Shiny Little Things

Though I've been on a self-imposed makeup-buying ban, a girl just can't help herself sometimes. It's the easiest pick-me-up I know of, and the superficial aesthete in me loves trying new brands if even just for their beautiful packaging. I'm also heading to SF tomorrow (on a 6am flight, why?!) and I have a bad habit of picking up a few new things each time I travel somewhere (which has been quite a bit this year...).



Whenever I see a bright red lipstick with slight tinges of orange or coral, I know it'll probably be a winner. A lot of pinks and berries just don't look good on my skin tone. And it's a bigger bonus if the lipstick is matte, like this one that I just picked up by Charlotte Tilbury. I find that matte finishes tend to last longer for me, even through drink and food.

A makeup artist I worked with recently introduced me to Kjaer Weis, an organic and natural makeup brand that still feels luxurious and sleek. The packaging is amazing. The compact feels like a solid piece of metal and it's refillable so now I can just buy refills when I'm done. I'm starting my collection with this cream blush, which I tried immediately after photographing and love how easily it glides on and blends.

And if you're curious, this tiny bag is the YSL Camera Bag. I picked it up a few months ago as a cute evening bag option, but it juuuust barely fits my iPhone 6+, so I haven't used it quite as much as I should have. These shiny sunglasses are from Anne et Valentin. The wee little perfume is from a Tom Ford mini collection pack, which seems to have been only available over the holidays.

Now I'm looking forward to escaping these near 100-degree days for a nice cool SF!

Étourdissant Cartier

I haven't felt this speechless in a while in trying to start a blog post. I'm afraid, of course, that my writing won't even begin to do the experience justice. The experience being my whirlwind French Riviera trip to celebrate Cartier's High Jewelry collection, Étourdissant Cartier. My speechlessness is somewhat fitting, given that there is no real word or translation for "étourdissant" in English. It can be loosely translated as something stunning that might blow you away or make you feel dizzy or faint. And that it did. The scenes that passed by me seemed to be straight out of a dreamy world that only live on Pinterest boards and imaginations. What I can do is share with you some moments (which was incredibly hard to narrow down) from those otherworldly 48 hours or so.

Above: Setting the scene – we took countless boat rides and ended up on either beautiful islands or majestic estates.
Below: The site of the jewelry presentation (with over 400 striking pieces) was in a residence with sprawling gardens that led right out to the sea. With all the sapphires (including this head-turner of a piece), emeralds, rubies, onyx, coral, and diamonds (and more!) in one place, I walked through the rooms almost in a daze.

Leave it to Cartier to pull off a surprise helicopter adventure that took us to the top of a mountain where there was champagne and sweets waiting for us, all without a hitch. This was actually my first time in a helicopter and I couldn't have asked for a better way to see the scenery (and stalk the STUNNING homes in the area from the air).

When you think it couldn't possibly get any dreamier, it does. Because a vintage Citroën DS ride to Picasso's last residence where the sun is setting perfectly over the hills is more picturesque than anything I could conjure up in my wildest imagination. I hate to sound braggy, but my god, there's no other way to talk about this setting.

It's truly a treat to experience the level of attention and detail that a house like Cartier puts into everything they do. A big 'Merci' to them for the incredible memories and inspiring adventure.

Teaser

I'm back from France but unpacking and repacking for an editorial travel job up in CT for the next few days. I am dying to work on a longer blog post from my trip, but barely have enough hours in a day as it is, so will gently put it on hold for now. I love the recent colors on my Instagram feed so much that I'm so sad to break it and have to start posting sad grey, not so vibrant things again. On the flip side, I've really missed my morning coffee routine (have had way too many terrible, expensive espressos) and am so thankful to have that for a day or two again. After CT, I'm headed to SF for a wedding and a proper west coast trip... already dreaming of the west coast light and Big Sur.

Though I love being on the go constantly, everything has basically exploded over my apartment and I feel like I'm constantly trying to catch up in the interim, and still trying (or failing) to meet the demands of my job. It's a tricky balance and not actually all that fun and games despite the carefreeness that might be portrayed on social media. In the end, it's still incredibly fulfilling and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Off to the French Riviera

I've been looking forward to this trip for what feels like forever now. It's a quick one, sadly. Two nights in Cannes, and two nights in the Antibes area. Nonetheless, I could not be more excited. I still haven't finished packing (flight is tonight), but instead took a few snaps of the general vibe of my packing (priorities, right?). It's a little tricky since I do have to bring some slightly dressier clothing for the events I'm attending, but I'm still refusing to check a bag; everything must fit in a carry-on.



Since I'm taking a red-eye, I like to be comfortable without looking like a slob. I prefer softer bralettes on these flights, like this one. I always opt for jeans (these are nice and thick with a mid-rise) and any easy top that won't wrinkle. I recently got this hand cream at a friend's recommendation and love the smell and thicker texture. Perfect for flights. This book will be my in-flight and any downtime-on-the-beach read. I was a huge fan of Emma Straub's The Vacationers, so I wanted to try one of her others. Of course, I keep my travel camera (which looks like it's gone down in price a bit), Smythson notebook, and mints with me in my personal bag as well. Still debating which shoes to actually wear on the flight, but it's between these and simple black flats.



