I grew up in a small town in India, but through books I knew the world.
Mira Nair
I grew up in a small town in India, but through books I knew the world.
Mira Nair
The right stripes are always chic, conjuring up images of a French seaside resort.
This season they are ever easier to achieve courtesy of these perfect pieces.
We love Dolce & Gabbana’s striped dresses from Spring 2013. But, if the price point is too high opt for these instead….
Striped Dress, riverisland.com, £60.00
This halter top matched with a spearmint skirt is a crisply tailored alternative
Spearmint Striped Skirt, anthropologie.com, $78.00
and
Striped Devon Halter Top, anthropologie.com, $78.00
Both Bright and Boldly Fun Loving!
Dolce and Gabbana Organza Striped Sun Dress, matchesfashion.com, $1961.00
Oasis Stripe Fit and Flare Sundress, houseoffraser.co.uk, £ 35.00
Black and white stripe A Line Dress, riverisland.com, £28.00
Mae Striped Dress, anthropologie.com, $118.00
From the red and white shorts at the bottom to the boat neck striped tees, all of these looks are worth prying out your inner copycat for!
Nancee Striped Shorts, mytheresa.com, $95.00
Striped Shorts, zara.com, $59.90
Rope Stripe Sailor Short, jcrew.com, $75.00
Striped Top, zara.com, $59.90
Striped Valence Boatneck, anthropologie.com, $19.95
Jcrew Engineered Stripe Boatneck Top, jcrew.com, $45.00
Jcrew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Navy-White Stripe, jcrew.com, $118.00
Voile Skirt in Stripe, jcrew.com, $99.99
In reading about the Spring Collections recently we came across this picture in the UK InStyle showcasing the “couture” garden creations which popped up at Chanel, Dior, and many of the major fashion houses.
Yes, these lush pieces are gorgeous, but if you break them down the flowers are not that extraordinary and it got us thinking about a few specific roses and one signature green flower that your garden requires in order to create truly bespoke, and unique florals.
Let’s start with the three roses that are simply for your cutting garden.
1.) Scentimental is not new by any means. But, you will be hard-pressed to find this unique, paint-splattered rose in an arrangement done by your local florist. It’s a floribunda that will keep producing throughout the season. It will not add pop or much interest to your garden in general, but as a cutting-rose it creates standout arrangements with the most amazing perfume.
Scentimental, jacksonandperkins.com, $18.95
2.) Blue Girl is also not a new comer. This hybrid-tea bursts into bloom in silvery, bluish lavender with long hardy stems. Again, for the same reason it is not a knockout in the yard, it is perfect for singular arrangements. The color is unusual, subtle and not replicated by any flower-shop finds. A fantastic bonus is that the perfume is second-to-none.
Blue Girl Rose, heirloomroses.com, $17.50
3.) Koko Loko is an absolute rookie! This newcomer has the color of the creamiest latte. It is amazingly rare to find a flower this attractive that is a beautiful, nutty light brown. It gives any arrangement a vintage look and a true elegance. It carries no perfume.
Koko Loko, edmundsroses.com, $19.95
We have nothing against hydrangeas, but in the spring you can achieve a much lacier and delicate effect by substituting in young Viburnum (also called Japanese Snowball) into your florals. Viburnum flowers prolifically and while it comes on a sturdy woody stalk the weight of the flower ball allows it to drape just perfectly over the side of your vase.
We recommend picking the viburnum while it is still green otherwise it matures into a snow white flower. Unlike the roses mentioned above, viburnum looks truly lovely in your yard and brings a night garden to life.
Viburnum, whiteflowerfarm.com
Last Look Florals
Transitioning seamlessly from spring to summer to fall, the glamour of gingham never misses a beat! From beach-side shorts to a preview of looks to come in the fall, gingham grips its place center-stage and won’t let go!
The Inspiration:
Our Favorite Dresses:
1.) Kate Spade New York ‘Aubrey’ Silk Blend Wrap Dress, nordstrom.com, $398.00
2.) Marc by Marc Jacobs Stacy Check Dress, bloomingdales.com, $278.40
3.) Love Moschino Gingham Ruffle Dress, harrods.com, £300.00
4.) Miu Miu Shirt Dress with Gingham Balloon Skirt, mytheresea.com, € 495.00
Our Favorite Shorts:
Lily Pulitzer Buttercup Shorts in Fiesta Pink, 6pm.com, $40.80
Thom Browne Bermuda Shorts (For men, but gorgeous enough for us to borrow them!), colette.fr, € 770.00
Our Favorite Bikini:
The inspiration!
Laurence Doligé Bucket Bikini, frenchtrotters.fr, 85,00 €
Favorite Tops:
5.) Comme des Garçons Patchwork Gingham T-Shirt, farfetch.com, $543.62
6.) Frilled Hem Gingham Top, yesstyle.com, $65.00
7.) C&C California Tie Front Shirt in Gummy Green, piperlime.com, $88.00
Two Skirts to LOVE:
Stacy Check Skirt by Marc Jacobs, modaoperandi.com, $348.00
Love Moschino Gingham Bow Mini Skirt, farfetch.com, $189.03
Socks & Shoes:
Top Shop Green Gingham Trim Ankle Socks, topshop.com, $6.00
Tod’s Heaven Gingham Check Slipper Shoes, matchesfashion.com, $341.00
Hats & Scarves:
Jonathan Adler Ribbon and Straw Fedora, jonathanadler.com, $68.00
Vicose Scarf in Gingham Motif, jmclaughlin.com, $55.00
Perfect for the Home:
Square Gingham Pouf, serenaandlily.com, $88.00
Last Look:
Prada keeps the gingham trend going well into the fall!
