We are looking forward to the official Memorial Day start of summer this month and have been eyeing some weekend escapes. Big Sur evokes a relaxed and beautiful getaway destination, dramatically positioned along the Pacific Ocean. Ventana Inn & Spa founded by writer Lawrence A. Spector, is a luxury resort that specializes in escapism and on the top of our list. Also, Tablet approved, which we love!
Cedar-and-redwood cabins with stone fireplaces were designed to blend into and be at one with the landscape and the resort’s walking trails meander through forests teeming with deer, fox and wild turkeys.
The Big Sur shores below reveal a stretch of wild and unspoiled coastline with cedar-walled Japanese hot tubs that are open to relax under blue skies or starry nights. www.ventanainn.com
Happy Summer!
A seat at Blanca has become one of the most coveted in New York. It was awarded its Michelin star six months after opening and named one of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2012 by Bon Appétit. Chef Carlo Mirarchi does a 26 course innovative tasting menu setup that is $180 per person. A dozen chairs are set up for diners to overlook the über-sleek and minimalist kitchen. The dining experience is a highly interactive one where the guests are invited to mingle and interact not only with the food but also with the music. They have their pick of the music on the record player and ability to play DJ with a well curated vinyl collection.
One more reason to make the trip out to Brooklyn!
www.blancanyc.com
Everyone loves a comfy sweater but sometimes they are hard to come by –either very expensive or super itchy! Well..Shae NY is the answer! Led by creative director Tony Smith, whose past resume includes working with heavy-hitting brands like Isaac Mizrahi and Billy Reid, and head designer Amber Hofmann, the newly debuted label is fresh, modern, and incredibly easy to wear. “Each sweater is more than a sweater,” says Tony Smith, creative director of Shae. “Our goal is for each piece to have a distinct personality. Spring 2013 marks the first official collection for the brand, inspired by downtown New York street style, but with bursts of color that the true urbanist’s wardrobe often lacks. The pieces are a range of bright, poppy shades as well as calmer neutrals and all designed with unexpected details. Sporty color-blocking, nothing new on the trend forefront, is big for them, but feels modern with dramatic peekaboo cutouts. This knitwear is far from ordinary with vibrant pops of color and unique patterns. “It’s all about the easy, cool street style of New York girls as well as refined sporty pieces, like 1930s ski outfits,” Smith says. “Slightly off-kilter preppy classics.”
We love how comfortable and stylish the knits are and how great they pair with denim!
www.shaeny.com
Every year around this time, we see countless commercials that praise and celebrate motherhood. It is also the perfect reminder to participate in the great LA Diaper Drive. This nonprofit organization improves the lives and futures of low-income families through its award-winning model of using diapers as incentive to get parents into parenting, life skills, GED prep, and other life-improving classes. Hats off the wonderful group of moms that volunteer their time and expertise to help other moms in need.
Happy Mother’s Day!
We love how Olivia Wilde styled her look in our Almas hi rise zip skinny jeans. She definitely pulls off this casual look and even added a little edge while taking a stroll around NYC with fiancé Jason Sudeikis. Olivia paired our jeans with a funky blue leather jacket layered over her cotton hoodie. We love how she used chic oversized shades and threw on some black leather booties to complete her rock star look!
Don’t worry, we just made getting this look a whole lot easier by putting a little something together ourselves! Get Olivia’s casual look below and remember, the jeans ALWAYS make the outfit!
Jeans: HABITUALDenim – Almas Zip Skinny in “Happiness”
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban – Outsiders Oversized Wayfarer in Black
Belt: Zadig & Voltaire – Leather Studded Belt in Black
Hoodie: Quick Silver – Original Sandy Hoodie in Indigo Blue
Jacket: Just’eve ‘Carmin” – Biker Jacket
Shoes: Rag & Bone – Classic Newbury Booties in Black
Last night, the fashion industry showed up for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned Costume Institute Benefit. Hosted by Vogue’s William Norwich and model Hilary Rhoda, celebrities from the worlds of fashion, film, society, sports, art, business, and music joined together in honor of this year’s corresponding exhibition Punk: Chaos to Couture. There was a wide range of looks last night, and here are our favorites:
1. Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior
2. Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior
3. Amanda Seyfried in Givenchy
4. Rooney Mara in Givenchy
5. Emily Blunt in Carolina Herrera
We all have those pair of leather beat-up comfy boots that we cannot dare to throw out. Even though we know cracking is inevitable, we finally found a way to extend their lifespan by revamping them with acrylic pastels giving them an impressionist style! Instead of giving your old boots to the dumpster, Refinery29’s Chloe Daley, gives us an alternative by walking us through an easy do-it-yourself tutorial. Originally inspired by Anthropologie’s Galaxy Inlay Booties, Chloe recreates these “Peter Pan meets Monet” booties by using plain black ones and injecting them with a boost of creativity giving her a new fashion statement to rock!
If you are ready to take on this challenge just follow the easy steps below:
Supplies:
leather boots, alcohol, tarp, assorted acrylic paints, primer, sealer, brushes, sponge, and container for water.
Steps:
- Rub boots with alcohol to make sure there is no sealing already on the leather.
- Mix paint primer with water using equal proportions and paint on leather. Applying this primer will help the boots absorb the paint. Apply primer about 2 more times and flex leather while doing so (that way you don’t get any cracks).
- Create a white base by painting on white acrylic paint onto the boots and let them dry. Apply about 2-3 coats.
- Paint boots with an emerald green color (use whatever color you want) and let dry for about an hour.
- Take sponge and dab rose metallic and yellow accents on boots and overlay with green afterwards. It is completely up to you what color you want to add accents with.
- Use a sealer spray to coat boots.
So what are you waiting for ?! Click here to see full video.
Image by Alessandro Gottardo
