Summer Reading: Fifth Avenue, 5 a.m

I'm on this kick where I'm going back and reading all the books I "read" in high school and college but I'm going to take a break from Tolstoy for this one, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M: Audrey Heprburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Dawn of the Hidden Woman.   As much as it always pained me to stand on the sidelines the first day of field hockey practice because my parent's didn't hand in my health forms, I was always the first of my friends to see every movie, from the classics, like Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday, to The Bodyguard. (Even at five I knew there was something wrong with Whitney).  I can't remember when I first saw Breakfast at Tiffany's but I totally walked around in a black dress of my mom's for a week straight (with my plastic ruby slippers) and used a bic pen for a cig.  Every girl has a version of that story or had the freaking poster in their dorm room and this book attempts to pin-point why Breakfast is such a cultural phenomenon.   I think I'm going to get Truman Capote's Breakfast At Tiffany's before this book comes out on June 22; according to this NY Mag article, Capote wanted Marylin Monroe to play Holly.  I've always been interested to see the raunchy depiction of Holly as a call girl and not some space cadet who gets $50 to go to the powder room and now that I don't have to write a paper on it... it's the perfect time.

Summer Loving...

This spring has had more personalities than Spencer Pratt on a good day.  Some days its cold and rainy and other days it feels like we are in the middle of Palm Springs... only we're not.. we're in Manhattan.  In an attempt to KEEP CALM and CARRY ON here are some summer staples for whenever this summer season might want to settle into itself.

THE DRESS

This Shoshanna dress has every hot trend for the summer wrapped up into one beautifully constructed dress. Tie-die, bright colors and a little bit of Moroccan flair. Its perfect for this season but it works for every summer after it.

THE DRESS by gkatz featuring Shoshanna dresses

Items in this set:
Shoshanna Strapless Tie-Dye Dress, $340
Strapless Tie-Dye Dress, $340

Look how cute Kristen Bell looks in the one shoulder variation, which I've been trying like no other to track down!

Special thanks to Dani Rani Designs for the picture... couldn't find it anywhere!

THE SHOES

For the summer I'm pretty partial to wearing Tom's.  Tom's shoes have a great message (each pair you buy, they give a pair to a child in need), are super comfortable and thanks to their ecologically responsible, fabulous designs, they are really quite chic, selling everywhere from Bergdorfts to Whole Foods.  I just got this pair...

but there are so many other great styles.  Here are some more of my favorites:

toms by gkatz featuring TOMS shoes

THE TUNIC

This Marrakesh Caftan by Yoana Baraschi in either yellow or navy. It would look great at night for dinner or to throw on at the beach while you are heading to the snack bar.

THE JEWELRY

These bali necklace/earring sets.  Contact thebangledbunny@gmail.com for pricing information. I love that they are bib necklaces and have a little bit of an ethnic tint to them, yet are totally wearable with your favorite Lilly dress.

THE BEACH BAG 

This one is easy, its the canvas tote from iomoi.  I WILL get this ASAP, its been on my list of things to buy forever, but then I have to pay rent or something really inconvenient like that.

THE BATHING-SUIT

Anything from the designer Martha Rey. When I saw her suits I cursed my need to wear the equivalent of orthopedic swimwear. Just take a look:

This is so fun, love purple!

She makes one pieces look cool, like come on, that's impossible!

There is only 1 left of this on shopbop!!

A modern take on the yellow polka dot bikini... 

I'm debating the things I would do to own this cover up/dress... that goes for all of these things I suppose...

I Likey You, You Likey Me??

 I'm lusting after this Hockney Satchel from J-Crew.

And also, Ike Davis, the Met's new first baseman. {Sorry John, you had your chance!}

Bitchin' Brand: Issy Salomon Designs

While on a mission to retrieve my credit card from a sketchy "designer" sample sale store in Soho today I stopped by The Market; its like the best of the people with folding tables on the street in one enclosed, indoor facility.  There was a lot of cool stands of vintage jewelry, a woman with crazy feather headbands for $20 and then I came across Issy Saloman's table.  I immediately fell for his chunky bib necklaces, gold bracelets pops of neon cords and sailor knots with rose quartz beads creations.  Salomon's designs give girlie staples a little bit of grunge using hardware (legit one of his bracelets was made of bolts with bright green or pink string) and funky hooks.

Above are pictures from his website.  After a run in at the New York International Gift Fair with some crazy woman in the hand made section, I know better than to ask to take a picture of someone's original designs.  You can find his creations at Edge NY (65 Bleecker Street) or at Shop (105 Stanton Street).  Or visit The Market at 268 Mulberry Street between Prince and Houston.

Bitchin' Brand: Iomi

I. Want. Everything.  Iomoi is in on my bookmark bar (mostly because I couldn't remember the name and kept going omi-ee? Eomi?) and I click on it daily and just dream.  I've always loved home decor but since I started working for one it's becoming a problem, up there with shoes, almost.  Their stuff is to die for with really great, artful graphics in bright colors; I would call it elevated preppy, because its not just a bunch of pink and green swirls every which way.

Stationary is becoming obsolete, which scares me since I live for it, though I have no one to correspond with.  I mean I'm not exactly Pamela, I'm not writing away to my parents telling them about how I took down five tequila shots the other night like a champ or anything like that, but still thank you notes and the occasional greeting should always be hand written.  Should you want to make an electronic statement Iomoi does offer a line of e-stationary in all their great prints and more.  I am ordering my free sample right now.

It's funny to me going out at night and people are always giving each other their "cards".  Like we are extremely important or something that we need to be exchanging cards with shared work lines?  "Oh wow I met James John who is an ASSISTANT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE for the accounting firm of Bummblefook and Bum!"  However, one day I'd like the above to be my calling card, hopefully with something really important under my name like "mom of seven" or "interior designer."  As if their paper products weren't enough to fall for they are now developing a line for the home, which is another reason i check back religiously.

                              

Its actually impossible to pick just one that I like and hopefully, when I stop trying to pawn my Ikea side table off as a coffee table, I can slam one of these bad boys atop something a little less "made in China."

I do like this one, it goes along with my new Keep Calm Carry On obsession.  Also for the bedroom I'm thinking about getting a pair of these monkey pillows.

 

All these designs kind of look like Tory Burch slapped a tunic on an ape, and I don't hate it.

                            

These canvas pillows come in two different sizes and a lot of great patterns, even some good ones for the man in your life.  Another great gift that anyone would love, especially your man, are these great lucite ice buckets.

                              

There are some very girlie graphics, but totally some workable ones for those manly men. 

 The Anchors, skull and crossbones and more would be great, but I also really this "Drinks With James" one. 

                            

It reminds me of Fantastic Mr. Fox and plays to that guys fantasy of walking around with a martini and smoking jacket.  If you aren't in the market for home decor, you'll love their bag.

                           

In a great array of patterns, you can even design your own stripe.  I'm desperate for it to become my next summer bitch bag.  Be sure to check out Iomi as they are getting new products daily. (Think Butler Tray).

Bitch, Gimme that Shiiz: Eco Chic

I'm all for saving the environment, so much so I wont buy my range rover until they make a hybrid.  Anyway, there is a buzz that reusing bags helps save baby whales or whatever, but I never think to bring them when I go to the grocery store and then I get there and think of those stupid walruses chocking on a coke can and then I buy one of bags for a buck anyway and end up with thirty of those stupid things.  Send in thepinkmonogram.com!  With these cute bags that come in different sizes, colors and monogram options you wont forget to bring this along with you.