Summer 2015 Swimwear Guide

Beach season is officially here and it's time to break out the swimsuits.  I recommend having at least three swimsuits that you really love and feel good wearing. I currently only have one that I really love so I am in desperate need of a couple more. You can't go on vacation with just one suit, no?

I love a classic swimsuit because you can wear it season after season but I always enjoy looking at the trends for the summer ahead. These are some of the trends that I really loved. The majority of the suits below are from NET-A-PORTER and tons of them are on sale for up to 50% off as part of the U.S. Summer Sale. Happy shopping ladies!

Cutouts

Pink & Red // Black // Red // Green Print

Ruffles

The Week in Fashion

Amal Clooney Does Have a Stylist & He’s John Galliano’s Partner - Yahoo Beauty

Giambattista Valli: Prince Charming - W Magazine

Band of Outsiders Reportedly Shuttering Business - WWD

Inside Lilly Pulitzer’s Pink-and-Green Headquarters - The Cut (Cool!)

Lilly Pulitzer Apologizes After Fat-Shaming Cartoons in HQ Surface - Newsweek (Not so cool)

Honor's Ready-to-Wear Business is Going on Hiatus - Fashionista

There’s Going to Be a Chanel Spa in Paris Soon - The Cut

Cher Is the New Face of Marc Jacobs - Fashionista

Gwyneth Paltrow on Her Plans for Goop (including a beauty line!)  - Business of Fashion

Happy Saturday!!

Resort Recap: Peter Copping for Oscar de la Renta

The look book for Peter Copping's first resort collection for Oscar de la Renta was released yesterday and it's absolutely lovely. Beautiful gowns, day dresses and separates that you can wear season after season.

These are my favorite looks from the collection:

NET-A-PORTER US Summer Sale Picks

It's that time again ladies! The Net-A-Porter US summer sale has begun and there are tons of great summer items to be had.

These are my top picks from the sale:

Striped Skirt // Black Dress // Orange Bikini // Coral Cover Up // Red Bra // Striped Shorts

Blue & White Dress // Striped Bikini // White Jeans // Linen Romper // Blue Skirt // Pink Underwear

Pink Bag // Beige Tote // Espadrille Flats // Red Converse // Sunglasses // Beige Flat Sandals 

Sparkly Sandals // Gold Clutch // Woven Bag // Wedges  // Earrings // Scarf // Strappy Sandals

Happy Shopping!!

Tuesday Morning Pick Me Up: Accept Responsibility For Your Own Life

If It's Not Moving, Monogram It?

Actress Reese Witherspoon once said, "If it's not moving, monogram it." I agree with that statement but only up to a point. When Witherspoon said that she monograms everything, I'm pretty sure she was talking about her silver and fine linens, not plastic drink cups and koozies.

I have always liked monograms but not on everything. When someone walks into your home, they shouldn't immediately be able to spot ten monogrammed items in your living room. The same goes for your clothing and accessories. No need to break out the monogrammed hat, top, tote and matching plastic cup all in the same day. Actually, ditch the monogrammed plastic cup all together. 

But enough about what I don't like. Let's get into the monograms that I do like. Below are some of my favorite monogramed items for both home and fashion. 

Blue Tray // Soap // Napkins // Copper Tray

Leather Diary // Watch Box // Bathrobe

Travel Bag Set // Pewter Flask // Leather Tote

Tennis Racquet Holder // Earrings // Cufflinks // Wine Caddy

If you're unsure of what your monogram should be, Mark & Graham have a great guide that details traditional monogramming etiquette.

I'm interested to know your thoughts on monograms. Would you monogram everything you own if given the chance or do you save the family monogram for just a few special items?

