My sister and I are really big fans of CC Skye, especially when it comes to their cool bracelets and bangles. We wear them with everything! Jessica Alba was recently sighted wearing this woven bracelet while carrying her adorable daughter, Honor Marie. I am finding it difficult to resist the urge of picking up a bracelet for myself!



CC SKYE Wide Silver Mesh Bracelet $115; CC SKYE Wide Gold Mesh Bracelet $115; both @ Creative Contrast.

I am back in New York after spending time with my family for Memorial Day. It was the best trip ever because Tim proposed, and I said yes! We've been together for six years, but I was completely surprised! I think I am still in shock!! Needless to say, we are both very excited! There is plenty of time for planning later, so we are just enjoying the moment and each other's company!



I'll have more posts coming soon. xoxo Melanie

Nicole Richie's collaboration with jeweler Pascal Mouawad has proved to be a great success. Who can resist these vintage and tribal inspired gems?!


{top} House of Harlow 1960 14kt y/g Plated Tigers Eye Necklace $115 @ Singer 22; House of Harlow 1960 14kt y/g Plated Feather Necklace $65 @ Singer 22; House of Harlow 1960 - Gold Plated Medallion Locket $68 @ Kitson; House of Harlow 1960 - Black Resin Triangle Necklace $125 @ Kitson;

{bottom} House of Harlow 1960 Gold Aztec Bangle with Leather in 4 colors $75 @ Singer 22; House of Harlow 1960 Leather & Crystal Cocktail Ring $70 @ Shopbop; House of Harlow 1960 Sunburst Cocktail Ring-PRE ORDER $50 @ Pink Mascara; House of Harlow 1960 Plated Aztec Bangle in Black-PRE ORDER $75 @ Pink Mascara; House of Harlow 1960 14kt Gold Plated Thick Stack Bangles in Gold, Rose Gold and Palladium $55 @ Singer 22;

While tie dyed peace sign tees are readily available, I prefer my tie dye to take on a more grown up persona. This tie dye isn't just for the Birkenstock fan set:



{top} ideeen black/white eclipse print tank $214 @ Oak; ADAM Tie Dye Deep V Dress $276.50 @ Shopbop; Laeken napoli dress $238 @ Candy Store Collective; Anna Sui
Tie-dye halter dress $276 @ Net-A-Porter; Foley + Corinna Tie Dye Mini Dress $462 @ Shopbop; Moschino Cheap and Chic One Shoulder Dress $695 @ Shopbop; laeken osake tie dye dress $248;

{bottom} Sunshine & Shadow Silk tie-dye scarves $115 each @ Net-A-Porter; Zimmermann Stud Bag $350 @ Shopbop; Jimmy Choo Peep-Toe Platform Slingbacks $725 @ Saks; Chili Tie Dye TOMS $44; Reed Evins Tie Dye Thong Sandals in purple $200.20 @ Shopbop; Reed Evins Tie Dye Toe Ring Sandals in orange $200.20 @ Shopbop; Tied & Dyed Sandals $90 @ Anthropologie; Unisex Tie Dye Circle Scarf $34 @ American Apparel; Reed Evins
Tie Dye Ballet Flats $197.40 @ Shopbop; Tie-Dye Scarf, Kate Moss Collection $70 @ Topshop;

The wait is finally over, the Elizabeth & James shoe collection is now available online at Shopbop, and in stores! The details are quite impressive on this collection! While I was hoping their collaboration with Steve Madden would make the shoes slightly more affordable, I will happily trade affordability for high quality. The majority of the collection is available in the $300 range, my favorite styles are pictured below:



{l to r} Elizabeth and James Luella High Heel Gladiator Booties in Metallic Pewter $325; Elizabeth and James Olisa Open Toe Ankle Strap Pumps in Black $295; Elizabeth and James Haley Buckle Back Platform Wedge Sandals in Rust $325; Elizabeth and James Olivia Open Toe Two Piece Pumps in Taupe $270; Elizabeth and James Jasmine Ankle Strap Platform Pumps in Bone $295; Elizabeth and James Luella High Heel Gladiator Booties in Black $325; all @ Shopbop.

