A little luster never hurts, especially when it comes in the form of an effortlessly chic t-shirt.
1. Topshop rose gold metallic t-shirt, $76, topshop.com
2. Nicole Meng asymmetrical ring, $80, maxandchloe.com
3. Stila Liquid Lipstick in Fiery, $22, sephora.com
4. Gucci canvas clutch, $280, matchesfashion.com
5. Diane Von Furstenberg sandals, $350, matchesfashion.com
6. Band of Outsiders satin trimmed trousers, $395, netaporter.com
An Instagram exchange between two Lucky Magazine editors made me laugh the other day. One announced to the other that she bought a pair of cropped wide leg pants from the Phillip Lim store in Los Angeles while in Milan, waiting for a runway show to start. Then concluded with: "#crosscontinentshopping." I can relate to this non-stop-shopping compulsion, as you all well know! Plus, I've been thinking about adding some cropped wide leg pants to my wardrobe. This fresh silhouette appeared everywhere on the fall runaways (I loved the ones at J.Crew and Elizabeth and James) and in and around the shows from New York to London to Paris, as seen above and below. Pictured in the last snap is Lucky's editor-in-chief Eva Chen sporting Topshop's version. My compulsive window shopping turned up these cool guys from 3.1 Phillip Lim (the Lucky editor-purchased one), Theyskens' Theory, Asos, Topshop Boutique and Joseph.
Photos: Vogue, Style, The Cut, Collage Vintage, All The Pretty Birds
This white denim moto jacket will add a flash of fresh-edgy-cool to any spring outfit. Greatly versatile, too!
1. H&M strapless crepe dress, $59, hm.com
2. Gap denim moto jacket, $89, gap.com
3. Anya Hindmarch clutch, $795, shopbop.com
4. Zara striped sandals, $69, zara.com
* Get 25% off today only at Gap with the code TREAT at checkout. Denim (i.e. this jacket), bags, and leather and suede apparel are excluded from the sale.
My morning Instagram feed, filled with friends (and close relatives, including my twin sis, below) holidaying in Tulum, Morocco, and other near-the-equator hot spots, first inspired serious vacation envy, then a serious swimwear shopping spree. I kicked things off with the Mikoh criss-cross halter bandeau, pictured above (never mind the tan lines, it's the ultimate statement bikini top), knowing I could pair it with a simple black bikini bottom, like this one by J.Crew. (P.S. I also love this dramatic Victoria's Secret halter top--also statement-y, less expensive. Clearly, this look is going to be a thing this summer!) Then I snapped up these cute studded Forever 21 sandals, and finished off with this gorgeous lace cover-up. I'd love to go for this Lisa Mira Fernandez ruffled bikini too but feel like I actually need a tropical vacation plan to warrant it!
Photos: Could I Have That, Tom Dey
My quickly-get-dressed-in-the-morning routine involves an easy-chic blouse just like this one.
1. Joe Fresh polka dot blouse, $29, jcpenney.com
2. Warehouse cape, $64, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
3. J Brand jeans, $170, netaporter.com
4. Mayle bag, $289, clubmonaco.com
5. Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in Orange Fusion, $35, nordstrom.com
6. 3.1 Phillip Lim d'orsay flats, $395, shopbop.com
I've always despised reading instruction manuals. I would do anything to avoid them, relying instead on my intuition to assemble and/or make things work. I just didn't have the patience, and I usually found I could figure it out on my own, get my husband to do it, or just concede defeat: do I like having the GPS feature in my car--yes! Can I use it--nope! But in recent years, I have finally begun to succumb to the torture of the dreaded manual, mostly due to the invasion of my home by Lego, remote control helicopters and the like that absolutely positively required me to read a manual. And guess what--it's not that bad, as they actually make the process easier! Who knew?? Anyway, my warming up to this form of literature has had one massive side benefit: it has spilled over into following cookbook recipes, which has opened up a whole new world for me. All of a sudden, I am really into cooking! And what I am cooking actually tastes good! Newly inspired, I took a cooking class with some friends last week. One warned me to come to the class hungry because we'd be eating (and drinking lots of red wine) as we cooked. (It was a good thing I wore my new favorite Paige jeans, which are not only perfectly, comfortably stretchy, but as my friend commented, "They are truly skinny jeans--as in they make you look skinny." Even, I guess, when you are pigging out!) We made date chutney, leek cream cheese, cilantro pesto, chili carrots (my fave, pictured above, recipe below!), curried beet polenta, quinoa caviar and the best Angel Food Cake. At home, in the last few days, I've whipped up slow-cooked kale with pancetta and gluten-free bread crumbs, spicy black bean soup, sesame noodles, and creamy chicken quinoa and broccoli casserole. Tonight I will take on a vegan-friendly roasted cauliflower and caper situation with garlic aioli, a recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's My Father's Daughter. Hopefully, all this tasty food won't make all the well-fitting clothes in my closet obsolete!
