LE CATCH

Everyone is going bananas over Chanel's Spring 2014 pearl chokers, including Karl Lagerfeld, himself, who was recently quoted saying, "My favorite thing is the new necklace.... with two huge pearls, but in fact it's very flattering because the pearls give a beautiful light on the girl's face." Bien sur! Thankfully, Anthropologie has come out with a very affordable, very elegant, very day-to-day wearable version. I've been flaunting mine with easy things like a simple black J.Crew sweater (25% off!), a Helmut Lang silk white button down blouse and a good LNA tee.

Photo: Style

Sorry I'm not sorry that I logged some fun beach time this weekend in Malibu, where I got re-aquainted with the bliss of a well-stocked beach bag. Would love to take the pocket-trimmed Clare V, below, next time out!

$92, the outnet

My only issue with these army green AG boyfriend jeans is that I'd want to wear them every single day.

1. Rag & Bone t-shirt, $95, netaporter.com
2. Vanessa Bruno oversize crepe motorcycle jacket, $1160, matchesfashion.com
3. AG army green boyfriend jeans, $92, theoutnet.com
4. Emily Elizabeth wire band pearl ring, $48, maxandchloe.com
5. Clare V geometric print clutch, $115, netaporter.com
6. Converse leather sneakers, $64, nordstrom.com

We're all familiar with street style in cities like New York and Paris, so I was delighted to come across this picture depicting fashion in Ghana. Taken by street style photographer Ed SuterTKTKTK. I want her dress!

$76, topshop

A little luster never hurts, especially when it comes in the form of an effortlessly chic t-shirt.

1. Topshop rose gold metallic t-shirt, $76, topshop.com
2. Nicole Meng asymmetrical ring, $80, maxandchloe.com
3. Stila Liquid Lipstick in Fiery, $22, sephora.com
4. Gucci canvas clutch, $280, matchesfashion.com
5. Diane Von Furstenberg sandals, $350, matchesfashion.com
6. Band of Outsiders satin trimmed trousers, $395, netaporter.com

An Instagram exchange between two Lucky Magazine editors made me laugh the other day. One announced to the other that she bought a pair of cropped wide leg pants from the Phillip Lim store in Los Angeles while in Milan, waiting for a runway show to start. Then concluded with: "#crosscontinentshopping." I can relate to this non-stop-shopping compulsion, as you all well know! Plus, I've been thinking about adding some cropped wide leg pants to my wardrobe. This fresh silhouette appeared everywhere on the fall runaways (I loved the ones at J.Crew and Elizabeth and James) and in and around the shows from New York to London to Paris, as seen above and below. Pictured in the last snap is Lucky's editor-in-chief Eva Chen sporting Topshop's version. My compulsive window shopping turned up these cool guys from 3.1 Phillip Lim (the Lucky editor-purchased one), Theyskens' Theory, Asos, Topshop Boutique and Joseph.

Photos: Vogue, Style, The Cut, Collage Vintage, All The Pretty Birds

$89, gap*

This white denim moto jacket will add a flash of fresh-edgy-cool to any spring outfit. Greatly versatile, too!

1. H&M strapless crepe dress, $59, hm.com
2. Gap denim moto jacket, $89, gap.com
3. Anya Hindmarch clutch, $795, shopbop.com
4. Zara striped sandals, $69, zara.com

* Get 25% off today only at Gap with the code TREAT at checkout. Denim (i.e. this jacket), bags, and leather and suede apparel are excluded from the sale.

My morning Instagram feed, filled with friends (and close relatives, including my twin sis, below) holidaying in Tulum, Morocco, and other near-the-equator hot spots, first inspired serious vacation envy, then a serious swimwear shopping spree. I kicked things off with the Mikoh criss-cross halter bandeau, pictured above (never mind the tan lines, it's the ultimate statement bikini top), knowing I could pair it with a simple black bikini bottom, like this one by J.Crew. (P.S. I also love this dramatic Victoria's Secret halter top--also statement-y, less expensive. Clearly, this look is going to be a thing this summer!) Then I snapped up these cute studded Forever 21 sandals, and finished off with this gorgeous lace cover-up. I'd love to go for this Lisa Mira Fernandez ruffled bikini too but feel like I actually need a tropical vacation plan to warrant it!

Photos: Could I Have That, Tom Dey

$29, joe fresh

My quickly-get-dressed-in-the-morning routine involves an easy-chic blouse just like this one.

1. Joe Fresh polka dot blouse, $29, jcpenney.com
2. Warehouse cape, $64, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
3. J Brand jeans, $170, netaporter.com
4. Mayle bag, $289, clubmonaco.com
5. Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in Orange Fusion, $35, nordstrom.com
6. 3.1 Phillip Lim d'orsay flats, $395, shopbop.com

I've always despised reading instruction manuals. I would do anything to avoid them, relying instead on my intuition to assemble and/or make things work. I just didn't have the patience, and I usually found I could figure it out on my own, get my husband to do it, or just concede defeat: do I like having the GPS feature in my car--yes! Can I use it--nope! But in recent years, I have finally begun to succumb to the torture of the dreaded manual, mostly due to the invasion of my home by Lego, remote control helicopters and the like that absolutely positively required me to read a manual. And guess what--it's not that bad, as they actually make the process easier! Who knew?? Anyway, my warming up to this form of literature has had one massive side benefit: it has spilled over into following cookbook recipes, which has opened up a whole new world for me. All of a sudden, I am really into cooking! And what I am cooking actually tastes good! Newly inspired, I took a cooking class with some friends last week. One warned me to come to the class hungry because we'd be eating (and drinking lots of red wine) as we cooked. (It was a good thing I wore my new favorite Paige jeans, which are not only perfectly, comfortably stretchy, but as my friend commented, "They are truly skinny jeans--as in they make you look skinny." Even, I guess, when you are pigging out!) We made date chutney, leek cream cheese, cilantro pesto, chili carrots (my fave, pictured above, recipe below!), curried beet polenta, quinoa caviar and the best Angel Food Cake. At home, in the last few days, I've whipped up slow-cooked kale with pancetta and gluten-free bread crumbs, spicy black bean soup, sesame noodles, and creamy chicken quinoa and broccoli casserole. Tonight I will take on a vegan-friendly roasted cauliflower and caper situation with garlic aioli, a recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's My Father's Daughter. Hopefully, all this tasty food won't make all the well-fitting clothes in my closet obsolete!

Chili Carrots (recipe from Lulu Powers)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (you can also use coconut or canola oil)
1 lb. carrots, peeled and sliced
A splash of Cholulua

In a large skillet cook garlic in oil over medium-heat for 30 seconds. Add carrots. Cook and stir for 6 minutes. Add 3 teaspoons of water. Cover. Cook 4 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper and a splash of hot sauce.