What's in Store

When I had just moved in with roommates in college, I would scour our apartment asking if anyone had seen my “slippers.” Invariably, someone would point to my fuzzy pink bedroom slippers, noting that they were in plain sight as usual. What I really meant, was - where were my “flip-flops?” Having spent most of my childhood summers visiting family in Hawaii, I was used to calling them slippers, as everyone does over there. I quickly learned to change my vocab around my roommates so that they knew what I meant, and since then I’ve built up quite a collection of pairs.  

Whatever you choose to call them, they should be a staple of everyone’s leisure wardrobe. Here are some of my very favorites to consider for your slipper collection.

Rainbow Slippers

Rainbows are tops on my list and grew popular among the surfing set over 30 years ago. Quite possibly the most comfortable slippers out there, these leather sandals mold to fit the pads of your feet over time and will last you YEARS. I tried on my sister’s pair of Rainbows recently, only to find they didn’t fit the grooves of my feet like my pair did, as they had grown accustomed to hers. It’s nice when slippers are loyal to you and only you!

Stylish Slippers

Though Rainbows are usually my go-to, sometimes I’m in the mood to match slippers to my swimsuit, sundress or board shorts. For these occasions, I turn to Roxy. The Quicksilver line for women offers a dizzying array of flip-flops for girls and women, which covers all possible color combinations, styles and materials. I’ve lost track of how many pairs of Roxys I’ve ever owned, and even though a handful of them have given me a blister between my big toe and second toe, once you break them in it’s no big deal.

Fancy Slippers

Don’t sacrifice comfort just because you have to dress up a little. I have many high-heeled slippers that can be worn out to dinner, to work, or on a shopping trip. You can find them in bright metallics, bold colors and with accents like faux jewels, flowers or beading. This pair of Steve Madden Blaye sandals will sharpen up any outfit.

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“Style is a simple way of saying complicated things.”
Jean Cocteau, 1889 - 1963

Camped Out

Happy 4th of July! I hope you’re out barbequing, watching a parade and waiting for fireworks. These low-key, day-long festivities are always tricky fashion-wise. On the one hand, it’s a casual event. On the other hand, it’s a party and you want to dress up.

My advice? Take a cue from summer camps of long ago and grab a camp shirt. The classic American style button down with short sleeves plays equally well with pants or skirts and can be as dressy as you’d like. And no, you don’t have to camp to wear it. Here are three options and three different styles.

Pam

My friend Pam thinks ‘roughing it’ is drinking non-vintage champagne. She also has pretty streamlined, Lauren Bacall-esque sense of style. Silk twill with ½ sleeves is refined enough for her tastes, but not too stuffy for afternoon beers. She’ll wear it with dark chinos and ballet flats.

Ann

For my sister, Ann, camping is when you don’t wear jewelry. She is also addicted to accessories and has a strong sense of adventure. French cuffs mean she’ll never be camping and the short sleeves leave her ready for anything. She’ll pair it with an a-line skirt, hoop earrings and a slew of bracelets.

Kathryn

My sweetheart is very outdoorsy and, by default, so am I. (Ahh…the things we do for love.) But, I’m also slightly sun-phobic and dislike looking rumpled. A quick drying, anti-wrinkle shirt with UPF 30 will keep me looking as très chic at le campsite as possible. I’ll wear it over the weekend with worn in jeans and Tevas.

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America’s favorite holiday quickly approaches and with it comes the anticipation of sunshine, BBQs, fireworks and fun! Even though we’re now on great terms with the Brits, we can still celebrate our Independence Day with vigor.

This patriotic tee is sure to turn heads even amidst a snazzy firework display. Created by local San Francisco artist Ashley Taylor, of aTaylordesign, Ashley turns her nature-inspired drawings and paintings into whimsical silkscreen prints on shirts, hoodies, and even tank tops.

One of my favorite Food Network stars, Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, has an amazing Flag Cake recipe that she makes for Fourth of July parties. I actually saw this recreated at a dinner party last weekend and I have to say it looked just like this and tasted even better. It’s a very decadent ending to your BBQ spread, and since it has a lot of butter, cream and sugar, don’t forget to watch your portion size!

Hit the diving board at the Fourth of July swim party in these Sea Captain Anchor Swim Trunks by Ralph Lauren and you’ll never be questioned for your allegiance.

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It’s time to splash into summer, but does the thought of strutting your stuff in a bikini make you cringe? Fear not. One-piece swimsuits are more fabulous than ever and selecting the right cut allows you to show off your best assets, while still covering your less-than favorite features.

Swimwear Boutique offers pages and pages of striking one-pieces. You really can’t go wrong with one of these.

Designer Shoshanna, known for feminine and flirty styles, offers one-piece suits in polka dots, paisleys and stripes. Click here for where to buy.

For a more subdued look, try on this pink sophisticated number by Michael Kors.

