Resort 2015: Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum debuted its 2015 Resort collection earlier this week with two styles taking center stage, the trench and the midi skirt. The first is no surprise as Burberry can always be counted on for an amazing modern, yet classic trench coat. 

I loved the lady-like look of the midi skirt and I'm thrilled to see it again at the resort collections. The style itself is somewhat conservative but Burberry takes the look up several notches with sheer stripes and plenty of texture.

These are my top picks from the collection. 

Did You Hear...

Emily Blunt is on fashion fire - The Telegraph

Giambattista Valli is launching a second ready-to-wear line - Fashionista 

 

Anna Wintour and Vogue have joined the Sultan of Brunei hotel boycott - The Guardian

Great interview with the founder of "You Did Not Eat That" - New York Magazine

Christy Turlington is back on the cover of Vogue - Vogue UK

 

 

Happy Saturday!!

 

 

Selling Clothes with Poshmark

A few weeks back my closet fell apart, and I mean literally fell apart. The wooden rod holding up my dresses, pants and jackets finally gave out and everything tumbled to the floor. Not wanting to break another closet rod, I decided a major clean out was in order before I put everything back together again. 

Top Picks from the NET-A-PORTER US Sale

Dress // Skirt // Shorts // Bag

Long Weekend Pick Me Up: Grace Coddington

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing holiday weekend!

Did You Hear...

Vanity Fair is rounding up the best dressed at Cannes - Vanity Fair 

Gisele Bundchen is the new face of Chanel NO. 5 - Fashionista

Even Vogue is covering the Kim Kardashian wedding circus - Vogue 

Is blue the new black for men's formal wear? - New York Times

John Galliano has a new job - Style.com

Happy Saturday!!

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Bloomingdales - Save 20-60% off at the Big Brown Bag sale

Nordstrom - Save up to 40% off women and kids

Ralph Lauren - Take an extra 30% off sale styles

Thursday Night Cocktail: Whiskey Lemonade

Image and Recipe via Martha Stewart

This is a great drink for a Thursday night because you probably already have most of the ingredients already in your kitchen.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons whiskey
2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
Ice
Lemon zest

 

Directions

 

In a glass, combine lemon juice, whiskey, and simple syrup over ice. Garnish with lemon zest. Add a splash of water if desired.

Cheers to a great Memorial Day weekend!

To Soon for Anti Aging Products?

I visited a Clarins beauty counter at Bloomingdales last weekend because my friend Lauren needed to freshen up her makeup bag. I didn't need anything but I happily checked out the products while Lauren chatted with a Clarins associate. While I was poking around, Carole, a Clarins beauty advisor, approached me and insisted I enjoy a little pampering while Lauren shopped.

I'll admit that I'm not one of those girls that love to head to my local department store and try out every product they have or get my face made up at one of the counters. I always research what I want online, go in to buy it and and then head home. I kept telling her that I was fine but she finally wore me down and convinced me to try on one of the Clarins moisturizers, HydraQuench Cream, and I'm sure glad I took her up on her offer!

Get the Look: Claire Underwood from House of Cards

I started watching House of Cards a few months back and picked it up again this weekend. I love a good political drama but I must admit that my favorite thing about this show is the fabulous clothes of Robin Wright's character, Claire Underwood. Her look always manages to be classic-elegant and modern-sexy all at the same time. Let's face it ladies, if you had to choose a wardrobe to wear for the next 25 years, who wouldn't choose Claire Underwood's?

This classic LBD for day is perfect for every professional women and available at all price points. 

More

Amanda Wakeley Dress // SAINT LAURENT Medium Cabas Leather Bag

Christian Louboutin Pump

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Life is Short

Resort 2015: Louis Vuitton & Oscar de la Renta

Both Louis Vuitton and Oscar de la Renta put out their resort collections this week, Vuitton with a runway show in Monaco and de la Renta with a beautifully put together lookbook. These are my top picks from each collection. 

Louis Vuitton

Did You Hear...

 

Grace Coddington Joined Instagram - Refinery 29

Poppy Delevingne Got Married in Chanel Couture - Who What Where

 

Ralph Lauren Sponsored a Royal Fundraiser -  Vogue UK

Giorgio Armani Plans to Revamp AX Armani Exchange - Fashionista

A Style Report from the Cannes Film Festival - Vanity Fair

Happy Saturday!!

Thursday Night Cocktail: Paloma from Bon Appetit

Recipe and Image via Bon Appetit

Ingredients

Kosher salt
Grapefruit slice
2 oz. tequila reposado
½ oz. fresh lime juice
Grapefruit soda

Directions

Pour some salt on a plate. Rub rim of a highball glass with grapefruit slice; dip rim of glass in salt. Combine tequila and lime juice in glass. Fill glass with ice, then top off with soda. Garnish with grapefruit slice. 

Cheers!

Chanel Cruise 2015: My Top Picks

Not to be outdone by Dior's show at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Karl Lagerfeld took Chanel's 2015 Cruise collection across the world to the UAE (quite different from Dallas, no?). The distance didn't keep away the star power as Tilda Swinton, Freida Pinto, Dakota Fanning and Janelle Monae all turned up to see the show. These are my top picks from the collection.

Making Bread Pudding

 

I had the most amazing bread pudding on Friday night at Gather in the near the Seaport and Fan Pier. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent so I highly recommend checking it out if you're nearby. OK, about the bread pudding. I had their pastry bread pudding for dessert and it was absolutely amazing! The portion size was big (perfect for two) and it came with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream. I apologize for not taking a photo to show you. It looked so good that my sisters and I dug into it before I could capture it on my phone.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Don't Take Any Shit

Did You Hear...

