Bon Voyage!
Sales and good things for your summer
Today I leave for my 6-week hiatus on the Costa Brava in Spain. I love doing an early summer getaway, returning home with two months of summer still in front of me. Once I return home, I’ll be the grateful guest of friends with beach or country houses.
Best to stay in the good graces of said friends and appear bearing gifts for that coveted weekend away. It goes without saying to bring wine and edible treats, but it’s also nice to give a useful and lasting gift. Sometimes, though, that long-off weekend can sneak up on you, and you find yourself scrambling at the last minute for a gift. To avoid this unpleasant scenario, I’ve compiled a selection of gender-neutral, beach-or country-appropriate host/hostess gifts. Why not have a couple on hand so you’re always ready for a weekend away?
All are from Porta, a Brooklyn-based, women-owned and run company. Founders Francesca and Alice collaborate with artisans throughout Europe to curate a collection of artisanal objects for the home that will be cherished for years. See my full selection here.
Top Photo: Norman Parkinson for British Vogue 1973
Nili Lotan is currently having her Annual Archive Sale with up to 70% off. Many sizes are going quickly, but if you’re a large or XL, there are a lot of plum choices with tremendous markdowns. Whatever your size, if you love Nili Lotan, you’ll want to check it out.
I couldn’t help but think of this Nili Lotan cashmere sweater when I saw this image from the Chanel Resort collection. I love mixing the simple stripe with a bold print. The sweater is drastically marked down from $1290 to $387, and as I’m writing this, they still have all the sizes. I also love this peasant blouse, $147 from $450, this sexy long black dress, and this short dress that would be an ideal beach cover-up or tunic over capris.
This will most certainly be the summer of the long shorts. It started last summer, single-handedly launched by this photo.
I can’t credit where the image came from, but last summer, it was suddenly everywhere and understandably so. As simple as the outfit is, she nailed it: the proportions, the sandals, the accessories, the simple black-and-ivory palette. It is also relatable and doable. This summer, more brands are offering their version of long shorts, as the picture makes the rounds again this summer.
Personally, I’m not a shorts person, but these are different; they cover the thighs and are city-friendly. One thing to bear in mind when styling long shorts; they require sleek shoes. Paired with clunky shoes, heavy sandals, or sneakers, you could easily enter into frumpsville. Treat them like a knee-length skirt; they work with the same type of shoes, as seen above. I particularly like the look of a thong sandal with a little heel, such as this pair from M. Gemi or these. I also love the look of the mule pictured below.
Here are three knee-length shorts that fit the bill nicely. From left: White denim, I love the subtle stripe and sheen of these, and a white linen pair. Keep the top simple and more body-conscious.
Speaking of sleek tops, this T-shirt speaks to me. The cut is very good, and I like the contrasting details.
I popped into Mango the other day and was very tempted by this jacket. It’s oversized with a drawstring waist to control the volume. I love army green, it’s a great neutral, and the 100% cotton fabric has just the right amount of heft to make it the perfect spring-to-fall jacket. It is quite roomy, I’m wearing a thick sweater under a size small. I would have bought it on the spot if not for having something quite similar, but the least I could do is share, and it’s a deal marked down to $89.
Soeur, which I recently wrote about, see below, is also having an archive sale, which you can see here. There are many solid summer pieces to peruse.
That’s all for today. My next post will be from Spain. What are your summer plans? Are you ready for wherever the season will take you? Let me know if there are any summer style-related issues you would like me to cover here. I will be doing my annual swimsuit lament at some point in the near future.
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xxx Jolain
Bonne route et bonnes vacances...
Have a fabulous trip, Jolain!