I adore the latest offerings from Corey Lynn Calter. Everything is a light from the mix-n-match prints styled with metallic oxfords, to the punchy neon hues, and the tribal prints and patterns. My empty wallet is the only thing keeping me from collecting them all!

1/30-2/15 collection:

View the entire lookbook here.

3/30/2009 collection:

View the entire lookbook here.

4/30/2009 collection:

View the entire lookbook here.

Shop the online store, or find a retailer by clicking here.

All images via Corey Lynn Calter.

Jessica Rust Designs creates gorgeous personalized dinnerware that makes for the perfect gift. With all the weddings and bridal showers we all have coming up this season this is the perfect place to go for fun and unique gifts. Some of my favorite designs are pictured below:


{top} Silhouettes $110; Love Birds Serving Bowl $75; Love Birds Dessert Set $125; Umbrella Girl Small Plate $25, 4 for $75; all @ Rust Designs.

{bottom} Dinner Plate">Birch Tree Dinner Plate $55, 4 for $165; Set of 4">Birch Mugs Set of 4 $58;

The Sweden based fashion line, Permanent Vacation, aims to re-introduce a classic gentleman's way of dressing, which they define as: "dapper, shapely, comfortable and useful, garments aimed to love, wear out and repair." Their spring/summer 2009 collection is perfect for lazy sundays and morning afters. They make it easier for us to look pretty and comfortable simultaneously. I am head over heels in love with Permanent Vacation's batik print Lainee dress and of course Jenny Groth's gorgeous photography.

Laura Berger's shop Laura George is filled with illustrations and paintings of imaginative creatures with personality. I adore her work, as it never fails to put a smile on my face. These simple and endearing prints will do just that:


"You're Doing Everything Right" by Laura Berger $20 @ Laura George.


"Things Are Going To Work Out" by Laura Berger $20 @ Laura George.


"You are Beautiful" by Laura Berger $20 @ Laura George.

See more of Laura's work on flickr and on her blog.

Design*Sponge posted gorgeous photos of Alissa & Ryan's California ranch wedding and I was instantly smitten. The wedding was designed by Lisa Vorce of Oh, how charming!, flowers were designed by Mindy Rice Floral Design, paper products were designed by Yellow Owl Workshop, and the wedding was photographed by the extraordinary Jose Villa.


View more photos here, read more about the wedding here.

{Anna Wintour wearing Chanel S/S 2009 at the Met's Costume Institute Gala}


Anna Wintour will appear on 60 Minutes Sunday (tomorrow) in a rare televised interview and profile, so set your DVRs! Check out the video preview of the interview with Vogue's editor-in-chief after the jump:





The interview will air on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday, May 17, at 7 p.m. ET/PT
{photo via Getty Images

Mascara is essential for me. I have a ton of lashes but being a blonde, they are nearly invisible without it. There are a ton of really fabulous mascaras available at your drugstore. And while I have a soft spot for Dior & Lancome mascaras, I go through mascara like crazy so I try to mix it up with some affordable options. About a week ago, I picked up CoverGirl's new Exact Eyelights Mascara in Black Sapphire and I was thrilled with the results! They should rename it to bright blue eyes. For those of you who are weary of colored mascara you shouldn't be afraid of this formula. Trust me, I am the last person on earth...well maybe not the last, but I'm at least not the most likely person to be walking around with blue lashes. The blue reflects are very subtle, but just enough to make your eyes pop. Definitely, give this mascara a try!!

"Rainy Days" by Meyer-Lavigne is a delightful collection of porcelain vases each of which is decorated with beautiful lines, shapes and colors inspired by rainy days, stormy weather, tornados, ships in rough seas, puddles and quiet grey cities. They are so lovely, I am tempted to collect them all!


{clockwise} Rainy Days - ship in high sea $42.36; Rainy Days - pink mushroom $68.29; Rainy Days - bird on a raining cloud $68.29; Rainy Days - smoking ship $42.36; Rainy Days - small bird singing $34; all @ Meyer-Lavigne

Be sure to check out the Meyer-Lavigne blog too!

