Handmade Haven: Summer

1 Ella Gajewska Hats fedora :: 2 FantaSea Jewelry stacking rings :: 3 Golden Plume ring :: 4 Bayan Hippo cross body bag :: 5 Thread Etc. straw hat :: 6 Sandra Hagen caftan :: 7 Caroline Cochran fine art photo :: 8 Mama Bleu Designs clutch

I couldn’t possibly decide which of these pieces is my favorite. Looking at each of them is like a mini escape from reality (and who doesn’t need that every now and then?). I can almost hear the crash of the waves and the sea breeze on my sandy skin. If I could jump into this collection you better believe I would!

Do you make handmade pieces? Email me a link to your shop and you may find yourself in next week’s roundup!

Obession of the Week: Retro Swimwear

I’m completely obsessed with retro swimwear. And I’d be lying if I told you it’s solely because I think the silhouettes are cute and feminine.

I mean, they definitely are. But my favorite thing about retro swimsuits is that they are so very forgiving. They cover up areas I don’t feel like showing off to the whole world (hey upper thighs! hey baby pooch that just won’t melt away!) and they nip you in at the waist to create an hourglass shape that anyone would kill for.

Take a look at some of these fab shots to see what I mean.

So how do you rock a retro-inspired bathing suit without looking either frumpy or as if you fell off the set of a period piece? Luckily there are tons of options for retro swimwear out there. You just have to know where to look! ModCloth and Anthropologie are great places to start. Pin Up Girl Clothing also has some great options.

clockwise from top left: Anthropologie retro poppy bikini :: ModCloth two piece swimsuit :: Anthropologie gingham maillot :: ModCloth one piece bathing suit

So what do you think? Will you be wearing a retro bathing suit on the beach this summer?

PS You may have noticed things look a little different around here. My fabulous sister, Michele Frechette, redesigned my blog header (she needed something to do to keep her mind off of the baby that’s trying to crawl out of her uterus) and helped give the blog a fresh facelift. And a Facebook page is coming this week! What do you think of the change?

Bohemian Beauty

Whenever the temperature starts to rise and bare feet no longer means frostbite, I find myself on a hunt for bohemian pieces. There’s something about golden rays of sunshine and feeling a warm breeze on your skin that releases your inner hippie, don’t you think? It just makes me want to wear flowy skirts and flowers in my hair.

This is a major reason why, when we were putting together the first issue of our bridal magazine (a summer issue), we decided to do a bohemian photo shoot. We chose flowy, laidback dresses, piled on bracelets and big floral hairpieces (which I made!). The result was a gorgeous spread that even non-brides can look to for inspiration.

Since way back in December I shared my list of to-dos for 2012 with you, I thought I’d share some of the fabulous photos from my first big styled shoot!

photographer: JacPfef for Bijou
makeup: Meredith Hayman
stylist: Jen Garry

Shopping for… A Bridal Shower Dress

Are any of you ladies out there like me? Do you see a shower or birthday party invitation in the mail and automatically look at it like the perfect excuse to go shopping?

As soon as I see the envelope, the wheels start spinning and I start imagining the dress that I’ll get. The dress that, since I’m not working in an office anymore, I probably won’t wear again for awhile. Because, let’s face it. When that next invite comes in the mail I’ll be looking for a new one.

We’re in the midst of planning my friend Aimee’s shower for next month (more on that after we have it!) so of course I’m thinking about what to wear…

Shabby Apple

Francesca's Collections

Elle

ModCloth

INC

Francesca's Collections

Elle

Shabby Apple

A bit all over the map, huh?

Doing something like this can totally help you narrow down your ideas. By looking at the dresses I collected here, I can tell that I’m currently drawn to:

• feminine details (like ruffles and cute little cap sleeves)
• particular prints: polka dots, stripes and tribal patterns
• color blocking

I can also see that I need to pay more attention to the cut of the dresses I look at. Since I’m still waiting for the last bits of post-baby weight to magically melt off my middle, I know I won’t be happy with anything too fitted. Nipped in at the waist is fine, but fitted through the pooch and hips just won’t work (there’s only so much Spanx can do!).

The most important thing to remember when dress shopping is that cut is key. A sheath dress will go to war with my midsection (causing a chocolate binge that won’t help much of anything). Looking at A-line pieces that accentuate my waistline will not only look better, but they’ll be much gentler on my ego.

Which dress gets your vote?

Shopping for… Sun Hats

So, as I mentioned earlier this week, I’ve been spending a lot of time poolside lately. Unfortunately, even though I’ve piled on the sunscreen, the sun has not been too kind to my face. It’s free of sunburn, but just being exposed to the sun is seriously irritating my rosacea.

I basically look like a 16-year old in the midst of a bout with acne. Things could most certainly could be worse, so I’m not about to complain. But since I’m currently the food source for my little one, I can’t use any medication to calm it down. What’s a girl to do to?

I’m thinking of investing in a super cute sun hat. I’ve been eyeing them for awhile now and this is the perfect excuse to try one out.

Check out the cute one’s I found after a little poking around…

Athleta

Hinge

Jessica Simpson

Coolibar (UPF 50+!)

Sunday Afternoons (UPF 50+!)

