Flights of wine, flirty cocktails, tapas, obanzai, and “small plates” of all kinds… summer is the perfect time for frivolity and variety, don’t you think? For me that includes indulging in playful accessories. Why I don’t know, but these sultry days, those modeled out of sewing materials—aka notions—are the ones catching my eye:
I first spotted vintage zipper earrings on a sales associate at Park Slope’s high design haven Matter, and it took me no time at all to track down my own pair on eBay (check these out).
A hipster behind the counter at a Brooklyn design shop is predictable source material, but my next sighting was from a less likely provenance. Look what I spotted amidst the many photos in OK! Magazine:
It’s an otherwise awful tank, but the exposed zipper bow is pretty amazing, isn’t it? Summer’s also a time for creativity, so watch out, Project Runway: I’m off to Steinlauf & Stoller to pick up the materials to craft my own.
navy crazy
“Does this come in navy?”
Be it a cotton crewneck or a satin cocktail dress, these days, I really just want it in navy. It’s inherently sophisticated yet so open to interpretation—a ready canvas for playful bright or white accessories, or a bit of metallic flash. And yes, friends, you can even wear it with black (think navy silk mini dress and black patent slingback flats: gorgeous!). There’s a lot of navy out there right now, confirming that this color isn’t just classic but oh so contemporary.
Now I like navy all ways, but I do have an extra-soft spot for navy silk, or—my eyes alight—navy silk ruffles:
How sweet is this top by Alisha Levine, pic lifted from (and shirt available on) shopbop?
Yes, dear friends, it’s the little things in life that can truly delight, and I cannot help but smile when I look down at my navy toenails:
Unlike black ones, they don’t look in any way grimy, but the dark shade is still irreverent. They’re kinda preppy-punk, like skull-embroidered chinos, but way cooler, wouldn’t you say? And—sorry to state the obvious—they look great with gold.
One more thing: navy saves. Have an item of clothing that you just adore but is stained beyond wearability? Few domestic tasks are more amusing—and rewarding—than hand-dyeing. Navy’s a dark old shade, and it can render that pit-stained top wearable once more.
(I myself turn to Tintex for all my dyeing needs.)