Hothouse Florals

After the long four-day weekend, it really feels like my trip to Mexico was forever ago! It's only been about two weeks, but I'd trade a lot to be back on those gorgeous, cerulean beaches right now (especially after swimming in the cool, salty, dark green waters lining the coast of NYC over the fourth). I picked up this tropical print Zara dress one of my very first times in the store after I moved here, but had yet to find a good reason to wear it. As much as I love a good reason like a wedding to shop for something new, I knew I already had the perfect dress in my wardrobe. It was way too hot, windy and sticky to wear my hair down, so I did my best impersonation of Blake Lively hair.

Dress, Zara (similar, similar) || Clutch, Gap || Shoes, Rachel Zoe || Earrings, Bracelet, Sequin

...and, because my cousin made such a beautiful bride (& said I could share with you all!), a few photos of the wedding. I was particularly joyed to be there since I met her groom a few weeks into their relationship over four years ago. He is a wonderful, honest guy and I'm glad he's officially part of our family. 

Snapshots from Mexico

You know that feeling when you get back from vacation, where you know it wasn't all that long ago but the miles between you and that place make it feel like an untouchable memory? Yeah, I'm feeling that right now. It's only been a week since my last full day on the beach but it's kind of feeling like a dream! In an attempt to stay steeped in the memories, I'm sharing a few snaps from my week with you here (wedding pictures & a little of what I wore to follow!). 

 Wearing: Pickwick & Weller tee | Shorts | J.C. Penney Aviators | Kate Spade bag

Those last few (before the iguana!) are from the ruins of Tulum and the beautiful, rocky beach there. While it was incredibly hot and humid the day we went, I tried to enjoy it as much as I could! It's astounding to think of the civilization that called the very land you were standing on home so many thousands of years ago. Despite thousands of tourists visiting each week, the beach stays pristine and breathtaking-I can only imagine its beauty back when the Mayans used it as a trading port. I'm not really sure what was going on in the photo second from bottom, other than that a man was sitting on top of that pole playing traditional music and they slowly started to drop down as the ropes unwound.

I've got a few more photos from my trip, including a peek at the beautiful bride my cousin made, but in my heart-until next time, Mexico!

Nantucket Musts: Kelly in the City

Hello, fashionistas! My name is Kelly Larkin, and I run the New York City-based blog Kelly in the City. I've been a big fan of Blonde in the City for a while now (also love its name!), so I'm super excited and flattered to be guest blogging today. As Rose is away on vacation (so jealous!), what better to talk about than favorite getaway spots?!

My favorite vacation location is Nantucket. I'm obsessed. I've been visiting the tiny island for years, as my cousins live there during the summer. It's a beautiful, quaint little community that, in my opinion, every preppy girl should visit at least once! It's one of the only places I've ever been where it's totally acceptable--encouraged, even--to wear Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers on a daily basis. The island really has its own dress code. Wear anything bright, monogrammed or nautical-themed, and you're good to go.

Getting to Nantucket can be a little difficult, but I find that this is part of the island's allure. Think ferries and tiny prop planes. When you step off that ferry or plane, though, all the trouble seems worth it. You're greeted by stunning lighthouses, cobble stone streets, and shingled cottages and mansions.

Besides spending a ton of time on the beach, I recommend the following activities:

1. Visit Brant Point Lighthouse: It's Nantucket's most iconic. From its base, you'll have sweeping views of harbor. Gorgeous! Bring a camera.

2. Have dinner at the Jetties Restaurant: This is my favorite restaurant on the island. I might be a little biased because my cousins work there as waitresses, but seriously. Go. It offers a casual and fun atmosphere right on Jetties Beach, and it won't break the bank. You can even have drinks in the sand while you wait for your table! I can't wait for my cousins to get married because I'm sure one of them will have her reception there. It's beautiful! Amazing lobster pizza, too.

