reader request: beach edition

I received a reader request this weekend for beach hats and bags and thought it was perfectly in line with my week/weekend festivities. This weekend I am off again on a trip to Miami for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. There are 19 of us. It can go two ways...crazy and I remember it or crazy and I have no idea what happened [and I also don't want to know exactly how I woke up on the beach with a shirt that says "I'm in Miami Bitch" and no pants on]. BUT, in the spirit of amazingly hot weather and protecting and preparing oneself, here are some hats and bags that I believe are worthy enough to spend some dollars on. Some may disagree...I understand. I even understand why some of you may be hesitant to take beach accessory advise from someone [me] who scoured Boca Raton for one of the tacky/amazing coverups that has a painted body on the front and back.

Large Brim Hat

Roxy By the Sea Hat

Old Navy Straw Fedora

Debenham's Leopard Hat

Calypso St. Barth for Target Hat

ASOS Oversize 70s Stripe Straw Hat

ASOS 70s Straw Floppy Hat with Black Band

ASOS Corsage Hat

AE Ombre Hat

J. Crew Straw Hat

J. Crew Panama Hat

J. Crew Stripe Straw Hat

Woolrich Stripe Canvas Tote

Kirra Fun in the Sun Bag

Billabong Day Tripper Bag

Old Navy Sequin Stripe Canvas Bag

Old Navy Convertible Linen Tote

Echo Jersey Stripe Beach Tote

GAP Dip Dye Tote

GAP Straw Strap Bag

DKNY Stripe Beach Tote

Calypso St. Barth for Target Linen Tote

Calypso St. Barth for Target Tote with Sequins

Anthropologie Roped-In Tote

AE Striped Beach Tote

J. Crew Farmer's Market Tote

J. Crew Racer Tote

J. Crew Tisbury Bucket Bag

J. Crew Stripe Farmer's Market Tote

MTV MAs

Even though I failed to watch the award show last night due to a self induced zombie state resulting from my day at the pool, I always love to look at the fashion and gossip [Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald engaged already??? talk about a kept man]. What I took away from last night though was my reaffirmed love for sweet, little Emma Watson. I find her [miss granger if you will] to be absolutely adorable in fashion and her everyday life. She seems so down to earth. Not to mention I absolutely love her quote regarding her first semester at Brown: "I felt like I'd walked into an American Teen Movie. I picked up the red cups. I was like, 'Wow, they really do drink from these.'" Why, yes we do my little Brit and there are numerous other things that happen that should probably not be mentioned [like how they may or may not be the #1 reason behind the insane hike in herpes outbreaks in the last decade]. Anywho...her look(s) last night made my heart go pitter patter and made my love grow stronger.

who said accessories have to be dead?

ok, maybe the harshness of the title was a bit too much...and, to be honest, I have no idea if anyone ever really said that, BUT what I do know is that my longest ongoing obsession has been with owning a tea cup piggy. Honestly, if I had one I would take him/her everywhere and they would, undoubtedly, become my greatest accessory. All I know is that as soon as I get a yard I'm going to own one and have them become bffs with my future nugget dog.

etsy feature friday

I recently had dinner with a friend from college [that makes me sound so old, like I hadn't seen her in years, but really it was January] and she told me she started a jewelry line and now has a shop on Etsy. SO...I told her, "That's great! I'll feature you on my blog [and maybe sales will skyrocket?]." Her line is called Stephanie Leigh and she makes all the jewelry herself working different metals and pressing different monograms, designs, and sayings on to adorable charms. She makes mostly bracelets, but also does earrings and [rumor has it] will eventually dabble in necklaces and other great accessories. She was wearing her bangles stacked when we had dinner and I couldn't take my eyes off of them. They are so simple, but the charms add so much character. Not to mention they are extremely affordable. She said she's continuing to add more to the shop, so keep a look out for it all!

photos via Stephanie Leigh Jewelry

so excited...

for my new BRIGHT pink lipstick! I wanted something crazy blinding for summer and I found exactly what I was looking for at MAC. The color I is "girl about town" and I'm uber pumped to wear it everywhere [except work, where I'm pretty sure it would elicit some stares and awkward comments]!

.knockaround.

I love sunglasses. That's it, end of story. There is nothing to not love, especially when you live down here and need them 90% of the year [sorry if this statement of my "luxurious" life hurts any one's feelings]. I've spent a pretty penny on my pairs, but love to find a good pair that I can take to the beach or lake and not worry if they're dropped or lost...ok a tear might form if I loose them, but I can't say I didn't warn myself.

I found the brand Knockaround this week and thought they were the most perfect, excitingly bright pairs for summer...and they're redonk cheap. I'm going to get a couple pairs and I think I may even get my older brother the glow in the dark ones because he's totally ridiguhlus like me and would wear them everywhere.

photos via Knockaround

[Reader Request]

It's officially heating up in the south and, now that Memorial Day has come and gone, many people will stop gawking and cursing you for wearing white. This means white should now become the staple color in your wardrobe and most outfits [just me talking, but who doesn't love the crispness that white brings to an outfit/entrance]. Ironically enough, I love the color, but apparently it does not love me, or rather I should re-think my eating habits when wearing the lovely blank canvas of a color. Getting to the point-a reader asked if I would feature white pants and, of course, I said "Why YES, I will!"

This post is fitting for today because this morning I decided to wear my white J.Crew skirt with my amazingly bright, already referred to as "dukes of hazzard" neon pink gingham shirt. White pants are hard to master in the sense that most are unattractively revealing, completely see through, or are so tight they show parts of your body you didn't realize were problem areas until they were covered in white. I've found that one of the easiest ways to mitigate the see through problem is to get the pockets sewn down and cut out removing the awkward pocket outline so often seen. Whichever route you choose to take, consider all of the styles since some may not be flattering on every body type [honesty hurts, but must be said]

Citizens of Humanity Thompson High Rise Skinny Jean

J Brand Skinny Twill

Vigoss Dublin Skinny Jean

Jolt Skinny Jean

Hudson Skinny Jean

Blue Essence Eliot Skinny Jean

Banana Republic Ultimate Skinny Jean

ASOS Mango Skinny Jean

J.Crew Matchstick Jean

Theory Nalanie Wide Leg Pant

Michael Michael Kors Montauk Gramercy Pant

Loft Marisa Linen Trouser Pant

Free People Benji's Wide Leg Pant

Calvin Klein Tie Front Linen Pant

Calvin Klein Stretch Cotton Wide Leg Pant