The Week in Fashion

Bride of the Decade: What Should Lady Gaga Wear? - WWD

Victoria Beckham Merges Denim and Lower-Priced Lines - Fashionista

Lucky Magazine is Going Quarterly - Fashionista

Condé Nast Replacing Internships With Paid Fellowship Program - Racked

Tavi Gevinson takes down the Sartorialist in style - Dazed

Target Announces Customizable Design Collab With Jeweler Eddie Borgo - Racked

Los Angeles Is Becoming Paris Amid the Palms - New York Times

Free People Launches the Bohemian Bridal Collection of Your Dreams - Fashion Gone Rogue

The fashion blogger who makes $15,000 per Instagram post - The Telegraph

Memorial Day Weekend Outfits: Beach & Barbecue

The holiday weekend is just hours away! It's time for sun, fun, beach and barbeque.

These outfits are perfect for this weekend and each of the pieces can be mixed and matched and worn all summer long.

Beach

Bikini // Coverup // Hat // Flip Flops // Bag // Sunglasses // Bracelets

Barbecue

Dress // Sweater // Wedges // Bag // Earrings // Bracelet // Sunglasses

Under $100 at the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale

Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale kicked off today. Now through May 31, save up to 40% of women's clothing, shoes and accessories.

These are my favorite salem items for under $100. Shop fast ladies, the good stuff always sells out first.

Navy Striped Dress // Blue and White Dress // Pink Pants // Blue Trench

Black and White Striped Dress // Floral Print Dress // Red Skinny Jeans

Gold and Crystal Studs // Pink Flats // Metallic Jacks // Blue Studs

Pink Bag // Brown Sunglasses // Black Sunglasses // Blue Bag // Neutral Wedge

White Bangle // Crystal Bangle // Blue Bangle // Gold Cuff // Pink Pumps

May Wish List

Nude Sandals // Pink Nail Polish // Striped Skirt
Eye Primer // Sunglasses // Shirt Dress
Monogrammed Clutch // Swim Suit // Mini Skirt
Navy Embroidered Dress // Bow Hair Tie // Platform Sandals

Where has the spring gone? I blinked and this weekend is Memorial Day! Things have been a little hectic in my world because I'm moving into a new apartment next month. I feel like I've spent the last few weeks doing nothing but organizing, sorting and looking at new furniture. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm sick of all the shopping (or maybe it's just spending all the money that sucks). Stay tuned later this week for a post on some of my design ideas for the new space.

Now that the warmer weather is (mostly) here to stay, I find myself wanting to ditch the pants for skirts and dresses. These options are great because I dress the up and down for both work and play. 

Speaking of warmer weather...as the heat rises my desire to blow dry my hair plummets so on the warmest days I opt to pull my wet hair back in a tight bun. A delicate, decorate elastic is nice change from my usual plain black ones.

I discovered the Le Specs brand on NET-A-PORTER and they have a ton of designer-style sunglasses for $70 or less. If you're a person prone to breaking the fancy designer sunglasses, this brand is a much more economical (but still stylish) option for you.

I don't know what my problem is lately but I cannot seem to avoid creasing my under eye concealer. Once I start smiling it's crack, crack, crack. It kills me because it looks like I have crows feet when I don't, and I'd like to avoid that as long as I can. This Benefit primer is designed to keep both your concealer and eyeshadow from creasing, so I figure it can't hurt to try. 

As I've gotten older (I'm 29) my tolerance for sky scraper heels has diminished significantly. I admire anyone who can tolerate the pain of five inch heels but I think those days are gone for me. I recently dropped off a ton of heels at my local Goodwill donation center and it's time to find some replacements. I love these neutral heels from Vince Camuto and cute but comfy platforms from Tory Burch.

Beach season starts this weekend, but I am still in serious need of some swim suits. I love this red one piece from Melissa Odabash.

Red Carpet Recap: Cannes Film Festival Part One

What sets the Cannes Film Festival apart from other red carpet events like the Met Gala and Academy Awards is that it goes on for days with an endless stream of fabulous parties, beautiful dresses and decadent jewels.

