Category Archives: summer

the best summer denim (for grown-ups)

Now that it’s June, I think it’s finally safe to talk summer style, don’t you? I get all weird and conservative in the summer – I just can’t abide all the spaghetti straps, micro-shorts and midriff-bearing tendencies that warm weather seems to elicit. I’m an adult, damn it, and it’s time to start covering up. So, for me, I’ll ignore the climbing mercury and stick with my usual uniform of denim, (short) sleeves and (very light) jackets…okay, and the occasional dress.

But I’m not a total stick in the mud – I’m definitely in favor of a change in fabrics, textures and colors this time of year. Because really, even though I don’t necessarily want to wear shorts and minis all season, I think dark-wash denim is equally absurd in mid-July. So, what’s a stylish girl to do but add a few completely necessary summer denim staples to her arsenal?  Read on

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summer sale season! (and my picks)

All of those Memorial Day deals in your inbox felt crazy, I know. Too good to resist. But if you did, if you were patient, your virtue is about to be rewarded. Shopbop, Barneys, Saks and Net-A-Porter all launched their summer sales today, and there are goodies aplenty. Read on

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must reads: pretty picks for a lazy long weekend

Is there anything better than the Friday before a long weekend? Especially when that long weekend is the one that marks the beginning of an entire season of sunny days, watermelon and swimming pools.

I plan to spend my Memorial Day doing…well, not much. Lots of lazing around on the deck, during which I’ll probably be sipping a glass of wine iced tea and poring over some of the pretty, pretty books that have landed on my desk this month.

Wouldn’t you just kill for your Memorial Day to have a view like this?   Read on

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travel in style: packing for a tropical vacation

January. The “fun” part of winter is over, the novelty has worn off, and we’re all sick to death of the cold and the muck. No wonder it’s the time of year when everyone you know (including you, I hope!) is taking off for somewhere warm and exotic. how to pack for a tropical vacation

On the off chance you have something tropical on your calendar (or in the hopes I can inspire you to take yourself on a little sunny getaway), I thought I’d give you my tips for packing the perfect tropical getaway suitcase.   Read on

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travel in style: ashland, oregon

Not long ago, I took a weekend trip down to Ashland, Oregon. They’re famous for hosting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), and I’ve been a major Renaissance geek almost since birth. (I even chose my university based largely on the fact that they hosted one of the largest Shakespeare festivals in the country.) So, I lured the husband under false pretenses, threw the dogs in the backseat, and headed south! Turns out, it’s just about the most perfect weekend getaway imaginable. ashland oregon travel guide

{Pics from the road: Digging my pedicure? / Haaaaaaay. / Gratuitious puppy photos /
Gorgeous shops downtown / Shakespeare Festival goodness}

Ashland – an easy day’s drive from Seattle, Portland or San Francisco – is a charmer of a town. The whole city just seems to conspire to give you the best, most relaxed vacation you’ve ever had. The shops are quaint, the people are friendly, the food is good…it’s hard not to love. And the crown jewel in all that wonderful? The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We saw a production of As You Like It, and I was awestruck. The sets were unbelievable, and the acting was some of the best Shakespeare I’ve seen anywhere. Even the husband liked it! I can’t wait to go back next year and see a full weekend of shows.

If you go:

The Basics: Ashland is in southern Oregon, right off I-5. It’s an 8-hour road trip from San Francisco, 7 from Seattle or a quick 4 hours from Portland. Once you’re there, you’re a hop and a skip from Crater Lake, Klamath Falls and all sorts of other natural wonders…as well as the Rogue Creamery, which is key if you’re a cheese fiend like me.

Stay: I’m partial to the Best Western Windsor Inn. No, it’s not the fanciest spot in town, but I’m a sucker for a theme vacation, and it’s decorated like a Tudor mansion. Their service is always wonderful, they take pets, and they have a pool. But if it’s luxe you’re after, you want the Ashland Springs Inn, which is gorgeous and right downtown.

