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Moving across the country is not conducive to blogging.  Here’s a mid-week “Music Monday” to really kick off the summer: Circa Waves’s “T-Shirt Weather”.  It’s the perfect summer song:

So we talk till we're sick/ 17 went far too quick/ And when my mind plays tricks/ I have to go.... I remember T-shirt weather/ I remember some days/ We were singing our lungs out/ in the backseat together/ And the seatbelts were burning our fingers/ In the T-shirt weather/ I remember sleeping till the early afternoon....

Circa Waves’s playful sound is reminiscent of surfer music without being kitschy and the tune is catchy without being saccharine or cliched. Because that summer between high school and college, whether you were 17 or 18, really went far too quick. And in the haziness of longing for lost youth, especially in the summer, for me anyway, those memories can be morphed into something better than reality but still yearned for - IN

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A long delayed Music Monday post...

In honour of last week’s SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage, this week’s pick for Music Monday is Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” (2012).  This is one of the best songs that’s been released in the last 5 years. 

Ocean made headlines three years ago when his liner notes, recalling a love affair, revealed that he is gay.  For me, the genius of “Thinkin’ Bout You” isn’t political: it’s about the intensity of first love and its requisite heartbreak and disappointment.  Whether he is singing about a man or a woman isn’t relevant: 

You know you were my first time/ A new feel/ It won't ever get old, not in my soul,/ Not in my spirit, keep it alive/ We'll go down this road/ 'Til it turns from color to black and white/

Or do you not think so far ahead?/ 'Cause I've been thinkin' 'bout forever....

This is not a song about happy endings which makes it truthful.  This is pure R&B - an aching falsetto, a steady and sexy tempo, and intimate lyrics. Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” is about a secret and deeply personal love but the song and its lyrics are about our greater shared experience of first love, longing, and heartache - IN

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Another Fendi Friday here. This is Binx Walton modeling the Fendi Resort 2015 collection. As mentioned last week, I've been enamored again with Fendi. Although I don't spend my time living in fabulous vacation spots with little weather changes, I've always loved resort collections. I think they are designed with, of course, leisure in mind, but also versatility and wearability. Orchids are one of my favorite flowers and the use of orchids in this collection is amazing. The pink evening gown with the photographic print and the gorgeous orchids pinned onto the tops are divine. It is used in a way that doesn't bring to mind the over-the-top SATC flower pins of 2008 or in an overly formal/sweet manner. And the accessories are totally wearable. Hope these photos inspire you to have a fabulous weekend. Happy Fendi Friday! - IN

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A little late but here’s this week’s “Music Monday” pick: Ella Fitzgerald’s version of the Gershwins’ “Someone to Watch Over Me”.  

This song is heartbreakingly beautiful.  I never turn to this song in cooler weather but there’s something about hot and muggy weather that makes me to turn to this.  

There are many versions of this song but I love this version and Rachael MacFarlane’s (sister of Seth, yes) version best.  One of the most famous versions is from the film, Mr. Holland’s Opus.  The song itself is so melodramatic that I prefer the simpler, hardier, and grittier versions of it.  Anything else sounds over-the-top and whinny.  This is also one of those songs whose lyrics are unabashedly honest: 

He’s the big affair I cannot forget/ Only man I ever think of with regret/ I’d like to add his initial to my monogram/ Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There's a somebody I’m longing to see I hope that he turns out to be Someone who’ll watch over me....

Can you imagine anyone actually saying these words to another person? I think that’s what makes this song so amazing: it is that combination of raw emotion against a tight arrangement.  

So, for Music Monday, seek and ye shall find...

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Before you judge me on today’s choice for Music Monday, let me remind you of its sartorial merits.  There are a lot of male-gazing/gratuitous shots of her well-toned physique so you’ll have to look past that and focus. 

So, as someone whose personal style veers closer to classic/chic European-wannabe (did I just coin a new term?), swimwear and maxi dresses have always posed a huge problem for me.  My idea of swimwear is either a speedo for swimming lengths at the pool or a patterned (floral or stripes) one-piece suit. Like I said before, classic or chic European.  Before this video, I thought of swim cover-ups as either a man’s button-down shirt or cut-off shorts. Anything else I considered too “Miami” for my tastes - I will leave the meaning of that for you to interpret.  

