spring breaker

i may not get a spring break anymore, but i'm lucky enough to have a sunny vacation booked for later this week. after an epic, endless east coast winter (and just as epic fashion month!), i'm seriously craving some vitamin D. but i have to admit -- i feel feel totally unprepared! i can hardly remember what it's like to be on the beach and will probably pack all the wrong things. fortunately there are a few items i've relied on for so long that i could never forget them.

for starters, my beauty regimen changes pretty drastically in the summer. i wear less makeup since i usually have a bit of a tan, and just use bare minerals original mineral veil for a fresh, matte finish. i still moisturize obsessively in the summer and have tried just about every face oil out there, but tarte's pure maracuja oil is the only one that seems light enough for a hot, humid day. 

in that same vein, i just learned that bobbi brown makes a body oil version of her classic beach fragrance... is this a new development, or am i really behind? i don't wear beach anymore, but my friends and i always packed it for vacation in high school and loved it. ahh, nostalgia. body oil is the perfect thing to slather on after a day at the beach (post-shower, of course); my skin gets dry from the sand and water, and the oil leaves a slight sheen as well.

i do love a slight tan, but i always wear sunscreen too. i'm especially diligent about my face, and borderline-OCD about my lips! mario badescu's eye and lip sunscreen is amazing; it's slightly thick so you can really feel it soaking in. (bonus: it doesn't taste horrible like other sunscreens you try to put on your mouth!) 

i don't own these loeffler randall sandals yet, but once the weather warms up a bit i'll be adding them to my cart immediately. metallic gold sandals are literally the only shoe i wear during the summer because they go with everything and compliment tan legs! (i've worn j.crew's flat thongs religiously for years)

and last but not least: simply put, j.crew makes the best swimsuits, and at good prices too. i've built up a collection over the years, and not only are they flattering, but they never pill, stretch, or wear thin... all of mine still feel brand new. (this french top is pictured above)

II emily

spring break essentials

here at IU, spring break is just around the corner. (two days!!!) and if you're heading south for warmer climates, you'll need more than a string bikini to get through the week. (but those are essential, too - check out the guide to mixing and matching swimwear i posted a few weeks ago!) my suggestions are as follows:

first, fashion. i love embracing bold, bright hues on spring break - it's not only fun and stylish, but bold colors actually lift my mood. for the past few gloomy months, i've been living in equally gloomy colors. spring break is a huge breath of fresh, colorful air! it's like the sun is melting away all of winter's stresses. ahhhhh. much needed.
this year, i'm packing lots of bright pinks and oranges, with plenty of whites and neutrals to balance them out. and i love easy, simple, comfortable silhouettes; how amazing is that heidi merrick shift? dying for the shape and mixture of orange, aqua & yellow. as for shoes, flat sandals are my best friends. comfortable, chic, and durable... what else could you want in a shoe?

you know i'm a huge jewelry girl, but arm party + beach = misery. nothing is worse than getting sand stuck in your favorite rhinestone bangle, and it's just uncomfortable wearing lots of metal in high temperatures! as a result, i tend to leave most of my jewels at home, but i always make sure i pack a few sleek, statement-making pieces for nighttime. a chunky gold bangle is perfect for my colorful vacation ensembles; gold goes with everything and makes even a t-shirt and jeans feel a bit dressier. (plus, it looks extra chic with a slick gold iPhone case - a total necessity for beach music!)

when it comes to beauty, of course the first item on your shopping list is sunscreen. i always wear at least spf 30. believe me, no matter how much you want to be tan, it isn't worth a sunburn or the skin damage down the road. i love spray-on sunscreen and handy little sunscreen towelettes; they're surprisingly effective and so much easier to use than lotion!

now, the subject of makeup is kind of a nonissue. i mean, who goes to the beach wearing foundation and eye shadow?? that's just silly. even when you're going out for dinner and drinks at night, chances are your skin will be a little sensitive from all the sun, so i'd advise against slathering on layers of makeup. 
instead, i like to use a gentle soothing cream on my face and neck to avoid irritation, then i just dust on a bit of loose powder, sweep bronzer over my cheeks, and add a touch of highlighter (learn how to use bronzer & highlighter to their best potential with this recent post; and yes, i'm aware of my nars obsession). i usually balance out the natural look with some shockingly bright nail polish, like fuchsia or aqua.

is there anything i'm missing? what are your must-haves for spring break/vacation?

the list:

1) heidi merrick dress 2) clare vivier clutch [similar here] 3) incase chrome iPhone case [similar here] 4) asos sunglasses [similar here] 5) nars nail polish in "schiap" 6) nars illuminator in "copacabana" 7) nars bronzer in "laguna"  8) j.crew bangle [similar here] 9) neutrogena ultra gentle soothing cream 10) tocca spf30+ sunscreen towelette multi pack 11) marc by marc jacobs nylon tote [not yet available, but similar here and here]

II emily

away we go

its been a while since my family took a vacation all together, but this weekend we hit the road and drove up to northern michigan for some much-needed relaxation.

the house we're staying in is a little cottage right on the rocky shore, with windows and glass doors everywhere so you can listen to the waves all day long. i have tons of pictures of the beach, the house, and all the places we've gone so far, but i haven't posted any outfits in a while so i thought i'd share with you one of our bikinis from yesterday.

there's a sun deck right outside the room liz & i share (which also happens to be painted hot pink!! love it) so we decided to catch some rays. liz opted for an eternally classic brown-and-black two-piece; now i know you might be against that "forbidden" color combination, but trust me, i used to be right there with you. that is, until tim gunn told marie claire "I find that few looks are quite as chic as brown and black together." he is a god. (he also added that when mixing the two neutrals, the brown must be a deep chocolate color, as shown.) when done just right, it does look very posh:

{liz's suit: strapless top - j.crew ; ruffled bottoms - target}

try brown and black together this fall and pile on the accessories for a chic, minimalist look. black leggings + brown leather riding boots would be perfect!

style on,

emily