A Perfect Outdoor Summer Evening (courtesy of Toast)

Toast is having a huge sale right now, and even though the British pound makes items appear less expensive than they are for us Americans, you're still saving a ton.

Combine the following for a fantastic summer evening:


Everything just looks so comfy! I'm really excited for their upcoming fall collection because they never disappoint in that department (although, don't worry, that's the only thing I'm looking forward to for fall, though - this Seattle summer weather has been absolute perfection and I don't want it to leave!).

Happy weekend! We're going camping!

*swoon*
Paige

All items from Toast:
1. Karien Wrap Blanket
2. Gaia Sandal
3. Fine Voile Tunic
4. Bamboo Handle Basket
5. Fire Bowl
6. Handblown Glasses

A Blustery Summer Day

This weekend was absolutely perfect, especially weather-wise! But now the clouds have blown in and the air is much cooler, much like this:


Today I plan on doing a lot of relaxing, making up for the lack of rest I got this weekend after all the barbeques and late nights with friends!


What did your weekend look like?

*swoon*
Paige

Photography by Takay.

Summer Stripes

With the Fourth of July coming up tomorrow, I thought it was appropriate to showcase some cute stripey pieces that channel Old Glory, and liven up any outfit (not to mention they're all rather reasonably priced!).

First there's the navy/gray & white combo:

1. Stripe Puffball Dress, $74; 2. Wooden Handle Clutch, $30; 3. Zebra Scarf, 15GBP;
4. Stripe Bow Tied Flats, $40; 5. Low-Rise Seersucker Shorts, $13; Bandeau Cover-Up via TopShop, $33

And of course, the red & white:

1. Labor of Love Striped Dress, $294; 2. Slouch Bag via TopShop, $50; 3. Striped Origami Dress via TopShop, $58;
4. Stripe Shirred Waist Tunic via TopShop, $33; 5. Stripey Bandeau Bikini via TopShop, $41; 6. Red Stripe Dress, $41

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend, and that you spend as much time outside as possible! (Oh, and remember to be safe with those fireworks!)

*swoon*
Paige

Totin' the Bubbly

This has got to be one of the greatest summer inventions I've ever encountered. Cute tote combined with a cooler?! Pure genius.



Do you have fun BBQ plans for this upcoming weekend? Make sure to break out your red, white, and blue! And stay tuned later this week for some 4th of July fashions you can copy this weekend (and some light 'n breezy bedding ideas for those hot summer nights that are just around the corner)!

*swoon*
Paige

Photograph via Style.com

Preen - Resort 2010

I've got a routine CT scan this morning to monitor my cancer-free status so you'll have to wait for Thrifted Thursday until later this afternoon.

For now, feast your eyes on these pretty things from Preen's 2010 Resort collection:


Wish me luck!

*swoon*
Paige

A Thakoon Summer

The Thakoon Resort 2010 line is so bright and perfectly summer (using "summer" as an adjective, of course), especially these pieces:




They remind me of a combination of impressionist painting and Rohrschach inkblot tests. I can imagine throwing the third one over a bathing suit, heading to the beach for the day, and then out for a nice dinner afterward.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

*swoon*
Paige

Glitter & Lace

I wish I could just lounge around my apartment all day with all the windows open, writing diary entries and love letters, and, of course, wearing cute lingerie:






This muggy Seattle "heat wave" definitely calls for it.

*swoon*
Paige

Photography by Tommaso Nervegna

Entrapment

Help! I'm going to be trapped inside today, unable to enjoy the beautiful, nearly 80-degree Seattle sunshine!

Amanda Pratt

I would much rather be doing this:

Kate Powers

Or this:

Oscar Falk

Or this:

Camilla Akrans

Le sigh... Can it please be summer in Seattle all the time?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend full of sunshine (and glamour!).

*swoon*
Paige

J.Crew Summer Sale!

J.Crew announced their Summer Sale today, and because I'll be starting a new job(!) soon, I thought I would purchase a few things to spruce up my work wardrobe.

Sweaters in summer? you ask? Well, Seattle summers can get still get a little breezy, and sometimes air conditioning inside buildings is just too cold!

I limited myself to three items (although it was very difficult):

Charmeuse pencil skirt in Bronzed Twig

Chiffon trim pocket cardigan in Shell

Merino Michelle V-neck cardigan in Glazed Pecan

(Where do they come up with these color names?)

Some people think J.Crew is too plain, or too preppy; but I think they have the perfect base pieces for any outfit. It's one of my absolute favorite stores. A lot of their items are a bit pricey for me unless they're on sale... but I don't feel as bad purchasing them because they're ultra high-quality, and they last forever in regards to both in durability and in timelessness.

*swoon*
Paige

The Grasslands

Dagg & Stacey are really speaking my language!

Remember my post on safari dresses?

Take a look at this Out of Africa-inspired spring/summer collection by the fantastic, up-and-coming Canadian duo:


I think my favorite has to be the first one, the yellow dress, simply because of the little flower detail and because it has pockets! I love dresses and skirts with pockets.

What a fun word. Pocket.

Check out the rest of the collection here.

*swoon*
Paige

Brush Your Shoulders Off

It is absolutely gorgeous in Seattle right this minute and it's supposed to stay this way for awhile.