 

The best Met Gala dress changes - Vogue

A look at the front row at the Dior resort show - Who What Wear

Anna Wintour isn't as icy as people may think - Teen Vogue

André Leon Talley’s Eulogy for L’Wren Scott - Vanity Fair

The best dressed man at the Met Gala was... - Fashionista

Happy Saturday!

Dior Resort 2015: My Top Picks

The 2015 resort collections are beginning to trickle in. First up: Christian Dior! Raf Simons took the fashion pack over the bridge to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and it appears it was well worth the trip. 

These are my top picks:

Hats for Summer?

I love the look of a great hat but I have always been a little bit afraid of them for some reason. I always feel like they don't look quite right on me. I see them on other people and love it and then I try one on myself and think it looks like a costume.

I think it's high time I get over my hat phobia and pick out something stylish that I can wear for the summer. My first instinct was a straw panama hat or fedora because they're light weight and perfect for summer. What do you think? Right now I'm leaning towards the embroidered lemon from Kate Spade because it's so damn cute.

Clockwise from the left

Hat Attack Panama Hat from Barneys Warehouse // Lemon Embroidered Straw Fedora from Kate Spade

Fedora with Soft Muslin Ribbon from Aerie // Classic Straw Panama Hat from Sensi Studio

If you're like me and don't have a clue about finding the right type of hat, I recommend heading over to Who What Wear and reading their post on The Essential Hat Styles For Spring.

Thursday Night Cocktail: Cucumber Gimlet from Epicurious

Image and Recipe via Epicurious

Makes four drinks

Street Chic: Mary Kate Olsen

Last week was all about Ashley so this week I wanted to delve into the unique personal style of the other Olsen twin, Mary Kate. I must admit that several years back when Mary Kate was in full on "dumpster chic" mode I wasn't totally sure what to think. I wasn't running out trying to emulate it but I was completely fascinated by it. It was like high fashion deconstructed in a way that my teenage self had never seen before. 

Mary Kate's style has evolved a bit since her dumpster chic days but her look most definitely remains unique. You know that saying about taking something off before leaving the house? Mary Kate throws on a few more things instead and it really works for her. She puts things together to create a fabulous mixture of high fashion, bohemian glam and ten years on I'm still fascinated. 

Met Gala 2014: Best of the Red Carpet

My favorite fashion night of the year is the annual Met Gala, which helps to support the Costume Institute (recently re-named the Anna Wintour Costume Center) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Oscar fashion is fantastic but nothing quite compares to the glamour and drama on the steps of the Met.

This year's gala was in honor of Charles James, who is widely known as America's first couturier. I was thrilled when I heard that Anna Wintour set a white tie dress code, as I didn't find last year's "punk" theme to be all that appealing. White tie means lots of jewels, trains and old school glamour, which is always a win in my book. These are my top picks from last night.

Allison Williams in Oscar de la Renta

Beyonce in Givenchy

Celebrate Spring with Splendid at The Street in Chestnut Hill

The Splendid boutique in Chestnut Hill is having a spring shopping event on May 31 and I wanted to extend the invite to all the lovely ladies in the Boston area. 

The kid-friendly event is being hosted by some fantastic local bloggers and will feature sweet treats, activities for kids and 20% any purchase. 

You can RSVP via email at rsvp_ChestnutHill@vfc.com

I hope to see you there!

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Kind, Fierce and Brave

Did You Hear...

Mini recreations of iconic Met Ball looks are all over Instagram - Vogue

Lela Rose may break into the accessories business - Fashionista

The first issue of Town and Country UK hit newsstands - WWD

J. Crew is going to launch a lower priced brand - Elle

There is a fantastic wedding dress exhibit at the Victoria and Albert museum - The Guardian

Happy Saturday!!

Get More Milage Out of Your Maxi Dress

I was out at a networking event last night put on by the lovely ladies at Boston Bloggers and I was chatting with a fellow blogger that had a fantastic spring outfit on. It was a printed maxi "skirt" paired with a classic button down that was knotted at the waist. When I went to compliment the "skirt" she told me that it was actually a maxi dress with a shirt over it. Love it!

I must be living on some other fashion planet because it never occurred to me to get more wear out of my maxi dresses by adding a top to make it appear to be a skirt instead. That's like 10 new spring/summer looks for me! Bonus: No need to shell out for a maxi skirt this season.

I have plenty of max dresses and button downs in my closet but there's no harm in looking at some fun options, right?

Thursday Night Cocktail: Mint Julep Sweet Tea

Image & Recipe via Southern Living

With the Kentucky Derby happening this weekend I felt that a julep was in order for this week's edition of Thursday Night Cocktail. A mint julep is a classic derby drink, but it's always fun to change things up and try a new variation. Southerns take sweet tea every bit as serious as they take their bourbon, so I think this baby is a clear winner!

Ingredients

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

1 lemon, sliced 

2 tablespoons sugar

3 cups cold sweetened tea*

1 cup bourbon

Crushed ice

Fresh mint sprigs

Directions

Combine the mint leaves, lemon and sugar in a 2-qt. pitcher. Press mint leaves against sides of pitcher with back of spoon to release flavors. Stir in tea and bourbon. Serve over crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.

*It's best to sweeten the tea while it's still hot. I don't know why that is, but the women who told me was a true southerner, so I'll take her word for it. 

Cheers!