Lilly Pinks

Kaixo everyone,

Summer is upon us, and while I love the nice weather and the relaxation, I find summer the most difficult season to dress up and look elegant! A nice scarf or a structured blazer in any other season can up any outfit, but what can you do when you wanna look bad and boujee and it's a million degrees out? LILLY!

While I have shared my concerns over the brand's direction before, it still remains true that Lilly Pulitzer is a fantastic brand to look pretty and whimsical in the summer months. Recently, Lilly has been rocking it with their pink prints! I could see myself wearing any of these:

Clockwise from top left:

- Amelia Island Tunic: Tunics such as this one are the perfect summer alternative for structured clothes that we usually only resort to in other seasons. Linen is light and breezy, so it's a great summer fabric! However, be wary, it wrinkles easily!
- Mila Stretch Shift Dress: Mila dresses are usually very short, but since Lilly now offers different lengths in some of the prints, prospects are looking up! Ayeeee
- Faye Skort: Seersucker is the perfect summer print, and skorts are great to tan your legs without accidentally mooning anyone. Win-win.
- Elsa Silk Top: I own two Elsa tops, and it's been a hit and miss. The first is still going strong and the colors are still vibrant. The second, however, suffered major color bleeding when I hand washed it. I'm really conflicted because I absolutely ADORE this print. It is one of my favorites in years, and should it be available in the next APS, I would pull the trigger.
- Amber Lynn Sandal: I'm sure that these are not the most comfortable with the lack of platform and the high heel, but PINK GINGHAM SANDALS. Praying they are available during the APS.
- Dusk Strappy Silk Dress: Toile prints are some of my favorite, and I would get this dress hadn't I just gotten another pink shift with a toile print.
- La Fortuna Off-The-Shoulder Top: I just ordered this and it's coming my way! Can't wait to wear it!

All in all, I would definitely consider getting the La Fortuna top (already did!), the Elsa top and the sandals.

Which are your Lilly summer picks? What styles do you tend to gravitate towards? Let me know!

Love,

- Ane

Please...

Gingham PJ set from Women's secret, 11.99€

... and thank you. Sale season is in full swing in Spain, and I am fully taking advantage! When I saw this gingham set at such an amazing price, I knew I had to have it for those hot summer nights. This is what preppy dreams are made of!
Love,

- Ane

Nail Polish Essentials Vol. II

Kaixo everybody,

As I spend my morning sipping tea and watching Netflix and retouching my nails, I have come to the realization that from back when I wrote about my nail polish essentials of 2015, I have only consistently returned back to two of them! Merino Cool and the All in One base coat and top coat are still going strong. I don't feel as passionate about the former as in 2015, but it's still a nice demure color that I use in the fall. However, my other choices have changed. Not because I didn't like those shades (I'm looking like crazy for Pansy), but they did their job and I can find something better.
Here are my current choices from Essie:

From top-left to bottom-right:
- Midnight Cami: The one I have had the longest, this shade is great for fall and winter. Now that I'm in Spain for summer, I didn't bring it, but it's easy to apply and easier to fix.
- Play Date: This one I don't have anymore (because it got destroyed on my trip to Costa Rica, RIP), but good lord, I could NOT STOP LOOKING AT IT. This is one I'm planning to get again eventually.
- Forever Yummy: I had A-List for a while (also got destroyed on a trip, wtf) and when deciding for a new red shade, I went with this one. I try to get a darker shade of red to complement my fair skin, and this one is great!
- Bikini So Teeny: If this isn't the most basic Essie shade there is, lmk lmao. My sister loves it, and I like it a lot better than Borrowed and Blue, but I'm pretty sure that once I'm done with it I'll go for a shade that's darker.
- Ballet Slippers: This one doesn't look great on my skin, is kinda difficult to apply because it's a tad sheer, but the QUEEN wears it and that's enough for me to love it. More than Fiji.
- Lovie Dovie: I literally just bought this, but so far so good! I was looking for some Barbie pink, and in the absence of Pansy, this will do!

While this seems an ad for Essie, I gotta say that I just really love the colors and the brand!! However, I do have favorites from other brands too!

- O.P.I. Black Cherry Chutney: I got this one from a hair styling set, and honestly, it has the best formula ever, and it can go on for weeks, unchanged. I love wearing dark hues like this, particularly in colder temperatures. I did bring it back to the Basque Country with me for the summer, though!
- Chanel Fiction: I got this one on a whim from a store that was closing for good, and I am honestly pretty pleased. The formula isn't fantastic, and I doubt that I would purchase this full-price, but it's a nice color for my current collection!

Anddd this is it for my 2019 nail obsessies (lol I HAD TO, K?) so far. There are some colors in my radar right now, but I'll probably get them once I get back to the US.

Love,

- Ane

My Favorite Coffee Table Books

Kaixo everyone,

Once again, my 5-minute determination to blog consistently faded into oblivion. Life got in the middle for the umpteenth time. As a 27-year-old grad student, it is nothing new. However, as I get closer to the end of my PhD program (say what??), I start thinking about my future more and more (and more and oh my goodness Jesus take the wheel I'm hyperventilating). As much as I wanted to when I got to the US for the first time, I have come to terms with the fact that there is no place like home, and I want to move back to the Basque Country as soon as possible.

One of my future projects is to buy an apartment in my hometown, and start a life. It has been low-key terrifying to see how I have gone from exclusively browsing fashion stores to *gasp* decor shops...!? Exactly. Now, I know that there are more important things to an apartment than decor (like, erm, a bed? A toilet?), but right now, in a moment of my life where I have 0 capital to buy an apartment and I'm still paying rent in the US, all I can think of is how to spruce up my temporary home.

