Color Crush: All Things Purple

I just got back from a family trip to Walt Disney World, which could've been one of my favorite vacations to date.  I know it sounds crazy, but watching the pure joy in my 5 year-old niece and 3 year-old nephew's faces when they experienced the parks for the first time was really special.   I'm feeling inspired today by my niece Lily's favorite color: purple!  I don't usually gravitate towards the hue, but I've come across a few spaces lately that are killer and happen to have violet in them.  The first is this bedroom designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber (one of my favorite designers ever):

{Jeffrey Bilhuber}

Another Jeffrey Bilhuber stunner (I'd take a purple sectional over a beige one any day):

{Jeffrey Bilhuber}

The other space with purple touches is this drop-dead gorgeous bedroom  in Alexa Hampton's New York apartment:

The mix of reds, mauves and purples is just divine here.  I love the juxtaposition of casual batik textiles with Fortuny bedhangings and upholstered walls.

The scalamandre le tigre on the neoclassical chair above is one of my favorite fabrics  (here's a pillow version I love), and it looks stunning amongst all the purple hues.

Here are more touches of purple to love...

{Billy Cotton}

{Style du Monde}

{Style du Monde}

Lighter lilac tones are soothing, especially so when in t-shirt  or pajama form (these sheets seem incredibly soft, too!) And it's even better when they have price tags like this and this.  

I also stumbled upon Target swimwear and learned that currently they are offering a buy one get one 50% off sale- which means I might have to snag this and this, which feel universally flattering.

A touch of purple here and there in the home is lovely, too.  I love this, this, and these particularly.  Anthropologie also has a lot of gorgeous rugs with purple tones in them.

Next up, I'll get around to writing a travel guide post for Disney!

Chic Shop Alert: La Double J

Do you suddenly feel like you're in the magical technicolor world of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory? Are you thinking you might've accidently downed some of grandma's "special pills?"  Are you beginning to question whether or not you're on the set of Austin Powers?  Well then, my guess is you've probably just encountered the happy chaos that encompasses Italian brand La DoubleJ:

This sort of brand could only exist if it were being run by a creative genius - and it is.  JJ Martin (street-style star, journalist, and contributing editor at Harper's Bazaar) launched La DoubleJ in 2015, originally as a platform to sell her vintage clothing.  The site quickly took off and Martin now works with top Italian textile house Montero to produce clothing donning vintage prints from their archives. The brand has recently stepped in to the realm of housewares and furniture, too.  Here are a few pieces that caught my eye...

Top to Bottom, Left to Right:

Apres Midi Skirt, $490/

One piece swimsuit, $285/

Hand Pochette, $150/

Soup and Dinner Plates, $110/each/

Rossa in Acrylic Stone Necklace, $330/

Bellini Dress, $995/

Kaleidoscope Napkin Set, 6 for $110/

Yes I knowwww the pieces are insanely expensive.  Yes I knowwww many of these outfits are over the top.  But in a world of restraint, neutrals galore and overhyped minimalism, I'm finding their lack of restraint pretty damn refreshing.  See more here and here.

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Slip Dresses for Spring

Spring has almost sprung which has me thinking about cute wardrobe updates for the warmer weather.  The slip dress is no new phenomena (who could forget Kate Moss's sheer slipdress circa 1993) and has staying power for good reason- it's universally flattering, works for multiple occasions, and is simultaneously comfortable and sexy.  Wear it to work by layering on a sweater or jacket, pair it with heels and statement earrings for night, or throw on sandals and sunnies for a casual weekend outing.

{Everyday Pursuits}

Dress it down...

{Fashion Me Now}

Dress it up...

{Silk Laundry}

{House of CB}]

Throwing on a blazer over your slip dress makes it instantly work-ready:

Here's a perfect way to dress down the slip dress:  pair it with a tailored leather jacket and sneakers:

...Or with a cardigan and booties:

Of course for me, since I'm short (5' 2"), I love a mini slip dress (this one is cute, too!)

{Vogue}

In the market for a slip dress of your own?  NastyGal has an excellent selection at very reasonable prices.  And here are a few more I just adore...

Happy ALMOST spring!

XOXO,

Sam

I'm Into That

Now that the sun is starting to flirt with me again and I've been finding more opportunities to dig in my handbag and find my long lost sunglasses, my mood has begun to improve.  Needless to say, January and February crept by for me in New York.  I try not to complain, but I'm someone who thrives in warmer weather.  My mood is better, I have more energy, and I just feel lighter.   This past weekend I finally made it over to see the Andy Warhol "From A to Z and Back Again" exhibition at the Whitney and I was energized by all the color.  

It reminded me of Jeffrey Bilhuber's punchy chartreuse living room in Locust Valley, NY:

{Jeffrey Bilhuber}

A leopard jacket (or here) paired with black heart-shaped glasses is always going to be a "yes" in my book:

Australian interior and textile designer Anna Spiro has had me captivated for years.  I love her attention to happy detail, especially when it includes fabric lampshades:

{Anna Spiro}

Adoring this outfit, the beanie, and the sunglasses.  Tres chic.

Louise Johansen's home in Denmark is making me wish my 23 and me results came back with more Scandanavian in my DNA.  How cheery is her home?!

Officially smitten with La Double J, a Milanese brand that was the brainchild of J.J. Martin.   Everything the Italian company designs screams happy, mod, and chic:

{Honestly WTF}

Another thing giving me LIFE is 305 Fitness.  If you live in NY (or LA, DC, Boston), get yourself to a class immediately.  It's a cardio dance workout with a live DJ spinning music in the room. I saw a girl wearing a bandana in her ponytail at a class a few months back and found it to be the cutest thing ever, so obviously had to start doing it myself (I wear this one in navy).  I love the bandana look for everyday outfits, too:

{Habitually Chic}

Don't even get me started on how in to Rebecca de Ravenel's home I am.  It's borderline obsession.

When I see a room like this, I know there must be a God:

Heart eyes x 10.

Happy Tuesday all....  

XOXO,

Sam