In the Green

OTTE's breezy, loose fitting, silk shirt dresses are a dream to wear this time of year when frying an egg on the sidewalk is all too possible. I slipped this on for a trip to the local farmers market to pick up some fresh produce and came away with a beautiful bouquet of fresh carrots and couldn't resist this loaf of sour dough bread {for obvious reasons} - Yum!

photos by philip

{Outfit}

OTTE shirt dress

Jimmy Choo wedges

Maison Boinet belt

J.Crew necklace

Vintage Persol sunglasses

Keepin' it Casual

Happy Friday!

I don't know about you, but during the summer months I practically live in cut-off shorts. They're cozy and comfortable, and you can pretty much pair them with just about anything. These cut-offs I converted myself from a pair of old Chip & Pepper jeans. The denim is thick but super worn in and soft, making them perfect to romp around in on a daily basis.

photos by jenny

{Outfit}

Marc Jacobs top (similar here)

homemade Chip & Pepper cut-offs

Manolo Blahnik heels (similar here)

Starry Baby-doll

I found this baby-doll dress by Family Affairs at Albertine and fell in love. The fit, the flow, the hundreds of teensy weensy white stars - Everything about it made me smile!

photos by jenny

{Outfit}

Family Affairs dress

Christian Louboutin heels (similar here)

Oliver Peoples sunglasses

Flamingos and Eyelets

Festive flamingos and airy eyelets are fun for hot summer days to keep you cool and comfy!

photos by philip

{Outfit}

McQ eyelet top (similar here)

Alice + Olivia skirt

Dieppa Restrepo oxfords (similar here)

vintage Persol sunglasses

Deborah Lippmann "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

Priti NYC nail polish "Fireglow"

Meet the Pleats

I am a lover of all things pleated. Whether it's subtle pleating on a jacket or a it's maxi skirt that's full of tight pleats from waist to toe there's something about them that instantly adds character to a garment that would otherwise be relatively ordinary.

photos by jenny

{Outfit}

twenty8twelve dress

Leifsdottir cropped jacket

Betsy Johnson heels

Lace & Leather

Lately there's been a lot of encouragement to put your fears aside and break out your leather in this bright and sunshiny summer weather. However, when I think of 90 degree heat and near 

full humidity nothing sounds less appealing than having leather on my skin, 

regardless of how buttery smooth it may be! 

That being said, as of late, for some reason {and it may be just a matter of placement in my closet} 

my leather skirt has been calling to me. 

So, I worked up the courage 

{well, not really because I saw that the temperature was only going to be in the mid 70's} 

and tossed on my leather skirt - HOOWAH!

Now, what to pair with this unconventional summer piece...? 

How about a light, loose, delicate lace top?! Bingo! 

Verdict on summer leather? I say, for crisp cool evenings and days when the heat has mellowed and the breeze is light, leather is a divine choice!

photos by jenny

{Outfit}

Madewell scallop lace top

A.L.C. Aimee leather skirt

Delman heels

J.Crew necklace

Earl Grey & a bit of Au Lait

photo source

There's something undeniably soothing about a warm cup of tea with a splash of milk in it; The warmth of the cup, the soft and sweet aroma that wafts up as you take a sip, and finally the smooth medley of flavor that dances across your taste buds - It's positively delightful! 

I've spoken before about my love of essential oils, and while I'm overjoyed with the selection found at various health food stores there were particular scents that I found myself craving, so I went exploring...

When I came across a tiny shop on Etsy called Alkemia Apothecary & Perfumery I was intrigued. 

I began to read, "Alkemia perfume oils are phthalate free and paraben free. They contain no fillers, chemical by-products, or other nastiness." - Ding, ding, ding! Well hello, Alkemia! 

With scent categories that range from Femme Fatale Florals to Vanillas, Cocoas and Sweets 

I knew that what I longed for was well within my reach. 

Now, for some unexplained reason I love the smell of warm, sweet milk... 

This is not a scent one comes across very often {believe me, I've searched!}, but within the Alkemia online store, there it was. "Au Lait": A cozy, ultra-cuddly blend of rich, creamy milk swirled with tonka, wild honey, and a touch of caramelized brown sugar. Cozy and creamy indeed! 

You had better believe that I ordered a bottle of it immediately and took it for a test spin the second I got it out of the packaging. Seventh heaven, I tell you! 

It got me to thinking... I do love a spot of tea... I wonder if there's perhaps some kind of "tea scent" resembling one of my favorites, Earl Grey. Back to Alkemia I went, but alas, Earl Grey did not exist... At least not yet. I inquired and was pleasantly surprised when the response 

I received was that they would be happy to create the scent for me! 

So here I am today, wearing Earl Grey layered with a touch of Au Lait and loving every bliss-filled minute of it. 

My, oh my, it is incredible what our sense of smell can inspire!