Summer Sunsets

Summer is all about relaxing evenings on the terrace or deck, drink in hand. Summer, for me, is also all about the sunsets. It really is the best time of the year to enjoy them, whether on vacation at the beach or just in your city. There have been some great sunsets in New York this summer. 

I love when the sun is about to set after a quick summer thunderstorm (photo on top left). The best places in the city to view the sunsets are major crosstown streets such as 14th, 23rd, 34th, and 42nd. Additionally, the Highline offers great views of the Hudson river and sunsets in the evening. Have you seen some beautiful sunsets so far this summer?

Colorful Summer Linens

When one thinks of summer dressing, a few things come to mind: colors, seersucker, and linen. Linen is a perfect summer fabric as it is lightweight, breathable, and usually comes in an array of colors perfect for the season. 

These casual yet sophisticated linen button down from Ralph Lauren Purple Label come in beautiful colors. I opted for almost every color they had! The pastel hues will be perfect for summer night dinners, vacations, and of course my upcoming trip to the Mediterranean! Linen will definitely be a staple in my wardrobe as the summer continues, especially with the extremely hot weather we have been having.

Wear your linens tucked in with a belt for a more office appropriate look, or pair with white pants, untucked, and sandals for the ultimate Hamptons  casual look.

Styled:

Shirt: Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Shoes: Ralph Lauren
Chinos: Ralph Lauren

Above, I pair a bright pink with a dark navy bottom for contrast and a pair of simple loafers. The look is classic prep and perfect for any summer occasion. 

Summer Spot: The Yard at the SoHo Grand

Summer in New York is all about finding great spots outdoors-rooftops, terraces, decks. Ones with views are even better! A great summer spot to hangout and enjoy the hot weather while feeling like you are on a tropical island is this summer's pop-up at the Yard at the SoHo Grand Hotel: Gilligan's.

You can probably get a sense of what this summer hotspot is like from the name- beachy, relaxed, and tropical. Under vine covered arbors with white lights and tables under beach umbrellas, Gilligan's has amazing drinks and is a great place to meet friends. 

The people behind Gilligan's were the same people running Moby Dick, a very popular pop-up that was located in Montauk last summer. This transformative hangout features small dishes and drinks, of which the watermelon margarita is by far the most popular and very refreshing. It was my drink of choice upon visiting:

If you are looking for a relaxed, nautical vibe in the middle of Manhattan, Gilligan's at The Yard is definitely worth checking out!

5 Random Monday Thoughts

• It has been an incredibly hot July, and I want it to end! We have had 100+ degree weather here in the city for almost a week straight...it's quite miserable!
• Weekends go even more quickly than normal when you have a friend staying with you- as if they could not go any more quickly. I cannot believe its already Monday.
• There are SO many amazing sales going on in store and online right now...Hello 75% off at Bergdorfs
• Counting down the days until my departure for the French Riviera that I officially booked!!
• If you have been following my blog for some time, I'd like to know your thoughts on how it has developed as I feel it is in another stage of growth...exiting...but I want to make sure I stay on point.

I always like to end these Monday posts with a little quote. The following is perhaps on of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors who I have talked about previously, Oscar Wilde.

Fashion Friday: Fit For The Palace

The New York Palace, which we all know and love from Gossip Girl, recently underwent a $140 million renovation project and debuted their Royal Suite. You can read more about my preview of the Suite at Skimbaco Lifestyle.

When I got the invitation, I immediately started thinking about what I was going to wear to the Palace, especially being in the Royal Suite! The weather has been unbearably hot in New York for the past 2 weeks so I knew lightweight chinos and a button down would be perfect.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Chinos: Ralph Lauren
Sandals: Ralph Lauren
Belt: Hermes

I love the contrast of something brightly colored against a preppy navy. In this instance, it really makes my shirt standout, and in addition my sandals contrast against the navy chinos as well. I am not usually a huge sandal person, but these have such a European flare to them that I thought they were a perfect fit with the outfit.

So if it was perfect for the Royal Suite at the Palace, I think this outfit would definitely work for dinners, the Hamptons, or perhaps on my upcoming trip to the South of France!

Social Fashion

The world of apps has vastly changed the way we are able to interact with others, and has made almost everything social. If you are like me, you are usually looking for the newest apps to put on your iPhone so you can be the friend saying "Oh! Have you seen this app?! You must download it".

For those of us who love fashion, a new fashion app launched in the app store a few days ago called CREAM. CREAM is an iOS Fashion/Shopping app that keeps the updates on industry trends, tastemakers, and the pulse right in your palm.

The founding team is based in New York and Seoul, Korea- 2 very technologically advanced cities. Carefully curated daily looks from in-house stylists are delivered to your hand which allow you to discover new trends, create a virtual closet of pieces you love, and of course, shop!

Images: Cream Style Company

Versatile Céline

Céline bags have become extraordinarily popular within the past 2-3 years. It started with the luggage tote, which I thought may be the new Birkin, and now has expanded to include a myriad of iconic styles. 

The luggage tote is still by far the most popular Céline style, coming in a wide range of sizes, colors, and fabrics. I see this bag being toted around by everyone in Manhattan. The bag is actually quite versatile. Below, I've shown how to use a large sized luggage tote 3 different ways:

Beach Bag: The large size luggage tote is perfect for a day at the beach, pool, or trip to Central Park.  It fits a large towel, flip flops, bottle of water, and of course sunglasses. 

School Bag: I have seen this bag all over campus and in many of my classes. It fits everything one needs for a day of classes: iPad, Notebooks, agenda, and even a MacBook Air. The bag itself does get a little heavy when loaded, since the bag itself is heavy, similar to a Birkin.

Everyday: The luggage tote is perfect for those who just toss anything and everything into their bag as it does not have many interior pockets. My large size fits a bottle of seltzer, umbrella, sunglasses, and moleskine. All things that have become essential during a summer day in the city!

It is important that a bag be versatile, especially when living in a city where some days it seems like you are packing up your entire apartment into your bag for the day! The Céline luggage tote is a perfect option.