3. Go off-roading in an SUV on the beach to visit Great Point Lighthouse and see the seals: While you need a permit to do this--and you need to deflate your tires--off-roading is incredible on Nantucket. If you're renting a car, try to get a Jeep Wrangler so you can take the top down. When you get to the end of Great Point, climb the lighthouse for breathtaking views of the entire island. You'll see tons of seals, too! Great Point is their favorite hangout spot on the island. 

4. Visit Cisco Brewery: This place is so much fun. Go on a warm day, and take the dog. The outside brewery offers live music, a ton of original beers, and transportation! This can't be missed. Unless, of course, you're under 21. ;)

5. Go shopping in town: I could do this every day. ;) I love downtown Nantucket. The cobblestone streets are so cute, and the stores are brimming with preppyness. Some of my favorites are In the Pink (carries a wide assortment of Lilly Pulitzer), Skirtin' Around, C.Wonder (a popup), Vis-a-Vis, Murray's Toggery Shop, Addison Craig, Peter Beaton, The Blue Beatle, Vineyard Vines and The Black Dog. (But there are tons more!)

Anyway, at some point--visit Nantucket... and get your prep on. You won't be disappointed!

xoxo

Kelly

www.kellyinthecity.com

Seasonless Separates: Corals + Cogancs

Hi there, blog readers! Hallie from the New York-based life and style blog corals + cognacs here to share one of my favorite seasonless separates with you today.

Since it's inception (into my closet), I've become increasingly reliant on my lightweight cropped denim jacket from Joe's Jeans.

Why, you might ask? It’s classic, versatile and looks great on all body shapes and sizes. 

Just ask Jessica -- New York's unofficial resident jean jacket whore -- a denim jacket is the goes-with-anything closet staple. Jeans, skirts, dresses; to work, on vacation (lucky you, Rose!), for a night out, you name it.  Better yet, it’s machine washable!

I wear it with… A pretty pencil skirt, bright white jeans or a chic summer dress.

For deets on these looks and more, come visit me over at corals + cognacs.

Vacation Essentials: Liz of Eldy's Pocket

Hi Blonde in This City readers, Liz here from Eldy’s Pocket, so excited to be posting over here today while Rose is on vacation!

When Rose approached me about writing a travel related guest post and started with you can choose anywhere in the world, money doesn’t matter kind of dream vacation, my mind was immediately racing with thoughts of where I would go. My ideal vacation is equal parts culture and relaxation.  I’ve always wanted to explore the Mediterranean coast so after a few Google searches, I landed on the island of Ibiza, an island in the Mediterranean Sea about 80 miles from Valencia.  Even though I'm currently daydreaming about Europe, these are a few of my travel essentials for any beach vacation.

1. A couple of nips. These little guys are less than 3 oz. so you can toss one or two into your cosmetics carryon to ease in flight nerves or loosen up before landing. Try to think about what will be available to mix with like vodka with cran or Jack and Coke. 

2. Noise Canceling Headphones. A new playlist and some noise canceling or reducing headphones are an absolute must for me while traveling. There is nothing worse than a crying baby on a long flight. 

3. A travel journal or Notebook. I like to have a notebook to jot down ideas (you never know when inspiration will strike!), directions, recommendations or memories. These kate spade ones are too cute!

4. Nail Polish. Whether I get a mani before vacation starts or do it myself, I always like to pack the color I’m wearing for any mid-vacation touch ups. Chipped polish is the worst. I’m currently loving all shades of coral for summer.

5. A lightweight moisturizer with sunscreen. Perricone MD Photo Plasma is super lightweight and feels luxurious on your skin. It also creates a protective shield between your face and the sun and wind. With 30 SPF broad-spectrum protection, this is a great moisturizer for skin that’s going to be on the beach all day.

6. Kiehl’s Deeply Restorative Hair Oil. A couple days of sun, wind and salt water your hair will need a little TLC.  This hair oil helps restore shine and reduce frizz. Plus, the plastic bottle is easy to toss in your beach bag!

7. Beach tote. Call me crazy, but I rarely bring any of my favorite handbags on vacation with me. I prefer a larger, durable bag for toting through the airport. This J. Crew tote is a great, inexpensive option for both the airport and the beach.  

