Yep, as the weather in NYC continues to be frigid, cold, and unbearable, my mind is still stuck in Puerto Rico… so why not finish off the week strong with yet another post on summer clothes? This time, for little girls! And this outfit is my absolute FAVORITE spring dress!
Side view.
Totally in love with my beachwear from Surf Bazaar! Their tanks, tees, and tunics are my beach and summer go-tos (FYI- we just got back from a great vaca in Puerto Rico), and now they have created a pant that is beyond amazing. And these aren’t just your typical pants — they are the perfectly combined craziness of (1) neon (2) drop crotch (3) embroidered cutouts. It is every trend in ONE pant — Hallelujah!
Neon eyelet!!
I recently fell in love with a cute little pouch that is the perfect size to throw in my purse. Not only is the size perfect, but the colors, look, and overall aesthetic of the little bag are divine.
Love the colors and peacefulness of the pouch. Serenity. In a pouch.
Not snow, not rain, not freezing rain, not 8 inch deep puddles of slush could keep people away from attending the Josie Natori RTW Fall 2014 show! Despite being smack dab in the middle of a snow storm (thank you, Mother Nature), the show went on. And what a great success it was! Such luxurious glamour, warmth, attitude, and chicness. I can’t wait to get a hand on these items! Congratulations, MIL! Here are some photos from the show.
UPDATE: Mom made the cover of WWD! Unbelievable. Click here to see the review and see the COVER below!:
I am *NOT* pregnant, but my friend and contributing editor, Ali Berlin, *IS* pregnant (HUGE congrats and love). She is not only a wise sage, but a stylish, hip, on-trend fashionista. EVEN when pregnant. So for you pregnant friends and readers, here are Ali‘s current go-to-pregnancy-style items! Thank you, Ali.. Take it away!
Pregnant Ali! How cute is she???? I want to look like her (and I didn’t love being pregnant, but she makes pregnancy look so hip and fun!)
The young French designers are my heroes: Roseanna, Isabel Marant, IRO, Vanessa Bruno, and now, Maison Olga.
Technically Maison Olga is a combination of French and Italian designers… but it is now headquartered in Paris, so francais, it is! Maison Olga is a unique label that designs for free-spirited, modern women, aka the quintessential Josie Girl. The collections are refined androgyny with vintage styles.
hey girlfriend.
Nothing makes me more jealous than seeing a big, spacious, luxurious, all-in-one, elegant closet. Especially when it belongs to my mother-in-law! Talk about insane — her closet is so beautiful that you want to move into the closet ITSELF and call it your home.
The ever-so-fabulous, Josie Natori on this past weekend’s NBC Open House! Fashion designer turned TV STAR!
Scandinavia not only produces beautiful people and unbelievable weddings, but also amazing products. One of my favorite accessories is its Lapland bracelet. Lapland, inhabited by the Sami people (the only indigenous people of Scandinavia), is a region in northern Fennoscandia, stretching across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Its bracelets are the best!
Nothing better than celebrating the New Year with the Josie Natori Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2014 show! Fashion! Glamour! Beauty! Camera! Action! Inspired by the potent sophistication of 1930s Hollywood, the Josie Natori Spring/Summer 2014 collection captured the eternal style of this glamorous fashion moment, envisioning modern life through the enchantment of the silver screen.
Invitation.
Nothing is more comfortable than clogs (tied with birkenstocks, obvi), so when I found out about Clogmaster — custom fit clogs — I got super excited. While store bought clogs are already almost like the perfectly fit glass slippers, CUSTOM fit clogs seriously make me Cinderella. And yet again, an awesome product from my very own, Oregon (but available elsewhere!).
99.99% of the time, my hair is up in an olive-oyl chignon. I rarely wear it in a different style…guilty of being boring and predictable! Luckily, contributing editor Ali, via her hair stylist, Kate has some tips for us! Here they are! Thanks, Ali and Kate! Take it away!
Ali, and her amazingly styled, perfectly cut hair. Thanks to Kate! (and genetics, too. Obvi).
High summer is here, so grab your sandals and get ready to dance the night away! The flat traditional Spanish sandal is my footwear of choice these days. They are as comfortable as Birkenstocks, yet more sophisticated and subtle. Easy to slip on and off, cozy for your feet to walk around in, and stylish to wear with any outfit.
