the world according to sherimaven

Good afternoon, Wednesday. Today is the last day of my shoot and all is well...it's been a wacky few weeks but all is well and the shoot is going swimmingly.  I was going to post something today about work and stress and love and hope and sex and dreams but decided to favor something a bit more simple- in the midst of all this chaos I've encountered of late I'm craving a good nod off into daydream land and thinking of a place like Mexico, and the amazing designers/amazing retail outpost/gypset extraordinaire brand Les Gazelles had me at hello, gorgeous when I first read about them in Gypset Style.

Based in Mexico, these boho sisters have immaculate high end hippie taste, and I am completely obsessed with their whole canon of coolness. If I had my way, instead of sitting here in a dark and undisclosed location, I'd be hanging on the beach in some place like Meheeco, lazing about in one of these amazing bell sleeved dresses. Or, maybe I just need to purchase one of these and hang it on my wall, as a work of art and something pretty to gaze at when the going gets tough. Sometimes looking at something pretty will do the trick- and even though my eyes are tired from lack of sleep, I can still appreciate the loveliness of this piece. Sigh...

And that's what's up this hot as heck last day of production deep in the heart of Brooklyn- all the love and pretty pictures and dresses and places you and I can conjure, XO

Check out their amazing site of all things fab like leather corded black pearl necklaces and more handmade goodness...and if you are ever in Sayulita, Mexico, go check out their incredible store, photos after the link:

http://www.lesgazelles.com/

Good morning, friends. It's Monday and I have a preproduction meeting and then a two day shoot here in the city and then, THEN, I am free. I can't wait till this is over, and as I got to the office early today after taking myself to a lovely breakfast at Balthazar, I realized that at some point in one's work life, (actually many points) you are humbled by the fact that despite the chaos, angst, and insanity there is indeed a power higher than oneself that will somehow make this all ok. I'm not a religious person, so it's not necessarily the big guy/girl upstairs I'm referencing- it's more that the universe has bigger plans and photo shoots are a mere drip of what's intended for us all, and somehow I seek solace in that. So with that, I'm off to make copies and have a meeting, and although advertising is anything by spiritual, I've managed to find something in it to take with me- that in those stressful moments and days and sleepless nights, there's only so much you can control- and though you may agonize over budgets and talent and people that are getting in your way, realizing you can get through it by aligning yourself with the bigger picture is the only way to go. I hope your Monday is going well so far- it's a gorgeous day in New York and I am at one with it all, because some stuff is just beyond my control, and I'm way cool with that. It's not about giving up, it's more about giving in- I often rattle myself in my quest for perfection and making it all work, and somehow it always does, in one way or another, so why not just be cool? And that's what's up this faith filled Monday in the lovely island of Manhattan. All the love and home stretch...XO

Good morning, Friday. It's a beautiful day in the best city in the world and though I am still pretty knackered from this sickness (coughing fit on a conference call, not cute), I sense I'm on the mend and need one or two more solid nights of zzz's to kick this thing. But as I sit here closing in on the end of a major project and the light is appearing at the end of the very long tunnel, I can't help but want to write about something I could talk about forever, and with a great deal of ease. It's my passion point, my life force, my geographic soul mate. It's New York City, baby, and if you have been a reader of this blog (merci beaucoup) you know how much I love my new/old hometown. So since everything has been a bit of a bear this week, I give you Five for Friday: The New York City edition, because everything else this week has been too damn hard. So without further prose, here's Five For Friday in the 212:

The buzziness of Balthazar Bakery in the morning- One of the best things about this current project has been working in Soho, my old neighborhood and still one of my favorite places in New York despite the tourists and domination of chain stores. I love the architecture here, the stylishness, the feel of being in a fashionable little womb. But another thing that makes Soho so incredible is its landmark meet up spot, Balthazar. A gem in the Keith McNally crown, Balthazar is a classic you simply can't fuck with- they make the best dirty martini around (ice cold and amazing) and their food is always reliably delicious. But the little bakery next store is the true gem for me- in the morning, white hatted and coated counter staff whips up Stumptown lattes and serves up some of the best pastries around. Packed with people in that little space, it makes waking up in New York worth it, as if waking up in New York was not worth it enough...

