it's official...first day of summer has arrived...

i still remember the feeling as a kid...school is out...summer is in...back then...of course...summer started when school ended...now i go by the "official" day...which happens to be today!

so...happy first day of summer!

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sometimes...

...all a girl needs is a little sun and relaxation...so my bags are packed with my summer brights...books for reading...and the anticipation of a much needed rest...my biggest decision will be...

poolside or ocean today...

see you when i get back!

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putting away the summer clothes...

while it is difficult to say good-bye to summer...the weather slowly changes...and the things that we wore all summer long...need to be put away...and room made for the cozy sweaters...boots and scarves...

but...before you stash away all that summer goodness...now is a great time to check the items...i mean...no reason to pack away things that won't be worn anymore...right?  so what are we looking for?

first and foremost - as with any season...the clothes that you hung on to...possibly from last summer...or the summer before that...and you still haven't worn...yeah...time to say good-bye...whether the item doesn't fit...doesn't suit your current lifestyle...why keep packing up these items...when you clearly are not wearing them?  time to break-up!

look over your current summer wears...are there stains from your summer activities?  now is the time to get them cleaned...don't save it for next season...stains left untouched...will only get worse...and harder to get rid of...besides...when summer rolls around next year...do you really want to be pulling out stained items?

look over all your t-shirts & tank-tops...any with yellow armpit stains need to go...have the colors faded?  be honest...these need to go...and replaced again...

now for the packing...keep in mind your summer hats...place them in hat boxes...if at all possible...or in a location where they will be protected...who wants to pull out a summer hat...all ready to go to the pool...only to find a hat that has lost its shape...or worse...wrecked from something sitting on top of it for 6 months?

when looking for storage bins...there really are so many to choose from...figure out where your storage space will be...and then choose accordingly...there are options for storage under the bed...on shelves...stacked...etc...what works for you?  and keep in mind...if you have a choice...between canvas and plastic coated ones...the plastic ones sometimes permeate that smell...and it doesn't go away easily...you don't want your clothes absorbing it for 6 months...

have a list ready for the items you need to replace for next summer...keep it in a place you will remember...there are a lot of items on sale right now...but keep in mind...don't buy just because it is on sale...if you need to replace certain items...and they are on sale...kudo's to you for finding them...also...make a note of the key pieces you enjoyed wearing this summer...make a note to shop for these must-haves in early spring...

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fashion funnies: the new thong bikini...

"the stares!  you'd think people had never seen a thong before..."


enjoy the summer sun this weekend...

reynolds comics

summer shoes...

beautiful day in the city today...lots of sun...lots of cute
summer dresses...capri's...shorts...

and at this point...if i could...i would want to insert the
screeching of tires...as was what was going through my
head...when one after the other...i saw adorable outfits...
till you looked at the shoes...and there...the outfit is...
well...down graded...

i say it over and over...shoes can make or break an
outfit...and if you are going to go all out...looking cute...
and even if your main thing is comfort...why why why...
as i saw today...would you opt for flip flops?  now there
is nothing wrong with flip flops...but i'm talking about just
your good ole rubber flip flop found at the dollar store...
you know the ones...one notch above what you get when
you go for a pedicure...

ladies...there are so many options out there...in every
possible heel size...open toe, closed toe, embellished...not embellished...striped...patterned...neutral...bright...anything
is better then those rubber flip flops...and yes...
it "breaks" your outfit...so...let's "make" your outfit...

what are the choices?  there are shoes you can find for your
summer wardrobe...that won't break the bank...will add a little
bit of spice to your outfit...and more then anything...make you
look like you half care what you put on your feet...

summer shoes by fabufinds featuring ankle strap shoes

fashion funnies: swimsuit discount...

enjoy the weekend!

photo source - unknown

it's official...

happy first day of summer...

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fashion funnies: how to buy a bathing suit...

this was sent to me via email from my good friend judy...talk about a good laugh...not sure where the email originated...but for all of us who have been there...may this put a smile on your face...

When I was a child in the 1970s, the bathing suit for the mature figure was-boned, trussed and reinforced, not so much sewn as engineered.  They were built to hold back and uplift, and they did a good job.

Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the prepubescent girl with a figure carved from a potato chip.  The mature woman has a choice, she can either go up front to the maternity department and try on a floral suit with a skirt, coming away looking like a hippopotamus that escaped from Disney's Fantasia, or she can wander around every run-of-the-mill department store trying to make a sensible choice from what amounts to a designer range of fluorescent rubber bands.