These Spanish flat sandals are created by the NY line, Plomo, although a lot of different brands sell very similar versions.
I love when designers collaborate with retailers to create special capsule collections, so when I found out that two of my favorite stores were working together to create a rad summer line, I ran IN THE RAIN to check it out. (Yep, used the word ‘rad.’) And hallelujah, it was worth it, because what I found was soooo beyond rad.
Suno, a funky, artsy, print and pattern centric clothing line created by Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty in 2008, teamed up with Uniqlo to create an inexpensive, colorful, and cool collection from May 20th (I am late) until the end of August. Pretty, floral, different, and affordable.
Birds eye view of top and pant….these pictures aren’t as fun to take un-pregnant.
Spearmint o fun!
The look.
School is out for summer! Here Comes the Sun! Protect your skin, and wear a hat. And not just any hat, a Lola hat.
Lola Hats is a Brooklyn company, created by Lola Ehrlich. Now sold in boutiques and department stores, these hats are simple and chic, with a slight twist and flair. All of the hats are all hand-made in Brooklyn and have a sense of individuality and creativity, while being practical, protective, and classic.
My current obsession: straw hat.
Purple feathers.
Birds’ eye view (sideways).
Side view.
Other side view.
Hi ladies! Thanks so much for all the positive feedback from the feature in Lonny. We were really nervous about it, but we’re very happy with the article. The Lonny team was so great to work with! SOOOO….one of the most frequently asked questions was what dress I wore for the Pound Ridge shoot. Good question, as I *LOVE* this dress and it is oh-so-perfect for hot-sunny-firefly types of summer days and nights.
Sorry for yet ANOTHER post of this picture, but instead of focusing on the whole image, look specifically at the dress! (It turned out nice on camera, right?)
This white dress is by Mes Demoiselles — an oh so chic and fashionable Parisian line. The dress is a crinkled gauze and eyelet, with a gathered elastic waist, and tiers added to the skirt base. It comes with a cotton slip lining so you don’t have to worry about panty lines. It is a perfection combination of casual and put-together, day and night, easy and effort-less, vintage and new.
You can wear it with or without a belt, too. The belt adds a little more flavor and style, but I also love the simplicity and solid color without the belt.
My modeling career — awkward!
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Annabel Tollman who passed away Thursday night in her sleep from a blood clot. She was only 36. Annabel was an amazing stylist and worked with Natori for many years, styling both runway shows and photo shoots. Her passion, energy, and charisma showed in her work and approach to life. What a tragedy to say goodbye to such a young and talented woman. She will be greatly missed.
Annabel and Josie Natori this past February.
Below is an interview I did with her in April, 2012. She was creative, passionate, and inspirational. She will be greatly missed.
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This past season, Natori has had the opportunity and privilege to work with celebrity stylist Annabel Tollman for fashion presentations and shoots. Annabel has amazing experience, style, and a viewpoint that blows everyone away. A native of England, she has made her mark in the fashion community by dressing high profile celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Mariah Carey, and my all time favorite, the Olsen Twins. I had the honor of asking the lovely Annabel questions, and here are her responses.
Not only is Annabel stylish, but she is beautiful too. Double envy.
Tell us your journey- how did you become a stylist?
I studied Fashion at Central St. Martins and specialized in Communication and Promotion – I was supposed to become a journalist, but after many solitary days spent at home writing (wearing my pajamas and with only the occasional messenger for a chat) I was interning and started assisting a stylist and discovered that whizzing about in her convertible and going on shoots with cool interesting people was much more interesting. Now of course I long for days spent at home in pajamas (albeit silk with a matching kimono). Soon after that I met Tyler Brule, who asked me if I wanted to come and work on his launch venture, which was Wallpaper. I worked for Tyler during the rest of college and went straight back when I graduated.
Man of style, Tyler Brule, is the editor and founder of Monocle.
Who were your mentors along the way?
I am in the midst of end of the school year craziness — exams, grades, packing up, awards assemblies, and commencement. Busy time for all teachers! As this is my last year being an official teacher (embracing the change and BEING BOLD!), I am even more swamped with deadlines, boxes, and goodbye. So instead of my normal blog post, Ali to the rescue! Thank you, Contributing Editor!