The Brooklyn Bridge- OK, I know this is cheesy because who doesn't love the BB? But when I'm feeling particularly indulgent, I will often take a car service into the city and forego the subway just to ride over the Bridge and watch the city and downtown Manhattan unfold before my eyes. It's so damn beautiful it makes my soul hurt, and though many of you may feel that way about being out in the woods or climbing mountains, I'll take a bridge view any day- there's nothing better than seeing the island of Manhattan in all her glory. Full stop.

The fashion- I feel that from living in Miami for 7 loooong years, I've been a bit fashion deprived, or shall I say, depraved. Many consider Miami to be a very chic town, but I beg to differ. It's simply not my kind of style, at all. Now New York on the other hand, NEW YORK. Every day I walk down the street and feel inspired by the beautiful people, their innate and incredible style, and the joy they take in bringin' it each and every day. And it's not about fussy fashion or complicated silhouettes- it's all about urban gear that goes from day to night and is cooler than cool (though I do appreciate the social media girl's endless array of Marni and Alaia in the office I am sitting in- no idea how she does that, but hats off). For me, to be inspired by what I see on the street is more important to me than most, and New York is the greatest city in the world for people and style watching, of this I am certain. I am well kept on my toes in this town when it comes to seeing all there is to see in terms of fashion's best and brightest, and my toes and the rest of me is thankful to live in such a stylish place (though my bank account would say otherwise). Living in New York City is like living in the coolest Tumblr around- constant stuff to look at that's cool and amazing and on another level when it comes to inspiration.

The sarcasm- This goes without saying- my edgy brassiness sometimes does not read well in other places. In New York, I can be as caustic as I want to be and nobody cares. It's a constant riff and banter and zinger in this town and I love every minute of that, thus rendering me ill suited to live in more PC places like the west coast- a good one liner is good for my soul, this much is true. Sarcasm is New York's indigenous language, and it's the verbal currency in which we all trade. G-d bless.

The feeling that anything can happen - For a minute there in Miami, I reveled in the fact that most days were pretty similar in tone- get up, go to the gym, work, eat dinner, watch TV, sleep. Sure anything is possible anywhere at any time, but there's something about NYC and its bubbling cauldron of things to do and opportunities to meet people that could very well change your life is different than other places. New York's constant ticking energy rocks and shakes all of us who live here and you simply have to go with it- you may be walking home from work and find a gallery showing the work of your favorite artist, or you may find someplace that has the best dried mango you've ever had in your life. Because the set of New York is anything but finite, anything is possible, and who wouldn't want that? 

I could go on forever, but as I rallied to get ready for work these past few intense weeks, I figuratively pinched myself every day, because I am back and I am happy and I am full on in love with New York, even though some days it totally gets on my nerves. But all love is like that, and I'm willing to put up with the madness because there's simply no place like home, and I look forward to weekend road trips, lobster rolls, and many adventures this summer- hope you are enjoying your favorite places this weekend- lively up yourself and enjoy. Cause that's what's up this I can't believe I'm back in this cuckoo crazy beautiful mess of a city. I love you New York and always will- and all the love to you all for a wonderful weekend. I'm looking forward to chilling out in my little piece of paradise in Brooklyn and hanging in the yard with my lovely little pup and the man of my dreams, in the city of my dreams. There is no other place that makes me thank my lucky stars they way New York does. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. The office i'm in is playing "Ruby Tuesday" so they're a day behind, but I feel like I am a day or two ahead. I've been sick since the weekend and my voice sounds like Harvey Fierstein being choked to death, and my cough is deep and chest heavy and altogether messy. But I can't stop what I'm doing because duty calls (ain't it a bitch) and I'm deep in the bowels of my very own Private Idaho of production hell. As I struggled to get dressed this morning and doubled up on the concealer, I felt scrambled and tired and desperate to be done with this shoot, which I'm sure will be fabulous but right now is kicking my ass beyond belief.