Do: Try to see at least two plays…and make sure at least one (if not both) are in the open-air Elizabethan theater (in that photo above) – it’s an incredible experience to watch Shakespeare under the stars! I always prefer the traditional shows over the modern interpretations, but pick what you love. {I’ll also add that the OSF box office people are beyond wonderful if you need help choosing. In fact, one of them even watched my dogs while I saw the show!}

Get your shop on: Shopping is actually pretty great in Ashland – lots of awesome vintage clothing, even more wonderful book shops (specializing in Tudor lit, of course), and a couple of surprises, including a shop called Prize which was so lovely it deserves its own post. Too bad they wouldn’t let me take photos of the interior. Packed with beautiful fine and costume jewelry from some of my all-time favorite designers, home accessories, gifts and old-fashioned candy, this store was singing my song in a big way.

Eat: If I’m honest, I don’t go to Ashland for the food. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but nothing’s ever blown my socks off. That said, one of my great pleasures in life is the boiled egg breakfast at Cafe 116 (which also has Blue Bottle coffee!). Finding a soft-boiled egg is nearly impossible these days, and this one comes to you perfectly cooked to order, in one of those cute little egg cups, and is served with toast and fresh jam.

If you’re in need of a last-minute Labor Day escape, give this one some serious thought. Happy trails!

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all in the details: joie day dreaming flats

Smoking slippers are all the rage for autumn. While they’ve always had a place in the preppy summer wardrobe, the style is certainly going mainstream for late summer and really gearing up for the cooler months. I’ve seen a lot of suede and velvet offerings and my fair share of animal printed ponyhair in trying to determine the right fit for my wardrobe, but the ones that I feel absolutely obliged to share with you are these excellent red/black patterned ones from Joie.

Day Dreaming Flats, Joie, $175

The colour is vivid enough to stand out, but the pattern subtle enough to blend in. I particularly enjoy an orange/red tone for fall, and the combination of a black pattern with brown leather.

I’d naturally pair clean classic lines with a shoe like this, and but can’t resist the challenge of adding an additional pattern. Start with black ankle-length pants (to show off those fabulous shoes), and either be a little adventurous pairing pattern with pattern in the form of a classic red and white stripe, or add subtle colour with a blue button-down.

Pencil Stripe Pullover, Madewell, $58 / Cafe Capri, J.Crew, $90 / Classic Dress Shirt, Brooks Brothers, $90

For either stripes or solids, you have an opportunity to play with the mix of black and brown. Picking up on the Lucy crossbody bag from Botkier that Becki mentioned a few weeks ago, the small size and gold chain handle serves as a great base. This inspires a basic tan belt, and a brown and gold double strap watch. Sporting stripes? Skip a necklace and go with interesting oversized studs with a slightly retro feel, and a gold chain-link bracelet. Basking in blue? Keep with the colour palette of the shoes and add a graphic red necklace, plain gold studs, and perhaps a scarf tied on the side of the bag that mimics the pattern on your flats.

Smooth Leather Belt, Gap, $30 / Lucy Crossbody, Botkier, $295 / Chain Link Scarf, Banana Republic, $60 / Peyton Watch, Michael Kors, $225 / Urban Link Toggle Bracelet, Kenneth Cole, $45 / Button Earrings, Trina Turk, $44 / Knot Post Studs, Trina Turk, $45 / Resin Petal Necklace, Trina Turk, $100

Think about anchoring your outfit by combining classic shapes (boat-neck tees, oxford button-downs, and smoking flats) with patterns and colours as neutrals. Keeping a sense of consistency in the way that you inject a little visual interest in the classics is all in the details.  ~ Kate

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all in the details: alexis bittar wafer earrings

{Editor’s Note: Kate knows what I like. Those earrings! That tunic! I’m obsessed. Sadly, I better move fast – the earrings are selling out everywhere!}

Understated, but striking if you take a second look. Occasionally this is how I think accessories should best be described. It’s a conclusion that I came to when I was recently chatting about the addition of a couple of Alexis Bittar pieces to my own collection over on AnonymousChic. These  white and gold wafer earrings from Alexis Bittar caught my eye, and certainly fit the bill when it comes to being characterized as light and chic.

Gold Wafer Earring, Alexis Bittar, $150

These earrings are simply stylish, and still stunning – a way to heighten the look of an outfit without going overboard. They tread the line between casual (the colour and hammered gold) and dressy, which gives the impression of having put in a little extra effort.