What choice did I have?  I wandered around, made my sensible choice and entered the chamber of horrors known as the fitting room.  The first thing I noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength of the stretch material.  The Lycra used in bathing costumes was developed, I believe,  by NASA to launch small rockets from a slingshot, which gives the added bonus that if you manage to actually lever yourself into one, you would be protected from shark attacks.  Any shark taking a swipe at your passing midriff would immediately suffer whiplash.

I fought my way into the bathing suit, but as I twanged the shoulder strap in place I gasped in horror, my boobs had disappeared!

Eventually, I found one boob cowering under my left armpit.  It took a while to find the other.  At last I located it flattened beside my seventh rib.

The problem is that modern bathing suits have no bra cups.  The mature woman is now meant to wear  her boobs spread across her chest like a speed bump.  I realigned my speed bump and lurched toward the mirror to take a full view assessment.

The bathing suit fit all right, but unfortunately it only fitted those bits of me willing to stay inside it.  The rest of me oozed out rebelliously from top, bottom and sides.  I looked like a lump of Playdough wearing undersized cling wrap.

As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from, the prepubescent sales girl popped her head through the curtain, "Oh, there you are," she said, admiring the bathing suit.

I replied that I wasn't so sure and asked what else she had to show me.  I tried on a cream crinkled one that made me look like a lump of masking tape, and a floral two-piece that gave the appearance of an oversized napkin in a serving ring.

I struggled into a pair of leopard-skin bathers with ragged frills and came out looking like Tarzan's Jane, pregnant with triplets and having a rough day.

I tried on a black number with a midriff fringe and looked like a jellyfish in mourning.

I tried on a bright pink pair with such a high cut leg I thought I would have to wax my eyebrows to wear them.

Finally, I found a suit that fit, it was a two-piece affair with a shorts-style bottom and a loose blouse-type top.  It was cheap, comfortable, and bulge-friendly, so I bought it.  My ridiculous search had a successful outcome, I figured.

When I got it home, I found a label that read, "Material might become transparent in water."

So, if you happen to be on the beach or near any other body of water this year and I'm there too, I'll be the one in cut-off jeans and a T-shirt!

You'd better be laughing or rolling on the floor by this time.  Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain, with or without a stylish bathing suit! 

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fashion funnies: cleaning out for summer...

love luann comics by greg evans...spotted this one a while back in the san francisco chronicle...this would not be my suggestion as to how to do a closet clean-up...

mom: what are you doing?

daughter: getting out my summer clothes from last year...

mom: ah. weather's warming up so it's time to...uh...

daughter: go to goodwill then hit the mall...



enjoy your weekend!

men's corner: espadrilles...

summertime...and yes...i am still kind of obsessing over espadrilles...so imagine my excitement...when i was perusing my june issue of gq magazine...and saw a little picture of espadrilles for men...i mean...brilliant! who wants to wear flip flops all the time? besides...it just looks a bit more stylish...

jim moore, gq creative director says..."espadrilles are a big trend this summer...they work anytime you'd wear your flip-flops...just remember to trash them a bit - step on the backs...wear them to the beach...and leave them in the sun..."

i've picked out a few for you...it is summer time...so have some fun...

add some pattern...

choo choo - striped denim
soludos

not that daring? how about a fun pop of color?

dali - dark green
soludos

even with a basic neutral...you are sure to be looking oh so stylish...
castaner
mr porter

in honor of the first day of summer...

...and this absolutely splendid weather we are having in the san francsico bay area...think high 90's... =) so fabulous...i figured it was time to start looking at summertime wear...and of course...the first thing i think of is...pool time...

cover-ups are a necessity for me...i'm not one that you will find sauntering around the pool without one...just saying...and i'm really needing an update...although i love the ones i have...

so what do you look for in a cover-up?

- coverage...i know...obvious...but some cover-ups...well...don't cover...so what's the point? i don't need another layer of clothing...just because...

- fit...as always...fit is of utmost importance...even in a cover-up...too big...or too small...both scenario's down-grade your luscious bathing suit...so don't settle!

