a trip home
Wednesday, June 6
I was a frequent flier last week. The day after I returned from Mexico, I headed to New York for the weekend to attend one of my oldest and closest friend's father's memorial service in the Hamptons. Though the occasion was a sad one, it was a beautiful service attended by many old friends. Given the circumstances, I also felt especially blessed to be able to spend some time with my own dad, who lives there year-round, in the same house we used to spend our summers when I was growing up. The weather was early-summer beautiful and it felt good to be home.
On Sunday morning, I made my way back into the city to see my twin sister, who was working. Before we met, I made a solo expedition to Topshop and spent a good two hours in the dressing room, trying on all the clothes, pictured above. The store had just received a new shipment the night before, so there were pickings aplenty. The hard part was whittling down my selections. Here's what I chose and returned to LA with. P.S. The white dress below is leather. It's crazy awesome.
day dress
Wednesday, June 6
Ahhh... warm summer days are upon us. Time to bust out the cute, easy dresses, like this one, which bears a vivid ethnic print. I'd breeze around in it with...
1. Monsoon dress, $122, monsoon.co.uk
2. Topshop sunglasses, $32, topshop.com
3. Tory Burch fringed raffia clutch, $395, neimanmarcus.com
4. Madewell platform sandals, $119, madewell.com
the getaway
Wednesday, June 6
My husband and I took an amazing trip to Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico, for a few days last week. If you have never been there, it is worth putting on your list of places to visit someday. The Mexican-Mediterranean style resort is an incredibly beautiful place combining minimalist yet still warm architecture, with perfectly executed traditional interior decor, all set on the impossibly blue Sea of Cortez.
We've come to love the hotel, having celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary there last year. This time, we were with a few other couples. Once again, it was nirvana, from start to finish, beginning with the Las Ventanas signature welcome greeting: Upon entering the open-air palapa lobby, shimmering sea looming in the distance, the smiling hotel personnel approach, and you expect to be ushered to a desk to do what you are hoping will be a quick check-in, etc. Instead, along with a warm hello, you are handed a delicious foamy margarita and escorted immediately to your insanely beautiful room. Five minutes after arriving, you are in your bathing suit, 100% on vacation.
Unlike trips that involve sightseeing, restaurant hopping, and shopping, this vacation had no itinerary. The one and only goal was to enjoy the sun, sand and sea, the company of friends and each other. We woke up early every morning and indulged in a big breakfast on our room's balcony (egg white omelet with veggies for me, Huevos Rancheros for John, along with fresh papaya and tropical fruit smoothies). Then we languished by the pool, took walks on the beach and bobbed in the temperate ocean--with some tacos and tequila shots in between. The staff is friendly and incredibly efficient, and the overall service is truly as good as I have ever had anywhere.
Needless to say, the trip was heaven, and we came away rejuvenated and reminded again of how important it is to get some quality alone time with your significant other (especially once kids are in the picture!) Here are some fun pics from our trip. I hope they inspire you to plan your next getaway!
The striking hotel entrance.
The spell-binding view from the lobby. Since there is no check-in desk, let alone a line to wait in, I am not sure this actually qualifies as a lobby per se, but I wish every hotel lobby could be (and work) like this.
Ready for the hotel pool.
The balcony and view from our room. The spiral staircase leads to an upper deck, where we stargazed at night.
The grilled shrimp tacos, laced with chips and guacamole are weighing me down in my seat at the hotel's outdoor restaurant. The salsa fresca is so good (and healthy) I ate it by the spoonful.
It's cool and shady in the outdoor restaurant.
Me, frustrated, in my white jeans--because, as you may recall, I failed to bring more than one nice dress!
Cool architecture.
Of course, I did manage to do some shopping! I bought these woven bracelets for $10 a pop, from a strolling beach-side vendor.
lady mary
Tuesday, June 5
I've been catching up on the second season of Downton Abbey (it's much better than the first) and it has me smitten with all things English countryside: chintz fabric, dainty tea cups, wild garden roses. All of which explains my attraction to this floral peplum blouse. It's vibrant and feminine. Very Lady Mary, if she were around today. I'd pair it with Dowager Countess-approved earrings along with something modern and unexpected, like a flashy pair of leather jeans...
