H&M festival gear

[H&M]

Next up for H&M is super-cool festival gear for a good cause. This line benefits the Fashion Against AIDS campaign. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds go to youth HIV/AIDS programs.

I'm sure you've seen all of the fashion photos from this year's Coachella. There's definitely a certain rock 'n roll/boho look going on at these music festivals. Appropriately enough, Lou Doillon and Elizabeth Jagger are the campaign's models.

The collection includes tents, ponchos, sleeping bags, fringe and more. Check out the rest of the collection here (I'm loving that orange leopard dress!). Even if you aren't making the U.K.'s Glastonbury or Tennessee's Bonnaroo this year, there's no reason not to stock up on these fabulously affordable items. The line hits stores on May 20.

Ahoy!

[shopbop.com]

I'm loving nautical-inspired dresses. This See by Chloe 'Ruffle Eyelet Dress' ($495) from shopbop.com is SO cute. Navy and white is such a classic color combination. Those neutral Loeffler Randall sandals are to die, too.
[anthropologie.com]

Another great option is from Anthropologie (I'm basically obsessed with that store). The 'High Seas Dress' by We Love Vera ($138) even features a wave print.
[asos.com]

Nothing says nautical like a classic Bretton stripe. This Oasis (one of my favorite stores when I lived in London!) 'Bretton Stripe Shoulder Pad Dress' ($64.25) from asos.com is a wardrobe staple. To mix it up, it'd look great with a belt, a denim jacket or even a bold necklace.
[forever21.com]

A very affordable option is the 'Sailor Striped Woven Dress' ($24.80) from Heritage1981/Forever 21. It has teeny tiny anchors and ships wheels! All of these dresses look best paired with neutral shoes.

The National at The National

I saw The National at The National in Richmond last week, and they were simply amazing. My sister has me listening to them since they're her all-time favorite. Apparently it's difficult to get tickets to their shows in NYC, so she was jealous.

The boys from Cincinnati, Ohio do not disappoint live. Lead singer Matt Berninger's baritone voice is so unique. They sang a lot of songs from their not-yet-released album High Violet as well as tunes from previous albums, Boxer and Alligator.

Their new song "Bloodbuzz Ohio" is so good. "I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees." I still don't really know exactly what the lyrics mean, but I love the song.
At one point Berninger ran out into the crowd (see above photo). He was also swigging a lot of wine from a plastic goblet, which my sister assured me was totally normal. It was an awesome show. Now I'm looking forward to seeing Iron & Wine next week!

FABulous Alice + Olivia for Payless kicks

[all photos payless.com]

I happened to be perusing Payless ShoeSource's site to check out a pair of Christian Siriano nude heels that I liked when I stumbled upon a new selection of Alice + Olivia shoes. OMG, those clogs! I immediately forgot about the Siriano shoes.

The 'Hampton Studded Clogs' ($39.99) are exactly what I've been looking for ever since Chanel's S/S 2010 show. The canvas makes them the perfect neutral color for spring and summer.

The 'Paige Platform Gladiator Sandals' ($39.99) are super cool with a front zipper. They're insanely tall with a 5.25" heel and a 1.75" platform. They come in moss green and black.

The laceless 'Jazz Oxfords' ($29.99) are so retro and comfy-looking. They'd be great paired with shorts. They're available in light pink and black-and-white.
Two other swoon-worthy pairs are the 'Olivia Striped Slingback' ($39.99) and the 'Breckenridge Bow Platform' ($39.99). I have some wedding showers and parties coming up, so I'm trying to think of what dress would look good with the bow platforms. I like them because they're sweet yet edgy.

I've had great luck with Alice + Olivia's shoes for Payless. The quality is unbelievable for the price. Also, it's BOGO right now, so all items are buy one get one half off. Plus, use the code 30584 for 15% off!

Zac Posen for Target

[all photos target.com]

I went to check out Zac Posen for Target today. I've been a fan of Posen's designs, but couldn't afford them (obvi). I was very happy with his collection. I came home with two dresses, and I'll probably go back and get one more.
The bright colors and trendy print on the 'Tie-Dye Print Dress' ($29.99)are perfect for spring and summer. On me, it hits right above the knee. This is great because I can wear it to work with a jacket or cardigan. It also has a cute peep hole in the back. The 'Tiger Print Sailor Dress' ($39.99) is one of my favorite pieces in the collection. It's made of 100% polyester. The bold tiger print and flutter sailor sleeves make it unique. It also has a slightly asymmetrical hem and a keyhole back. The dress is also available in pink.

The 'Floral Print Brocade Tie Dress' ($74.99) is utterly fabulous. I really wanted to buy it, but I was having trouble paying $75 for a Target dress (hopefully other people will feel the same way so that I can snatch it up when it goes on sale!). The brocade feels expensive, and it has a gold asymmetrical zipper on the front that says Zac Posen. This is a great dress for a summer soiree.