I will credit the stylist for picking outfits that I think someone like Nicole would wear were she gallivanting on a giant yacht.  The lingerie, paired with a cream cardigan, is actually very pretty.  Her medallion necklace with her white bandeau bikini is genius styling - I never understood how to accessorize a bikini (except maybe Kate Moss in a one-piece, layered with Chanel necklaces) but the gold medallion against bare skin is perfect.  Her blue and green maxi dress says “Mediterranean” not “Miami”.  The hardware is all in her bikinis and the sparse accessorizing works - the 3 simple bangles highlight her tan, and the gold medallion makes her chest looks less “naked”.  

Besides, if the Duchess of Cambridge pulls off a similar look (with giant yacht and all), I think this video is on the right track.  Personally, this video has inspired me to move beyond 50s one-piece swimwear. 

So, whether you need to watch this video on mute, appreciate swimwear/beachwear at its best - IN

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Maybe I should hashtag this Fendi Friday?

*clockwise from top left: Fendi 2jours Petit Satchel, Fendi Peekaboo, Fendi “By the Way” Bag, and the Fendi 2jours Degrade Tote.  

When I first started looking at designer handbags, Fendi was synonymous with the baguette bag and its double-F logo in the hardware and all over the bag itself. And there was the influence of Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones' hilarious pursuit of a fake Fendi in LA. 

And then, I saw Fendi’s Spring/Summer 2006 collection.  It is arguably one of the best spring/summer collections in recent memory.  This was when we were introduced to the Fendi belt buckle motif that started (as you may guess) at the waist and in their handbags. 

Since then, the fashion house has definitely done some amazing things with its accessories line. The flashy logos are gone and in its place, a bevy of interesting designs have surfaced.

When I was in Rome in March, I’d walk by the Fendi store almost every night and see the playful and fun “By the Way” bags in the window.  I had seen people carrying the “2jours” and “3jours” bags but, oh with the power of visual merchandising, I fell in love with all their handbags.  Since returning stateside, I’ve been stalking shopping websites for Fendi handbags.  I am currently obsessed with the two bags on the left : the orchids on the 2jours and the brown “by the way”.  They are currently both discounted and my willpower is being tested in the worst possible way.  

So, which would you choose of the four fabulous bags above? Or, is there another Fendi purese you’d rather carry? - IN

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For Music Monday, I am evoking an old classic: the late great Ben Webster with Oscar Peterson performing "That's All". It is one of my favourite standards and a very romantic one at that. This version is purely instrumental but among my favourite versions include Frank Sinatra and Joanna Wang (who really should be more famous). 

Most pop songs seem to evoke the glamour and power of the high life and, with the exception of the Backstreet Boys’ “All I Have to Give”, I haven’t heard a pop song about what it means when you all have is love.  Almost every great singer has done a cover of this song: most of you will remember this song as the one Adam Sandler performs for a bar mitzvah at the beginning of The Wedding Singer. 

So, other songs

“....are those I am sure who have told you,/

They would give you the world for a toy,/

All I have are these arms to enfold you,/

And a love time can never destroy.”

For Music Monday, that’s all - IN

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I may be eating my words later, but I am not crazy about this trend.  

1) Unless you are shaped like the muse-worthy Alexa Chung, the ribbed t-shirt is a bad idea. Maybe in 2015, they’ve cut the shirts in a way that is slim-fitting but in my experience....

which brings me to reason #2 - The ribbed t-shirt brings me back to junior high, circa late 90s/early 00s.  It was during this period that I went from viewing fashion as “costume” to fashion with a capital “F”, courtesy of Vogue and Japanese style magazines like NON-NO, JJ and Classy.  The ribbed t-shirt, at the time, fell into that category of fashion that I hated - a category that was marketed for teens hoping to catch the eye of that cute boy in class. Or, it was mass-produced in unflattering shapes at places like Reitmans and Dynamite for older women.  Thus, the ribbed tee is a pretty loaded item in my consciousness.  

Considering how affordable this tee is going to be and how it is a staple item, I doubt this trend is going away.  That said, get one without a breast pocket in a plain colour.  If you style it with skinny ripped jeans or skinny boyfriend jeans (yes, there is such a thing) for a west coast blogger look or with dark flares like the photo above for a new 70s look (vs the 90s version), I think it could work. The perk of a ribbed tee is how comfortable they are.  

