If only...

...I had the money to buy the whole outfit. And more importantly, a place to wear it. Those sequin shorts are at the same time absurd and necessary. Well done J.Crew

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

Top 10 Facial Products

Everyone agrees - we'd all prefer a perpetually perfect complexion to a new sweater, pair of shoes, or the latest handbag. Unfortunately, when it comes to our faces we can't always buy what we want. That said, there are a few clutch products that can help keep us glowing and wrinkle-free. Here are my Top 10. And if you don't want to break the bank or try them all, here's the cheat sheet: buy #'s 1, 2, 8 + 9

1. Befine Exfoliating Cleanser ($25) - I was skeptical of the ingredient list at first (brown sugar, sweet almond, oats), but I found this scrub is amazing and gentle enough to use a few times a week or even daily. After using this for a few month's (after trying it for the first time via Birchbox), this has made a serious impact on my skin's texture and clarity
2. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (~$8-$11, retail outlet depending) - the old standby. Everyone should have this stuff in their shower. It's the trusted cleanser every single dermatologist recommends and it works for all skin types
3. Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System ($149) - totally scary price tag but unmatched results. I waited a long time to jump on the Clarisonic bandwagon, but after reading about the one thousandth celebrity who "swore by my Clarisonic" I bit the bullet and ordered one. I have used it everyday since and will never go back to normal cleaning. It's quick, easy, and has cleared up trouble spots that nothing else seemed to help
4. Ahava Purifying Mud Mask ($30) - another one with ingredients that may scare you away, but don't be frightened! The dead sea mud in this mud mask is the best around. This mask is awesome and works very quickly - you can feel the tingle while you wait the short 2 minutes before washing it off!
5. Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask ($52) - praised as the "at home" version of the famous spa line's facial, this mask is a great pick-me-up for dull skin. Try it mid-week to help get your glow back. You can really feel the "oxygenation" after using this. If you love this, try the facial cream from the same line
6. Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector ($44.50) - amazing for those of you worried about new or old wrinkles. This serum is really effective and has won a great amount of beauty buzz since launch. I think it smells incredibly similar to La Mer's Regenerating Serum (ahem, which goes for $250), makes me think the active ingredients are very similar
7. Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado ($27) - A great eye cream for morning or night, this is thick and won't smudge into your eyes
8. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream (~$11 - 16, retail outlet depending. Note the link here is for a pack of two) - a GREAT drugstore product. Find this at your local CVS/Walgreens/Duane Reade/Rite Aid. This is super inexpensive for a Retinol anti-wrinkle product 
9. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream ($24.50) - a great basic moisturizer for all skin types, no smell and moisturizing without leaving your skin looking shiny
10. La Mer Moisturizing Lotion ($210) - gasp, the price. The problem is, when you buy this lotion you end up wanting to slather yourself with it...and at $210 for 1.7 oz most people don't have that luxury. But, if you can swallow the price tag and pace yourself through the bottle this unquestionably the best moisturizer. Try this lotion through spring and summer, but the famous Crème de la Mer is best for those dealing with winter in dry and cold climates

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.

Cases for your iPad 2

Today I came across a lust-worthy designer iPad 2 case - Capulet's Alison leather case. The Italian calf leather case comes in four colors - the seafoam below, a putty, an eggplant purple, and a snakeskin pattern. If only I had an extra $316 hanging around I'd be clicking to purchase right now!

While that beauty may be a pipe dream, I am in dire need of a good case for my new iPad 2. After all, Apple product accessories are almost as fun as the technology itself! Below are a few of my favorite cases for the iPad 2 - from the utilitarian to the stylish to the just straight up uber-cool (ahem, Portenzo & Miniot). 

1. The Apple Smart Cover ($39 for polyurethane, $69 for leather) - the most popular case right now, and Apple's best self-designed case so far. The case magnetically attaches to the side of the iPad 2 and covers the face/top glass surface only. It has additional magnets that automatically shut off your screen when closed (and wake it up when you open it!). It rolls to prop the iPad up for typing or watching media. Overall a great case available in 5 polyurethane colors and 5 leather colors. Downside: it doesn't protect the back of the iPad

2. Speck's PixelSkin HD Wrap ($49.95) - functions just like Apple's Smart Cover, but includes a back cover as well. Looks great but only comes in 3 colors and I'd want to hold one and test it out before I'd buy (it looks a bit stiff/plastic-y)

3. iLuv's The Smart Back Cover  (Price TBD) - incredible! It solves the big issue with Apple's Smart Cover and is available in all 10 matching colors. This isn't available for purchase yet but I'm definitely going to grab one of these

4. Incase's Eley Kishimoto Sleeve ($59.95) - I think that Incase generally has the best breadth of cases for Apple products, but they always take a month or so with their cases for new product launches. Their iPad 2-specific cases aren't out yet, but this and the next iPad sleeve work perfectly for the iPad 2. I love this Eley Kishimoto print which is available in black and white too!

5. Incase's Neoprene Sleeve Plus ($39.95) - a bit more subdued (if you can call neon green subdued) and $20 cheaper than the Eley Kishimoto above. This is another great Incase option that will fit your iPad 2 with its Apple Smart Cover on. It's offered in black, neon green, and neon pink

6. iSkin's Memo ($110) - Another leather option, this one's a third of the price of Capulet's Alison. This leather is probably a bit more durable too. It's available in 5 colors

7. Keen's iPad Sleeve ($15) - The best low-cost option! This case is a steal compared to the others out there and you can feel good about the purchase as it's made from repurposed/recycled neoprene. Available in four colors, this should fit your iPad 2 with your Apple Smart Cover on it as well

8. Portenzo's Notebook Style iPad 2 Case ($59.95 + additional for personalization and other features) - love love love these moleskin notebook lookalike cases. You may have heard of DODOcases which look very similar to these, but Portenzo is hands down the best. DODO cases have a tendency to fall apart vs. Portenzo's super high quality and durable cases. I had one of these for my original iPad.  Have fun with embossed personalization on the outside of the black leather book and with customization of the inside jacket color. The only downside: not the best for angling/standing up the iPad. 

9. Miniot's Cover for iPad 2 (web store coming, only available through their eBay store for ~$91 including shipping) - Gorgeous case from Holland made of real wood. The cover flexes and behaves much like Apple's Smart Cover, propping the iPad up in different orientations.

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!