until the day I can fling myself wholeheartedly into the arms of summer and cavort about town bare-armed, in silky, knee-grazing numbers like these:
I discovered Foe and Dear quite by accident. The fledgling jewelry label called my attention to an amazing herkimer diamond ring from Japanese designer Like Atmosphere, via a post it submitted to NotCot. I wanted to know more, but the site the post pointed me to was entirely in Japanese, so I Googled, intending to contact someone at Foe and Dear to inquire about it. While doing so, I got distracted by their own products and was soon rapt with delight as I clicked through image after image of extremely covetable jewelry. My delight doubled upon discovering that the prices were surprisingly reasonable, on top of which there's a Mother's Day promotion in effect until May 15th which gets you an additional 20% off (enter code ILOVEMOM at checkout). Some favorites:
Black Rocks necklace, $40.
Here's a little dose of naughty to spice up your Tuesday morning, courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld, who recently shot a clever co-branded web campaign for sister brands Chanel and Eres. Upon entering the microsite, all you see are cheeky, Chanel-clad ladies posing with a pole (alternately perched on or dangling from it), but click your mouse over different body parts and the beautiful clothes give way to reveal skin-baring looks from the Eres S/S 2010 swimwear collection.
Enjoy!
How to survive a hot, sticky New York summer in style? With a touch of old-school glamour, courtesy of these drop-dead gorgeous Balenciaga babies. The clear, vintage 70's frames feature red and gold accents and are available as sunglasses (shown) or with clear lenses. I can't seem to stop daydreaming about them. The price is a bit hard to swallow, but consider that it's an incredibly unique, distinctive piece -- a collectible that your unborn, style-savvy progeny will be thrilled to inherit someday.
Balenciaga Red Round Frame, $395 @ Silver Lining Opticians.
It's so rare that I happen upon something as elegant and beautifully crafted as this little piece of perfection from Joie. Light as a silken breeze, it makes me ache for summer. I love that the slip and belt are included. I have to have.
Valetta Stripe Dress with Belt in Night Sea, $318 @ Otte.
