It takes a lot for me to make a snap clothing purchase these days. Having just moved I'm in edit mode, not collect mode.
However, today I fell in love and there was no question that I was purchasing this dress.
No gut check, the gut just knew. This blind commitment happens less often, but is most certain. And these purchases are the ones that stay with me for years, like old friends.
Pair it with sexy little gold sandals, wet hair in a bun. Summer. Done.
Back in the day when I worked full time in ad-land, we had 'summer Fridays' and even 'summer hours'. Both involved a shorter work day. Which was funny because we worked til 10pm most other days.
I am definately putting myself on my own summer clock these days and I have to say it is rather nice. Sometimes slowing down makes more room for creativity. Hard to do when you are a deadline driven producer type. Uh huh.
I'm playing with some fun and inspiring things like marketing for Canvas Interiors, helping a friend with some creative stuff and thinking about new paths for the blog. I'm working on some India Hicks event ideas for the store. Oddly, keeping summer hours is allowing me to have a few things going all at once. I'm percolating and creating. In bare feet I might add.
Here is a quick peek at our trip to Harbour Island last week. Years of memories for us continue forward now for our littles. That is a beautiful thing.
PS: upper right - that is a Goombay Smash in a Tervis which matches my India Hicks Flamingo tasselperfectly don't you think?
As I mentioned last week, our trip to Harbour Island is right around the corner. You probably know by now that it is a place of happy times for us. Made happier by the people we have met along the way, including the ever so inspiring India Hicks. It is with pleasure that I join her in her new venture as an India Hicks Style Ambassador. We feature her products in Canvas Interiors and have hosted a couple of fantastic parties filled with friends and of course wine. As we pack for our trip I am happily including quite a few IH goodies.
My go to travel formula has always included a few maxi dresses. They have been my uniform (and you know how I like uniforms) for many a summer and they never fail me. I highly recommend finding one or two go-to dresses to beat the summer heat. Such an easy thing to throw on and breeze out the door.
Here are a few of my favs (you all know about the 'magic dress by now') but here my friends is a snakeskin version! I am also loving the 'convertible' dress right now. Remember the Sundry one they don't make any more that I mourned? I found a suitable replacement below.
Add some colorful bits (I am currently obsessed with my India Hicks Flamingo Agra Tassel as it is just the right amount of color commitment for me) and you have instant summer.
And as the IH Love Token says, its time to 'get lost' in life's big adventure. I'll be slowing down the posts for a couple of weeks but in the meantime I will be on Instagram so if you would like to find me and follow along in Harbour Island please do!
To learn more about India's new business venture visit her site, look around and explore the possibilities. I can promise you she is passionate, real and totally invested emotionally in what she is doing and I am inspired by here energy.
I took a whirlwind trip to my favorite quick fix stores (H & M, F21) and as I was headed out the door (empty handed I might add) I spotted an intriguing new vibe in the Urban Outfitters window display. I have been a fan of this brand since it launched but I must admit as I progressed in years, they seemed to be trending younger.
But there seems to be change in the wind at UO. Enough of a change to make me stop and check it out. The window displays were open, uncluttered, welcoming and 'still'. The music playing was mellow and inviting. The clothes were soft and feminine. I rather liked it. And I rather loved this dress. So I sort of bought it.
Here are a few more of my picks for summer. I really like the direction they are headed and hope to see more of it for fall.
I don't know about you but there is something about styling a fun and slightly colorful (yes, I do like a little color in the summer) summer go-to beach wardrobe that gets me giddy. And since this is more like an addendum to my every day basics I feel like the challenge is to do it without breaking the bank.
Here are some fun summer beach ideas I have my eye on. All of them except the bracelets are under $50 (bracelets are $62 but I just had to include them because they are lovely).
I have been on the hunt for the perfect black summer wedge. Sounds simple enough right? I don't do heels well. I do TOMS and Converse well. So when I need a little height I have to go for a wedge. I have always loved a good espadrille. However finding a black one that looks refined enough to dress up but casual enough to dress down has proven challenging.
I have collected some that I like here... I must warn you some of these are rather expensive (Burberry, Lanvin... ) however I collected them none-the-less. I assembled both espadrilles and black wedges. Some of these are dressier than others but they all share one thing in common. Refined.
After much (too much) searching I think I have settled on this one:
With busy lives and kids and activities and working and and and ... there is usually about 5 minutes left on the clock for this mamma to get ready to go out. Which is fine really. One great floaty black dress and a few gold bits is all I need. Makeup? I never wear any which is a great strategy because when I do put a little eyeliner and mascara on people are wowed into believing I spent an hour on my makeup alone.
