Summer Stripes

Barite Top by Tory Burch, $175

Stripes are one of my favorite summer looks.  I particularly love the nautical feel of a classic navy stripe, which may be why the Barite Top by Tory Burch is calling my name.  The summery short-sleeve, crew neck tee features navy and ivory stripes, but Miss Burch ups the ante by adding rope and stud detailing at the sleeves that I'm absolutely obsessed with.


The Garine Top by Tory Burch, $225
(shown over the Barite Top)

 The Tory Burch website suggests layering the Garine Top over the Barite, and as a girl who loves mixing patterns, I think the result totally works.  The heavier weight of the roping and stripes means that they peek out from beneath the spotted cotton silk for a more bohemian spin on the nautical look.  If (when?) I'm lucky enough to own both pieces, I would pair them with a pair of jeans and some high, high wedges for the perfect summer look. 

The Stripper

Despite the title of today's post, I promise you that we're going to keep things classy...and discuss stripping--nail polish, that is.  I was first tipped off about The Stripper during a Saturday at my favorite local boutique, Bessie Blue.  I complimented a customer on her fabulous nail color, and she was kind enough to point me in the right direction: Deborah Lippmann.


The Stripper Nail Lacquer Remover by Deborah Lippmann, $18
Available at Nordstrom


If you're not familiar with Deborah Lippmann, then one thing you should know is that she is the go-to manicurist to fashion magazines and renowned fashion houses alike.  Her collection of nail lacquer and nail treatments are some of the best I have ever used--and knowing how seriously I treat my mani/pedis, I don't say that lightly.  Plus, as a girl who simply can't get enough of cleverly named cosmetics, with nail lacquers like "Yellow Brick Road" and "Bad Romance," Miss Lippmann clearly has the nail care industry on lock.



The Stripper to Go
Nail Lacquer Remover Finger Mitts
by Deborah Lippmann, $12 per box
Available at Nordstrom

 But I promised that we would talk about stripping.  And that's where The Stripper comes into play.  This award-winning nail polish remover lets you take it all off--from the darkest to the lightest of shades--in mere seconds.  Made from lavender and aloe, this special formula will also hydrate the nail plate while also providing natural anti-bacterial properties.  For the girl on the go, the bottle also has a unique twist-lock pump to prevent leakage and spills, but if you want to be especially cautious, you can opt for 'The Stripper to Go' Nail Lacquer Remover Finger Mitts.  Available in boxes of six, you use one little mitt to strip the polish from all your nails.  Cute and convenient--yay!

Believe me when I tell you: you will not find a better nail polish remover.  Ever ever ever.  This is the kind of stripping that even your parents can approve of.

Just Like Honey, Baby (from a bee)

Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15, $22.50
Available exclusively from Sephora

Last year, I raved about Fresh's line of feel-good beauty products, which I continue to adore to this very day.  More specfically, however, I profiled their life-changing Sugar Lip Treatment and the release of Sugar Plum and Sugar Rose, two subtly tinted shades of said lip treatment.  Well, just when I thought that we were all just as fresh and clean as we could possibly get, today I discovered that Fresh went sweet.  As in honey.

close-up of Sugar Honey

Each shade in Fresh's line of Sugar Lip Treatments is formulated with ingredients to nourish and protect the lips, and Sugar Honey is no exception.  Sugar (the real deal--not that artificial stuff) ensures long-lasting moisture, while antioxidant-rich vitamins defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals, and SPF 15 protects your kisser from the damaging effects of UV rays.  But what separates Sugar Honey from its sugar sweet predecessors, Plum and Rose, is its warm nude tint that adds a summery warmth and radiance to your look.

With the sizzling days of summer just around the corner, Sugar Honey gloss embraces this summer's gold cosmetic trend.  You can maximize your look by wearing Sugar Honey with a subtle shimmer of golden bronzer like Trish McEvoy's Shimmer Bronze Pressed Powder.  Or, if you're all about the drama (don't worry, I get it), wear your soft Sugar Honey lip color to play up a bold eye; I'm currently obsessing over Laura Mercier's  Baked Eye Colour in Black Karat.  But no matter what you're choose, it's sugar to be sweet.  Just like honey, baby, from a bee.



Trish McEvoy Shimmer Bronze Pressed Powder, $32

 


Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour in Black Karat, $22
Available from Sephora



Brilliant Braziliant



Braziliant by Essie, $8


One of ultra-fashionable coworkers recently tipped me off to a fabulous new shade in nail color, and I wasn't surprised to discover that it was one of Essie's latest and greatest.  Another example of the sizzling summer orange trend, Braziliant is a hot orange with a touch of shimmer.  I've always felt that bold colors like this are ideal for pedicures, giving your tootsies a fresh pop! of color in a season where peep-toes, sandals, and flip-flops finally give them their day in the sun.  But if you're feeling spicy, why not use it for your mani as well?  After all, boldness is brilliant, or--in this case--Braziliant. 



A special thanks to the lovely Gail for introducing me to this brilliant nail color!

4 Gifts For Grads: The Guy Edition

Yes, guys graduate too--and after last week's graduation gift post, I promised that I'd follow up with the guy's gift edition.  So, without any fanfare or further ado, perhaps the following will help you decide what to give that adorable guy for graduation...


One Sketch a Day: A Visual Journal, $15.95
Available at Urban Outfitters

 If your grad is artsy-craftsy...then One Sketch a Day: A Visual Journal will give him a place to keep his daily inspirations.  This sketchbook includes space to draw each day for one year, and then one day--in a galaxy (or life stage) far, far away--he can look back and remember the year after he graduated, the bittersweet time when he (gulp) joined the working world.