The folks over at the Creative Contrast have been so kind to offer Platinum Blonde Life readers 10% off of any purchase for the next two weeks! Simply enter the code: PLAT10 at checkout! To help you with your selections, I have compiled some of my top picks for summer!



{top} SIR ALISTAIR RAI Jackie O Dress in Lime Floral Print $125; JESSICA KAGAN CUSHMAN Handmade Resin Butterfly Cuff in Ivory $155; SIR ALISTAIR RAI OM Tribal Clutch in Tan $56; TOLANI Daisy Print Scarf in Pink/Blue/Brown $82; CC SKYE Double Woven Leather Wrap Gold Chain Bracelet as seen on Nicole Richie $229; TOLANI Daisy Print Scarf in Green/Yellow/Purple $82; all @ Creative Contrast.

{bottom} KENNETH JAY LANE Swarovski and Pearl Center Flower Ring $149; KENNETH JAY LANE Black with a Pearl Center Flower Cuff Bracelet $145; Kidada for Disney Couture Princess Wrap Bracelet Silver and Blue $99; all @ Creative Contrast.

If there was a collection that defined happy clothes so perfectly it would be the Thread Social Spring 2009 collection. How can one resist the combination of flirty silhouettes and splashes of vibrant colors and patterns!? It is impossible. My favorite looks from the collection are pictured below:



View the entire collection here. View the Summer 2009 collection here.

If you have a baby in the family, or one on the way, be sure to check out Dwell Studio's newborn clothing collection. The entire collection is adorable, and is available at affordable Target prices! Check out my favorite pieces below:


For Girls:


{l to r} Newborn Girls DwellStudio for Target® Ruched Top - Ice $6.99; Newborn Girls DwellStudio for Target® Short-sleeve Sweater Alpine Tundra $12.99; Newborn Girls DwellStudio for Target® Poplin Capri - Grey $6.99; Newborn Girls DwellStudio for Target® Bib Top Dress - Chalk $12.99; Dwell Studio for Target® Infant Girls Hoodie- Multi Striped $6.99;Newborn Girls' Dwell Studio for Target Swirl Top - Pink $6.99; Newborn Girls' DwellStudio? for Target® Pleated Top - White Bath $6.99; all @ Target.


For Boys:


{l to r} Newborn Boys DwellStudio for Target® Short-sleeve Rugby Top - Semi Bleach $6.99; Newborn Boys DwellStudio for Target® Cargo Short - Khaki $9.99; Dwell Studio for Target® Bib Set- Airplanes $9.99; Newborn Boys DwellStudio for Target® Romper - White $9.99; Dwell Studio for Target® Short Sleeve Bodysuit- White Planes $3.99; Newborn Boys' DwellStudio? for Target® Number Hoodie - Navy $9.99; all @ Target.

If there is one beauty obsession I am guilty of it is nail polish. I am constantly fussing over nail polish, painting my nails, and finding the best spas for my manicure/pedicures. The right shade is essential, and the folks at New York Magazine seem to recognize that and did some of the leg work for us. They have painstakingly put together a list of 110 best nail colors found in NYC-- covering drugstore, salon, & department store favorites. In edition to the polish details, they have posted swatches, so decisions can be made at your desk. My favorite hues from their selections are posted below:


{top} 1) Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Mica Rose $23; 2) Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Purple Candy $20; 3) NARS Nail Polish in Arabesque $16; 4) Laura Mercier Nail Lacquer in Sheer Kiss $15; 5) OPI Nail Polish in Miami Beet $9; 6) Sula Paint & Peel Nail Polish in Modern Mauve $9; via Shop-A-Matic @ NY Mag.

{bottom} 7) M.A.C. Nail Lacquer in Love & Friendship $11; 8) SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Delight $10; 9) OPI Nail Polish in Second Honeymoon $9; 10) Sula Paint & Peel Nail Polish in Watermelon $9; 11) Maybelline New York Express Finish 50 Second Nail Color in Pink Shock $5; 12) Essie Nail Polish in Fishnet Stockings $8; via Shop-A-Matic @ NY Mag.