Makeup and dressed in 5 minutes. Try it! It is rather liberating to float out the door not having spent an hour getting ready.
I have long been a fan of Sundry Clothing. The laid back California brand captured my heart with not only their clothes, but their sense of design in general. I swooned at their website. I blogged about them here. Oh, and here too. I shop them. And I love their new website! Just launched, check it out.
Here is a quick shopping list of things I have my eye on:
As well as the Sundry website you can find more Sundry on Shopbop - my go to stop for laid back summer styles.
I am seriously thinking of begging Sundry to make this white dress again. I have worn it to shreds and long for a replacement. Really really longing a lot. Sundry? Please?
The lovely folks at Warby Parker asked me to style a couple of looks using their summer 2014 collection. I am a fan of the brand so I thought why of course, fun, sure!
I picked my two favorites which basically speak to both sides of my Gemini personality. The Crossfield and the Piper. These two are all I need in my canvasstyle repertoire... a classic aviator and a little girlie glam.
CROSSFIELD: Relaxed vibe with a little boho twist.
I would style these classics with a breezy top and baggy denim cut offs. Toss on some wooden beads and an interesting sandal for a laid back look.
PIPER: A delicate ladylike vibe with understated cool.
I would pair these sunnies with a crisp white jean, structured lace top and understated sandal. Let the glasses do the talking. My trusty simple clutch completes this mood.
Do you ever have those days where you are happy to be home puttering on a rainy day? Yesterday was a much needed down-day for me and I did just that. But what to wear? I wanted to be out of PJ's but not in sweat pants. Not 'dressed' but not schlumpy.
That's where the lounge pant comes in. Add a white or gray tee and putter to your heart's content. Now you may be thinking "that's an awful lot of pattern for you Catherine!) and you are correct. But every now and then I bust out a little pattern and color much to the surprise of my friends.
Here is my edit for you - favorites from $19 and up:
No matter the temperature the easiest thing for me to throw on is a black dress. I have a couple of go-to breezy simple numbers. A favorite gold necklace, stack of bracelets, wet hair up in a knot and I'm good to go. Nude flat sandals, a soft clutch and presto. It takes all of 15 minutes from shower to out the door.
Head to toe here's how it goes, starting with my 'magic dress' as my friend J.F. calls it. I was running late for a surprise party and said "what should I wear?" and she replied: "Just throw on your magic dress".
update: the black one is hard to find but more 'magic dresses' here
As for summer makeup I rarely wear any but when I do it is always an easy breezy situation involving fingers and smudging. Laura Mercier does the job for me with her tinted moisturizer, cream blush, eyeliner stick, and mascara. The one lip gloss I am addicted to and have been for years is Clinique's. Love the colors, it stays on forever and isn't super pricey.
Here are more black breezy dresses (go here for more colors in the 'magic dress'). I like to add a hint of sassy with a plunging front or back. Why not? Its summer. Time for fun and a little dose of sexy.
I love a good pair of skinny jeans. AG makes pretty much hands down my all time favorites. I am sitting comfortably in them right now with my flip flops on and couldn't be happier. However... there are days when you just want to feel like you are in your PJ's. Thus my rekindled love for the slouchy pant.
The key to the slouchy pants thing is balance. I tried a whole lot of them on last fall and not being the tallest kid on the block, most of them went back. Too baggy, too long, too poofy. I settled on the Joie Mariner version in black and love them.
I am now ready for a summer pair. They are just the right amount of slouch without being too sloppy. A little white cotton tank top, a delicate necklace and some flat sandals by day. Add sassy heels a silk tank and voila an easy summer night out.
I think I will road test the last pair... they look fun, I am slightly pattern averse but these seem inviting and summery. And they are on sale. Bonus.
PS:
I would love to see you in your canvasstyle-inspired outfits! Wouldn't that be fun? I never really know if what I am writing resonates with you. So, if you are on instagram, selfie your self and #canvasstyle @canvasstyle it. It would be a great way to play together!
As you can see from my 'weekly want' on the left side of the page, I have a certain affinity for flat, nude sandals.
I have had a pair in rotation for about the last 10 years. They are part of the uniform. I have just ordered my 'weekly wants' and will report on those as soon as they arrive. Dress them up or down, they make summer fashion feel effortless which is exactly how I like it.
Although this is an older shot (2012 Alexa Chung for Superga) I stumbled over it today and just had to use it. I love the image.
I am feeling my closet calling me to find a breezy little white lace dress. Not too hippie, not too structured either. Cynthia Vincent seems to have my number lately. The dress below is on my list.
I pulled a few more pieces together and here's what I would do... I would mix a little prep into my step to give a little balance to the vibe.