Chili Carrots (recipe from Lulu Powers)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (you can also use coconut or canola oil)
1 lb. carrots, peeled and sliced
A splash of Cholulua
In a large skillet cook garlic in oil over medium-heat for 30 seconds. Add carrots. Cook and stir for 6 minutes. Add 3 teaspoons of water. Cover. Cook 4 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper and a splash of hot sauce.
When I wrote about the mule--A.K.A. spring's must-have shoe--in January, some of you predicted that Zara would come out with a good one. Turns out Topshop did--and it's perfection.
1. Burberry embellished sweater, $1595, netaporter.com
2. Topshop satin embroidered bomber jacket, $130, topshop.com
3. Warehouse scuba skirt, $57, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
4. Monki clutch, $33, asos.com
5. Sam Edelman bracelet, $50, piperlime.com
6. Topshop mules, $110, topshop.com
While pretty much everybody's eyeballs are still trained on last night's Oscar-glam turnout, I've refocused my attention on Paris, where even though the Fall 2014 collections are winding down, there's still plenty of glam on display, albeit of the streetwear rather than ballgown variety. Generally, it's the individual instant-getting-glamour touches that make these outfits work their magic. Some of these details are entirely unexpected, others more predictable, but it's these nuances--the special sauce, so to speak--that make all the difference! The most inspirational (i.e., doable) among them include: a bold-hued bag such as this red Rebecca Minkoff, this yellow mini Givenchy, or this lilac Annabel Ingall; a graphic skirt like this monochrome one by Whistles (similar to yet less pricey than the black and white Proenza Schouler skirt below) or this striped lovely by Halogen; a cascading coat (I like this grey one by Asos); a vintage-looking jean jacket layered underneath under an ultra sleek coat; an embellished pair of flats such as these by J.Crew or Manolo Blahnik; a dramatic cape like this Mango or this Lover + Friends; and, yes, even a pair of socks teamed with statement pumps (a trend that seems to be cresting right now!).
Photos: Collage Vintage, Garance Dore, Style, Harper's Bazaar, The Cut
I bet many of those actresses who walked the red carpet last night wouldn't mind slipping into this cute schmatta today. I'd like to slip it over a swimsuit ASAP.
1. Madewell embroidered dress, $175, madewell.com
2. Le Specs mirrored sunglasses, $65, netaporter.com
3. J.Crew paisley bikini top, $52, jcrew.com; J.Crew bikini bottom, $44, jcrew.com
4. Loeffler Randall sandals, $195, piperlime.com
I finally did it! I chopped my hair a few weeks ago when I was in New York at the John Barrett Salon. Some of you might have already seen my new 'do on Instagram (my handle is marlienrentmeester), but if you haven't, here it is! In its last-Sunday-afternoon, no-blow-dry, no-product glory. Yes, I love it, and it's exactly what I asked for. Which was, to be specific, a haircut like Beyonce, but more real-girl-on-the-go than major-pop-star. Since John Barrett actually cuts Beyonce's hair, I was in the right hands, and he gave me a cut that I've always wanted but have never had: one that goes out of the shower straight to wherever I'm going without much, if any, primping (yes, my minimalist ways rearing its ugly head again!). In other words, the miracle cut! While I love the length, it's taken a bit of getting used to. For example, it feels weird to have the back of my neck not covered by hair. Even my children have had to adapt. When I first came home, my five-year-old son told me I looked funny and that I needed to get my old hair back immediately. My oldest childhood friend said I looked like Lady Edith from Downton Abbey... "but in a good way." (Is there a good way??) My husband grew a kooky mustache in retaliation. Nonetheless, I adore it. With less hair, showers seem to be shorter and drying takes so much less time. I also look different, which is kind of fun. And I am enjoying how I can choose between wearing my hair up or down with various outfits (you know how much I appreciate options!). Let's just see how long I will go without reverting back to always pulling my hair up and back!
Photo: Coliena Rentmeester
