Many of you know
I'm a huge fan of Virginia Johnson's gauze wool shawls—I pretty much never leave the house without one. I just noticed that a bunch of them are half off on her site, and in the product descriptions it says that the material she used this season is even softer than it's been in the past, making them that much more tempting. I love
it in smoky purple floral, and also
the apricot version with a cool, half-botanical, half-geometric print. Both are now $97. The totes and cosmetics cases also half off. For gifting purposes, I suggest stocking up on
toiletry bags like this one, marked down to $16.
For me, the Holy Grail of t-shirts is
the James Perse casual tee.
You've heard me say it before, but it's perfection. It's made of the softest, sheer-but-not-see-through cotton, and fits snug up top and roomy in the midsection, with a nice deep scoopneck—all of which amounts to a great balance of comfy, flattering, and sexy. Just now on the company's site I saw they're doing
a dress version of the this style, cut from the same material with the same neckline, only with three quarter sleeves and a scooped bottom hem. This is one of those pieces that you could wear all year (with flip-flops now, and wool tights and lace-up oxfords later), dresses up easily (I like the idea of adding an elaborate statement necklace), travels well, and is easy to care for in the wash.
More from Luckymag.com:
Fashion CopyCat: Yes, It Really Happens!Confession: I'm Crazy for Striped DressesHow Old Is Too Old To Be Wearing A Mini?
I love combing the aisles at
foreign grocery stores--there's something I find satisfying about perusing all the different kinds of produce and packaged goods in languages I can barely decipher. I went to the supermarket yesterday and realized that every single person there was equipped with identical stylish leather handled woven grocery totes, which they were both using in lieu of a basket as they shopped, and also to carry all their purchases home. To indulge my fantasy of carrying one of these to the Union Square farmer's market back in New York, I tracked down a handwoven palm leaf tote of my own (I particularly like that this has two sets of straps, so it works as a hand or shoulder bag), available
here.
More from Luckymag.com:
Shop Girl On The Road: Sarong, So RightShop Girl On The Road: Ibiza Island FashionShop Girl On The Road: Espadrilles, A Spanish Obsession
One of my main shopping goals in Marrakech was to score at least one pair of colorfully embroidered leather babouches. Halfway through the trip I found an amazing stall in the souk that specialized in them. My husband, to whom the shopkeeper for whatever reason turned when it came time to negotiate a price, got a little too carried away while haggling and ended up calling the merchant's bluff and walked away. An unfortunate bout with food poisoning (note to the rest of you: no matter how delicious street sausages might be, it's probably best to pass) I got the following day made it impossible to go back.
Read More
I'm winding down my trip in Mallorca, one of the prettiest places I've ever visited (picture lots of stunning pine-topped cliffs sprinkled with charming seaside towns and crystal blue water). As I surveyed the clothes exploding out of my suitcase this morning,
dreading having to pack it all up again and leave, I realized that, despite my efforts to economize (and even though I managed to fit a two-week wardrobe into one carry-on), I brought more than I needed. Especially since all I've really worn these last few days in the Balearic Islands are
my new Martin & Osa bikini and a cotton sarong, the latter of which I'm fully convinced is one of the most genius travel pieces ever.
Read More
Clothing-wise, the specialty here in Ibiza is pretty, lacy, white resortwear. Poking around the local boutiques, I've found that the designer who does it best is Charo Ruiz, whose line can also be found stateside at New York City shop Sol de Ibiza. Several of the pieces I admired as I strolled through town earlier today happen to be on Sol de Ibiza's website right now, like this gorgeously detailed
tiered ruffle dress (
add those heeled espardrille wedges I wrote about for the perfect summer party outfit), and this
frothy strapless version that for whatever reason I'm picturing with oversize gold hoops (never mind the fact I don't actually have pierced ears) and a well-worn denim jacket.
Also on Luckymag.com:
Style Steals: Which Dress? The Under $70 Quandary13 Dresses Under $100Shop Girl: Buy Now, Save for Summer
MZ Wallace is in the middle of a big sale, and it's a good one. Among the things I'm having a hard time saying no to are these red ikat cosmetics bags (the same ones
Elise wrote about a couple months ago, only now they're on major markdown!). They're made of water and stain resistant cloth, and the interiors are lined in satin with extra pockets for organizing your stuff.
The medium size is half off at $20, and there's
a larger one available for $25. I know it's crazy early, but these would be a great thing to stock up on now and give to your girlfriends for Christmas. I'm also really digging
this scallop edged clutch made from eco-friendly, hand-crocheted raffia (was $195, now $78)—it's the perfect, beachy accessory for a balmy evening out.
You wouldn't guess judging from the name—which sounds way more like an animal superhero from a kid's storybook than a really stylish, Upper East Side boutique—but the specialty at
Roberta Roller Rabbit is resort-y, exotic imports from around the world. And despite the total chicness of her inventory, the prices are actually reasonable. I don't get to the store nearly enough, only because it's a good 70 blocks away from my apartment and I'm lazy, so I was thrilled to hear that they just took their goods online at
robertarollerrabbit.com. There's a huge supply of lightweight cotton voile tunics ($70) that come in a range of gorgeous prints—these would be especially great for travel, given that they pack well, go with basically anything, and can be easily dressed up (dangly gold earrings and slim white pants) or down (over a bikini and denim cutoffs). I especially dig it in
this slightly mod red and white pattern with contrasting trim.
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Click here to check out a slideshow of my other favorites from the site!
Have you guys tried
Space Bags—you know, those as-seen-on-TV storage gizmos that seal and smoosh clothes down into really thin, airtight stacks? I'm contemplating putting in a rush order to help get everything to fit in my carry-on, but I don't know if that's me just being an infomercial sucker (I also recently fell for the ShamWow which was a bit of a disappointment). Thoughts??
Today I took out my suitcase to start the process of packing for my Spain-Morocco trip. Coincidentally, I also just stumbled on this post by Decorno,
one of my favorite design bloggers, who's off to Italy for three weeks and shared what she's bringing—impressively, it all fits into a carry-on backpack. I'm pretty fanatical about not checking in luggage, and I was psyched to read
her packing list, which is disciplined but not overly skimpy (she took five pairs of shoes!). Now I'm inspired to bring at least one black dress (probably
the brilliantly wrinkle-proof one I have by DVF), and am reconsidering my No Nice Handbag travel rule. I was also reminded to stash an extra nylon tote for shopping and to take to the beach. I'm all about
the ones from Flip and Tumble, which are sturdy but weigh next to nothing and fold up into a little ball that will easily fit into my day bag. They're a bargain too at $9 each (or $8 if you buy 3-6, $7 if you get more than 7). If you guys have any more packing tricks/must-haves, by all means let me know!
