Bad to the Rag & Bone

Verona Draped Dress

Tribeca Dress in Leather

Rag & Bone has been KILLING it lately. I can't get enough of their collection this spring/summer. And don't let me mislead you- I was also sweatin' them in the fall/winter, especially their waxed ankle boots. Meee-owwww.

I love them so much, I've already made two pieces my own, with more on the list, of course. The items are unique and interesting but still effortless and chic. Nothing is too tricky or complicated. In fact, this turquoise dress is the brightest their color palette gets- the color scheme has been very subdued, rich and tonal- camels, nudes and greys with accents of coral and black.

Tribeca Dress

Striped Racer Tank

Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans

Harrow Leather Ankle Boots

I'm particularly loving their lightweight knits. They've shown them time and time again layered over their floaty sun dresses. Here's just one example.

Exeter Crochet Sweater

Charlot Crepe Paneled Silk Dress

Babette Top & Foxberry Skirt

Amelot Dress

Albion Silk Chiffon Top

Look for Rag & Bone online at Net-A-Porter, Shopbop or Bergdorf Goodman. All of the chicest boutiques stock them as well.

I know I'll keep LOOKING.

all images via Net-A-Porter except Striped Racer Tank photo from Shopbop

La Fin du Cannes- Part Deux

Kirsten Dunst in Chanel Haute Couture

Okay, so I lied yesterday. Today is the REAL end of Cannes as far as my blogging is concerned- all of our pretty starlets and fashion mavens should be well on their way back home by now. But it is lovely that the film world gave us one last blast of glitz. Kirsten Dunst won the coveted Prix d'Interpretation Feminine or Best Actress award for "Melancholia" while wearing a gorgeous Chanel Spring 2010 Haute Couture gown.

Uma Thurman in Armani Prive

Karolina Kurkova in unknown

Daria Strokous

GORGEOUSNESS!!! Thank you, Cannes!

La Fin du Cannes

Milla Jovovich in Atelier Versace

Well, my friends, today marks the final day of glory and glamour in Cannes. I've thoroughly enjoyed following the gilded and glittering path of all the stars and models in heaven, er, France. By far the most stylish event of the entire festival seems to have been the amFAR's Cinema Against AIDS gala held on Thursday night to raise awareness and funds to fight HIV and AIDS. If there was ever a night to draw attention to, what a great cause to show up for.

Doutzen Kroes in unknown and Karolina Kurkova in Chanel Haute Couture

Jane Fonda in Roberto Cavalli

Alessandra Ambrosio in Roberto Cavalli

Frieda Pinto in Lanvin

Anja Rubik in Emilio Pucci

Goldie Hawn in Roberto Cavalli

Giovanna Battaglia

Bar Rafaeli in Roberto Cavalli with the designer

Of course, the movie premieres still prevailed.

Elena Anaya

Gwen Stefani

And, meanwhile, some of our favorite young stars sat front row at the Chanel Cruise 2012 show in neighboring Antibes.

Tang Wei

Rachel Bilson

Clemence Poesy

Blake Lively

So what do you think of the styles we've seen in France? Whether at a Cannes press junket or arriving at a fashion show, these stars showed that style prevailed! What I love most about French style is the ease of it all. Bar Rafaeli may be bedazzled by her dress and glitzy shoes but her hair is loose and wavy. Elena Anaya shines in sequins but the dress looks comfortable and she appears relaxed.

As summertime quickly approaches, take note of these warm-weather choices. You can't go wrong if you channel a little Cannes.

To Dye For

via Proenza Schouler Twitter

Are you obsessed with tie dyed tee shirts? No, not those dancing bears on a psychedelic trip tee shirts. I'm talking high-fashion, super stylish, fresh for the summer tie dyed tees.

Usually most of us would regard a pattern like this as yet another passing trend. However, tie dye has definitely had a hold on me for a solid year now.

It all started with this:

via Search. Style. Snap.

The Proenza Schouler Spring/Summer 2010 fashion show. The moment when the hippie dippy dye from a bygone era returned with an element of style and sophistication. Tie dye wasn't for Birkenstocks and druggies anymore. It was for sassy new outfits in bright colors unlike anything anyone else had.

My hunt began. I talked myself out of every single Helmut Lang, Tory Burch and P-S top I saw, convincing myself that the money spent would feel like a waste come 2011.