8. A hat. I like to throw on a hat to hide bed head for an early flight and keep the sun off my face while at the beach. Words of advice, pack a smaller hat that you could put in your carry on if you get sick of wearing it. While floppy hats are awesome for the beach, they aren't as easy to travel with.

9. A versatile cover up. Since luggage space is valuable, I like to pack items that can do double duty.  Transitional pieces like a cover up that's also suitable to wear as a dress is perfect for laying out in the morning and shopping in the afternoon.

This has been a lot of fun and I'm sure I'm not the only one who is craving a beach vacation now. What are you travel essentials? Feel free to stop by and visit Eldy's Pocket. 

Vacation Essentials: Mae Badiyan

Hey girls! Mae Badiyan here, so happy to be taking over while my favorite Blonde is living it up on vacation! One of my most favorite trips was a couple years ago to the island of Capri for my cousin's wedding. Stunningly gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe this tiny little island. Although I had visited mainland Italy several times, nothing prepared me for the beauty in this enchanting place. It feels like a small village, where everyone knows your name, yet the charm of Europe is mixed with the chill vibe only a town by the water can have. It's amazing. Besides the usual beach and vacation items, I've rounded up a couple other essentials I think you'd need for your visit to Capri. 

One of the most important is flowy white linen pants. They are cool and comfortable, and transition well from daytime wear to a nice dinner on the town. White linen is crisp and classy. I also loved wearing mine as a swimsuit cover up, perfect for going straight off the yacht to walking around town. Of course you'll need your aviators and a big floppy hat because you are in Europe after all. I kept my beauty routine very simple. Even though I went for a wedding, I literally only wore liquid bronzer and mascara the whole time. It's amazing what you can get away with when you're tan. I love the bronze shimmer of Nars Body Glow (I use it everywhere, even on my cheeks) and my absolute favorite mascara is Loreal Voluminous. You can add a swipe of rose-colored gloss for evenings out. I think a summer scarf is essential because depending on time of year, there's a cool breeze coming off the water. Plus, it makes an adorable accessory in your hair or tied on your bag. As I mentioned, you'll be doing a lot of walking. I don't really remember seeing any taxis on the island and it's so small, it's easy to walk everywhere. Make sure you've got your fancy flip flops with ya! And what trip would be complete without an iPad?! Load up a couple of your favorite books, although I have a feeling you'll want to soak up all the beauty Capri has to offer, there'll be little time to just lay. Our hotel had a gorgeous pool, so I did spend a couple afternoons catching up on my reading. 

In general, I suggest keeping your wardrobe light and simple. I took cotton, strapless tops from H&M (so I wouldn't get tan lines walking around), maxi dresses and skirts, and my white linen pants. Everything was in neutral colors with a few stripes thrown in--that meant that everything was interchangeable and I could mix and match all the pieces to get way more outfits.

Have you been to Capri? What's your favorite island to visit?

Thanks so much for having me today, Rose! 

Hope y'all stop by and say hi!

x

Vacation Essentials: Ashley of XO Smash

Hi guys! I'm Ashley and most days I'm blogging over at Smashing Style, but today I am honored to be hanging out with you. When Rose approached me about doing this I was A. super flattered and B. laughing to myself because I am out of town right now too. But, unlike Rose, I was not quite organized enough to line up guest posts. You see, I got married last Saturday (whoop whoop!) so I had a few other things going on, and as we speak I am honeymooning in the pink sands of Bermuda*. 

While I packed a lot more than this, here are nine of my favorite travel essentials. 

1. A straw hat. Listen, hats are a huge pain to travel with but wrinkles and skin cancer are even worse. And a hat is a nice way to pretend you are a celebrity in the airport, and maintain your precious skin once you arrive at your destination. 

2 + 8. I don't know why I put these so far apart, but headphones and a headphone splitter are two staples in my travel bag. My husband (eek!) and I like to watch movies on the plane and this Belkin headphone splitter allows us to play nicely together. These Frends headphones are on my wish list because I think they are cute and would make me look more musically savvy than I actually am...a.k.a I still really like "Call Me Maybe". 