1. River Island peplum top, $39, riverisland.com
2. Dannijo earrings, $260, shopbop.com
3. Bottega Veneta pailette leather clutch, $2029, barneys.com
4. Manolo Blahnik sandal, $644, bergdorfgoodman.com
5. Helmut Lang leather pants, $920, netaporter.com
a military match
Monday, June 4
My twin sister, Coco, and I met for dinner last night and, as usual, we showed up wearing very similar outfits. She was in an army green sweater and vintage army vest and I turned up in a camouflage print sweater. Clearly, we both had military fashion on our minds. Here are some other soldierly styles we both like, from Topshop, MSGM and Alexander Wang.
P.S. I am on the left in the picture above.
beadamania
Monday, June 4
I previewed a sample of this beaded sweatshirt in Asos's PR office a few weeks ago and have been badgering the publicists there to let me buy one ever since. Well, it finally became available online over the weekend. Happy Day. I'll be wearing mine to pieces, with just about everything, from a swishy A-line pleated skirt (a pastel one for a Prada vibe) to black skinny jeans for work. For starters, I'd play up its bright and summery vibe and pair it with...
1. Asos sweatshirt, $55, asos.com
2. Betsey Johnson clutch, $98, nordstrom.com
3. B Brian Atwood, $325, shopbop.com
4. J. Crew leather pencil skirt, $595, netaporter.com
wide leg pants
Friday, June 1
It's taking me a while to wrap my head around this trendy new silhouette, what with all the skinny jeans we've been wearing over the last few years. Wide through the leg, these flowy pants will be even more ubiquitous this fall, thanks to designers like Derek Lam and Proenza Schouler. Fortunately, for us, they're utterly comfortable and flattering. Here are some possibilities to test drive from Kelly Wearstler, Tibi, and Zara.
if only...
Friday, June 1
So I just returned from a relaxing trip to Mexico with my husband. We had the BEST time (I'll tell you more about it next week as my head is still at 33,000 feet!), but the only thing that fell short was my own packing. I tried to condense everything into a carry-on, but neglected to bring more than one nice going-out-for-dinner dress. What was I thinking? After day two of lolling around the infinity pool and swimming in the ocean, I just wanted to throw on something short and gorgeous to go with my glow. But I only had white jeans. No! Anyway, I sweated through white jeans and an off-the-shoulder top and I survived. But if I only had this dress: striking in its redness, cute in its drop-waist situation--and very Victoria Beckham-posh, to boot. Plus, it's a dress that will happily work back at home. I'd wear this dress on holiday and on home turf with...
1. Topshop dress, $84, topshop.com
2. Bauble Bar earrings, $22, baublebar.com
3. Zara clutch, $89, zara.com
4. Jimmy Choo sandals, $1046, netaporter.com
P.S. Here's the one long, flowy, beachy-glam dress I did bring. It's made by my friend, LA-based designer Natalie Martin.
super sale time
Thursday, May 31
Ladies, start your engines. Net-a-porter just went on sale, and there's such a plethora of insane finds, including this season's most iconic dresses, shoes, and bags, like this coveted Proenza Schouler clutch (reduced from $925 to $647). Below are my favorite picks, all of which will transition nicely into fall, and are reduced between 30 to 50 percent(!).
sleek sneaks
Thursday, May 31
Last summer when I was flying back from Italy to the States, I missed my connecting flight in Madrid and had to stay for an extra day. Of course, I was not that disappointed, except that the only clothes I had were the ones on me (because my checked luggage was stuck in the bowels of the airport). Thankfully, I was wearing these leather Jack Purcell Converse sneakers. They were perfect for a day of touring the Prado and flitting around the city and running back to the airport. Plus, because they're leather, they're polished, sleek and city-proof. I'm planning on wearing them on this summer's adventures (to New York, Palm Beach, etc) and also on those non-stop-running-around-doing-a-million things schlubby days with...
1. Topshop sweatshirt, $48, topshop.com
2. Indego African bangles, $10, madewell.com
3. Mulberry Alexa bag lizard effect bag, $1904, mytheresa.com
4. Converse Jack Purcell leather sneakers, $60, zappos.com
5. Goldsign jeans, $90, netaporter.com
P.S. Yes, I have a converse addiction!