A Day At The Beach

I've only managed to get to the beach one time this summer and I accidentally forgot my suit bottom (don't ask!), so on the first day I had to wear my bikini top and running shorts.  Not a good look.  Eventually, I did find one of those surf shops where you can buy tops and bottoms separately and I picked up a new bottom.  So, I'm hoping to plan another beach day and if I do, I have already picked out my perfect beach outfit.

a photo I snapped at Melbourne Beach, FL

Unless I'm swimming laps in my Speedo or TYR, I usually opt for a bikini, but there is something so refreshingly chic about this strapless one piece stripe bathing suit from KIWI Saint Tropez.

cobalt and white stripe strapless one piece: 68 Euro

A suit like this requires a fabulous shoe -- not a flip-flop.  I would pick up the cobalt color with these summery Burberry Prorsum woven raffia and printed wedge pumps.  Plus, the heel height is a leg lengthener!  Bonus.

Burberry pumps $1095

Of course, no beach look is complete without a pair of shades.  I'm in love with these fabulous rectangular retro specs by Karen Walker.  And yes, I would wear them with the alien headband accessory.  I mean, you gotta ask yourself, "What would Steve Martin do?"

"Cabbie" Sunglasses, Karen Walker

Finally, I would top the outfit off with a huge floppy hat by Scala -- not because I want to shield my face from the sun, but because I want to feel like Sophia Loren!  My fashionable mother actually bought me a slightly less gigantic version of this hat and I love it!  Thanks mom!  The thin wire they've cleverly encased along the edge of the brim makes it easy to shape and adjust the hat however you like.  Okay, I'm all set.  Now I just need a beach.

gorgeous Sophia Loren

Scala oversized hat, $45

Stacy's Style List

99% of the time when I meet somebody new and they ask me what I do, their immediate reaction is to point at whatever it is I'm wearing (and it could literally be a pair of Levi's and a Hanes tee) and say, "Is that yours?"  While it can drive me a little crazy, I guess most people don't really understand what goes into making one-of-a-kind pieces.  I wish I had an unlimited amount of time to spend draping on my trusty dress form, Sadie and sitting at my sewing machine, but I have to eat, sleep (on occasion), clean, do laundry (rarely), grocery shop and, oh yeah... run a business.  Often, that means multiple trips to Staples, the post office and the garment center in addition to the day to day sketching, sewing and hours of email correspondence. Of course, if a chain store wanted to place an order for 100,000 units, I'd have a factory make the product and I'd be able to produce many more styles than I do as one individual.  That being said, I most often save my own pieces for important events and the rest of the time I wear other labels and brands just like the rest of you.  We're experiencing some extra warm spring weather in NYC lately, so I'm sharing my style picks for right now...

 

Gucci Side Band Pant

Available at Bergdorf Goodman

 

Burberry Trench

Available at Neiman Marcus 

 

Rick Owens, Spring 2012 Runway

Style.com (Photo: Marcus Tondo/GoRunway.com)

In The Trenches

The trench coat is a fashion staple, a classic piece that never goes out of style.  I like to see how designers update this piece every season to keep it fresh and to give the customer a reason to buy another trench coat!  These are some of my favorite trenches of the moment...

Belstaff's hooded trench with zip

 

Burberry's updated classic

Céline's modified trench

 

Ann Demeulemeester's cape/trench

MaxMara's military trench in a fresh looking grey

Balmain's cheetah trench

 

my favorite, Dsquared² leather and fabric trench