bohemian style: the turban

As seen on Hilary Rhoda, the turban can be a useful beauty solution (bad hair day) while adding a dose of cultured cool to a look. The turban works in a variety of situations and has been worn formally (think Met Gala) and informally. I would suggest this piece as a counterpoint to a casual look, elevating it to the next level.

featured image: vogue 

I {heart} BVLGARI

It all began with a trip to Roma... 

During the trip, I had the pleasure of visiting the BVLGARI flagship on the Via dei Condotti and acquiring a showstopping, fuchsia Serpenti shoulder bag (thanks Mom + Dad, xo). The shopping experience and service was impeccable, one that will serve as a standard in my memory for high end shops. After returning from my trip, I was high on my Roma experience for sometime and then came back down to earth as the summer set in. Imagine my delight when I received this package from BVLGARI. It was such a nice touch to follow up my wonderful shopping experience with them. When in Roma, I'll be sure to visit (and, hopefully, acquire) again.

bohemian style: the kaftan

As seen on Ashley Olsen, the kaftan is as glamorous as it is practical. I would suggest it as a beach coverup that can do double duty at dinner and keep you cool while strolling along the esplanade, while on vacation. It feels easy, traveled, iconic, and chic. Pair with aviators like Ashley did, and flat sandals. Instant polished bohemian outfit!

featured image: zimbo

carry on

I have become attached to my ultra light, compact carry-on and the ease of using it to traverse around the airport and cities I've recently visited (Miami, Roma, NYC). I'm using the Tumi Vapor International carry-on in rose gold (I got it on sale - SCORE - at Nordstrom Rack) and tucking a Longchamp Le Pliage Travel bag in taupe (from the Longchampe website, no sale but they aren't budget busters) inside - just in case :-) The four wheels on the carry-on are a smart design choice, they allow the luggage to roll smoothly in a variety of positions, and the polycarbonate body makes it sleek. I love that the weekender bag folds down on itself and doesn't take up much space in the carry-on - brilliant. BONUS: no checked bags required!

featured images: nordstrom, neiman marcus

summer beauty: roman holiday

Francois Nars seems to me a cheeky, color genius. Many of his eponymous makeup shades are named after iconic films, women in the arts, and beautiful places. For the sheer lipstick named Roman Holiday, he clearly took inspiration from the adorable film starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The shade is a lovely, sheer, pastel lilac-laced pink. It looks intense in the tube, like Barbie pink, and the first time I saw it, I balked - no way I can pull this off. However, once you put it on...it becomes a pretty, feminine, subtle pink...bellissima!

featured images: nars, IMDb

style study: bohemian types

from Laren Stover's book Bohemian Manifesto, a tongue in cheek glimpse into the world of the bohemian  :

• The Nouveau Bohemian brings elements of traditional Bohemian ideology into harmony with contemporary culture without losing sight of the basic tenets—the glamour, the art, the nonconformity. And while Nouveaus may suffer poetically, artistically and romantically, they have what appears to be, at first, one advantage over other Bohemians—the Nouveau has money.

• The Gypsy Bohemian: The expatriate types. They create their own Gypsy nirvana wherever they go. They are folksy flower children, hippies, psychedelic travelers, fairy folk, dreamers, Deadheads, Phish fans, medievalists, anachronistic throwbacks to a more romantic time…Gypsies scatter like seeds on the wind, don’t own a watch, show up on your doorstep and disappear in the night. They’re happy to sleep in your barn and may have without you even knowing it.

• The Beat Bohemian: Reckless, raggedy, rambling, drifting, down-and-out, Utopia-seeking. It might look like Beats suffer for their ideals, but they've let go of material desire…Beats are free spirits. They believe in freedom of expression. They travel light but there’s always a book or a notebook in their pocket…Beats jam, improvise, extemporize, blow ethereal notes into the universe, write poetry, ramble and wreck cars. They live on the edge of ideas. They take the part and then make up their own lines.

• The Zen Bohemian: No other Bohemians fathom the transient, green and meditative quality of life better than the Zens, even if they're in a rock band, which they often are. The Zen is post-Beat, a Bohemian whose quest has evolved from the artistic, smoky, literary and spiritually wanderlustful to the spiritually lustful.

• The Dandy Bohemian: A little seedy, a little haughty, slightly shredded or threadbare, Dandies are the most polished of all Bohemians even when their clothes are tattered. The Dandy aspires to old money without the money…You are more likely to find unpopular liqueurs such as Chartreuse and Earl Grey brandy in the Dandy home than a six-pack of Budweiser. In fact, you will never find a six-pack in the Dandy’s quarters, though Alsatian ale is a possibility…This does not mean that the Dandy refuses Budweiser at a picnic. That would be impolite.