Collection XIIX

So what do you think? Do you like any of these? Do you think they’re silly? I want to hear from you!

Killer Cover Ups

I’ve been spending a lot of time at the pool this week because my daughter is taking swimming lessons (she fancies herself a little mermaid–only she doesn’t particularly like getting her eyes wet). All that time in a bathing suit has me thinking an awful lot about cover ups.

Generally we think of cover ups as something to hide our bodies behind. I mean, they’re called cover ups, right? We use them to cover our bodies.

But seeing all these women of various shapes, sizes and age ranges in different stages of undress has led me to say TO HELL WITH IT! My daughters do not need to grow up watching mommy desperately try to cover her body in shame (hey, I had a baby just under four months ago. I’m not exactly feeling svelte at the moment).

Instead, let’s think of cover-ups as what they actually are:  a fashionable way to get from the pool/beach to wherever else your day might be taking you without looking like a hooker at the grocery store. They’re also a great way to shield your skin from the sun if, for instance, your shoulders suddenly feel like they’re on fire.

Here’s a collection of super cute ones…

I love stripes. I love cardigans. Why not combine them in one nautically-inspired bathing suit-covering masterpiece? This Beach Star cover up is great for the lady who wants to inject her look with some glamour!

If you love stripes, but want something a bit more bohemian, W Swimwear makes this gorgeous sheer tunic. It’s light and flowy and the colors are like the sunset. Love it!

Speaking of tunics, how cute is this one from Milly? Love it! The jute embroidering is so pretty and if you’re looking for a darker color, it’s just as cute in coconut brown.

Going for something sexy? This Nanette Lepore piece totally fits the bill. The crochet let’s you see through it just enough, while leaving a little to the imagination–way sexier than letting it all hang out!

If versatility is the most important bit for you, you’ll love this Garnet Hill convertible cover up. Wear it as a skirt while you traipse down the beach in search of seashells and pull it up into a strapless dress when you’re ready to go into town for some lunch!

Another piece that can easily double as a dress to walk around town in is this pretty cotton voile one from Lands’ End. Love this color!

One Look, Two Budgets: Summer Chic

I’m still obsessing over stripes in a big way. They’re simple and classic and absolutely perfect for summer.

Today I bring you a look that would work for a party, brunch or even at work!

You can mix and match these pieces depending on what you are willing to splurge on and what you don’t find as important without sacrificing style at all…

Luxe Look

Oscar de la Renta dress, $580.49 (on sale from $1290)
Dior “Bagatelle” sunglasses, $345
Dooney & Bourke satchel, $168
Michael Kors “Juniper” espadrille, $140

Steal

Spense dress, $59
Chinese Laundry sunglasses, $29.90
Chaps satchel (via eBay), $28.95
SM “Skylar” wedge, $49.95

Red, White and Blue? Don’t Mind If I Do

With the fourth of July just a few short days away, I thought it would be fun to do a post on red, white and blue fashion to show that it is possible to pull it off without looking like someone vomited an American flag all over you.

I put together three different looks for three different outings you might find yourself on this weekend…

Beach

1 Lands’ End :: 2 vintage via Closetmob :: 3 Monday Morning Studios :: 4 Clarks

BBQ

1 AG Adriano Goldschmied :: 2 Perriello 5
3 Mossimo Supply Co. :: 4 NY and Company

Casual Party

1 Twisted Flowers :: 2 NY and Company
3 Sperry Top-Sider :: 4 Jewelry by Michal

Wednesday’s Word

Today is my little munchkin’s fifth birthday so I thought it would only be fitting to use a word that describes what she’s brought to my life…

¹joy

1a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety

2: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3: a source or cause of delight

Here are a few things (aside from my babies) that remind me of the word joy:

summertime fun

"Around" by Bomobob

 cute and comfy shoes

Belle flat by Sigerson Morrison via Piperlime

cuddles

"Cat Love" by Emele Photography

good times with great friends

"Good Morning" by Roganward

 a breezy sundress

J Crew Candace dress

a relaxing bath

organic sugar scrub by Naturallogic

chocolate!

vegan chocolate cupcakes with coconut cream frosting from All Things Exquisite

Word

Heat- a (1) : a condition of being hot : warmth (2) : a marked or notable degree of hotness b : pathological excessive bodily temperature c : a hot place or situation

I’m not going to complain. All I’ll say is that New York is a hot, sticky sauna today.

When your hair is sticking to your face and there are pools of  sweat in areas you’d rather not talk about in mixed company, you may feel like running for the hills (or at least to the nearest place with central air).

vintage Hawaiian hand fan via In My Igloo

But you know what I say? Embrace the heat!

You know that old saying, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join em”? Well that idea holds true here. Whining about the oppressive heat and humidity will only make you (and everyone around you) more miserable.

Instead, go out and do things you can only do when it’s this hot out. Stick your toes in the kiddie pool. Eat an extra popsicle (you know, to help you cool down. Not because they’re so delicious. Of course not). Hell, it’s the perfect time to see if  you’d like bikram yoga without having to pay for a class.

Plus, steamy weather is the perfect chance to show off your light and airy summer wardrobe.

And if you haven’t treated yourself to anything summery just yet, take a peek at the pieces below. Maybe you’ll find something that strikes your fancy…

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