I made it into the city and popped by Dean & Deluca, and there she was- SJP, aka Carrie Bradshaw in huge black shades sampling peaches while the rest of us plebes shuffled along to get our morning lattes and get to work. I'm sure like me you've wondered what it would be like to be someone like Sarah Jessica- skinny, rich, all the top designer clothes and shoes you could ever want, adorable children, possibly gay husband,  rich (did I say rich?).  Well guess what? This morning as the soupy weather enveloped the city while I stood in line for my overpriced coffee, I no longer felt envious. Because when I'm feeling blue or pissed off or stressed, I don't have to worry about everyone and their mother staring at me as I select produce. And like many females who spent their 20s and 30s in Manhattan, I've often very much related to Carrie, (the character she played and who will always precede her), or at least wanted her life- the column, the shoes, the couture, the rye take on relationships and life. But as I watched Ms. Parker be gawked at like a zoo animal by a sea of tourists (the types who very much take pictures in front of Magnolia Bakery because of its appearance in the show in which she starred), she just seemed so normal and so very small, and I had no idea how she could stand being looked at in that way, even though she just wanted to keep a low profile in her jeans, tee shirt, and enormous grandpa sweater and taste the peaches.

And I suppose that's my point- we all pay a price to taste the peaches. For me, if I want to keep buying shit at Dean and Deluca, I have to go to work- I have to gussy up, play the game, and play the part. For a mega celebrity like Sarah Jessica Parker, she too pays a price for playing such famous parts- she's stared at and scrutinized and all she wants to do is do something normal and wear clothes and glasses that don't get her noticed- maybe she even envies a poor ad trogladyte like me, who although can't afford to be sick and stresses over what to wear, I at least get to get my morning coffee and fruit in peace. Who knows- with everything comes a price, but I know one thing- whether you're a superstar or a working stiff, you still have to stop and taste those peaches. Otherwise, what's the point? I still would take Ms. Parker's shoe collection- peaceful produce shopping or not. Keep calm and Carrie on indeed.

And that's what's up this star spotted and yummy Wednesday in the 212. XO

Good morning, Monday. I started feeling really shite on Friday and weekend had me feeling worse- today is just plain awful and I'm officially sick in bed. Needless to say, this does not bode well with the insane amount of work I have this week, so feeling daunted and freaked and helpless against this Summer scourge that has me in its clutches and is not quite ready to let go. A bad cough, terrible sore throat, body aches, and cold. Yuck.

And since I haven't posted in over a week, I'm feeling disappointed in myself for not doing so- I promised myself to not ever let this blog falter, and have prided myself with regular postings for the time I've been writing here. Last week was a complete wash- I'm in the middle of a production (freelance) that is beyond intense and I'm feeling like it's pretty much the reason I got sick too. This is really the first chance I've had to post, and since I had a few posts prepared but my loaner computer was overtyping them all and erasing them, 'twas not a good week last week. At all.

As I watched the Diamond Jubilee, ignored my workouts, ate very little, and stressed very much, feelings of wanderlust came creeping in, and then straight up took over. It's the provenance of a privileged few to moan about needing a vacation, but if I may moan for a minute or two- I NEED ONE OF THOSE. A vacation I mean. And lately, I've had Paris on the brain. I'm so in the mood for that city these days- strolling the old streets, browsing the amazing flea markets, drinking and eating and savoring and shopping and seeing and being. I'm tired and need a recharge and to be surrounded by beauty and aged buildings and pastries. Uh huh. Marie Antoinette fantasies. I know. And we all know what happened to her...