For now though, I will have to stick with my regular tees - IN

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Happy June!

To kick off this month, I’m going back a decade to one of my favourite music videos, Gwen Stefani’s “Cool”.  Beyond being a great song, the fashion in this video is amazing.  We first meet Stefani in the stunning Villa Erba in Lake Como, where she opens the door in the ultimate mix of leopard print with a red ombre patterned skirt.  What stops her from looking crazy is the almost conservative/office silhouette of this outfit.  She’s in a cardigan and pencil skirt and nude pumps.  Outfit #1 is mixing prints at its glamorous best. 

And let’s talk about all the “vintage” looks in the flashback scenes: the 50s silhouettes are a voluminous and playful contrast to the slick and sophisticated outfit of Stefani in her villa.  The girlish prints (polka dots and stripes and primary colors) with the voluminous skirts and the chunky wedges give an innocent feel that is perfect for describing her first love. And the best season for that is definitely summer. This is such a perfect example in using fashion for storytelling. Happy Music Monday! - IN

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I am a bit late to watching The September Issue but this is, by far, my favourite moment of the documentary.  As the title indicates, it is literally Grace Coddington at Versailles, looking out into the gardens.  I love how frank she is about how she feels left behind by fashion even though she is one of its core tastemakers. A poignant and beautiful moment - IN

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I ❤️ NY. And this photo of my favorite building lit up in the summer dusk is so magical. You can almost feel the breeze coming off the water, mingling with the warmth of the air - IN

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For Music Monday, I propose an old classic done in a newer tone: "I Wish You Love" performed by the fabulous Rachael Yamagata. I first heard her version of "I Wish You Love" at the end of movie, "Prime." The movie was not quite what I was expecting but this song stuck in my head. I've been in and out of New York the last few days, saying hello and goodbye to friends, and generally feeling too many emotions. What these emotions are, I cannot begin to articulate. Never mind, that I'm reading Joan Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" and feeling nostalgic all over again. "I Wish You love" was always the song you hope you could dedicate to that ex-lover but, in most cases, an angry song usually feels more apt. But, in a more gracious mood, you wish you could say : My breaking heart and I agree/ That you and I could never be/ And with my best, my very best/ I set you free... So, darlings, as it is the unofficial start of summer, and to all the adventures and loves and beauty of this season, I wish you love - IN

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Happy Monday!

It is the Monday post-graduation festivities for T and, from what I gather, the last graduation either of us will be a part of. For Music Monday, I thought I’d post my favourite song, Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. There are at least 4 covers of this song that I am aware of: Sixpence None the Richer (my favourite cover), Howie Day, Glee, and most recently, a duet cover between Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande. 

For post-graduation, this song is probably the musical equivalent of the late David Foster Wallace’s “This Is Water” commencement speech at Kenyon College, about how to be an adult and survive the daily grind.  It is a beautiful speech that is unfailingly truthful and poignant because it is NOT about following your dreams and changing the world.  It is, in fact, about what reality will look like and how to move forward.

So, for all you grads out there, here’s a song for you and in the words of David Foster Wallace, “I wish you way more than luck”- IN

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Now this, is what I call a bubbly bath - IN

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“Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.” —Dr. Seuss #nyc

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I am one of the oddball fans who discovered the BBC hit, Sherlock, because I started watching the CBS show, Elementary. elementary is much more along the lines of your typical police procedural show on cable. Elementary's saving grace is its cast with Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. The guest stars are fabulous with *SPOILER ALERT* Natalie Dormer as Irene Adler/Moriarty. Whenever she was on the show, she was so captivating and yes yes, I know she's much more famous for some little show called Game of Thrones. But anyway, this is a beautiful photo of the scene where we are first introduced to her, as Irene - IN

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I don't really listen to this kind of music. To be honest, I have very pedestrian taste in music so this is a little bit of departure for me. I heard this song on This American Life after an especially poignant story about a teenager at the crossroads of her life, literally, at a train station. Anyway, it's very hot and every summer, I feel a great deal of wanderlust. Rilo Kiley's "With Arms Outstretched" is the perfect song for leaving town. Enjoy - IN