On top of it all, I have a four day weekend full of exciting events: the baby-naming ceremony for The Boyfriend's brand new niece, The Boyfriend's grandmother's 90th birthday bash, canoeing in the Arboretum, puppy-sitting, a colleague's performance at the Northwest Folklife Festival, Happy Hours, and friends visiting from out of town!

Perhaps a beach trip is in order, complete with bikini... or at least some off-the-shoulder blouse action!



I love the combo/contrast of the thick pearls with the longer necklace!

Have a wonderful weekend!

*swoon*
Paige

DIY Louboutin's

You might not think of yourself as crafty, but this project from ...love, Maegan (reblogged from Blah, Blah, Blahg) is totally doable and such a perfect and fun addition to your shoe collection for this summer! It would be a great project for the long holiday weekend:


I have some black strappy heels I can dig up at my parents' house that would be perfect for this! I can't wait to get started!

This also gets me thinking about somehow recreating these next...

*swoon*
Paige

Chloe - Summer RTW 2009

Chloe has always been a favorite of mine (even the perfume bottles are gorgeous!), and this summer's ready-to-wear line only emphasized my love for the company.


The look above is probably my favorite in the entire collection. I would love to wear it on a hot summer's day, lounging around the house with all the windows flung open!




Metallic touches, like the bow above, keep it from being too dull.



The color palette alone is to die for (surprisingly fall-like in places), and the various detailing - such as the scalloped edges, and the belt-like bows - are perfectly sweet.

*swoon*
Paige

On Safari

One look that was subtly interspersed throughout the various 2009 Resort collections this year was the always-classic khaki safari dress... but with a few twists:

ADAM

Badgley Mischka

Derek Lam

Doo.Ri

Louis Vuitton

Luca Luca

Moschino

Ports 1961

I have a greenish-toned 1970's safari dress from my mom which I plan on updating for this summer! I plan on combining it with a thick belt, floppy hat, large sunglasses, and espadrilles. Maybe even a glamorous gauzy scarf.

Have you ever tried this look? If you can get your hands on any version, definitely try it out. It goes with nearly everything!

*swoon*
Paige

Pattern Recognition

Remember my post about ikat? Well I just stumbled upon this great, understated example of ikat in this outfit from Brian Reyes' Spring 2009 RTW collection:


It's ultra-subtle, and most might not even consider it ikat, but I think it's a great example of how this usually bold pattern can be seamlessly blended into an outfit. Love the belt. Love the draped shawl. Not so sure I could pull off those booty shorts, though...

Now, this isn't ikat, but it definitely echoes the look above, especially the gauzy, breezy feel (and it's easier to pull off because it's sans booty shorts):

I brought in some darker colors in the form of a tote and a wide, textured bracelet to add more contrast to the lighter belt and flats. It's too bad the replica isn't any less expensive! Next time, I'll do a chic for cheap...

*swoon*
Paige

Hanii Yi Cardigan - via Browns Fashion
Dress - via TopMax (I would probably remove the huge shoulder rosettes...)
Birds in Flight Bracelet - via ModCloth
Yellow Waist Belt - Dorothy Perkins
Tote - via Aldo
Flats - Marc Jacobs

Looks from Life - Red Peony

You may have noticed my slight obsession with peonies, but I really would have picked this photograph no matter what kind of flower sat sadly in that bowl of water. It's the beautiful red-orange that really caught my eye.

Spring had better be here soon, otherwise I'm going to get pouty, just like this little flower. Yesterday morning was filled with the most beautiful light we've had here in Seattle in quite a few weeks; but, unfortunately, the sun pulled the clouds over its sleepy head again and left us with the same cold gray. This flower, however, despite its mopey tone, energized me and made me optimistic for spring again.

"Not For Sale" by Petit Poney

Even though this gray is probably going to stay around awhile longer, I've made an outfit very much inspired by late-spring, moving into the warmer days of summer.

The t-shirt and shorts create a bit of a too-cutesy look, but the brown tones in the other pieces bring it back down to earth. A comfy, casual look, great for a flea market trip (and the bag is big enough to fit all of your great finds)!

*swoon*
Paige

Brown cardigan - J.Crew
Peach t-shirt - James Perse
Honor Roll tote - Kenneth Cole
Extra-long tigerwood beaded necklace - Via Nativa
Red button tab linen bow shorts - (via TopShop.com)
Huarache sandals - Blue Asphalt

Would you ever? / Have you ever? - Gladiator Sandals

Gladiator sandals. Sometimes I think they would be so cool.


Celebs seem to pull it off... right?


However, I worry I would just end up looking like this:


Especially because I have large dancer calves.
(I mean, they're called "gladiator sandals" for a reason...)

And sometimes, they remind me a little of this:


You know, with all those leather straps?

Well, what do you think? Have you ever worn them? Are they comfortable? If you haven't worn them, would you?

*swoon*
Paige

1. Dolce Vita Marcel flat sandals
2. Giuseppe Zanotti Gladiator ankle boot
3. Brown Python Gladiator sandals
4. Gladiator heel (via Delia's - I actually think these would be doable. They're a little less gladiator-y.)
5. Dolce & Gabbana back zip-up sandals