Entre Nous.

Bonanno's or barefoot

As the official end of summer looms, the mention of sandals might seem a tad odd. For me though, as long as the weathers still nice and the pedicure still in tact, why not. Every summer I attempt to find myself an "it" sandal. Not "it" as in the newest, latest, most covetable (not that I'm opposed to that sort of thing), it's merely the sandal I'll get the most use out of. This summer I went with a pair of Stephen Bonanno Sandals. In layman's terms they're known as the Jackie Kennedy navajo sandal (eventually renamed the Palm Beach sandal). The shoe was originally designed for Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960's by Stephen Bonanno's father in collaboration with famous shoe designer Luigi Pucillo. Bonanno sandals are completely customizable, you select the base color, whip stitch color and heel of your shoes, making your shoe one of a kind. In honor of Jackie, I went with the classic white on white.

All lacquered up

 
  
As a last-ditch effort to hang on to summer as long as possible, I've polished the fingernails in Chanel's Nouvelle Vague. A striking robin's egg blue hue that one really can only get away with in the warmer months. The warm weather here in the San Juans has most definitely left the building. So Nouvelle Vague keeps the facade of summer going, at least through the weekend. The polish played a prominent role in Beyonce's "Why Don't You Love Me"? video. Expertly styled/art directed to feel both retro and contemporary at the same time.

Sun kissed

In honor of the last (unofficial) weekend of summer I'd like to mention a product that worked miracles for me this summer. My presence was requested in the position of bridesmaid at a dear friends wedding taking place on one of the San Juan Islands in August. The wedding was to be held out of doors at a lovely organic farm.

 

To tan or not to tan, I debated. Being a redhead, I'm obviously naturally pale. I can get a tan of sorts over time. But time I did not have. In the midst of a major cross country move, I felt as though I had barely seen the light of day. My arms have a smattering of freckles, which give the illusion of a tan. My face, I would leave as is. It was my legs that worried me.

 

Tanning beds were not an option. I've never tried one and never will. I considered the spray tan, but since I only needed my legs tanned, that seemed a waste of money.

 

The previous summer I'd purchased Estée LauderSelf-Tanning Milk. The unseemly scent that typical accompanies a self tanner was somehow masked in this product. The tan it produced was a delicious bronze. The only problem may have not been with the product itself, but rather my adeptness in application. Because the self tanner was colorless, I would often miss spots and therefore end up with a splotchy (at best) tan. I did find out that Estée Lauder makes a Tinted Self-Tanning Gelée, which provides a instant bronze tint.

 

Rather than invest in this alternative product, I decided to go the drug store route and purchased L'Oréal Paris Self-Tanning Mist. It boasts no streaks (true) and no self tan smell (true-ish). I must admit I was taken with the 360 degree wide angle applicator and the lack of rubbing necessary, therefore eliminating the risk of the telltale self-tan giveaway - orange hands. I enlisted the help of an "assistant", those more adept might be able to apply the product on their own, but I thought less errors would occur with assistance. Or maybe I just wanted someone to blame if things went awry. The application seemed effortless and the product dried almost instantly. No streaking or white skin in sight, when the tan finally did appear. Whatever direction you held the can it sprayed with ease. There was a slight self tanner scent initially, but it dissipated. I applied the product twice a day for four days and the results were a natural looking bronze tone. The can is a rather unfortunate shade, but that matters little. When reading the instructions, they state that you'll notice a tan developing after an hour. Ha! I thought the product wasn't working and picked up another department store self tanner to apply as backup the next day. But the next morning I awoke with lovely tanned legs. Perhaps my legs were so pale they needed more time than normal to transform, but my suggestion, have patience. The product is cheap, which when you're a bridesmaid in a wedding and you've already spent a small fortune, the last thing one wants to spend money on is their tan.

Donna Martin graduates!

Here's to the first and only 90210 (9-02-10) Day! I'm sure everyone broke out their Doc Martens in honor of the occasion. I knew there was a reason I held onto mine.

 

90210, thanks for the memories - for casting adults to portray teenagers (Andrea was pushing 30), for coining the catch phrase "Donna Martin graduates!", for Dylan's sideburns and Steve's pseudo-mullet, for your lack of a theme song, for the way you tackled subjects like date rape, alcoholism, domestic violence, gun control, gay rights, teen suicide, AIDS, teen pregnancy, abortion and eating disorders - sometimes all in one episode, for the Brenda-Dylan-Kelly love triangle, for Steve's Corvette's vanity plates - "I8A4RE", for Jamie Walters (I mean really, How does one talk to an Angel?) guest stint as Donna's abusive boyfriend, and for characters with names like "Emily Valentine"...

Cherish, Collect, Pass on

I had my first encounter with Penguin cloth bound classics during my last visit to E. Shaver Booksellers in Savannah. I instantly knew I'd stumbled upon a good thing. How have I not been aware of the existence of these delicious books?! I restrained myself from making a purchase then and there. Since I was in the midst of packing up bookshelf upon bookshelf to be transported across the country, accumulating more books at that particular moment seemed in bad form. But once arriving in Washington I couldn't stop myself from picking up the first of what I hope will grow to be a (un petit) collection. I was torn between The Picture of Dorian Grey and Pride and Prejudice, as both are favorites, but in the end went with the latter. The cloth bound covers of the "world's famous books" were designed for Penguin by Coralie Bickford-Smith. "Featuring gorgeous patterns stamped on linen cases, colored endpapers, and ribbon markers, these are rich and sumptuous volumes that continue what will be one of the most coveted sets of books ever produced", states Peguin, modestly. Hear, hear! Each book is indeed more lovely than the next. And how much do I adore not having an obnoxious dust jacket to contend with.