June 2008 Archives

I'm going to Bermuda later this Summer so I was thinking about cute things to wear when I've had enough of the beach and want to go over to Hamilton to do some shopping and have lunch...

This dress from Milly looks great even just to toss on over a bathing suit.  I'm not usually so colorful, but for Summer I think it's appropriate... and especially when you are away, somewhere festive.

$340 at Net-a-porter.

I'd wear it with some cute brown leather flip flops, like these that I have from a couple seasons ago from J. Crew.

They have a more simple version this year for $49.50. They're nice too, made in Italy with leather soles and footbed.

I'd bring along my trusty floppy hat from Eric Javits.

They usually have these at Neiman Marcus, but their selection is somewhat limited right now. I found it online at bagshop.com for $190.  It's such a great hat because it looks like straw but it's not, you can fold it in half and then roll it for packing.

Then of course everyone needs the requisite pair of ridiculously large sunglasses.  I don't have any of these yet, I always feel like I look silly when I try them on because they overwhelm my face (but that doesn't seem to stop anyone else).  These from Gucci might be a good compromise because they don't seem to be that big, but it's hard to tell from the picture.

These are $275 at gucci.com.

Last of all, a shopping tote... Ballard Designs has an amazing value on a jute tote with leather handles and a free monogram.  The large one is just $25.95 and is big enough to also serve as a beach bag for a big towel etc.

And there are tons of monogram style options.

I'm finding that in the Summer I'm loving my Caudalie Beauty Elixir even more than usual.  If you're not familiar with Caudalie they are a pioneer in vinotherapie, the use of beneficial grape-seed polyphenols in skin care products. Caudalie is from Bordeaux, France where I was lucky enough to discover them at the wonderful spa they have at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.

The elixir is a spray inspired by the "elixir of youth" used by Queen Isabella of Hungary. It is supposed to soothe the skin, tighten pores and provides a burst of radiance to the complexion.  I'm not sure if it really does all of that, but spraying it on your face after you've just washed it, is one of the most refreshing things I can think of.  It has the most amazing smell, I wish I could describe it. I close my eyes, spray it a couple times right in front of my face and then breath in through my nose... it's just like aaaahhhh.  It makes your skin so happy. It's such a moment! It's made with extracts of grape, essential oil of rosemary, orange blossom and rose extracts, benzoin, myrrh essential oils of organic balm mint and mint. So maybe you can imagine how it smells. I spray it on my clean face at night but you can also use it between your foundation and powder to perfectly set make-up.

They also make a grape water that you can use just like the Evian atomizer spray. (I always take one of the small Evian atomizers on planes for the dry air) They extract the water from the grapes at harvest, so it's better than just water because it has moisturizing polysaccharides and mineral salts from the grape.

You can buy Caudalie products from their own website (they send you free samples with each purchase!) or beauty.com. I like to order from beauty.com who is partnered with drugstore.com because they give you 5% back for future purchases and also free samples. Sephora also carries Caudalie, so that's convenient since there are Sephoras all over the place now.

New York in the Summer, you gotta love it... Philharmonic, Opera and picnics in the Central Park, movies in Bryant Park... this year it's even better!  "The New York City Waterfalls" just opened. It's free public art, like the Gates. The project was conceived by Olafur Eliasson, a Danish artist.

They are 4 waterfalls: 2 in Brooklyn (1 at the Brooklyn Bridge, 1 at the Brooklyn Piers), 1 in Manhattan (Pier 35) and 1 on Governors Island (north shore). They are between 90 to 120 feet tall. You can see them from land or take a special Circle Line boat tour for viewing.  They have 30 min and 1 hour versions for $10 and $25.  Or New York Water Taxi has 2 options both $25, with an evening "Sunset Waterfalls Cruise" with no kids allowed (thank you) and a cash bar. The waterfalls are lit after sunset until 10 pm and will operate through October 13th.

It's just barely turned into Summer, but fashion's already thinking about Fall...  Fall is, for sure, the best season for fashion... you don't have to bundle up like you do in Winter, nor keep cool as needed in Summer.  Some really great boots are already available so you can get a headstart on Fall.

Here are some fabulous Dolce & Gabbana boots, calfskin with a 3 1/2" stacked heel in a gorgeous chocolate brown. $1,375.00.

And a sort of miltary inspired style by Fendi, in supple black leather with a 4" heel, gold buttons and round toe. $1,100.00.

This style from Gucci, to me looks kind of 70s retro in a cool way. The Ginerva boot has a slouchy shaft and 4" heel. There is a Gucci crest ornament on the heel, maybe that's a little over the top... $1.390.00.

And last, here's a leather motorcycle boot from Prada Linea Rossa. I can see these looking very cool with skinny jeans tucked in. Buckle detail at the ankle and top, 2 1/2 " heel and rubber sole. $890.00.

I absolutely love Fresh products, everything they make is great, but I really love the Sugar and Lemon Sugar items.

My #1 favorite is the Sugar Lip Treatment.  Okay, at $22.50 it seems kind of expensive, but I think it's worth it. It has the benefit of SPF 15, blackcurrant oil cushions the lips with plumping fatty acids and antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C & E provide extra protection. And it smells great and comes in a rather nice container.

I also love the Lemon Sugar soap and lotion. The lemon sugar has a really fresh lemony citrus smell, it's refreshing and kind of just makes you happy when you smell it. The soap is a good hard-milled soap, so it doesn't disintegrate like cheap drug store soaps do. The lotion is loaded with good stuff like shea butter, mango seed oil, Vitamins C and E and sugar cane extract.  It's kind of heavy though, I think it's best for winter season unless you have really dry skin.