I also liked the 'Tie-Dye Print Low V One-Piece Swimsuit' ($34.99). One pieces like this can be tricky, but I tried this one on really liked it. It's not too low in the front that it would cause a wardrobe malfunction, which is often a worry with these deep V suits.

Overall, I would say that Posen's collection for Target is one of their best GO International lines yet. Check it out before it sells out. Also, my Target store has Liberty of London clothing marked down already. Score!

"Fences" on Broadway

When I was in New York City this weekend, I lucked upon a preview of the revival of August Wilson's play, Fences. Oh my goodness - it was hands down one of the best plays I've seen. My sister's friend works for the producer, so we had incredible box seats, too.

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis starred in the Kenny Leon-directed play. Washington won a Best Actor Academy Award for his role in Training Day. Davis was nominated for her role in Doubt. When you see celebs in plays, you never know if they have the acting chops for it (*cough* Julia Roberts in Three Days of Rain), but let me tell you, these two have the chops and more. They were unbelievable.

Fences was written by Wilson in 1983, but the play is set in the 1950s. Troy Maxson (Washington) has been married to Rose (Davis) for 18 years. Troy's best friend and confidant is Jim Bono, who served time in jail with him and works with him as a trash collector presently. Troy has a son, Cory, with Rose and a son, Lyons, from a previous relationship. Gabriel is Troy's brother, who was wounded in the war and is now mentally handicapped. Because of his injury Troy has enough money to buy the "roof over their head," which is brought up throughout the play.

Troy is always looking to move up in the world. He eventually is promoted to a trash truck driver. He has a strained relationship with Cory because he dreams of playing college football, and his dad wants him to just learn a trade. Troy always claims that he was good enough to play major league baseball, but was discriminated against for being black.

Even though Troy appears on all levels to love Rose, he has an affair with a woman named Alberta, who is never seen by the audience. They end up having a daughter, Raynell. The twist occurs when Alberta dies during childbirth. One of the most powerful scenes in the play is when Troy tells Rose about his affair. I literally could see tears pop out of Davis's eyes.

The play officially opens today and is running for 13 weeks through July 11 in the Cort Theater. Tickets range from $61.50 to $131. 50. If you're in NYC, go see this play before it's too late!

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Despite the lengthy title (which I kept messing up when recommending the book to people), it's a delightful book.

The novel is written in a series of letters. It may take a while at first to get the hang of who is writing whom, but after twenty or so pages I got it. The characters are so likable, and I really sympathized with them.

Author Juliet is the center of letter correspondences. She eventually tries to piece together a novel about Guernsey, one of the Channel islands, after World War II is over. She corresponds with a particular group of islanders who formed the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The society is essentially a book club that was formed one night by chance. It amazingly helped them get through the awful German occupation of Guernsey.

Juliet begins to truly care for the people she's writing about and eventually goes to visit them. Once she visits them, she knows she'll never return to London. There's also a touch of romance. My only complaint is that I wish that Juliet and Dawsey would've realized their love for one another sooner.

Also, I really want to visit Guernsey now. Perhaps I will on my next trip to England or France.

Earth Day wear

[hm.com]

Happy Earth Day! Being fashionably green is easy with so many fabulous options out there. I still love H&M's eco-friendly Garden Collection, which I wrote about here. I got the above dress for the bargain price of $14.95. It's a bit sheer, but I have a little neutral slip that works well under it.
[nordstrom.com]

Edun's 'Icarus Kading' dress from Nordstrom is made from organic cotton. It's on the pricey side at $125, but at least it's earth-friendly! Edun was launched by Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson to benefit Africa. [forever21.com]

Forever 21 is selling graphic tees from different cities around the world to show that we are one. Purchase the 'We are One Tank,' and a portion of the proceeds help to bring clean water to the people of Northern Kenya. I adore the Italy 'Ciao Bella' tee. I don't think they're organic cotton, but they're also giving away reusable water bottles with a $40 purchase.

Something Borrowed the movie!

I just found out that Emily Giffin's book Something Borrowed is being made into a movie. I've read all of Giffin's books, and this one was my favorite.

Kate Hudson (Darcy), Colin Farrell (Marcus), John Krasinski (Ethan), Ginnifer Goodwin (Rachel) and Colin Egglesfield (Dex) will star in the film. Rachel and Darcy have been BFFs since forever. Darcy has always managed to outshine Rachel. After Rachel has too much to drink at her 30th birthday, she ends up with Darcy's boyfriend, Dex. She then realizes that she's always been in love with him.

The film is set to be released next year. So exciting!

Lust: Ash Lotus Cutout Booties

[shopbop.com]

Oh my, these shoes have my name written all over them. The 'Lotus Cutout Booties' are part wedge, part boot. At $240, they're a bit pricey, but I know that I would wear them all spring, summer and fall.