The other side of the map has me wanting to take some time out East, at one of my beloved beaches like Montauk or the Cape. I'd hang out and eat lobster rolls, read classic novels, get a tan, and sleep late. David and I would pack up the dog, enjoy the warm sunshine, and breathe in the sea air.  And then of course there's my continued obsession with packing my bags for somewhere non Western- to be humbled, inspired, and blown away by the sensory overload that comes with being somewhere very, very far from home.

It matters not where we go actually- I just need to finish up this project and take some time off. It's tough to find balance as a freelancer sometimes- there's guilt involved with taking time off as it's often quite difficult to say no when opportunities come up. I've enjoyed working on all of these things, but now I'm ready to set a course for something different- some much needed time off to help get the balance right. And with that, I'm off- working from my darkened bedroom with Khan by my side, who is rolled in his doughnut shape and going to take care of me today as I attempt to get healthy again.

That's all I've got today. I hope all of you are fortunate enough to take a bit of time this summer and reset the compass. It feels like a luxury, but a much needed one. Cause that's what's up this wanting to be elsewhere and filled with wanderlust type of Monday in Brooklyn. All the love, I've missed you all. XO

Good morning, Friday. It's a glorious day in New York City- the kind of day that makes you thank your lucky stars that you get to live in such an amazing bubbling cauldron of energy. Or that's just me...if you're fortunate enough to be here today, it's truly spectacular.

It's been a weird week for news- I'm sure I'm not the only one obsessed with zombie attacks, and I know I'm not the only one more than intrigued by Mayor Bloomberg's FATwa on sugary beverages that are bigger than 16 ounces. A friend of mine wrote a great blog post yesterday about how all of this zombie talk and face eating shows how much we are all trying to regain control (http://chaunceyzalkin.tumblr.com/post/24145404005/miamicannibal), and Bloomberg's ban on big gulp sized bevvies is proof positive that somebody's trying to be in charge of our out of control habits that lead to big time illness. I'm not one for such restrictions myself- I'm a grown up and if I want a big drink, so be it. I appreciate the intention, but not sure how I feel about my mayor telling me how much I can drink, smoke, or anything else. But there are some things I would ban if I was in charge, so thought it would be fun to write a fiver that speaks to some things I think should be outlawed, and I'm sure you have a few of your own, but here goes:

The Kardashians- can we ban these awful people already? Or at least ban them from making any more money or achieving any more fame? I'm so bloody sick of these tacky, nouveau gross individuals. Go away and stay away- pretty sure this won't happen though, and if the zombie apocalypse is indeed upon us, you can rest assured that these horrid individuals will be the last ones standing. Cockroaches and Kardashians...

Short or rolled up pants on men- People of Earth- what the hell is up with this? Everywhere I go, I see men in rolled up, prissy pants. I don't like this look- short mans on men, eww. Just wear shorts. Or pants. Do not try and combine the two. It sucks. There are of course, a few exceptions of note- if you are one of the lucky gents that can pull off a nerdy Thom Browne suited silhouette, jaunty and dandified hats off to you. Most of you can't, so stop trying.

The whole 1890s thing- Yes, I want a ban on moustachios, speakeasies, and suspender clad individuals serving meat. I fear if this keeps up, I'll be expected to churn butter and I'm not down with that. Can we fast forward to now please? You can still drink things that are bourbon infused and devour your thickly cut slabs of bacon, but can we stop with this musty, sawdust ridden retro thing? I'm tired of it. Maybe just fast foward to the 1920s? Was a cooler time and pretty sure people smelled better then.

Double strollers in Trader Joes at rush hour- Please. Please ban this. It's inevitable that as I get home from wherever I am and need to pop into Trader Joe's for whatever, there's about sixteen post IVF's in yoga pants buying frozen shelled edamame with a double or triple stroller in tow, thus rendering it impossible to get by for those of us who have no choice to shop but during rush hour, the most harrowing time of day in stores such as TJ's. Can we have kiddie hours or something? I can't bear it, in particular the entitled look I get from the moms, who somehow feel a double wide load is acceptable at the busiest time of the day. Ugh.