3. The most adorable cover-up that can go from the beach, to lunch, to the airplane with leggings. I mean, you're not actually a celebrity, you can wear leggings if you want. I won't tell. 

4. A cute scarf. Blanket, head scarf, evening wrap, bag accoutrement...the possibilities are endless. 

5. Mix and match bikinis from Target. Because Target is the best and everybody needs to pick what works for their body. I like a bandeau and a bottom with side ties, you might like a halter with a belted bottom, Target understands our needs and meets them at a reasonable price.

6. A cute clutch that can double as your e-reader holder. I am a big vacation reader and this bag would be great for going out at night and protecting my Kindle during the day. Believe it or not I still have the original Kindle and I'm really annoying about protecting it since I'm pretty sure the Smithsonian is going to want it next year. It has to be one of the only ones left. 

7. The Deux Lux weekender. I am the queen of bags, and the Deux Lux weekenders are by far my favorite duffle. They are sneaky big and the pop of sparkle is just outrageous enough to be fun.  

9. Belle by Sigerson Morrison sandals. I am absolutely obsessed with Belle by Sigerson and all of their shoes. These are just a notch cooler than a basic sandal, and they come in three amazing colors. They are well-made, stylish and super comfortable (plus these are on sale!). 

Well guys, it's been a pleasure hanging out with you today. Come visit me at Smashing Style and have an amazing day! 

xo

smash

*I'll let you know if they're actually pink. 

*beach image via

To Do: Live a Little

It's hard to believe in less than 24 hours, I will be on my way to Mexico. Until now, I've only left the country once, in college on a study abroad to Italy for a few weeks. I also haven't had a "real" vacation in over two years as all of my trips since moving to NYC have either been back home, or down to DC for a few days to visit my brother (and honestly, I really don't think that counts as a real vacation). 

This time, though, I get a full WEEK on the beautiful beaches near Playa Del Carmen with loads of sunshine & sand, culminating in seeing my beautiful cousin and lifelong friend marry a wonderful man. 

While I'm looking forward to trading the computer screen, work and technology for coastline, friends and family, I'm not leaving you completely alone while I'm gone! Since I'll be heading to the airport at about 4 a.m., some good friends & fellow bloggers graciously agreed to step in for me while I'm out. Make sure you stop by each day to hear about their dream vacation & packing essentials (& trust me, there's some really good stuff in there. I'm already wishing I could take half their selections with me on this trip!). You might get a little peep from me over the weekend, but in the meantime you can follow along with me in real time on Twitter and Instagram.

*image via

Mexico Dreaming

I made myself a big, long fat to-do list of everything I wanted to accomplish this weekend on Friday before I left work. Naturally, I'm only going to be able to check off a couple of things, but a big one was booking my trip to Mexico for my cousin's wedding this summer! The trip might still be a full four months away, but that doesn't mean I can't daydream about what I want to pack now that I'm officially booked.

Beach vacations make me think of oversize sunnies, bright colors, fun prints, breezy fabrics & LOTS of sunscreen (the Shiseido one above is my go-to). The only makeup you need is a bright colored lip & you can top everything off with sunglasses and a floppy hat. If you're a hat person, that is. I look ridiculous in them.

Stella McCartney Square-Frame Sunglasses | YSL Volupté Sheer Candy in Pomegranate

Norma Kamali Ruched Bikini Top & Bottom | Joie Rubina Top | Just Cavalli Printed Shorts

Etro Printed Beach Dress | MICHAEL Michael Kors Tote | Rachel Roy Pleated Dress

Jeffrey Campbell Skull Studded Sandals | Tibi Daisies Dress | Shiseido SPF 50+ for Face

Tibi Linen Pant | Vince Camuto Nedra Sandal | Clover Canyon Drawstring Pant

I've been crushing hardcore on those Vince Camuto Sandals since a friend tipped me off to them. They're high on my shopping list for the spring & summer!

xx