Check out the whole slideshow of NYMag's polish selections here.

Karl Lagerfeld directed Lara Stone in this short film for Chanel's Fall 2009 collection. "Fitting Room Follies" is a must see:

Elizabeth & James Sample Sale
May 15th & 16th 11am-7pm
May 17th 12p-6p
72 Wooster btw Spring/Broome
Get up to 90% off...and as a bonus LaRok will be there too! :)

Part II of the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection hits stores tomorrow! I can't wait to see the collection in person! Watch the campaign video starring the fabulous Daria Werbowy while you wait with bated breath.

I am the girl who can never get enough of the hairbands, flowers, or hats. I am always looking for something new, different, and wonderful and that led me to the very talented Lara Vincent. Her headdresses are simply stunning, and can be made to order for something completely original or can be purchased in her etsy shop.

Check out some of my favorite looks are pictured below:




Check out her blog to see more images, or to place an order (all pieces are made to order and priced from 75-300 dollars). Be sure to also stop by her etsy shop.


{all images via the flowers of evil}

Frances May is a Portland, Oregon based boutique run by a Grandmother/Granddaughter team. The boutique carries an impressive selection of indie designers for both Men & Women. They certainly cover all of my favorites! In addition to their great selection, the online version of their store is a breeze to shop with lovely lookbook images from multiple angles which is really a must when making decisions from the opposite coast.  Check out some of my Frances May favorites below:

  

{top} Mociun Atri Skirt $215; Corpus Cream A-line Raincoat $275; all @ Frances May.

{middle} Lover Underwire Top & 50's Trunks $220; Lover Diciple Mini Dress $360; all @ Frances May. 

{bottom} Church & State Quatre Dress $260; Built By Wendy Silky Ruffle Skirt $198; all @ Frances May.

Hansel From Basel's spring/summer 2009 lookbook is adorable. If you're a fan of the socks with sandals trend we've seen on the runway and in lookbooks everywhere, you'll no doubt be smitten this their latest collection:



View the entire selection & shop it here.

The price of a U.S. postage stamp for a first-class letter increased from 42 cents to 44 cents today. I think it is silly they insist on raising the price every five seconds, but I still have some Forever stamps to use so I can't complain too much. However, when I do run out of stamps I'll be picking up these lovely King + Queen Love stamps! If all stamps were this pretty, I probably wouldn't complain about the increase at all!

The Spring/Summer 2009 collection was inspired by Valley of the Dolls, Sharon Tate, and Priscilla Presley. The result of course is a collection of gorgeous and feminine, 1960s inspired looks. The lookbook photography is equally stunning...


View the entire Spring/Summer 2009 collection here.

The Portland, Oregon based fashion line Church & State offers us a perfect blend of modern and classic design. Here are some of my favorite looks from their line:


View the entire lookbook here.

My Mom with my niece/makeup artist, Jaelin.


Hope you have a great day Mama! LUAWGBL xoxo -Melanie

I adore Zooey Deschanel's cotton commercial! It is a visual treat...

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain is my new drugstore beauty obsession! It is amazing! I love lip stains because they have the ability to give you just a pinch of lip color that lasts all day, or you can create an intense matte lip that will make it past your first martini or, ahem, your fourth. The CoverGirl formula comes in a variety of amazing shades, and has a fine-tip applicator, similar to that of a marker, making it easy to create a perfectly precise lip. Today I wore the lipstain in Everbloom Kiss and applied a clear gloss over it to create a shiny, punchy pink lip. At the end of the day, my lips are still perky & pink! Get yours here for $7.49.

Stila gave us a bit of scare, but they are baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack (WHEW!) and they are showing us girls the love by giving a free luxe lip gloss with any purchase of $25 or more. Claim yours by entering the code "APPRECIATE" at checkout.