Given the classic style of the earrings, I would either mimic the simplicity (white button-down and jeans) or use them to counter a print. In this instance, I’ve opted for a neutral printed tie-waist tunic from Tory Burch paired with easy navy shorts. Once autumn arrives, swap the shorts for slim cut navy pants or skinny jeans for a seamless transition. When wearing patterns let the colours influence the remainder of the outfit – picking up on accent tones (navy and white) or the base colour of the print (a deep blush-nude taupe tone).

Hana Tunic, Tory Burch, $295 / Cotton Stretch Shorts, Brooks Brothers, $49

The rest of the details should play into similar tones, colour palettes, and style (both in terms of the pattern of the tunic and the simplicity of the earrings), creating a cohesive theme. When pairing accessories with a longer earring, skip the necklace and use one bold item on the wrists.  Start with oversized sunglasses, and then pair a gold watch with a navy bracelet. Use basic nude flats to ground the outfit, and a structured bag to balance to balance the casual nature. If you’re really feeling like highlighting these excellent earrings, pull your hair up into a messy ponytail, otherwise refined beachy waves will keep the outfit from looking overdone.

Oversized Sunglasses, Michael Kors, $66 / Gramercy Crystal Watch, Kate Spade, $250 / Medium Crystal Detail Bangle, Sequin, $28 / Shirley Flat, Elie Tahari, $195 / Classic Satchel, Cambridge Satchel Company, $120

This tunic would always look great, as it’s a well-designed and interesting piece all on its own. What takes it from being a great top, to being an all-together stylish outfit is how the rest of the pieces complement it. Often with style, it’s all in the details.  ~ Kate

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friday finds

Is there anything better than a summer Friday? I’m awfully excited about this week’s list of finds, so let’s get right to it, shall we?

I spent some time at Tiffany & Co last week checking out some top-secret goods you’re going to love…and managed to fall head over heels for these sunnies. The truth is that I’ve been coveting a pair of their sunglasses since they launched, but they were maybe a smidge too blingy. But these? Perfection…right down to the Tiffany blue flecks in the tortoiseshell.

Tiffany Locks sunglasses, $430

Too soon for fall? Never! For the first time since she branched into apparel, I find myself coveting a look from Rebecca Minkoff. Check out the drape on this shearling-lined trench…so, so versatile. And the dress (which, I’ll admit, I’d wear as a tunic) has one of those prints I’ll dream about.

Henry coat ($798) and Wednesday Dress ($368); both, Rebecca Minkoff

After those splurges, I owe you some steals, don’t you think? Spotted this spotted tunic (surely they aren’t serious about it being a dress) at Forever 21, of all places. Sure, it’s polyester, but it’s $20, and looks a lot like my Tucker tunics. Worth the gamble, I think.

Polka-dot dress/tunic, Forever 21, $20

I got the loveliest-smelling hand soap in the mail yesterday! It’s Neroli & Clementine by Mor, and it is heaven. The packaging is a little ’80s Asian, but I’m willing to call it kitschy and forgive them if it means I get to have this light, sweet/tart citrus fragrance in my life.

Neroli & Clementine body products, Mor, starting at $10

And last, of course, my Pinterest pick for the week. My new favorite way to save magazine clips is to use the Pinterest app to snap a quick pic of them. Be gone, cluttery inspiration board which I have nowhere to hang! Maybe this amazeballs Miu Miu jacquard jacket will materialize in its place.

via Elle, June 2012

Oh, and! While we’re talking Pinterest, you must check out Picnic, a genius new Pinterest tool that launched this week. Picnic lets you shop pins or find similar images. Things it’s great at: tracking down that polka dot tee someone pinned from a dead link; tracking down a decent substitute for that vintage YSL necklace your style icon pinned; finding more wedding bouquets like the one your BFF pinned. It’s also perfect for tracking down the source of a photo online, so you can credit things properly. Hallelujah! Install it, use it, love it.

That’s it for me, friends. If you’re in Portland this weekend, you might want to stop by Mercantile and check out their Lafayette 148 trunk show, by the way. I was pleasantly surprised by the direction they’ve taken this season. Very mod-chic, with loads of staples you’ll wear to threads.

Have a fantastic weekend!

 

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