People that tie their dogs to the outside of Starbucks or anywhere else- This is a big one for me- I HATE when people do this- there's no way I'd tie up my little munchface for anyone to take him while I pay for my overpriced latte or some such. Why on Earth do people do this? Drives me crazy for real. It's almost ok if it's a big dog that can scare off a would be dog thief, but anyone who leaves a little guy or girl unattended should be banned from owning a dog, and that's that. Always makes me so sad.

There are of course a million other things that deserve an embargo, but that's all I've got for now, cause that's what's up this giving the gas face to anything that really sucks kind of Friday. Hey C train, step up your game. Your several moments of stopping in the tunnel during yesterday's evening rush may have me quitting you in no time. All the love and happy weekend. XO

Good evening, friends...yea, I know- a night post and two in one day. Crazy, right? I've succumbed to the fact that this week is not one for the gym- sometimes I go through phases where I just can't deal with it and this is such a week, so tonight finds me cruising around and catching up on the news and all of my favorite sites I'm too busy to look at in the daytime these days.

I came across a great piece on style.com, one of my very favorite sources for big fashion news. I devoured an article about Comme Des Garcons, whose designer Rei Kawakubo will receive the International Award from the CFDA next week, a great honor indeed. In this age of self curation/masturbation, there are many out there that feel they understand fashion, because they pin a picture of some fashion icon or put together a look for summer weekends on Polyvore. To all of you out there that think you understand fashion, it may very well be that you have no idea. Because until you study and fully comprehend the tremendous genius of Comme Des Garcons, you're merely living in the fashion equivalent of Anchorage, who was just voted the least fashionable city in America according to Travel & Leisure.

And I'm not at all pretending that I've had many Comme Des Garcons moments in my life- mostly because I can't afford to. But the reality of Rei's clothes are that they are huge risks, and wearing many of her pieces throughout the years are not for the timid, those that say things like "my style is classic with a twist", or those that stick to a basic black wardrobe of adult Garanimals (guilty as charged on that last one).

I remember very clearly as a teenager looking at photos in Vogue of the new look in fashion, which consisted of high concept clothes from Japan- it was Comme Des Garcons, Issey Miyake, and Yohji Yamamoto (still my fav of the trio) that made all of us dizzy and completely changed how many of us saw fashion. And I will never forget that my insanely fashion forward grandmother rocked an Issey Miyake dress to my bat mitzvah- it was grey and was paneled in the front and beyond fabulous- she wore it with an outsized antique cameo and bless her heart if she did not look completely ahead of her time. I think that whole era changed my life, and my take on what it meant to be fashionable. I also clearly remember being the proud owner of a chartreuse pleated heavy silk Comme Des scarf, which I wore in tenth grade as others wore acid washed jeans and oversized sweatshirts. I wore this scarf with my vintage black biker jacket and enormous hoop earrings- was fabulous then and wish I still had that lovely scarf. It was as close to Comme Des as I could get back then, and when I first checked out CDG's designs in the early 80s- the look was all black, deconstructed, and in charming disarray. I was instantly in love.

In recent years, I've had a real passion for all of the Comme Des Garcons fragrances- the Number 2 Man scent is a guaranteed panty dropper if you ask me- any dude who wears this is going to smell amazing- notes of vetiver, white smoke, and incense make this fragrance scented with virility. I love love love this scent for the boys.

But back to the most importan thing about Rei and Comme Des Garcons- the clothes. Oh, those clothes. These are pieces for people with indelible confidence, who can make the wildest shit look absolutely graceful, and whose presence is meant to be felt, in seismic ways. These are clothes for innovators, visionaries, creative wunderkinds. The shapes are transcendent, the silhouettes architectural works of art, and the riot of cut and color and pattern are for those that like to be seen, and heard, and everything in between. Sure they have largely departed from the murky numbers of my youth, but their brilliance has only grown larger, their independence completely over the top. How could you not love a collection entitled "Lumps and Bumps" which was just that- a collection of looks in 1997 that turned fashion on its slim little ear- these clothes were a revelation, a call to arms for us to rethink the way we saw a woman's shape and played with us in terms of what it meant to be a "perfect" size.  Not for the faint of fashion I know, but amazing nonetheless.