I've been looking for some affordable summer shoes in fun stand-out styles. This is when I came across Lovely People's latest collection. I was instantly smitten. Check out some of my favorite looks below:

{top} Meadow in Pewter $150; Lara in Black $132; Naomi in Off White $143; all by Lovely People.
{bottom} Leo in Black $99; Avery in Black $132; Eternity in Brown $143; all by Lovely People.

Lovely People is also available online at Piperlime.

Anna Sui will follow in Alexander McQueen's footsteps this fall by designing a line for Target's Designer Collaborations Series. The collection will hit stores and online on September 13th. Ms. Sui is reportedly getting her inspiration from everyone's favorite guilty pleasure, Gossip Girl. We can't wait to see what she comes up with. For now, we'll have to browse Anna Sui for Anthropologie:


{clockwise} Rose Festival Dress $608; Hidden Grove Dress $218; Katya Top $248; Light & Ease Skirt $168; all @ Anthropologie.

The Gap has teamed up with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nominees Vena Cava & Alexander Wang for their latest Design Edition capsule collection. The Design Editions will hit stores and online on June 16th. Racked has the first photos of the collaboration, and if you love khaki you are in for a treat. Vena Cava has some cool prints, while Alexander Wang delivered a motorcycle jacket that is sure to sell out!


For more pictures head over to Racked.

The new CHANEL N°5 film, "Train de Nuit", by Jean-Pierre Jeunet starring Audrey Tautou and Travis Davenport is quite lovely.



There has been a bit of a Chanel craze here in the city. In honor of Cinco De Mayo, Saks Fifth Avenue have replaced their American flags with Chanel No. 5 flags, while sections of 5th Avenue have been dedicated to the classic fragrance. It was quite the sight:



Honestly, I think they should leave it like that. :)

{photos via Racked}

There are two more sales going down in the Big Apple in the next few days that you should be getting excited for!

The first being the Delman sale where sandals, heels, flats, gladiators, etc. will be priced using a tier system $89, $99 or $109 with samples going for $45-30.

Delman Sale
Wednesday, May 6th through Friday, May 8th.
Wed, Thu 10am—7pm; Fri 10am—3pm.
145 W 18th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves
212-388-0339


Next up is our favorite, Loeffler Randall! It will be their first ever sample sale, so I imagine there will be a good turn out! Maybe not like the Jimmy Choo hell, but close. I suppose if we survived that mayhem we can make it through anything right?!? Right. With prices starting at $125 for flats/sandals, $78 for clothing, $105 for handbags, how can we resist?


Loeffler Randall Sale
Wednesday, May 6th through Saturday, May 9th.
Wed, Thu, Fri 10am—7pm; Sat 11am—6pm
525 Broadway at Spring St, suite 202
212-226-8787

Happy shopping.

I am completely smitten with the beautiful embroidered pieces and lovely prints in the Yoana Baraschi Spring 2009 collection:


View the entire collection here. Check out the shop here.

The Kentucky Derby is today, and for the first time in my life I actually put some money down on the race. I placed a couple of Win/Place bets on Chocolate Candy & Regal Ransom early this morning. Wish me luck! My favorite thing about the Derby, is the fashion at Churchill Downs. Check out my Derby essentials below:

{l to r} Hat $258 @ The Hat Shop; Mint Julep (recipe here); Lela Rose Silk faille dress $1,095 @ Net-A-Porter; Tiffany & Co. Horseshoe Charm $125 @ Tiffany's; Lauren Merkin Louise Embossed Suede Clutch $200 @ Shopbop; Fendi Grosgrain bow-front pumps $705 @ Net-A-Porter;

I rarely can resist the colorful prints of Tsumori Chisato. Similarly, I have about as many headbands as Blair Waldorf so it was inevitable that I would fall for these lovely Tsumori Chisato headbands, and I have a feeling you will too...


{clockwise} Tsumori Chisato, Flower Hairband, $55; Tsumori Chisato, Cattle Lace Hairband, $70; Tsumori Chisato, Flower Hairband, $55; Tsumori Chisato, Cattle Lace Hairband, $70; all @ Opening Ceremony.

After a five year break, No Doubt is back together and on tour. Check them out performing live here in NYC this morning on the Today show below: