This weekend was so humid that I figured this flimsy silk dress would be comfortable a the hot, sticky day. It didn’t really help much and we ducked back into the air conditioning shortly after snapping these photos, but at least I had the chance to break out my new shoes for a little bit! I’m such a fan of flats that a pair of heels has to be really good for me to stray from my sartorial comfort zone (quite literally in this case). These are fabulous. I had to go up a half size in them as I do with any Rebecca Minkoff shoe, despite the fact that I’m a solid size 7 in everything else, and the three-inch block heel is incredibly comfortable.
Oh! And completely unrelated, I learned to kayak this weekend at Dave’s parents’ cabin in central Wisconsin. I took to it quickly, which is a surprise given that I’m not athletic in the least!
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer (old “Maisy” style if you want to try your luck on eBay; similar; love this)
Bag: Cult Gaia (often sold out; try here, here, and here)
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff (also on sale here, here, and here)
Bracelet: c/o Julie Vos (similar)
Necklace: Lele Sadoughi (also in love with this ring)
Rings: Monica Vinader, c/o Julie Vos, Lulu Frost
Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop
I picked up this shirt at J.Crew Factory over the weekend. It’s a linen-cotton blend, making it a comfortable, no-fuss option for breezy summer days. Better yet, it shields my already-burnt skin from the sun! (It runs true to size.)
In other news, we put in an offer on a 1930 colonial-style house filled with charm and creaky wood floorboards the very day it went on the market. Even though we went $5,000 over asking, the seller decided to wait another day before reviewing offers and we were outbid. I’m devastated and have been crying on and off all weekend because of it. We’re now faced with a difficult decision today: renew our lease and stay in our apartment for another year or roll the dice and see if we can find a house in the next three weeks. If the latter doesn’t pan out, we’ll likely have to rent a different apartment and move at the end of July. (I have no doubt that our current place will be swept off the market soon. It’s in a good location and has low rent.) We’ve thought about renewing and subletting, but that seems like such a risky endeavor if the sublessee damages the place or skips town. Ugh. I have no idea what to do and we have 24 hours to decide. Any ideas? Should we just consult the Magic 8 Ball and be done with it?
Shirt: J.Crew Factory
Shorts: J.Crew (old, also love these)
Sandals: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Lee Renee
Bracelet: c/o Julie Vos (old, also love this)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop (on sale for $98 here)
Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana c/o SmartBuyGlasses (also available here)
Lips: Stila “Betsey”
If there’s one stone that can capture the ease of summer, it’s larimar with its variations of white, light blue, and blue-green hues that are reminiscent of the ocean. It’s a silicate mineral that can found only in the Dominican Republic and is typically used to create jewelry in the Caribbean. Fortunately, you don’t need to travel that far to add a piece to your own jewelry collection! Larimar Fine Jewelry (http://larimar.com/), a company specializing in the stone, offers a wide variety of pieces handcrafted by artisans in the “cradle of Larimar” in the Dominican Republic. The organization boasts ethical work standards and a fair-wage-policy to ensure the craftsmen are able to provide for their families.
Larimar offered me a first-hand look at one of their pieces: the Gridden Stone Cuff (http://larimar.com/collections/larimar-bracelets/products/larimar-cuff-gridden-stone). The item was posted in Germany and arrived within a week of being shipped. It came in high-quality gift packaging, nestled into a box with a padded pillow. While I’m a sucker for good packaging, the bracelet is the real star of the show. The larimar stone is just as beautiful as it appears online with natural variations in the stone, and the sterling silver cuff is thick. The bracelet was able to bend just enough for me to adjust it to my wrist. The quality of workmanship is impeccable, and it’s clear the artisans Larimar Fine Jewelry parts with are passionate about their work.
Dress: BB Dakota (it might pop back here)
Sandals: Ann Taylor
Clutch: Kayu
Bracelet: c/o Larimar (http://larimar.com/collections/larimar-bracelets/products/larimar-cuff-gridden-stone)
Rings: c/o Vrai & Oro; Lulu Frost; c/o Anjolee
Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop (sale styles here)
