Imagine you are {succumb} to one of these dreadful last minute situations:
THE GREAT ESCAPE
posted by Elshane on Jun 12 2014, under FashionImagine you are {succumb} to one of these dreadful last minute situations:
Tag: Travel
A quick trip to New York on June 1 ended up a two week stint in my old city I used to call home.
When I lived in New York, I worked for a sexy fashion designer (DVF), where I was at my desk by 8:30am, and straight to happy hour{s} by 8:30pm. A canvas bag held my days worth of necessities- foldable flats, minimal makeup re-freshers, a hair brush, and my signature scent.
The canvas bag stayed with me all night long, erasing and re-painting in a moments time, casually slipping on and off my heels, a spritz here and there. There's a formula for a working girl who only sees her $2,500/month studio for 7 hours a day: travel with as much and as little as you need to stay looking like your next encounter is your first.
However, this time, I had no desk-- just my keepsake canvas bag, as I ran from the Upper East Side downtown to Soho, across to Chelsea, and over to Meatpacking District, from morning to night, for meetings and styling appointments. Slipping on my heels, spritzing, re-applying, and tucking away the evidence in my ambiguous Valentino handbag...
Only to crash back at my Upper East Side apartment by midnight with an oversized smile and a story like only in New York...
It's not everyday that I find myself having a leisurely stroll in my hometown of Long Island. My trips back to New York typically go as follows: Red eye into NYC. Work all day. Catch up with friends all night. Sleep. Work all day. Catch up with family all night. Sleep. Work all day. Night flight back to LA. {Insert new highly anticipated single finger emoji here.}
So a leisurely stroll on Long Island where I grew up? Actually time to rub my eyes and glare at the surroundings that guided baby elshanesworld into the power girl she is today? {That woman is the all holy me I'm referring to.} Even if it was for just an hour...
It felt good to breathe that salty Lawng Island air. It felt good to be so fresh, so fly in a matching floral short suit, standing in Louboutin flats, on the very same boardwalk that used to bear the weight of my 96 lb. frame and my 3 lb. foam wedge Rocketdog flip flops.
Who's with me??
What's black leather intertwined with gold hardware and the envy of any starry-eyed chick on the block by resembling the most classic accent to a staple Chanel handbag?
My double wrap chain strap bracelet from CC Skye. One day a wrap bracelet, the next day a Rihanna-inspired choker necklace-- it screams Chanel from every angle (that is, except the bank).
It follows me monthly from Los Angeles to New York to Hong Kong-- swiftly interchanging roles from downtown cool as a layered arm look (like shown on my right hand in this post) to uptown boochild (when worn as a sophisticated necklace). It will never go out of style for as long as Chanel reigns queen of the closet, otherwise interpreted as "when pigs fly".
CC Skye, a longtime friend, was inspired by my double-duty wrap game from arm to neck-- a technique her team didn't anticipate when they designed the bracelet. Us chain gangerz pulled a two-fer right out from underneath her! It's the versatility of the right costume jewelry that makes it worth.every.cent. {Click here to snag one of these gems to park in your own accessories closet!}
Speak up this holiday weekend in striking whites with preppy and feminine undertones. While the rest of the crowd is drowning in a saturated pool of red and blue, stand out in the chicest hue of summer!
Try a white lace dress with a retro-fit swimsuit peaking from underneath, or a white oversized cable knit sweater slouched over America's favorite: the ripped jean short.
Attending a pool party? Become the award-winning guest by bringing the ultimate floating swan as a host gift. I promise you'll never again be forgotten on a party invite.
Shop now to ensure delivery in time for the big weekend ahead {T-10 days away}! Cheers to summer!
Shop from left to right:
Top 10 reasons to wear a romper this summer:
10. You can invest in an entire outfit with only one price tag. {Then, use the rest of your milk money to buy a stack of colorful bangles.}
9. Rompers wrote the book on day-to-night dressing. It's the perfect one-stop item for a quick mood transition (just swap out your daytime flats for an evening wedge sandal).
8. You can wear it over your swimsuit to the beach, just to be perfectly prepared once it's time for rosé on the boardwalk.
7. Rompers that tie at your mid-section emphasize your tiny waist and also make your legs look skinnier. {#winning}
6. Have a romper that doesn't have a pre-cinched waist? Perfect! Grab a wide belt in gold or tan and pair it back to matching flat sandals for a polished vibe.
It's takes a rare moment to hear me scream and shout {i scream for ice cream} ... over a top.
Such was the case when I dressed beach casual for a late afternoon of beers by the sand.
This drop back top flashed me back to high school when I used to drop a bare back like it was a cold shoulder; when yesterday's back bone was today's cheek bone. Now, at 51 percent low brow and 49 percent high brow, I went there, with chills down my spine.
An anti-Elshane moment {party tops are for people who wear jeans-- and I, of course, don't} in the making, I threw my mind in reverse and went back to high school. Grabbed a double scoop and a cold beer and let my smile do the talking.
And yes, I'd do it again.
Up the coast I went, with my tiny little suitcase packed for a weekend of beach, wine, exploration, wine, shopping, wine, and fine dining. Los Angeles to Santa Barbara was a quick two hour drive that reminded me exactly why I moved to California in the first place, as we navigated through the tall desert mountains and along the vast Pacific coast.
As a self-proclaimed queen of practicality amidst my sea of clothing chaos, I packed the perfect black rayon draped cardigan to pair back to each outfit day and night. The hidden buttons throughout the shoulder and waist of the wrap allowed me to perfect that hands-free Santa Barbara draping.
You know, to keep both hands ready for my next glass of wine...