Leather Railway Bag, $278 (on sale!)
by J. Crew

 If your grad already has a swanky office gig lined up...then it's high time he retire his college backpack or messenger bag.  Based on an old commuter's bag discovered at a London flea market, J. Crew's Leather Railway Bag is gentlemanly and corporate--without trying too hard.  With all sort of handy pockets, it's the ideal commuter bag and is sure to take your grad from mailroom to boardroom in no time.


Bacon Money Clip, $65
By Jack Spade

 If your grad is ready to bring home the bacon...then he's going to need a place to put it!  Made of stainless steel, Jack Spade's Bacon Money Clip is perfect for cash and cards.  Plus, it's clever inscription will keep your grad's eyes on the prize.  It's all about the Benjamins, baby.


Pocket Watch, $99.95
Available from Red Envelope

 If your grad prides himself on punctuality... then a personalized pocket watch ensures he make time for style too.  Made of brass with brushed chrome plating, the inside face reveals the watch's skeleton so you can--quite literally--see what makes it tick.  For a more personal touch, you can also choose to monogram the front, or add a message or date on the back.   So if you really, really feel the need to quote Oh! The Places You'll Go!, here's your chance.

So there you have it.  By now, you may be feeling a tad sentimental--and there's no shame in that.  But try to keep it together--if only for the sake of your grad--and, if at all possible, resist the urge to listen to Green Day's Time of Your Life.  Happy graduation, class of 2011!

Tees For A Cause: Project Repat

Shopping for vintage tees is one of my favorite things.  Along with one of my dearest friends, Annie Rose, I have spent countless hours scouring vintage shops from LA to Seattle to Boston in the hopes of discovering the perfect tee.  You know the kind of tee I mean--broken in to the point of ideal softness, exactly the right fit, sporting some fantastic graphic or slogan that either means nothing to you (my favorite, a "Compton Cheerleading" tee I discovered back in high school) or everything to you (I'm obsessed with my "Wilson Lacrosse" find).  Stumbling upon these pre-owned gems is like the fashion version of buried treasure--and now you can treasure hunt for a good cause!

Project Repat
http://www.projectrepat.org/


Just last week, my lovely friend, Sarah, forwarded an article from Good, "Repatriating Retro T-Shirts from Africa (for a Good Cause)."  The article profiles the work of the Boston-based non-profit organization, Project Repat.  After noticing a rickshaw operator in Nairobi wearing a tee proclaiming, "I danced my a** off at Josh’s bar mitzvah. Santa Barbara, California. January, 2006," co-founders Sean Hewens and Ross Lohr realized that many African people ended up wearing vintage tees that found their way to the secondary market after being donated to Goodwill or the Salvation Army in the US.  Project Repat was born from this inspiration; tees are returned to the US, where they are rebranded and resold at vintage store prices in an effort to support non-profits in the developing world by creating a truly unique t-shirt experience for American consumers and providing a second chance at fame for the t-shirts that got away.  Obviously, it is a win-win.
 

Gymnastics Coach Tee (front view), $25
Repatriated from Tanzania
& now available from Project Repat

Never being one to pass up the opportunity to shop for a good cause, I had to check out the Project Repat Online Store myself.  There, you can shop tees by size or repatriation location.  I am happy to report that I am now the proud owner of a fabulous "Gymnastics Coach" tee, after it was repatriated from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  For $25, I scored a vintage tee with a story--and played a small part in supporting the non-profit organizations improving lives in Tanzania (profits from each tee support initiatives in the specific country where the tee was repatriated from).



Gymnastics Coach Tee (back view)

Next on Project Repat's agenda is a May 22 trip to Nairobi, where they plan to document the repatriation experience in a film entitled, "I Didn't Dance My A** Off at Josh's Bar Mitzvah."  And of course, they will be repatriating tees along the way so be sure to stay tuned for their latest haul and to play your own part in Project Repat's mission.  Happy shopping!

4 Gifts For Grads

My dear sister--and fellow blogger--will be graduating from Colby College next Sunday so I've been thinking a bit about graduation over these last few weeks.  Graduation gifts are often a category that I struggle with, wanting to remain appropriately sentimental without even a hint of cheese.  I have generally found my way (and my sister's gift is pretty freaking fabulous, if I do say so myself), but in case any of you are currently struggling with the "gifts for grads" category, perhaps you can find a bit of inspiration in today's post.


Go! Reminder Necklace by Dogeared, $46

  If your grad is a go-getter...  Instead of giving her another copy of Oh! The Places You'll Go!, you can still share words of encouragement with this sterling silver "Go!" Reminder Necklace by Dogeared.  Featuring a tiny, sterling silver arrow charm on a delicate sterling chain, this necklace promises to "inspire anyone who wears it to keep moving in a positive direction, chase their dreams, and make their wishes come true."


Hire Me Scoop Tee from Urban Outfitters, $24

 If your grad has a sense of humor--and perhaps a job already lined up?...  You're sure to make her smile by bringing some comic relief to what is often an emotionally charged day.  After all, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a little shameless self-promotion.


2011 Graduation Charm Bracelet
by Juicy Couture, $148
Available at Neiman Marcus

 If your grad lives a charmed life...  Nothing says "congrats" quite as boldly as a bit of bling, and as always, Juicy Couture takes it to the next level.  This 2011 Graduation Charm Bracelet features a gold chain link with graduation themed charms, including a class ring, rhinestone "2011," yearbook, and graduation cap.


How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World
by Jordan Christy, $9.87
Available at Barnes & Noble

 If your grad keeps it classy at the head of her class...  Perhaps there has never been a "how to" guide quite as relevant for the elegantly modern girl than How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World.  Delving into "the art of living with style, class, and grace" will take your gracious grad from mailroom to boardroom in no time.

Okay, so obviously these gifts are for the girl grads, but I haven't forgotten about the guys.  More to come in the next episode...  Stay tuned!