mid-summer must: j. crew hot pink shorts

J. Crew 3" chino short - $42.50

I've seen at least three or four girls sporting these electric little shorts around New York City since returning from South Carolina. My instinct tells me they would be much more appropriate down south, but seeing these stylish city-dwellers jaunting around in them - paired with everything from a plain white tee to a chambray button down - has me totally jonesing for a touch of summer neon. Additionally, they're currently on sale in a slue of other hues, my favorite (and potential immediate purchase) is the GTH red:

For me, three inches is a pretty substantial inseam, so I'll be cuffing them up once for a more youthful and less conservative length. It's summer after all - and my legs are tan. I will not apologize for letting them get out on the town and say hello. You shouldn't either!

I'm already having a great time in my mental closet, pairing these shorts with any of my button downs, some dainty sandals, shades and a giant iced tea. The iced tea isn't in my closet, but you get the idea.

rainy day DIY: neon & hex nuts

Ugh, we're in the middle of one of the realities of spring here in New York: rain. So. Much. Rain. We've been a bit spoiled with sunshine these past few weeks, so I probably shouldn't complain too much. One good thing that comes out of weather like this? Creativity!

Yesterday, one of those days where you could only see 15 blocks uptown instead of 70, Gina and I ventured out to run a couple errands, and I was aching to try a DIY jewelry project I saw on this blog. (The whole thing is so cute, by the way, lots of great projects and fashion inspiration.) We trudged up to Home Depot, and eventually found the aisle brimming with ropes, cords, lug nuts and nails. I didn't want to get too ahead of myself in case the results turned out to be sort of lame, so I selected a few bags of tiny gold hex nuts and a roll of neon pink cord. 

Once I got started braiding, looping and knotting, I couldn't stop. I tried and re-tried some different techniques (thank you, 10 years of summer camp friendship bracelets) and eventually created some bracelets I really love!

 

So for this first one, I just did a simple braid, but instead of using just three strands, I doubled up and used six. This created a thicker, stronger band, and held the hex nuts in place perfectly. I pulled two strings through each one, then just braided normally while pulling very tightly.

One thing to know about me is that when I feel crafty, I feel really crafty. Making one Valentine card becomes 50, and making one bracelet became four. I now feel an uncontrolable urge to go back to Home Depot and buy some more cord (Yellow! Orange!) and perhaps some silver hex nuts too, and just go to town. I have a feeling the hardware store cold become a wealth of inspiration! These little treats will make excellent gifts and be perfect to mix and match for some added zest in my summer wardrobe.

*I think you can find these supplies at any hardware store. The cord was about $5, and the bags of 8 hex nuts are about $1.20 each. (Keep in mind these could also be inflated NYC prices, so you might be able to try this for even less!

speaking of updating my sexy shoe wardrobe...

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted this, about my desire to amp up the sexy in my shoe wardrobe? Well, I haven't really, yet. Mostly because it's the dead of winter and I'm saving up to buy some snow boots. However, it's only January and I'm already dreaming of all the saucy, sexy, sweet and sassy little shoes I want to wear this spring. A little early I know, but I can't help it. Working (err, interning) in the fashion industry means you love next Spring's things in the Fall and next Fall's things in the Spring. Gaze with me, wont you, upon these ridiculous but rather irresistable shoes from Mui Mui's Spring 2011 collection:

Don't worry, I already know what you're thinking: Those shoes with all the little ankle straps look like the most painful things to walk in, perhaps ever. The model's feet look seriously strained. But ladies, don't even try to tell me that you wouldn't feel incredibly awesome wearing these shoes. I'm painting a wonderful mental image of myself sporting a pair of these with a pencil skirt and a cashmere twinset. Can you imagine? The contrast of such a conservative ensemble with absolutely over-the-top trendy, loud, neon, metalic, strappy, sexy shoes - makes me giddy.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I suppose I should focus on those snow boots... Ugh, winter.