I first caught on to Finnish accessories company Hau Hauz a few years ago at the Maison et Objet housewares show in Paris. The bold-but-feminine patterns are block-printed by hand on beautifully textured linen and applied to everything from table runners to throw pillows to little handbags like the one seen here. The pieces are striking but still so refined, and though the overall vibe is definitely modern, there's a crafty homespun element that adds to their charm. I've wanted one of their clutches for ages and finally just bought one at houseandwear.com, which is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can get their stuff, and the only one I've found that sells the collection online. The bags come in a couple of different colors; you can specify whether you want one with or without handles (I went for natural, flax-colored linen without the straps); and all have old-school silver clasps and a playful, poufed silhouette. This is going to be my new evening bag for the rest of the summer, and I can picture it just as easily with beat-up jeans or silk slipdresses. It also happens to be half off at the moment, ringing in at just $40.

Read More

First, our assistant managing editor Faye Chiu wore Coola waterproof sunscreen snorkeling in the Dutch Caribbean—and didn't come back with a lick of color. Then, I brought it with me to St. John, where I was far too distracted getting engaged to remember to reapply. But my very pale skin didn't get a single new freckle. It dries instantly, smells sweetly un-sunblock-like (I love the mango version), is made with botanicals, seems to block out every UV ray for miles; and regardless of skin type, it doesn't cause breakouts. This summer, the ultimate test: Lisa Stasiulewicz in the special sections department is bringing it on an early August tour of Egypt.

—Dawn Spinner, associate beauty editor

Read More

So, I'm feeling completely ambivalent about Project Runway this season. I'm still mad at it for its upcoming move not only to the Lifetime channel, but also to L.A., and change of producers (it'll potentially be run by the people who brought you The Real World. Ugh).

Read More

On my first day of filling in for poor, illness-stricken senior beauty editor Cristina, I had an appointment at the LVMH building: a huge, sleek, all-white architectural equivalent of 2001: A Space Odyssey that towers over 57th Street.

After an intensive ID check, the security man programmed the correct floor into the elevator (pressing your own button, so last century) and up I went, hurtling up at warp speed. When the door opened, I found myself in an all-white phosphorescent hallway. No doors, no receptionist. And no way to get back in the elevator. I stood there for five minutes, waiting for the voice of HAL to boom out: "What are you doing, Charlotte? Charlotte, what are you doing?"

Then, in the corner I saw a small white Philippe-Starck-ish clear cube topped with a small white phone. I dialed the number of the far-away-downtown PR company. "Hi, this is Charlotte from Lucky ... yes, no I'm here in the building but ... I don't know where I am.

"I'm in a white room somewhere in the building." After some clicking and forwarding and high-tech-security-alerting, they finally retrieved me. Who knows what actually goes on at that floor; I did make it to Dior, where I was able to score some Capture Totale Perfection Nighttime Soft Peel, a gleamy little bottle of serum that works wonders. When my skin is looking in any way dry, dull, crepey, or just blah, I smooth a bit of it on before bed, and wake up to an almost shockingly smooth, plump, refreshed-looking complexion. Obviously, technology is not my forte, so I can't really tell you exactly why or how the LVMH-building-level-science formula works—just that it REALLY does.

—Charlotte Rudge, contributing editor

Read More

I'm of the mindset that one can never have too many totes. I carry one most days, in addition to a purse, and never seem to have trouble filling it. Usually it houses an extra sweater to ward off the chill of overly air-conditioned buildings; my sunglasses case, which is roughly and frustratingly the size of a football; an umbrella and rubber flip-flops in case of rain ... the list goes on. Why I don't just consolidate and get a really big handbag (or carry less stuff), I don't know. In the meantime, I'm always excited by the idea of adding to my stock, and am loving this one I just stumbled on by Kit + Lili. It's made of rugged cotton canvas, and the wavy graphic print and deep sea blue color are so perfect for the season. And even if you're not someone who carts around as many odds and ends as I do on a daily basis, just think how perfect this would be for travel or the beach.

Read More

I know I've written about vintage clutches before, but I might as well admit that they're a bit of a sick obsession of mine. Do you know why? Well, they're cheap, for one thing. At around $15 a pop, they're less than many of us (not me, but still) spend on lip gloss. They're also capable of actually making your outfit dressier or cooler, depending on the style. And lastly, they take up very little room, so you can collect a bunch and keep them around for special occasions (I store all of mine in one extra-large tote bag). If you have anything fancy to go to in the next couple of weeks, you should check out the following: this "Uptown Girl" '80s pink version, a super-chic white wicker one, and this gorgeous beaded piece, which looks like you found it in a Moroccan bazaar.

Read More

When I arrived in Colonial Williamsburg late last Friday, I realized I forgot my toothbrush. I called housekeeping and a young man in a waistcoat and breeches arrived at my door in minutes. He handed me an ultra-glamorous Floris London toothbrush. I half expected to find secret Loyalist correspondence tucked inside the old-timey box. Be sure to demand one on your next visit to Colonial Williamsburg, as it seems to be exclusive to Colonial villages. To further the pre-Revolution fantasy, I recommend the Rose Mouthwash, which is actually available without taking a historical vacation: a blend of rosewater and rose oil in a chunky glass bottle that looks like it's straight from Queen Charlotte's dressing table.

—Dawn Spinner, associate beauty editor

Read More

In terms of aesthetics, laptop cases are tricky. There are tons of options out there, but they're usually so blah and practical, it's rare to see something anyone would actually be excited to carry. This envelope-style sleeve by Lauren Merkin brings a fashiony spin to the category, in gunmetal leather with a scalloped border. If that wasn't enough to make me want it, the interior is lined with hot pink fleece, and it's also available in high-gloss black patent leather. Unfortunately, my computer is a bit too wide to fit inside (it accommodates laptops up to 14 inches), but I'm kind of hoping that if we all spread the word, the style will get popular enough for the designer to start making more in different sizes.

Read More

I am not going to lie to you, readers. The end of July is a dismal time fashion-wise. It's too early to start getting excited about fall style, my warm-weather-clothes ideas are just about spent, and it's so hot that all I want to wear are things that make my boyfriend gently tell me, "Yeah, honey, that looks like a muumuu, too." Basically, until the end of August, I could be happy tying a linen sheet around my body toga-style and maybe, if I was feeling fancy, throwing a belt on it. But we live in civilized times, and this dream is not to be. Or is it? Today on eBay I came across something that may fulfill all of my fantasies: vintage sarongs. Seriously, they're gorgeous, in intricately printed, kind-of-bohemian silks. They can be twisted and draped into dozens of different styles (some even come with instructional DVDs!), and I think they'll actually look amazing with dangly earrings and this season's flat sandals. Check out the ones I'm thinking about here and here and here.Read More

I'd like to wear this Free People sundress every day for the rest of the summer. The geometric motif is softened by a pretty, watercolor-y palette flecked with pale blues and yellows. It's smocked at the bodice, and an intricately embroidered patch in the middle gives it an exotic feel. The bottom half is decked out with three tiers of ruffles that somehow don't come across at all fussy'instead, they just add to the cool, romantic vibe of this piece. It's unclear why they made the model wear those woolly above-the-knee socks'I'd ditch those in favor of bare legs and sandals. Oh, and it's also worth noting that this dress is made of silk, is fully lined, and comes in at a reasonable $118.

Read More