These are my top picks for best dressed from the first half of the Cannes Film Festival:

Julianne Moore in Armani Privé

Naomi Watts in Elie Saab Couture

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Be Different

The Week in Fashion

Rihanna Reveals her First Dior Campaign on Instagram - Fashionista

The New CVFF x J.Crew Collaborations Revealed: Paul Andrew, Ryan Roche & Eva Fehren - Vogue

H&M Is Launching A 700-Piece Beauty Collection - The Zoe Report

Carats at Cannes: What Would the Red Carpet Be Without Jewels - New York Times

What It Was Like to Visit Yves Saint Laurent in His Studio - The Cut

Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte Are Reportedly Directing a Film - Fashionista

Red Carpet Coverage from the Cannes Film Festival - British Vogue 

100 Years of Maybelline Ads Show How Little Has Changed in Beauty - Fashionista

Happy Saturday!!

An Evening with Rugg Road Paper Company

I recently had the pleasure of being invited to a private event for bloggers at Rugg Road Paper Company, which is located in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood.

A little history on the store...

The company was founded in Allston, MA in 1982 and originally operated as a handmade paper-making studio. In 1994, Rugg Road was taken over by the current owners, Amy Madanick and Casandra McIntyre, who moved the store to it's current location on Charles Street and expanded the business to include stationery, wedding invitations, journals, photo albums, greeting cards, and gifts. 

I have to tell you, I was super excited when I got the invite to this event. I'm an old fashioned gal who treasures a hand written letter or note, so naturally, I love all paper and stationery products. I was actually thinking about checking out a local stationery shop to look into some new personalized note cards and a business card for Fashionably Chic.

In the past, I have ordered custom stationery online but I have almost always been disappointed. What I end up receiving is always slightly different than what it appeared online and sometimes the company insists on placing their logo on the back of each note card. What ever happened to just a watermark?

Anyway, the invite to the event at Rugg Road could not have come at a better time. We arrived to a lovely spread from Tatte Bakery, who make the most amazing cookies and cakes. Also placed out for us were personalized business card and note card designs that match our blog logos and themes. I thought that was so nice of them to create custom samples for all of us to check out! Keep scrolling to see some examples.

Just a small portion of the many adorable cards they sell.

Pins for Thought 1.1

6 Hot Ways to Organize Your Jewelry, a timely article as I'm preparing to move into a new apartment next month.

5 Cities to Visit This Summer. My top choice is The Outer Banks in North Carolina

Resort Recap: Dior in the South of France

Another week, another resort show on location. Raf Simons took his Dior Resort 2016 show south to Pierre Cardin's Palais Bulles on the French Riviera.

These are my top picks from the collection:

The Week in Fashion

Daniel Arnold Was Let Loose on the Met Gala - Vogue

Attention World: Reese Witherspoon Has Launched A Clothing Line - Town and Country 

Which Yves Saint Laurent Biopic Should You Watch? - Fashionista 

Net-a-Porter Creates Social Network for Mobile Luxury Shopping - Business of Fashion

How to Entertain Like Lela Rose - House Beautiful

Anna Wintour Gives Her Opinion on Met Gala Fashion, Is a Comedy Icon - Fashion Gone Rogue

The Met Gala: A Red Carpet Review - New York Times

Diane Von Fürstenberg on Making it as a Woman - Business of Fashion

Happy Saturday!!

Resort Recap: Chanel in Seoul & Louis Vuitton in Palm Springs

The big fashion news this week is most definitely Monday's Met Gala (see my picks for best dressed) but both Chanel and Louis Vuitton staged Resort shows this week. 

These are my top picks Seoul and Palm Springs:

Chanel

Best Dressed at the 2015 Met Gala

 

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, both in vintage John Galliano for Dior

Sienna Miller in Thakoon

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Don't Complain

The Week in Fashion

When Did Fashion Change Its Mind About the Size 6 Supermodel?- Elle

Donatella Versace Is the New Face of Givenchy - The Cut

John Galliano on Margiela, Kate Moss’s Wedding Dress & Finding Work-Life Balance - British Vogue

Naomi Campbell to Star in Her Own Web Series for Yahoo - Fashionista

Anna Kendrick in the Second Installment of Kate Spade's #missadventure Video Series - Kate Spade

Style.com Will Relaunch As an E-Commerce Site This Fall - The Cut