Tuesday: red Louboutin espadrilles

I was never one to follow the “no white before Memorial Day” rule — especially since I grew up in Texas, where summer often started not long after Valentine’s Day. But Memorial Day is just behind us, and I’m headed for a week in the Caribbean. Which makes me think about what I first declared to my older sister when I was probably about 12: You can never have enough white shirts!

Here are a few of my favorites this season:

If this Chloe broderie Anglaise blouse isn’t the perfect white blouse, I don’t know what is. Love the buttons.

Not quite ready to shell out $1500 for one top? This See by Chloe bib front blouse is a fine substitute at about 10% of the price!

This Charles Nolan dotted voile blouse is a fun variation on the swiss dot.

The balloon sleeves on this Stella McCartney top probably wouldn’t be practical in full-on summer but could be worn into the fall.

I suppose if you’re daring you could almost wear this Elie Tahari tunic as a dress!

The same can be said for this 3.1 Phillip Lim paisley tunic — no, it’s not all white, but it’s super cute!

Technorati Tags: white shirts, Chloe, Stella McCartney, See, Charles Nolan

Tuesday: straw Prada wedges

I’m starting the countdown now. The Saks flagship store on Fifth Avenue is opening a whole new shoe floor in August! That’s 8,500 square feet of shopping heaven — a 35% expansion from the current shoe department — so vast that it is getting its own zip code and commemorative stamps. (Gimmicky I know…) It’s as exciting as when Harvey Nicks finally opened a shoe department in the late ’90s, just as I was moving from London, I should note. Can you imagine, Harvey Nicks with without its fabulous shoes? Even though I couldn’t complain about the shoes I bought at Harrods and Selfridges, I still am filled with regret when I think about how I was deprived all those years before…

But back to the future. Imagine! There will be so much more room to graze, try on, strut, elbow all comers during sales. And most of all, Saks officials say, there will be a whopping 150% more shoes to be had on the sales floor. Be still my beating heart!

Technorati Tags: Saks, shoe department

Tuesday: Manolo gold lizard sandals

Vacation, time to get away! It’s been far too long since I’ve had a proper, do-nothing, sit-on-the-beach vacation — okay, how long ago is never? I’ve never been the sort to sit on the beach and do nothing. Will I get bored? Will I find somewhere to shop? Most importantly: What will I wear?!

Let’s start with these Fendi Cube Sunglasses. . .

…and add a bag. Though is this Celine Bittersweet Striped Large Bagtoo heavy for the Caribbean?

For a dinner out, I found this Missoni Assenzio Boatneck Dress. . .

. . . that could be worn with the Fendi Spicy Patent Sandal

So that’s one day down, six to go. Oh yeah, and what about the swimwear??

Technorati Tags: vacation, swimwear, beach, Fendi, Missoni, Celine

Wednesday: Gunmetal yellow peeptoes

Go! Run, don’t walk! Today is the day… The one and only Manolo sample sale. If you’re reading this over your morning coffee, you may already be too late! The masses have already gathered. If you’re just arriving now, you’ll see that the early birds probably have different colored tickets from yours and that can’t be a good thing. Do you have the patience to wait it out? Did your boss really believe that excuse (cough, cough) you gave over the phone? Sick? Try sick with anxiety! Is someone in that room scooping up every last pair in your size? Is everyone else a size 36 too??

Is it worth it? The wait, the anxiety, the thrown elbows? The cold sweat once you emerge and realize what a mega-dent you just made in your bank account? (Did you really need that pair of lavender crocodile Carolynes?)

Hell yeah! What are you waiting for?

Technorati Tags: Manolo Blahnik, sample sale

Tuesday: tan Chanel flats

Since we’ve been reliving my school days in fashion lately — from leggings to skinny jeans and beyond — I figured this day would come: Jellies are back! But not back soon enough for me. During last week’s torrential rains, I was wishing I had something stylish and water resistant to put on my feet while I gingerly waded through the flooded streets of New York City. (It was as if my two feet fell in line behind Noah’s other animals… two by two…) Only after the city dried out did I venture beyond the ‘hood to pick up a pair of these adorable Marc Jacobs jelly mouse flats — speaking of all God’s creatures — in smoky gray. They were the perfect mix of middle school memories and my favorite MJ shoes ever!

Technorati Tags: jelly shoes, Marc Jacobs