Regardless of whether I will be going full Comme Des or not in my life, my respect for Ms. Kawakubo knows no bounds- her cool bobbed countenance got me through high school, at a time when I knew true fashion had nothing to do with following what everybody else was wearing- it was about fervently marching to one's own beat, and being ahead of the pack- way, way ahead.

Her looks are challenging, forthright, and nothing short of genius. I have always been a huge fan, and always will be. In the sea of conformity in which we live, I am very glad there are people out there who wouldn't be caught dead in Lululemon leggings on a Saturday afternoon. I do so love the mad ones, and Rei Kawakubo is that roman candle burning bright, permanently etched onto the fashion horizon for all to see and adore. By now you may think I've taken too much peyote that I could admire such fauvist fashion, but wow, I just love me some Comme Des Garcons and if you are truly to know fashion, you must know Rei and her ability to show us what true creativity is all about. Without her, there would be no Prada, no Marni, and moreover, no fun. I love the below look on Taylor Tomasi Hill- it's not all Comme Des but those diaper pants are fantastic (yes, men, we know you hate them but whatevs) and I would so rock this look any day- it's timeless in its own way and cooler than any "safe" piece you may hide under. What fun is that really? 

If you are a fan of design of any kind, go check out a Comme Des Garcons store or scent or piece of clothing- you won't be disappointed by the amazing ability to stir the senses. Just wanted to share that today because I do love this designer, and the older I get, the more I appreciate those still wiling to take some much needed risks in today's sheep laden world. Cause that's what's up this like some boys kind of Tuesday night in New York City. Go take a risk- and make it chic. In a quote on the Daily Beast, Ms. Kawakubo said of her iconic line, " Comme Des Garcons can never, by its nature, appeal to everyone. It would be the end of CDG if it ever did"- and those are words to live by, when it comes to dress and otherwise- screw everyone else and just be yourself. XO

Good morning, Tuesday. 'Twas a lovely weekend in Mass with one of my oldest friends from New York and her lovely family- had a lot of fun and saw their gorgeous house and children and grilled and chilled and all the rest. As I woke up Saturday morning in our pretty guest room, I was amazed at how long it's been since we have really gotten away- and it was a true trestament to how badly we need to, so the  vacation planning must begin. Two nights away just ain't gonna cut it.Oh and ps, Summer is offically here- it's hot in the city and just like that- the girls are all wearing bare legs, pretty sandals, and ponytails. I love the change of seasons and the promise that it brings to try something new.

And as I got on the train this am to go to my freelance gig (at a place I very much like, ps), my mind wandered, as it often does, about this little fantasy of mine I've had every summer for as long as I can remember.

If I had the talent, I would whip up some lovely summer dresses and hit the road- I'd take an airsteam and make it over and serve mimosas and play lovely Brazilian music and Trojan Records era reggae and sell my wares all along the East coast beach towns. I have pictured this for many years, even before everyone else started getting the same mobile shop idea, and even before the food truck craze hit every town from here to there. I'm picturing a whole lot of glammed up hippie chic kaftans and easy dresses one could throw over a bathing suit and go out to dinner or cocktails, as well as maybe some yummy perfume that nobody's heard of or essential oils that give that tanned skin a pleasant glow. And maybe I'd even feature some hand tooled jewelry or thin little bangles that showcase a bronzed arm. I'd park that airstream in beach parking lots in Montauk, the Cape, Long Beach Island, and anywhere else the gals would be out in full force looking for something lovely to wear while soaking up all that delicious Vitamin D.

