Out Shopping...

I made time for a quick stop in Madewell this past weekend and just love the current collection they've got going! Lots of funky stripes, denim and bright colors for spring.

1. Shadow-stripe scarf + wayward jean shirt ($49.50 + $88) - Madewell offers a crazy-awesome selection of scarves year-round. I love the red detail bordering on this blue and white striped scarf. And if you don't have a jean / chambray shirt yet - what gives?!?
2. Striped drifter shorts ($69.50) - Love these, especially as styled in the photo above with a worn in brown belt.
3. Bright tees and shorts!! - a whole wall of the store was tricked out with reds, corals, and oranges. I love the way they mix these brights with basic whites, greys and soft pinks. Try these online pics in similar shades: silk intermission top in red hibiscus ($88), silk capulet tank in french terracotta (on sale: $69.99), and silk safari shorts in red hibiscus ($88)
4. Super cute pair-able bracelets ($8-12) - not offered online, so go to the B&M store to pick these up. I got a handful while I was there, so affordable!!
5. Grey silk crepe blouse ($88) - not available online but the somerset pocket top in raccoon ($78) is a similar silk crepe fabric. This is a great fabric for spring and summer - and versatile as a layering piece worn from work into the weekend.
6. Le minor® dip-dyed tee ($95) - they carry better colors in-store but I'm fond of the ecru anthracite offered online too!

luxe : less - The Beach Hair Edition

Beach hair is a great low-maintenance style for the warmer months. Bonus is it's also not as hard on your hair as heat-treated styles (as long as you condition regularly to help keep the salty products from drying out your tresses!)

Bumble and bumble offers the best known and most praised beach hair spray, called surf spray. This product is awesome - it smells like the beach and adds instant body. But at $23 for 4 oz I'm wary to make this luxe spray a product staple. 

Luckily, towards the end of last summer I found a fantastic less stand-in that works just as well. It's from Not Your Mother's and is only $6 for 8 oz -  only 13% the cost of b+b's per oz!!! The Beach Babe - texturizing sea salt spray smells eerily similar to Bumble's and works just as well. To use: spray it onto damp hair after a shower, comb through and tousle your hair with your fingers - done!

Out Shopping...

With the weather getting warmer I have even more reasons to get out and...shop! Below, a few pics of pieces that caught my eye while out this past weekend...

1. The Baker's, The Chemist's and The Refracted Ambiance Jars @ Anthropologie ($18 - 28) - these look great on bathroom shelves stocked with beauty essentials

2. Alice + Olivia Pace Rhinestone Boxy Tee @ Saks ($495) - a picture can't do this 100% silk tee justice. The alternating rows of rhinestones and beads are gorgeous. Lusting after this tee - dreaming of it paired with my jeggings/slim jeans and flats

3. Amplified Stripes Blouse @ Anthropologie ($98) -  a nice blouse alternative vs. the overwhelming availability of striped t-shirts. Pair this with white jeans and sandals

4. Trench Motorcycle Jacket @ J.Crew ($168) - this cotton twill jacket with neon accent zippers is the perfect jacket to throw on with jeans and a tee. It would make any outfit look stylish without effort

5. Leopard Reusable Tote @ J.Crew ($15) - cute, eco-friendly, durable, multi-purpose. Enough said!

6. Society Taper Holders @ Anthropologie ($18-24) - I'm always game for a few crystal home accents - I love these pieces as standalone objects. They'd look great with a pastel colored taper for spring too

Signs of Spring

For the reasons illustrated below, I officially declare it Spring. Boots stored, spring handbags out...

luxe : less - The S/S 2011 Sandal Edition

Spring/Summer 2011 runways had a few shoe trends that honestly made me cringe - clogs and the "shoe sandal." But as the warm days draw nearer I've been pleasantly surprised with designers' translation of other runway themes into fresh sandals with closet staying power. The brands I covet turned out the real keepers: Chloe, Reed Krakoff,  and Pour La Victoire. The trends I'm loving: wedges, straps, saddle leather, and neutrals. Find four luxe and less pairings below!

1. Chloé Wooden wedge leather sandals (luxe @ $575) - beautiful wooden wedges that will pair gorgeously with almost any dress. I like how the straps are thinner on this pair

2. Coach Maleena wedge in whiskey veg leather (less @ $198) - very similar silhouette to the Chloé pair, thin and elegant straps here as well

3. Pedro Garcia Thais Vacchetta leather and suede wedge sandals in cigar (luxe @ $430) - another example of the beautiful saddle leather coloring, I love the suede platform here as an alternative to wood, cork, or the traditional espandrille

4. J.Crew Marguerite leather wedges in toffee (less @ $165) - another all-suede wedge with a deep rich brown leather. Pair these or the Pedro Gargia pair with cropped pants or jeans, skirts, and dresses

5. Pour La Victoire Crisscross flat sandals in black (luxe @ $224) - a flat and thick-strapped sandal like this adds a bit of funk to a basic outfit - I'm imaging these with cropped jeggings and a plain tee while walking the city or running errands

6. J.Crew Salina leather sandals in black (less @ $98) - an awesome match to the Pour La Victoire pair, at less than half the price. I actually prefer how this pair lacks the crisscross straps across the top of the foot. These are also beautiful in the toffee color as well

7. Reed Krakoff Leather ballerina flats in toffee (luxe @ $395) - I personally am loving the neutral / nude trend for Spring/Summer. These leather flats would go with anything, and the stitching and toe cap details are gorgeous

8. J.Crew Classic leather ballet flats in tawny sand (less @ $110) - an amazing dupe color-wise, J.Crew flats are super comfortable with soft leather and a padded foot bed

Spring 2011 J.Crew Jewelry

I absolutely love J.Crew's jewelry. J.Crew has made strides across all categories over the past few years (clothes for the office, clothes for the weekend, shoes, handbags...the list goes on), but whenever they announce new arrivals I always race to the website to first check out the jewels. 