- color...it's summer! go wild...this is the time that color and/or prints are a little easier to work with...for those that are timid...so step out...work with the colors of your bathing suit...and if it is a solid color...then definately have fun with your cover-up...the more colors...the merrier!

here are some of my favorites...so far...all these are currently available on the nordstrom website...click on the link...there is a very nice selection...and in several colors!

robin piccone tie dye cover-up dress


michael kors sheer cover-up


trina turk 'french riviera' tunic cover-up

becca crochet cover-up

photo source: nordstrom.com

put together: summer's perfect hues...

to say that our weather here in the san francisco bay area has been doing anything but cooperating with what month we are in...well...would be the understatement of the year...so alas...i have been enjoying spring/summer weather through my fashion magazines...the beautiful summer hues make me yearn for the sun...that much more...

while perusing through the june issue of ladie's home journal...i came across these beautiful pics of the lovely cat deeley...showing off perfectly how summer hues should be worn...doesn't she look fabulous? and how effortless these looks are...

now if i could just get the sun to cooperate...it's june for goodness sake...and we are looking at another week of rain, hail, thunderstorms...and yes...it will be with us all weekend long...so i guess my nose will be buried in more fashion magazines...taunting me with the beautiful spring/summer looks...that i just can't wear...at least not yet...

nothing better then combining two bright colors...so chic!
dress: french connection
belt: american eagle
shoes: diane von furstenberg


beats a ratty t-shirt & shorts any day
top: single
shorts: j crew
belt: american eagle

photos: scanned by moi...

fashion funnies: girls nite out for maxine...

my girlfriend posted this on facebook this last week...and now i'm thinking...how appropriate...since my blog post yesterday was about a new summer trend...going bra-less...and...i'm heading out for a girls weekend in monterey/carmel...

whatever you are doing...have a fabulous weekend...but please...don't forget your bra...

new summer trend...going bra-less

as i've always said...not every trend is for every person...but...could there be a trend that is not for any person?

going bra-less is a tough call...i believe...in my humble opinion that there are very few women that can really pull this off...and it still look...well...presentable...

i would love to hear your thoughts on this one...as an article in the new york times surfaced...with the title..."new summer trend...going bra-less..."

photo source: getty images

fashion funnies: bathing beauties...

cocktail napkins say the darndest things...



enjoy your weekend...

i'm leaving on a jet plane...

although i do know when i'll be back again...next week! i finally started wrapping my head around the colder weather...and my favorite...fall clothing...when my dad bought me a ticket to go to mazatlan...for a week! so now i'm back to thinking summer summer summer...got my teal bathing suit ready...with my colorful pink, orange & teal sarong...and all my summer dresses...

i'm most looking forward to grabbing tons of books...sitting on the beach...and the pool (so many options...can you stand it?) and reading reading reading...

so...enjoy your week my fabulous readers...i'll be back posting away next tuesday...until then...i'm off to enjoy some much needed relaxation...

men's corner: checkered out...

i don't know what it is about a colorful checkered shirt that makes me smile...it screams summer...comfort...fun...and coolness

gq listed some winners in my book...such an easy way to add that fun & pop of color to your wardrobe...just as easy to slip on as that old ratty t-shirt...seems like an easy choice for me...

gitman brothers vintage
available at bloomingdales

richard chai
available at odin

edward
available at odin

jack spade
available at jack spade

photo credit: elissa wiehn via gq.com

men's corner: the fedora...

...has made quite the splash this summer...it truly is a great look on both men & women...but since today is all about you men...let's focus...

made from woven straw, hemp or wool...there is a fedora style for every season...and since we are in the heat of summer...what better way to stay cool and look chic!

here are some stylin dudes in their fedora's...

jude law
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brad pitt
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ne-yo
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i'm thinking ne-yo said it best...year of the gentleman...casual or dressed to the nines...it is a very put together look...

find your perfect fedora...

fashion funnies: "i feel good about me..."

"cathy" is always good for a laugh...this was in last weeks sunday paper...cathy is bathing suit shopping...such a fun activity...no?

saleswoman: welcome to the "i feel good about me" swimwear season!

saleswoman: plus-sized bikinis! abundant tanks! nice and roomy swim shorts and skirts!

saleswoman: real suits for the real bodies of real women!

saleswoman: this year every single one of us can face the swimsuits and say "i feel good about me!"

saleswoman: do you know why we can say "i feel good about me??"

cathy: because we're standing here fully clothed and the suits are way over there.

saleswoman: exactly, shall i ring one up that you can feel good about not putting on in the privacy of your own home?

quite the sales job...no?

(click on pic to enlarge)

palazzo pants...

the ultimate party pants...palazzo pants became popular in the 1930's...when they were also known as beach pajamas and worn with a loose top over a swimsuit...they have a comfortable feel that can be casual or dressy...depending on fabric and accessories...

the best part...they feel like you are wearing your pajama's...but you don't look like you are wearing pajama's...so stylish and chic...

in metallic silk with a cashmere sweater and a scarf...the look is cool...understated evening...in cotton or linen with a t-shirt and a pair of sandals...it's pure summer...

how do you wear your palazzo pants?