Summer Hues

My Personal Photo

Banana Republic Eyelet T-Shirt,  Behnaz Sarafpour Lace Skirt & Tiffany & Co. Bracelet

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

There’s something about summer with its longer days and carefree spirit that makes me reach for a few of my favorite summer hues. We all know I rely on neutrals- navy, gray tones, black, touches of ivory and burgundy, but I’m not averse to injecting a bit more color into my wardrobe.  

I love deep coral, persimmon, and poppy on sun-kissed (SPF protected) skin. It’s quite apropos, given the predominance of deep coral everywhere… I particularly liked Monique Lhuillier’s Resort 2012 collection (looks 26, 32 and 34 are perfection) – a fresh approach to evening with bright poppy dresses in silk faille and silk organza with pockets. Upon walking into Carven’s Resort 2013 presentation I was instantly drawn to the deep coral skirt suit.

Like salmon pink in the autumn and winter, I have a penchant for deep coral, persimmon and poppy in the summer. I still haven’t figured out all of the colors that work for me, but I can humbly say that these hues flatter my skin tone. They’re uplifting colors that consistently garner the sweetest compliments. Deep coral can easily be paired with navy, white, and gray to anchor it a bit. I’m already picturing it with my pale blue cotton voile bespoke shirts that are on the way. 

On a trip to Behnaz Sarafpour’s studio, I fell for this lace skirt. The details are exquisite while remaining subtle. I tried on the skirt while the designer herself looked on approvingly, which is always a humbling experience. In addition, to the intricate lace design the skirt has a proper lining.

Last weekend, I wore this skirt for the journey out to Coney Island (hence the T-shirt) with the gentleman, for a wonderful dance recital that one of the students I mentor was in. After all, how can we possibly help shape a younger generation of leaders if we don’t support them? That alone was motivation enough for me to make the long trek out. 

Hope you had a beautiful weekend. What summer hues are you reaching for?

Lace Embrace

My Personal Photos

Necklace: Tiffany & Co, Shirt: Banana Republic, Skirt: Proenza Schouler, Shoes: Kate Spade

If there is one trend from the Spring/Summer 2011 collections that I can't get enough of it's lace. Lace is one of my all time favorite looks for warmer weather. The inherent femininity gets me every time. What impressed me most about the use of lace in the Spring/Summer 2011 collections is the multitude of ways in which designers worked with it. 

At Dolce and Gabbana the inspiration was a bride's trousseau. Whereas Balenciaga combined a multitude of materials with plasticized lace. Lace is one of those fabrics that truly shows off a designer's craftsmanship and precision. It requires restraint on the part of the wearer. Too much lace can easily become overkill. It's about finding the perfect balance. 

For the past few years, I have acquired at least one lace item before summer's end. I generally gravitate toward a neutral color palate, but when I saw this skirt I couldn't resist. In typical Proenza Schouler style, this skirt combines a beautiful silhouette with a strong and unexpected color pattern. The word powerful comes to mind. The color combination prevents the skirt from appearing too precious. 

As soon as I saw this skirt I instantly gravitated to it. To put it simply- I was charmed. While this skirt is inexplicably different from the items in my closet, I firmly believe that every well-edited closet needs a few special pieces.