I am particularly fond of their necklaces - they're a great way to mix up your wardrobe and turn a jeans & basic tee ensemble into something more stylish. While J.Crew often has very chunky necklaces, the current Spring jewelry line includes a few that are scaled down and more wearable for all.  

Find a few of my favorite picks below - 2 mini-bib necklaces (#'s 1 + 2 below) and 3 beautiful Lulu Frost pieces (3 - 5). J.Crew's collaboration with Lulu Frost has been amazing. As a partnership they've continued to turn out beautiful necklaces, earrings, and bracelets starting with their 2010 holiday collection. The pieces are a bit more expensive than other J.Crew pieces, but totally worth it in my opinion!

1. Mini mesh supernova necklace ($45) - available in 2 colors, antique gold (shown) and antique silver, this necklace is 18" long and with a 3" extender to make it work with all tops and necklines. I love the simplicity of it - super versatile!
2. Mini crystal supernova necklace ($55) - basically the previous necklace covered with tiny crystals - love it. Also available in antique gold (shown) or antique silver. Same length and extender as the mini mesh
3. Lulu Frost for J.Crew heirloom starry tassel necklace ($185) - gorgeous 10K gold plated with a few layers, sparkles, and a tassel thrown in. This necklace is a great option for the long necklace trend we saw across Spring 2011 runways, it's 25" long
4. Lulu Frost for J.Crew heirloom crystal lattice earrings ($120) - I wear studs every day, but if there were ever a pair of earrings with a chance of enticing me to mix things up it would be this pair. These beauties are lavaliere-style and 3" long. I just love the single green stones in there. While these are in the Spring collection you could actually wear them across seasons very easily - imagine them paired with a LBD for holiday parties!
5. Lulu Frost for J.Crew bohemian lattice bracelet ($120) - the earrings' bracelet counterpart. The design used in both of these pieces was taken from a vintage brooch. The bracelet is 7.5" with a 1" extender


Two additional notes about J.Crew jewelry: First, I'd say about 1/2 of the pieces end up going on sale so patience can be a virtue here if you're on a budget. Second, J.Crew is also offering free shipping on most of its full size jewelry products right now - so if you must have one of the items above go for it!

luxe : less - The Bright Handbag Edition

Brights were on every Spring 2011 runway - and who wouldn't want Proenza Schouler's Coral PS1 Pouch Leather handbag ($1,225) on their shoulder this Spring and Summer? Gorgeous bag, and if it's one of your few investment handbags this year - go for it (and let me borrow it). If you're hoping to save some cash but need this crossbody look for your wardrobe, try Kate Spade's similarly hued Essex Small Scout bag ($295) and save yourself almost a grand.

Spring 2011 - Must-Have Nail Polishes

1. Deborah Lippmann - Naked, 2.  Essie - Topless & Barefoot, 3. Essie - Kisses & Bisses 

4. Chanel - Pearl Drop, 5. Deborah Lippmann - Waking up in Vegas, 6. Zoya - Dove

7. Orly - Gilded Coral, 8. MAC - Soiree, 9. MAC - Very Important Platinum

10. Chanel - Black Pearl, 11. China Glaze - Re-fresh Mint, 12. Orly - Ancient Jade

13. China Glaze - For Audrey, 14. Zoya - Marley, 15. Essie - Nice is Nice

16. Priti NYC - Geisha Girl, 17. Chanel - Riva, 18. Priti NYC - Forget Me Not

19. Essie - Coat Azure, 20. Zoya - Caitlin

If you're anything like me, manicures and pedicures are a must on a regular basis...most especially after the spring equinox. What better way to start preparing for spring and summer than to give your fingers and toes a pick-me-up polish? Click the numbered polish names above above for a direct link to purchase!

• Nudes and sheers [polishes 1-4] - this bunch includes my favorite nail polish of the season: Deborah Lippman's Naked - the perfect everyday nude without looking like "mannequin hands"
• Spring grays [5 + 6] - the gray trend continues, lighten it up starting now with Zoya's new shade - Dove
• Metallics for warm weather [7 - 10] - Chanel's Black Pearl polish is the favorite here, but if the dark gunmetal is too harsh for your warm weather wardrobe lighten it up with Orly or MAC's choices above
• Mints & "Tiffany" blues [11-13] - this craze started a few years back but continues with Orly's new addition to the club (Ancient Jade). If you want the best dupe of the true Tiffany's shade go with China Glaze's cleverly named For Audrey
• Lilac purples [14 - 16] - try Essie's super popular Nice is Nice for the most wearable of these purples
• True blues [17 - 20] - Chanel's Riva is the prettiest of the bunch, but it's also the hardest to get your hands on!