Chanel - Summer 2011 Beauty

Chanel's released their Summer 2011 collection, Les Fleurs d'Ete de Chanel. Most of the items are available now online from Chanel directly or Nordstrom, and if you like any of the Les Vernis (nail polish) you should act quickly, limited editions all around! I'm pretty excited for all three polishes and the Soleil Tan de Chanel in particular...update: I've ordered the Mimosa polish. Yellow is *it* for summer - if you're scared try it on your toes first :) 

Images from: Chanel website + Temptalia

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!

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

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!