This is what I think about as I stand on the F train, confined by a subway car, and very much wishing I was smelling the salt air and not even thinking it's too early for an adult beverage. One day I will do this, I promise you. I've got to learn how to make a pattern or work with someone else who does, and then all of you can come visit me on the bus and get gorgeous. Just wanted to share a little bit of my fantasy life with you- I know, it's not the smutty fantasy you may have hoped for, but as you all know, fashion excites me and that's that. I keep coming back to this idea so it must be halfway decent and right. Mobile Maven is going to come to pass, because I live for beachy summers on the East Coast- I've missed them more than I can say, and even though Miami has one of the nicest beaches I've ever seen, it's not the same for me. And I'm guessing that if you, like me, are sititng in an office right now, you may have a few fantaasies of your own brewing when it comes to ways to spend the summer. Mine is all about making you all feel chic and lovely. I'm a noble girl.

Cause that's what's up this sweet mobile retail daydream of a Tuesday in New York City. I admit that I am living the dream (my dream of being back here), but one musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, right darlings? All the love and sun and sand and surf and chicness. XO

Oh, hey Friday- it's come to my attention this week that I will probably never live in Seattle or anywhere else in the Pacific NW, or anywhere else where it rains all the bloody time. Though I'm prone to low clouds and lazy days, all of this rain is killing me. If I don't see some sunshine soon, I'm going to scream. Never realized how much of a blue sky kind of girl I am, but damn let's get some Vitamin D up in here already and stop with this rain meshugas.

But it's my first memorial weekend back in the Northeast and I do so love a holiday weekend in this part of the country- everyone bails and kicks back and takes the day off and then Monday off too. It's good times, if only it was not so merde outside. But if you are heading somewhere chilled out, here's my five spot for you-enjoy your grilled meats and such, and don't forget about the troops, damn it. I know I won't- they fight so your lazy butt can enjoy bbq and sun and sand and above all, freedom.

So here's my favs for a long and warm weekend:

Caudalie Beauty Elixir- I've forgotten just how steamy NYC gets in the warm months- carry this in your mongrammed Goyard and spritz at will- it's an instant pick me up and refresher as you recoil from the warm glow of the F train. Plus it's a brightener for dull skin to boot.  Love this stuff, must keep it fresh, and this stuff helps.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/caudalie-beauty-elixir/3085313

These Sass and Bide pants from Free People- Oh how I love a rock and roll striped jean. So freaking cute. Love these with a flat hippy sandal ,a tank, and a long necklace. Perfection, and very in line with my Keith Richards is my spirit animal vibe these days. Can't you see him rocking these back in the day?

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-denim-shop/force-of-nature-striped-skinny/

Anything by Fitzgerald- Yes summer reading, children. And since I'm only two hours away from the Hamptons, I'm feeling super obsessive about Gatsby like musings. And how good is the trailer for the film coming out? Pick up a classic this weekend and READ. Preferably not on the Kindle, but if you must. American dreams are better read about on paper, but that's just my take. You do what you want.

Cynthia Vincent Beach tote- Ooh I love this. I love an ethnic inspired beach bag- my vibe is full on boho must summers and this bag is lovely to cram my SPF, change of clothes, mags and books with. Perfect.

http://www.shopbop.com/cove-large-beach-tote-twelfth/vp/v=1/845524441938368.h...

Tee shirts from Saturdays Surf NYC- this one is more for the boys, but this store is a cool little slice of surf goodness right here in downtown New York. I love the graphics on the tees and the modern take on board shorts and everything else. Very well curated- reminds me of Jack Spade, the Montauk edition. Fab. Go there, boys. Even if you don't have a house by the sea, you can pretend and look cute doing it. All us girls love a surfer boy.

http://www.saturdaysnyc.com/category/tee-shirts

And that my friends, that is the memorial day weekend edition of Five for that sweet Friday butt of yours. Cause that's what's up this staying off the LIE kind of weekend in the 212. Headed up to Boston tomorrow afternoon- praying the travel and traffic G-ds are with me. Have a great long weekend and be safe and sound! XO

PS it's Fleet Week in New York. Hey, sailors.