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Have you ever dreamed of a Flip Flop – Clog hybrid? If so, FLOGGS may be the shoes for you. FLOGG is a revolutionary new category of footwear -inspired by the laid back California lifestyle and invented for all women who want to feel good and look fantastic without sacrificing design for comfort.
In the 1970’s the womens’ liberation movement was born. The quest for equality in society made women also yearn for freedom of expression in their clothing. The Europeans influenced American fashion with sexualized glamour, style icons Jane Birkin, Bianca Jagger, Brigit Bardot & Farrah Fawcett made miniskirts and platforms popular silhouettes that keep re-appearing on today modern catwalks.
I love the Cassie:
Swedish clog / high heel / birkenstock
YOWZERS!
Now with FLOGG, retro classic shapes are made more comfortable with the flip flop EVA component. The cushioned material (ethylene vinyl acetate, or EVA) lays on top of the sturdy natural wood platform. There’s also built in arch support inside of the shoe!
The cushion makes them a great choice for walking around the city or hanging at the beach. I’m not a fan of being held back by my footwear, but I’m also unwilling to wear running shoes to get around. For that reason, FLOGGS are an awesome walking companion.
If you want to learn more about how your feet change over time, and how shoes can help to maintain the integrity of your feet, check out this post about FLOGGS with advice from a podiatrist.
Summer is right around the corner. Literally. And boy, do I have some wants and wishes! Here they are:
Yep — totally obsessed. But how can I NOT be? I love the fabric, the stripes, the colors, the lightness, and the overall look!
Silk tye dye scarf? IN LOVE!
A necessary luxury. Soft, perfect, lace, and the just-right base lining.
Printed stretch silk jumpsuit in black/grey totem print. Deep v-neck. Slanted front pockets. Oh. My. God. Perfection.
An original way to remember a special occasion. Choose a type of metal and leather color wrap. How fun and personable is it?? Hellooooooo (late) Mother’s day present!
Now that it finally feels like spring, I am even MORE ready for tank tops, sunglasses, neon, florals, gingham, and flip flops (birkenstocks, too)! After this never-ending east coast winter, I am itching for sun and heat (who isn’t???). Some of my favorite go-to summer looks are the multiple tops from Surf Bazaar.
Surf Bazaar’s clothing is oh-so-summerish. All the clothing looks like vintage beach wear but updated and improved with beautiful natural fabrics and more progressive and flattering silhouettes. Beach heaven in an urban setting!
Easy, soft, light, gauze, flattering, fresh tank.
Perfect cover up for swimming!
A little, light tee!
Dress for a pool party!
Pom Pom dress!
The fabric is unlined cotton gauze which everything look beachy, sexy, and airy. OR, you can wear a light white camisole underneath for a good layering look.
Me in the tank. But even cuter, the little baby girl!
When I find something I love, I become obsessed. And that has officially happened with “Ace & Jig“. I am head over heels in love and want absolutely everything in the collection. EVERYTHING. This fun, happy clothing line is part hippy, part urban, part country, ever so comfortable, totally stylish, and a must-have for everyone.
Ace & Jig’s collection is made with the most comfortable, soft yarn-dye woven fabric from India. It is the type of clothing that is so uber wearable, that you never want to take it off.
UP CLOSE LOOK at the material. Soft, thick, substantial, and smooth.
Each piece of clothing has a stripe in the pattern. Some are solid vibrant stripes, whereas some are more subtle pops of color. And who doesn’t love stripes?
My parents with Baby Z last summer. It is no surprise that I love stripes….
Stripes (from a tank top)
Stripes on pants. With some sparkle and glitter. Even better!
Cary Vaughan and Jenna Wilson, the designers of Ace & Jig, describe their clothing as “aesthetically beautiful yet functional… Accessible clothes that are not overstyled, pieces that you keep forever and love.” And it is so true. True love! And the price point is perfect, making it possible to buy not just one of their shirts or dresses, but multiple!
Call me a hoarder. Or obsessive. OR RAD!
Some of the current Ace and Jig items that I am drooling over.
I love this tank. Effortless, easy, hippy stylin’.