They come in black, nuage and stone. They're made of distressed leather and have a back zip. They have a 1.5" hidden platform and 4.75" wedge.

[piperlime.com]

Michael Antonio's 'Gatsby' wedges are sort of similar, and they're only $75. I just bought a pair of Antonio's wedges, and they're holding up great so far.

Perhaps I will just hope the Ash ones go on sale soon though!

What to get for Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is May 9. I've already gotten my mom's gift (and I can't post it, or she'd read about it!), but I've found some other great and affordable gifts for mom that go beyond the typical flowers.
[bananarepublic.com]

I know that my mom loves cardigans (and I do too for that matter). They are so wearable, and look great day or night. I really like the 'Sweetheart Exposed Seam Cardi' from Banana Republic because it comes in so many colors. It's $69.50, and sun bleached yellow and teal glaze are on sale for $49.99. [anthropologie.com]

The 'Beribboned Buds Cardi' from Anthropologie is another fabulous pick thanks to the floral design on the shoulder. It's on sale for $49.95 from $88. Note: If they ever sell out of something online, you can always call Anthro at 1·800·309·2500, and they will ship the item for free (!) to you if they can find it in a store.
[crateandbarrel.com]

My mom also likes to get new things for her house. I've heard several moms say that they need another wedding shower since theirs were so long ago. This bright, springy pillow would be the perfect addition to an otherwise boring sofa or chair. The 18" 'Emily Pillow' is $39.95 from Crate & Barrel. They actually sell the pillow insert with the pillow cover; some stores - which shall remain nameless - aren't so generous.


Another great pick from C&B are these yellow 'Lula Vases.' Bonus points if you add a flower! They're $9.95 to $19.95.[fishseddy.com]

Fishs Eddy is the perfect store for gifts for mom. If your mom likes wine, or even if she doesn't (they make great juice glasses), these 'Floral Italian Wine Glasses' are so lovely. A set of six different glasses come in a gift box for $33.95. The glasses are $5.50 individually.
[ulta.com]

Ulta is one of my fave stores for beauty products because of their plentiful deals and coupons. You can receive a free tote worth $40 with any $30 fragrance purchase. My mom's favorite scent is Miss Dior Cherie by Dior.
[sephora.com]


Sephora's 'Color Play 5-in-1' is the deal of the century. It's $150 worth of makeup for $29.50. It comes complete with 10 eyeshadows, two lipcolors and blush. My mom would absolutely love this. Plus, the five different looks have adorbable names: Dinner in Paris-Grays and blacks, Coffee in New York-Browns, Shopping in Milan-Purples and pinks, green, Tango in Buenos Aires-Blues and greens, and Clubbing in Tokyo-Baby blues, pinks, and yellows.

Mapshade

[anthropologie.com]

I always had a map on my wall growing up, which my mom attributes to my love of traveling. That said, I was instantly smitten with this map lampshade from Anthropologie. The fact that the 'All Around the World Shade' is over half off definitely helps too. It's $69.95 from $148.

What a great find and unique piece for your house. I may just go get an inexpensive lamp from T.J. Maxx or Marshall's then spruce it up with this shade.

"Date Night"

I saw Date Night last night, and it was very cute and funny. Steve Carell and Tina Fey star as Phil and Claire Foster. Their marriage is in need of a little spicing up, so they go to a hot new NYC restaurant, Claw, and steal someone's reservation.

Little do they know, the "Tripplehorns" stole a flash drive from some scary people. They spend the entire night trying to escape two crooked cops and a mobster.
As expected, there are many hilarious scenes - especially one where their car gets stuck to a cab. The cab driver's expressions are priceless. They also enlist Mark Wahlberg's character for help, and he's shirtless the entire time making Phil extremely uncomfortable (see photo).

There were a lot of cameos, so I kept wondering who would show up next. Others included Taraji P. Henson, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Wiig, Leighton Meester, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Common, Will.i.am and Ray Liotta.

Eugenia Kim for Target

[all photos target.com]

I went over to Target today in hopes of finding the Cynthia Vincent printed wedges, but alas, they didn't have them. They're already sold out online too. The store only had these flats, which I found to be practical but a bit boring.
I did buy a Eugenia Kim hat that I love! The popular milliner's line was released yesterday. The 'Straw Fedora' with black and white trim ($16.99) is the most fabulous mint green color. It will be perfect for spring and summer. Unfortch it's sold out online. My store had plenty of them though. Another hat that I liked online and in person (until I put it on my head) was the 'Tan Fedora with Floral Appliqué' ($16.99). It was great quality, but it just did not work on my head. They didn't have the 'Straw Sunhat with Blue Trim' ($19.99) at my store, but I really want it. My biggest problem with hats on the beach is that they fly off my head when the slightest gust of wind. The pretty scarf tie would solve that problem for me.