We absolutely LOVE:
“Finding beauty in the unloved is important to me,” says Danish designer Nina Tolstrup. Indeed: In conjunction with London design gallery 19 Greek Street, Tolstrup created a standout limited-edition line of day-beds, sofas, chairs, and tables using discarded seating from London second-hand shop and bolts of kinky fabric left-over from Marc by Marc Jacobs’ spring 2013 collection.” (Text and below photo from Elle). Fabulous!!!!
.
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
― T.S. Eliot
The white way to cap off your outfit… for summer meetings or cooler evening cocktails. White blazers are clean, thoroughly modern and a super flattering match for a fresh summer glow.
Our two favorites are below and reign supreme due to their unique cuts and affordability.
Edge to Edge Blazer, anthropologie.com, $148.00
Ruched Porcelain Blazer, anthropologie.com, $128.00
You can rock this studded look. Here’s how to pull it off.
The neckline of this sleek black dress & the graceful curves of the heel below offset the boyish, rough nature of the blazer.
Cream Stud Shoulder Blazer, misselfridge.com, $80.00
Graham & Spencer Deep V Dress, shopbop.com, $268.00
Gianvito Rossi Asymmetrical Sandal, barneys.com, $685.00
Tweed for a lunch-date or the office—with jeans, just as it is shown, maybe some oversized pearls channeling Chanel and bright pumps on foot:
Rebecca Taylor Tweed Blazer, saks.com, $395.00
A Sparkly, Sexy Look (pour le soir):
Alice + Olivia Wheeler Sequin, bloomingdales.com, $638.40
Last Look:
Call it a deal, call it a steal…it’s almost too good to be real!
MNG by Mango Textured Collarless Jacket, jcpenney.com, $55.00
I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.
Georgia O’Keeffe
Move over traditional iced-tea and make way for tamarind…
This sophisticated sweet & sour drink is perfection iced on the hottest days. Thus, its popularity in tropical climates.
Try this replacement for the standard iced-tea, either in your fridge in the heart of summer, or for your next home-based gathering.
Tamarind is a leguminous tree indigenous to tropical Africa that likely reached South Asia by way of humans thousands of years ago.
It is here in South Asia, Laos to be precise, that we fell in love with the iced-drink. It is high in acid and sugar, thus providing an unmistakable sweet and sour taste, as well as Vitamin B and Calcium.
The Amantaka was very hospitable in sharing their signature recipe for this tropical classic.
Tamarind Juice:
Ingredients
500 grams Tamarind
300 grams honey
200 grams sugar
3 liters of drinking water
Directions:
1.) Cover the tamarind with the water and boil for 40 minutes
2.) While the tamarind is still hot add the sugar and stir until dissolved
3.) Strain liquid and add the honey. Adjust the taste with more or less honey to obtain the perfect sweet and sour taste.
4.) Chill. Serve with ice
Enjoy!!!
The primary health benefits of tamarind appear to be related to ease of digestion. It can serve as a very very mild laxative. Tamarind is also a great anti-oxidant and assists with inflammation.
• Pair pants with heels, not flats. The draped effect looks more elegant with added height.
• Unless you are super long and lean and can carry the full effect, don’t match the pant with a pajama top or otherwise flouncy blouse. Couple it with a structured white shirt, crisp blazer or tailored, starched, slimming button down.
• Keep your accessories relegated to one area. One big statement necklace, a flood of stackable bangles. Jewelry with with a rough texture like grainy wood and agate rings counterbalance the luster of the pants perfectly.
Etro Silk Palazzo Trousers, mytheresa.com, € 490.00
Sellida Pleated Silk Blouse Theory, Matchesfashion.com, $277.00
Valentino RockStud Studded-Heel Napa Pump, Noisette, bergdorfgoodman.com, $745.00
Any of these accessories will work seamlessly:
Kendra Scott Elle Earrings Ebony Wood, charmandchain.com, $70.00
Tory Burch Tina Drop Earrings, toryburch.com, $95.00
Evocateur Norwegian Wood Cuff, ahalife.com, $338.00
Other pajama pants worthy of the day-time spotlight:
3.1 Phillip Lim Black Silk Floral Pyjama Pants, boutique1.com, $508.00
or
3.1 Philip Lim Pajama Pant, farfetch.com, $450.00
Stella McCartney (Pre Fall) Silk Print Trousers, mytheresa.com, € 735.00
Sharon Wauchob Silk Pant, farfetch.com, $675.00
Sally Lapointe Chiffon Trouser, farfetch.com, $1875.00
A few favorites from JCrew:
Dual Foulard Collection Shirtdress, jcrew.com, $275.00
Café Capri in Diamond Foulard Pant, jcrew.com, $198.00
Last Look:
The Crop from Zara is Plentiful…Anyone Can Find a Style that Rocks from this Pack
Marc Jacobs Brings the Pajama Look Up Top:
Once a guy starts wearing silk pajamas it’s hard to get up early.
Eddie Arcaro