If I had all the time (and money) in the world, I would look (and buy) everything on Etsy. So many creative, fun, and handmade toys / clothes / pictures / purses – you name it -, to choose from. (For those not familiar with Etsy, check out my post on my visit to their pop-up shop here).
And this includes, a super-duper cute and fun cat top. First spotted on my sister, Galen, it was something so whimsical and fun that I had to immediately get it for myself too. It was worth every cent of the $24 I paid it.
Tee-shirt version
Tank version.
Although sold on Etsy, these cat shirts are created by BAF (Burger and Friends), an Austin, Texas based t-shirt and accessories company whose clothes feature great colors and neo pop-inspired illustrations. They also have a love of cats and feature a variety of different tees with different cat phrases and designs.
Rocking out
True story: This hippie dippie chick loves her nails painted. I know, SO not what you would expect, but I can’t help it! I just need my nails painted — red, magenta, burgundy, orange, whatever color it is, I LOVE it. One of my splurges and girlie habits. So, when I recently came across Tom Ford and his beauty collection, I went nuts. Not only are his beauty products to die for (a whole separate blog post coming), but his nail polish is unbelievable.
Seriously, unbelievable. I love the colors, the look, and its lasting effect. My usual lifespan for nail polish before the first chip is 24 hours. Even with a busy week of cooking (lentil balls — post on Friday), building (rocket ships for the little boy), and packing (spring break), one week later, my nails are practically chip-free!
16 colors to choose from. All sleek, chic, vibrant, and luscious!
So even though it has a hefty price tag ($30), it is worth it. Promise. It is a perfect pick-me-up present for yourself or a friend (what is better than getting a nail polish delivered to you on a bad day?).
Can I have ALL OF THESE please?
Sleek, black box. (Yes, we are in Florida on Spring Break).
Last year, I fell in love with a new (to me) clothing line, Roseanna. So in love, that I would run around the city, searching for every store that carried it. Roseanna was my hidden fashion gem. Basically, in my mind, Roseanna is a newer and better form of Isabel Marant. Don’t get me wrong, I love Isabel Marant, but Roseanna is higher quality with better designs, and patterns that are more fresh and unique.
Roseanna, a Parisian label, was founded in 2007 by two female childhood friends (Roseanna is the combination of the first names of the two designers, Anne-Fleur Broudehoux and Roxane Thiery). Only a select number of stores carries Roseanna, but now, starting Spring 2013, Barney’s will carry them as well. What I love about Roseanna is their nonchalant-refined style which is urban but relaxed, fresh and unique. I have many of their pieces from Fall 2012, and look forward to trying on and buying some of their looks for Spring 2013!
HOW AMAZING IS THIS LOOK? I LOVE LOVE LOVE! And she is in a farmers market stand? Can I just become this lady?
Their current Spring 2013 collection is inspired by Brazil and features prints of tigers, palms, and cocoas. The whole collection is very summery, and tropical, transforming your look into a relaxed vacation. And can you believe one of their dresses in the collection is named “ANIKA” — spelled my way? Means I have to get it, right?
The Anika dress has a low cut V in the back. Definitely sexy and different.
I couldn’t take it any longer, so went to Barneys to get this top, The Alex.
The Alex top. I am excited to wear this. Can be casual or dressy.
Date night!
My newest obsession is Goatmilk -. NO NO NO, not like milk from a goat, but a line of clothes for kids (and hopefully soon adults too!) that is absolutely amazing. Simple, pure, organic, cozy, a luxurious necessity!
Based in NY, Goatmilk’s mission is to dress children in beautifully crafted, simple clothes. Inspired by European classics, Goatmilk Kidware is the perfect start to a child’s wardrobe, covering the foundation of their clothes! The underwear is not only beautiful and functionable, but also made of 100% organic, prewashed cotton and produced with a resolute commitment to quality, fair trade and the environment. Unbelievable!
The clothing is so simple, pure, unadorned, classic, and beautiful. The look gives the kids a European look (love that!) with a perfect fit. My favorite looks are as follow, starting with the pointelle tank onesie. SO beyond MAJOR!
How cute is this tank onesie? Beyond beautiful.
Baby Zoe couldn’t resist and had to have this onesie tank in her wardrobe! Perfect to pair with shorts (if it is ever warm enough) or underneath her clothes as a base layer.