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This week we found fun items that can enhance your summer experience:

Splendora boasts about David Park’s Park Manhattan Shorts as a current What to Wear item. From the famous to the infamous and the just plain style-savvy crowd, it seems that all the ladies love these chic shorts. While you wouldn’t want to wear them with heels, they do look fabulous with flats.

Engadget buzzes about the iPhone arrival. (Too bad the phone didn’t work on the Today show this morning.) I trust it plays good tunes. If you can’t wait to get one, your wait is almost over. They will be available online starting at 6 p.m. PT today.

GeekSugar recommends the Portable Cuby Speaker for your iPod Shuffle. This was made for second generation Shuffles and connects via the headphone jack or to your computer via a USB cable. Each dock comes with speakers built-in on both sides and can play continuously for five hours with three AA batteries. This lovely music box will be available for purchase this July.

Delight tantalizes taste buds by recommending Weber’s Big Book of Grilling. Perfect for backyard gourmets, this cookbook brings insight from the world’s best-known and most trusted grilling experts. To boot, it’s packed with the tastiest and most reliable recipes ever to hit the grill with hundreds of mouthwatering full-color photos.

Productdose relays information about the unsinkable Molly Brown! …er, I mean The Sharper Image Unsinkable Pool Lounge, which is built for durability and comfort. If you like lounging in the water, this product is a sure bet.

UberReview touts the Portable Pillow with FaceSaver. While it’s not aesthetically pleasing, it can help prevent your face from getting sunburned. If you’re into new and different things, then say goodbye to the old-school beach umbrella.

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“Summer time and the dressing is easy…”
George Gershwin, 1898 - 1937

Sunday morning at the dog park? Midweek business lunch? Friday night opera tickets? It’s never been so easy to be perfectly dressed. All you need to look put together right now is a handful of sundresses and a couple pairs of sandals.

Sun

An excellent choice for walking the dog, wine tasting or farmer’s market. Flippies or low heeled slides finish it off.

Sheath

A black and white sheath is refreshingly professional. Play with color or keep it graphic with black and white.

Wrap

Perfect for wedding receptions and dining al fresco in Monaco. (You never know when you might meet a wealthy somebody with EU citizenship…) All you need is a pashmina and glitzy sandals.

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In the United States, 20 people a day die from skin cancer.
American Cancer Society’s 2007 Facts & Figures

Shaded

Ahh…the first full week of June, the gate way of summer. It’s the season of poolside vacations, weekend barbeques, backyard badminton and all sorts of other sunny activities. Instead of retiring indoors when you tire of the sun, don a cover up. To keep the look fashionable instead of frumpy, seek out one with a dash of glamour. When you’re shopping, ask yourself “Will this look good with large sunglasses and a fruity drink with an umbrella in it?” If the answer is yes, by all means buy it.

Pull Over

Legend has it that Jackie O was once turned away from the Four Seasons because their dress code didn’t allow women to wear trousers in the dining room. She removed her pants in the ladies room and then she and her companions enjoyed a lovely lunch- with Mrs. Onassis wearing just her tunic. You can skirt a policy or take a break from the sun in a lightweight, embellished tunic.

Tied On

Wear it as a skirt, a dress or a shawl. Ball it up if you need a pillow or use it as a blanket and have a picnic. You could probably do all sorts of first aid things with it if necessary, but that’s beyond my expertise. What I do know is that there are few fashion items more versatile than a pareo and the brighter the better when you’re choosing a pattern.

Brimming

Peeling sunburns get gunky under moisturizers and make up. Plus the possibility of wrinkles, sun spots and skin cancer. Better to avoid it all together with a sensational hat. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a minimum of a 3 inch brim. Use the width of your shoulders as your maximum brim guide.

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“One man’s magic is another man’s engineering.”
Robert A. Heinlein, 1907 - 1988

It’s the simple card trick that mystifies you every time. The car that disappears right before your eyes on stage. And the rabbit pulled out of the empty hat. Welcome to the world of sleight of hand. As any magician worth her wand will tell you, if you direct attention to where you want it, no one will notice what else is going on. Fashion works the same the way. Decide which feature you want to be the focus and the rest will disappear. Go ahead- practice a little magic while selecting your swimsuit this season.

Top Shelf

 If you’ve got great cleavage and shoulders, flaunt them. A halter top offers coverage and stability while showing off your assets. Make sure the suit doesn’t creep up when you lift your arms- you don’t want to spend the day repositioning yourself.

Waisted

Look for a suit with waist detailing, like embroidery, a belt, ruching, etc. to accentuate a well defined waist. If you choose a tankini style, the top should skim your body. Too tight tankinis cause stomach bulges in even the slimmest of figures.

Leg Up

Whether you’re strutting your stuff, or taking it in stride, a leg opening that runs about an inch below your hip bone will be the most flattering (and comfortable) for your legs and hips. Use your body as the guide, not the suit description.

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