Fast forward to today. This is what I am wearing to WORK:

personal photo

BANANA REPUBLIC tie dye tee with a black Adam blazer and Red Engine jeans.

Now, granted, I work in a casual office, but the point is that mainstream stores and tons of designers have taken the hint and now mass produced all types of pieces in tie dye- scarves, tops, skirts- you name it! Luckily for our wallets, tie dye isn't just available from Proenza Schouler anymore.

L.A.M.B. tank via Shopbop

Gryphon skirt via Shopbop

If you're brave enough to DIY, go for it! But we can all take comfort in knowing that our favorite tie dye pieces are as close as our nearest chic boutique or shopping mall.

When You Go Shellac, You Never Go Back

Allow me to introduce you to my latest beauty obsession- CND's Shellac manicures. Seriously, this nail polish is the answer to all manicurally-challenged women in the world. Every. Single. Time. I got a manicure before, I would inevitably ruin it within 10 minutes of leaving the salon. Can you say furious?? You can bang Shellac with a hammer, cover your nails in black paint, even open a can of Diet Dr. Pepper and the stuff won't budge.

Shellac can best be described as nail polish on a high dose of prednisone. You brush it on just like normal nail polish and the finished product looks like normal nail polish but it completely dries in about two minutes per coat and lasts at least 14 days. No smudging, no chipping, no fading, no disappointment.

I got my first shot of shellac on April 28. I wanted sexy nails for my upcoming 28th bday and wanted the manicure to last. My shellac mani was going on day 18 when I finally went to the salon for round two. I didn't NEED new nail polish but I WANTED to do it again! It does cost a smidge more- about $10 extra- but it lasts about three times as long. (And my shellac pedicure is still going strong after three weeks- no chips, no smudges, still shiny.)

How can this be??

You don't want to know the science of it all and I don't feel like spilling it all out on my blog. BUT I can say that CND's Shellac is hypo-allergenic and contains no formaldehyde, no toluene and no DBP. You do have to dry your nails under a UV dryer for the polish to set, so wear your sunscreen if you worry about the exposure. To remove it, use an acetone nail polish remover soaked onto a cotton swab. Leave the swab on your nails, wrap them in tin foil and let them sit for about five minutes. The polish peels off or you can scrape it with a wooden cuticle stick. You will need to buff your nails for full removal- full disclosure.

via Product Girl

Voila! The end result! Is a little tin foil worth it? I think so...

Gorgeous, flawless nails that last AT LEAST 14 days. Unbelievable!

I strongly encourage you girls-on-the-go out there to give this stuff a try. It will change your life and keep you with pretty, shiny hands. Don't be fulled by other companies either. CND holds the patent on Shellac and no one else makes this product, not even our precious Essie or faithful OPI. My one complaint is that CND has not produced as many color choices as I'd like to see yet, but all in good time, I suppose...

I promise: Once you go shellac, you won't go back!

More Fashion from France

The Cannes International Film Festival still rages on across the Atlantic. I swear if you out from the beach here, you can ALMOST see the glitzy sparkles from the Cannes red carpet twinkling across the ocean's surface. Since my last post, more stars have taken the red carpet by storm. And the latest stand-out star has got to be Jessica Chastain.

Outshining BRAD at a premiere is no easy feat. But Jessica makes her "Tree of Life" co-star fade into the background with her classic silhouettes cut in bold colors. She looks traditionally ladylike yet modernly chic without much more than a swipe of red lipstick. Elegant. Stylish. Movie star.

Jessica Chastain in Zac Posen with Sean Penn and Brad Pitt

Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klein Collection

Jessica Chastain in Oscar de la Renta with Brad Pitt

But it would be a diservice to you, dear readers, to not show you other stylish stars and their interesting choices. Below, more fashionable picks. Who do you think should win our fashion Palm D'Or?

Zoe Saldana in Armani Prive

Kirsten Dunst in Chloe with Charlotte Gainsbourg

Karolina Kurkova in Emilio Pucci

Gwen Stefani in Stella McCartney

Doutzen Kroes

Fan Bing Bing in Oscar de la Renta

Astrid Berges-Frisby in Chanel Couture

Anna Dello Russo in Alberta Ferretti

I must commend Astrid Berges-Frisby for going full-on Chanel in France. Tres intelligente! But all of these ladies look ah-mazing.

Only a few days of Cannes left. Can't wait to see who will pull out all the stops!

all images via Harper's Bazaar