I haven't bought a new swimsuit in years. I just don't do the beach/pool/lake whatever thing very often. I thought this was a ripe opportunity to get one that doesn't cause wardrobe malfunctions like my current one does... (learned that the hard way). I happened to find this reversible one-piece at a boutique in Soho just the other day, and found it super comfortable with nice modest coverage. I know I sound like a granny, but I'm just not into the skimpy stuff. This hat might be wishful thinking. Not sure I'll actually be able to fit it in the carry-on. And I just realized the sunscreen rolled over while I shot this; this is what happens when you're racing against sun moving behind clouds and not paying attention. Styling mistakes! I bought these sandals over a year ago and never actually have worn them (again, this goes back to my lack of beachy travels). I do like how simple they are, but wish I had gotten them in a natural/tan color instead. By the way, Matches definitely has the best pries for these, if you are in the market for a pair.



And of course, more stripes. Easy shorts (from my last post). And a worn-up pair of sandals that can handle more beating (newer version here). Though it's pictured here, when I travel I usually don't bring full-size perfume bottles. I'll try to take a tiny vial of whatever it is I want. Now, I should probably actually pack my bag!

Denim and whites

It was a hot one this weekend. I tried to wear as little as possible without being scandalous. These shorts and tank top were quite a bargain at $50 and $28, respectively. Despite their price points, they feel and look more expensive, and you know how obsessed with high-rise anything I am these days. I picked up the same tank in nude as well because they're so easy and can be worn with just about anything. They're also double-layered so the white is fairly opaque.

This tote is definitely no stranger to the blog, and it's held up really well even after being in bad weather and just generally being tossed around and stuffed to the brim. I finally got my hands on the Maryam Nassir Zadeh Palma sandals that I've been eying forever. The boutique in NYC restocked recently, so I pounced on a pair. They come in so many beautiful colors (like these and these) it was hard to choose a pair, but I found the white to be just as striking as a brighter color.

For all the commenters curious about the accessories: The necklace is Still House; rings are Catbird, Still House, and N+A; watch is Hermes (secondhand one here).

I'm already craving sweater weather, but I suppose it'll be here before I know it!

Just a few Paris recs

Yikes, July came quickly this year. I suddenly feel incredibly behind on everything and bizarrely, I feel like I'm in limbo, even though I have no reason to. Hopefully the feeling will be shaken off soon. I wanted to share a few Paris addresses (for food & drink) that you shouldn't miss if you find yourself there any time soon. It's by no means comprehensive, and it doesn't include many of my all-time old favorites, but compiling all of that will be a project for another rainy day. Some of these have been around for a while too, but I figured they were still worth mentioning.



1) When can you ever really go wrong with tacos, guacamole, and cocktails? I loved Candelaria and went both times during my May visits. To get to the actual cocktail bar portion, walk past the tiny taco bar and a magical door will transport you to a much larger space. I was also pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorite cocktails, the Naked & Famous, on the list.



2) Bob's Juice Bar is a total gem and lifesaver for my outbound flight meals. I know you're thinking, why go to a "juice bar" in Paris, especially one run by an ex-New Yorker? When you need a little something to chase down all the croissants and baguettes, it's so refreshing to have an easy, quick, healthy lunch option. Plus, the produce in France is way better. I now grab their daily salad here before my flights back, and I actually look forward to my in-flight meal now.



3) Fewer things are more comforting than a steaming bowl of udon, in my opinion. Kunitoraya is my go-to first-night-off-the-plane meal. I'm usually exhausted and a bit delirious, and I just want something that's not fussy at all and will satisfy me. Start with some pickled radishes, share a rice bowl (not to be missed), and then have a big bowl of udon to yourself, because you won't want to share.



4) Nicolas from Telescope (a coffee shop that's perpetually on my recommend list, obviously) had recommended Le Servan a while back and I finally got to try it in May. You'll get incredible value at lunch in a beautiful but casual space. There's not much I can say about the food to do it justice, but just trust me on this one and check it out for yourself.



5) It seems like you can't really get a "bad" baguette in Paris, but the exceptional ones are worth noting too. We got one from the relatively new boulangerie Liberté to split as a snack and were literally fighting over the crumbs.



6) I would undoubtedly say the best pancakes I've ever had come from Holybelly, a coffee shop/cafe on the same street as Bob's Juice Bar. The coffee itself is on a similar level as well. Warning: if you don't show up first thing when they open, expect to wait up to an hour and a half depending how late you show up. You can always get coffee to go though if you're not waiting for a table.

Damn, all of this reminiscing just makes me want to hop on a plane tomorrow...