Beach Blanket Bingo & 5 Questions

French Vogue, March 2009 by Patrick Demarchelier.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Miss Marc tote, at net-a-porter.com.
Tory Burch Riad towel, at toryburch.com.
Diesel beach towel; this and next four at asos.com.
Emporio Armani beach towel.
O’Neill logo print towel.
Roxy mod beach towel.
Hugo Boss blue floral beach towel.
Louis Vuitton graffiti beach towel, at eLuxury.com.
Seaside beach towel. Visit llbean.com for this and next.
L.L. Bean starfish beach towel.
Tie dye beach towel; this and next five at landsend.com.
Butterfly beach towel.

Kaleidoscope print beach towel.
6-foot square beach blanket with stakes.
Kids sun & fun beach blanket.
Vertical rugby stripe beach towel.
Gucci pink stripe beach towel; this and next at bluefly.com.
Hermés beach towel.

Juicy Couture palm tree towel, at neimanmarcus.com.

Diane von Furstenberg Warhol towel, at shopbop.com.

Which towel is most tantalizing to you, darling?

Tagged by the wonderful Ana of Fashion Moment with 5 Questions:

1. Who and what are your inspirations?
Off-duty models and celebs; my Fellow Fashionistas; artists and architects; magazine editorials; runway shows; fashion advertising; illustration; interior design and furniture (above: British Vogue, 1993).

2. What about fashion makes you love it?
I adore how fashion is constantly reinventing itself. Each season, there is a fresh array of looks to covet… I really look forward to the runway shows. Trendspotting is my number one hobby, darlings! It is exquisite to see how brilliantly different designers channel trends. Noting the parallels among the shows is extremely rewarding for me. And of course I never tire of the fabulous clothes… seeing how magazine editorials interpret and display the looks brings an added dimension and depth to my fashion-worship. At left, Prada featured in Bazaar, 2008.

3. What motivated you to start a blog?
Blogging was a natural outcropping of my decades-long addiction to journaling and maintaining a fashion sketch & inspiration book. There are just so many fabulous images out there, and I really wanted to begin sharing my passion for fashion with like-minded people. Also, it’s really rewarding to be a part of a community, and I am so grateful to all my Fellow Fashionistas and Followers. I would like to pass along this lovely Friendship Award I received from Fellow Fashionista Lisa of Solo Lisa to all CC readers!

4. How would you describe your style?
My style is polished yet adventurous. In my twenties, I was actually quite a conservative dresser. But now, in my thirties, I find I am more experimental. I love to pair a trendy or sexy piece with something more demure. Sample CC outfit: bustier and skinny jeans + sky-high heels (at left, Vivienne Westwood Gold Label corseted top, etc., at net-a-porter.com). And I invest in staples like bags and shoes. The wonderful thing about accessories is that they always fit, and they last forever if you care for them properly!

5. What styles are you most excited for this summer?
I’m a bikini girl. These are just a few of the suits I own (from victoriassecret.com), and I am constantly adding to my collection. I am also really loving the jumpsuit trend. I have a few already, and I find them both comfortable and playful. And with the right bag and shoes, it’s a cinch to take a j-suit from day to night!
Stella McCartney backless silk jumpsuit, at net-a-porter.com.
T-Bags wide leg jumpsuit, at shopbop.com

Hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend, darlings! If you have a minute, I’d love to see your answers to Ana’s 5 Qs!
xoxox,
CC

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR BEACH VACATION

Couture Carrie received such wonderful feedback on yesterday's luxe luggage post... the travel theme continues!

Hit the resort in style! What to Pack:

1) Many bright patterned sundresses, some for day, others for evening. I love T-Bags (featured above, and available in a variety of lengths, styles and patterns at shopbop.com). If possible, bring your portable steamer. No globe-trotting gal wants to look all rumpled! For more frock fabulousness, see the Resort 2009 runway looks at right from Zac Posen, Prada, and Brian Reyes (top to bottom; photos via style.com).

2) A slim journal or sketchbook and/or tiny digital camera, so you can document all the delicious details of your vay-cay! At left, Smythson journal. Go to smythson.com.

3) A double beach towel: plenty of room to roll around, and you never know who you might share it with!

4) Shoes: (a) gold or silver flat sandals (like those in the Zac Posen look above); (b) throwaway flip-flops (Old Navy or Wet Seal, top left of polyvore); (c) lightweight pair(s) of heels, such as Manolo Blahnik, Alexandra Neel or Jimmy Choo; this way you won’t feel bad having lugged them around if you don’t wear them; (d) trainers – you WILL work out!

In collage: red Dior stiletto, eLuxury.com; turquoise Sergio Rossi elastic strappy sandals, stylefinder.com.

5) At least as many bikinis as the # of days you are staying; double if possible. I like to change bathing suits after lunch. And of course, if you hit the Jacuzzi at night, you’ll want a fresh triangle top and side tie bottom for that as well. Never repeat! At left, Rosa Cha bikini, via nymag.com.

All suits in the polyvore above are at net-a-porter.com. From left to right: Emilio Pucci, Milly, Missoni & JG4B.

6) Silk or terry shorty robe, for poolside or bedside.

The beige Stella McCartney hooded robe in collage is available at net-a-porter.

7) Pashmina or other large wrap that can double as a cozy blanket on the airplane or in your suite; also a sarong or two – so versatile!

The teal wrap above is from Forever 21, and the towel is Pucci.

8) Copious numbers of magazines and a few “disposable” books (i.e., ones you don’t mind tossing or giving away after reading so you don’t have to carry them home – more room in your Goyard luggage for souvenirs!)

9) Lightweight denim – a go-with-everything, chic pair of dark jeans that is suitable for day or night and a pair of white jeans, like the True Religion Candice Trouser Stretch Jeans above, for purchase at Nordstrom.

10) Lightweight cashmere cardigan – green J. Crew sweater pictured above. For cocktails on the veranda or that midnight stroll on the beach!

11) Adorable hat –for protection from sun and humidity; I like this Cordon straw fedora at left from Forever 21. Go to style.com for more info. on the Lola large-brimmed straw hat in the collage.

12) Silk sleeping mask, for those 5:30 Costa Rican sunrises or the occasional post-beach catnap. Couture Carrie likes Mary Green’s, and you can usually find them cheap on ebay!

13) Accessories! UV-protectant sunglasses such as the classic Ray-ban aviators pictured in today's polyvore; costume or inexpensive jewelry to throw on with a sundress – bangles, chunky necklaces (see Brian Reyes pendant), big earrings (see Prada look above), etc. Gold always works, too. Collage looks: Henri Bendel bangles; Kenneth Jay Lane necklace and Zoe & Morgan Isis wing drop earrings (both at net-a-porter.com).

14) Casual no-brainers such as white tanks and tees; yoga pants; city shorts (see Resort 2009 look at right by Isaac Mizrahi).

A word to the wise jet-setter: Many experts will advise against it, but CC believes that it’s better to overpack than underpack. And remember: always carry at least a day’s worth of clothing in your Goyard carry-on, in case your checked luggage is mislaid. Also, keep a record of items packed in your checked bag; most airlines will reimburse you up to $500 if your bag is lost.

Did I leave anything out? Also, better to check or not to check? I know it's sneaky, but sometimes I take 2 huge carry-on bags, and claim that one of them is my "purse". Then, if the flight attendants object and insist that I check one, it's the last to be stowed, and thus the first piece to come out on the conveyor belt! Happy traveling, darlings!