All Tied Up

It's time to put away the tights and show off those bare legs! Summer dresses are easy to throw on and automatically appear put together in 90° weather. The most casual tee shirt-dress with a pair of sneakers says "I look fabulous" without working at it at all. I love a no-thought look! The drawstring waist dress seems to be popping up everywhere this season, elevating that plain old tee dress into something that is easily styled but still super functional. Check out these examples:

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1. River Island's kimono sleeve dress is big on the details, with beautiful drapey sleeves, a v neckline and lots of pockets - two flap pockets at the chest and hip pockets. This would be a great beach-to-dinner option. 

2. If pure cotton is your game, Tory Burch's drawstring waist t-shirt dress has your name all over it. The lovely Frenesi print is a modern take on toile and a great contrast to a laid-back look. At 34" in length, it can be worn cinched without worrying that you'll be exposing your lady bits (unless lady bit exposure is your thing). 

3. Banana Republic's soft drawstring dress is a tank version that is a mix of modal and viscose, and I'm betting it's a flowy, soft hand. This dress also has pockets and the white version is fully lined. Apparently there's another version (color? print? something?), but I can't find it on the BR site. I'm hoping it shows up soon.

4. For the boho chic fan, Joie's Suerte dress is a beautiful pink silk with an ikat print and embroidery. I may not be big into boho looks, but a little luck (suerte ≡ luck) from Joie in the form of this dress is welcome all summer long. 

Know the 'Drille

Spring and summer footwear is clearly a theme here at LGC. Since I plan on staying on theme (for the moment, at least), lets talk about one of my favorite warm weather sightings: the espadrille. Seeing braided jute rope soles puts joy in my heart, but I try to keep the dollars down because I have a tendency to beat the hell out of them. Trust me, you can find on-trend at every price. Check it out:

Thoughts? The ones on the left are here, and the ones on the right are here. Did you guess right? Which one would you buy?

The espadrille has graduated beyond the simple flat sole and canvas upper. While the traditional style continues to be a fashion mainstay, there is so much more to choose from. I managed to narrow the ridiculous amounts of choices down to six, but I really could have gone crazy here...and no one wants that, right?

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Banana Republic checks so many boxes with the Noemie Espadrille (#1): it's a mix of bootie, wedge, sandal and suede that reads very city chic. Plus the color is a great neutral. But really, BR? You call it seaweed? I can't think of a less attractive term for that green.

I love height without straining my poor feet, and I bet I could wear Tory Burch's slides (#2) all day without complaining. The perforated leather is a beautiful ivory with a more subtle nod to Tory's signature double T logo.

Soludos' traditional espadrilles are close to perfection, but I adore their "smoking sipper" (#3) with its signature vamp. This style comes in a ton of variations, and I can't resist the combination of chambray and white embroidery.

Moving away from neutral ground, Steve Madden's perforated faux leather Choppur (#4) comes in a number of colors, and I was drawn to this bright coral. I had a chance to try them on and they're incredibly comfortable, plus the top of the vamp hits exactly the right spot on my arch.

For something feminine, floral and still fun, Gucci's espadrille (#5) is lovely, if a bit pricey. Knowing how hard I am on shoes, this is a no-go for me, but I still drool when I see them.

Want something that's more like regular wedge heel without looking like office attire (but you can still get away with them in the office)? Sam Edelman's Harmony espadrille (#6) has a leather vamp and ankle strap and gets the height going at 3 1/2".

I'm actually wearing a pair of espadrille wedges RIGHT NOW. They're an old pair from the Calypso x Target collabo in a washed blue and green. Yay for warm weather!

Get the Green Light

Green is one of my favorite colors, and malachite is one of my favorite natural stones. I remember my parents little collection of malachite objets - an obelisk, a rhino, a corn cob (that one always struck me as really weird, but whatever) and for some crazy reason, when my parents moved out of their house I didn't lay claim to them. Dumb, dumb dumb. Luckily, there are many ways that I can easily satisfy my need for green. 

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Clockwise from 1: I remember the first time I wore green polish on my toes. I got so many comments, but that was long ago. Green polish is not unusual these days, and you can have your pick of shades from dusty green to neon. I love Essie's Going Incognito. It's a deep emerald green that looks like the darkest swirl in a malachite stone. Looking at the roundup above, it's pretty clear I like the mix of green and gold. The malachite in these stud earrings is highlighted by the brushed vermeil giving them a warm glow. Speaking of glow...heh, I walked right into that one. L'Objet's pink champagne-scented candle comes in a gorgeous porcelain jar with hand-gilded 24 carat gold. I'd buy it just for the jar, the candle is a bonus! The Odeon from Kris Nations is a fantastic statement necklace. It comes in lapis, pink rhodonite, and my favorite, malachite. I have been lusting after Loeffler Randall's Rae pump. Doesn't the snakeskin look like malachite? These wedges add a gorgeous pop of color and at 2", they're wearable all day. It's like Tory Burch read my mind with this straw tote. I love straw in summer, and with it's metallic and deep green stripes and flat leather handles, this tote is everything and a bag of chips.

Is there a color you love that you try to work into your wardrobe whenever you can? Tell me about it!

Four Way Wednesday: Summer Dress

Being a lazy chick who doesn't like to look like she's being lazy, dresses are a fantastic asset to my warm weather wardrobe. I try to stuff my spring/summer closet with dresses that work in a variety of situations. And when I say variety, I don't mean throwing a suit jacket over a bodycon dress. My office is corporate enough (and I'm old enough) to know that there is no way that's going to be appropriate for me.

Tory Burch's Valerie dress fits the bill for so many occasions. It's green and white print is eye-catching without being overwhelming, and the low cut back is exactly right for when you want to show a little skin, yet can be hidden under a jacket or sweater when you want to look a bit more buttoned up. Let's have a look:

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I need heels for work. It makes me feel powerful. I also need a big bag to stash my flipflops in when I slip my heels on. The dark chambray jacket covers the open back of the dress, keeps your body temp from hitting hypothermia from the office HVAC and provides professionalism all in one go. I don't like to go crazy with jewelry at the office, and a short chunky link chain compliments the high neckline of the dress without being too fussy. A nude lip at work makes me feel polished and keeps the lips moisturized. 

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Versatility is key at a pool party. Throw your suit and towel in a bag and wear this to meet everyone. Sunscreen is a must, and I go the extra mile with a hat and sunglasses. Well, sunglasses look incredibly cool too, so I never skip them!

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Every summer, my girlfriends and I play hooky for a day and hit the city. We do a lot of walking, so a sturdy heel and a cross-body bag are musts. By using a bootie, an eye catching cuff and big hoops, the dress skews a bit boho. I am nowhere near boho in my style. This satisfies my need for boho without me feeling like I'm dressed in someone else's clothing.

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Got a daytime wedding? Add a chic jeweled cardi for the actual ceremony and then lose it for the party. Gold accessories with a dash of neon take the Valerie dress to the next level. And don't forget your pedi. I love to play with color on my toes, and it's a great conversation starter!