The soap is $13 and the lotion is $28, all at Fresh.com.

In the summer, I find when you're wearing less clothes and your hair up more often, jewelry becomes more important, more visible... What I think would be fabulous right now are these beautiful platinum pieces from Blue Nile.

This gorgeous lariat style necklace, $575:

And matching bar drop earrings, $250.

They look modern, but not too crazy... and platinum, it's just the ultimate metal! Wouldn't these look great with the Bobi dress V neck dress (see June 11th)...

I was wandering through Target the other day and I ran across these wonderful fleur de lys dinner plates.

They're $19.99 for a set of 4 and they're made of heavy chip resistant porcelain, not the chintzy ceramic that always chips like crazy.  The quality is excellent, very Pottery Barn or even Williams Sonoma! I SO DID NOT NEED THESE!  But I had to get them, because I love blue and I love the fleur de lys.  That's the problem with Target - everything is so cheap and they have really nice stuff, I can never get out of there without buying something that wasn't on my list.  These great plates have matching mugs, salad plates and bowls.  The mug is the same color as the dinner plate, but the salad plates and bowls are reversed (so more white than blue).  You can buy a set at Target.com for only $59.99.

Anyway, I'm already having a vision... these plates will look great with my Italian pewter flatware. Luckily, I already had this so I don't have to go buy it... but anyone looking for some great Italian pewter flatware, you can find it right now at Horchow, they have a very similar style, 20 pc set on sale now for $464.90.

And some white 100% linen napkins, preferably Sferra. You can get a set of 4 of these for only $34 at Fine Linens.

Then to complete the casual elegant look, some chunky wine glasses like these from Williams Sonoma.

All of this would be great at an outside picnic table on a stone terrace, overlooking the sea... okay these $19.99 plates are getting expensive...

I can't recall this ever happening before, but I got an email yesterday announcing additional markdowns on their sale!  WOOHOO!  I guess the recession is even slowing down Gucci customers.  Anyway, it's a great opportunity to swoop in for some bargains.

For example, just what EVERYONE needs is these G shape ice cube trays (set of 2), normally $100, now only $39.

A great bamboo key ring, normally $160, now only $59.

In shoes, they were showing a lot of patent leather for Spring/Summer - I'm not a fan. But if you are, a lot of those styles are on sale. But check these out... "Pelham" high heel platform sandal with 3.7" heel in brown leather with light gold hardware, normally $495, now only $199!!!!

You can even find some great bargains in ready-to-wear fashion like these black tab waist pants in cotton/elastene. Normally $675, now only $269! Wow, that's amazing.

Hurry before they run out! Gucci.com.

Now that we're into the heat of the summer (yes, even though it's still spring) it's even more important to remember your sunscreen!  Being very fair, I use SPF 40 on my face all year round.  I totally believe that the sun causes premature aging of the skin... you ever see those older, super tan women whose faces look like raisins?  Uggh.  That needs to be avoided!

I LOVE Clinique's Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40.  It's very light and doesn't clump up under base like some SPFs do.  And, it's cheap - only $16.50 for 1.4 fl. oz. I've tried more expensive options but have never liked them as much as this.

When going to the beach or if I'm going to be outside for a long time, I like to protect the sensitive eye area even more, so then I also use Clarins Sun Eye Contour Care Ultra Protection SPF 30. You can use it all around the eye and and the plant based formula helps prevent lines and wrinkles. It's $25.50 for 0.7 fl. oz.

For the body, I've always loved Lancome's formulas. They are light and non-greasy (I HATE greasy SPF). They used to make a spray-on lotion that was fabulous, but it's been discontinued. But this one is good too, Sôleil Expert Sun Care SPF 25 Face & Body Lotion With Pure Vitamin E. It bothers me that they say you can use it on your face and body. I want to put something that is only for the face on my face! So I just use this for the body. It's reasonably priced at $29.50 for 5 fl. oz.

I've discovered the brand Bobi, who shows at LA Fashion Week.  They make some superb breezy and drapey jersey items in a thin, very soft 100% cotton jersey; and their prices are very reasonable.  I think this brand is carried mostly at small boutiques, but you can find it online at Revolve Clothing.

Jersey Deep V-Neck Dress $52

Stripe Flutter Sleeve Dress (not jersey) $52

These two dresses are both at Revolve Clothing. Bobi also makes this keyhole shirt that I LOVE, but Revolve doesn't carry it. I found it online at Moorea Boutique who sells it for $60. I got mine in Old City Philadelphia at Lost & Found (133 N. 3rd Street) for only $44! In fact I got two, one in black in one in moss.

It's only the second week of June, not even officially summer, but it's grotesquely hot.  99 degrees today in New York, horrible!  Well for those of us that cannot decamp to the beach the answer is a lightweight, loose, drapey dress!  I've found just the thing: Saint Grace's Gina dress.  It's made in a super soft 100% cotton jersey. Ultra lightweight and very cool.  Just throw it on with some strappy sandals and go!

I found it at a boutique in a differnt color green, more of a kelly green; but this teal version is available online. I wasn't very familiar with this brand, but it's billed as " a collection of luxuriously soft modern basics" and this dress seems to fit the bill. "A true Southern California brand, Saint Grace's modern basics that translate seamlessly from day to night in wrinkle free, lightweight fabrics, can be found nation wide at upscale boutiques like Lisa Kline and Fred Segal in Los Angeles and Barneys and Big Drop in New York City. Saint Grace is also sold internationally in Switzerland, London, Japan, Dubai, and Canada."  I love finding these new little labels that make great things at great prices.