One of my favorite things to make myself at home is books. Lots of them. Most books serve the purpose of well, entertaining me to no end, but are not considered "decor" per se. Enter coffee table books. I had never paid attention to these books until my mom got me a coffee table book about Barbie's history (if I ever post consistently, I will talk about my love of Barbie), and I got hooked. Ever since, I have slowly started collecting coffee table books that I hope to take to the apartment of my dreams. Here are my favorites:

- All in Good Taste: Kate Spade's darling coffee table book was an impulse buy because a) it was pink and b) it was the least expensive thing in store. It is the perfect book to be the hostess with the mostest, and while I kind of forgot about it (I bought it in the US, brought it to Spain and left it there), now that I live alone and have entertained guests I would say, successfully, this book is a great reference. Bonus: It has recipes and literary references. This former English literature major approves.

All in Good Taste by kate spade new york (25-30$)

- Style: Raise your hand if Lauren Conrad was (or still is) your first fashion crush. I read all her L.A. Candy books (I still have them!), loved how she was the normal one in Laguna Beach, the fact that she interned at Teen Vogue, and of course, all her cute outfits! I gotta admit that when I got this book I was a little disappointed. What was with all the text and few images? Why is she talking about make-up? Mind you, I was 18 and had virtually 0.5% of the idea about make-up that I have now, and it's not a lot, believe me. However, revisiting it throughout the years has proved me wrong. It is honestly one of the most useful books when I'm thinking of my own style and what fits and suits me.

Style by Lauren Conrad (4-15$)

- Tory Burch In Color: It is no secret that Tory Burch is one of my favorite brands. I love my Millers, I have a beautiful bright orange camera bag that I couldn't live without, and I swear by their fragrances. Apart from that, the decoration in their stores is probably my favorite. Touches of orange, dark green, gold... It evokes LUXE. I like to go to the store by the Magnificent Mile in Chicago and have an explosion of style and decoration ideas in my mind. However, when I leave, I always forget, and I go back to Pinterest like everyone else. Well, this book is the fixed continuation of that explosion that never goes away. The pictures that inspire her, the brand's history, and how each chapter is organized by color is A+ worthy.

Tory Burch In Color by Tory Burch (50$, 100$ for the special edition)

- Whiskey in a Teacup: Boy, did this book deliver. Elle Woods, Melanie Smoother, Madeline Martha Mackenzie are some names that she has taken as an actress, but let's not forget fashion designer, and my favorite, executive producer of movies for women with women and about women. Reese Witherspoon is the GOAT. So when she published this book, I ordered without blinking. As an avid reader, I loved the stories about her family. As a hungry person, I loved her recipes. As a LINGUIST, I loooooved the chapter on Southern pronunciation. I don't have much time for recipes, but I definitely wanna try making biscuits with her recipe!

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon (20-30$)

- Lilly Pulitzer x ASSOULINE: When Lilly announced they were releasing a 60th anniversary coffee table book, I gasped. Some fans in Lilly Facebook groups were like "not worth it", and I was like "wha...?". Considering they shill thousands on clothes with super similar prints with decreasing quality, they would not get it? Their loss. Assouline is a fantastic brand for art and design books amongst others, and when I got my Lilly book, I stopped everything and went through all the pages. While this book is more picture-heavy, I loved seeing pics throughout the years of the brand! While I go through times when I love Lilly and times when I hate it, this book is fabulous.

Lilly Pulitzer x ASSOULINE by Lilly Pulitzer (85$,  195$ for the special edition)

- Louis Vuitton City Guides: Last but not least, I have been loving Louis Vuitton City Guides! When I travel, I usually go low-key and budget-friendly, but whenever I feel boujee, I wanna know where to head to! This is where these books come into play. There are tons of city guides in English, French and Chinese of different cities around the world, and each of them is written or edited by a local figure/celebrity/it girl. So far, I've got the Chicago, London, Madrid and Sydney ones. I'm going to Australia in August, so I can't wait to get there and go to all the cool spots! :)

Louis Vuitton City Guide by Louis Vuitton (37$)

So there you have it! I'm a coffee table book hoarder and I need help and I'm proud of it! In fact, I've also recently gotten Classic Style by Kate Schelter, so I will give it a read and let you all know. Which are your favorite coffee table books? Sound off in the barren land known as the comments section!
Love,

- Ane

Feel-good pinks

Kaixo everyone,

Long time no see! I have obviously been MIA. I am currently in my 4th year of the PhD program, and last semester I passed my dissertation proposal defense, making me ABD (All But Dissertation). While I would love to be wearing my pretty pink outfits out, it's mostly been a black sea in the midst of snow and ice, which is, truth to be told, hella depressing. I have been in a funk recently, and today, when I got home, I started to think about the things that would make me feel better by wearing them. Pink, preppy and pretty are my three feel-good Ps. Here are my picks:

Clockwise from left to right:

- J. Crew Long Sleeve Dress in Peony: I am not one to be a big fan of J. Crew dresses, because for some reason they are all so... shapeless. This one however, caught my eye in a way that I would love to have it and be a functioning adult with it.

- BaubleBar Bow Drop Earrings: Let me preface this for these earrings (and for the rest of the post) that I am not the biggest fan of gold. I love gold accents in my home, but not on my skin. However, could these be the long-awaited exception to the norm? Bows give a delicate and feminine touch to any outfit, and right now, that touch makes me happy.

- Lilly Pulitzer Elanie Dress: I am happy to report that after a while not feeling Lilly Pulitzer, it seems to have come back. Not for prints, but their solid dresses are well, damn solid. This dress would be incredible for a wedding.

- Gucci Mini GG Marmont Shoulder Bag: LMAO for affordability, but damn I would rock this baby if I could.

- Lilly Pulitzer Allyson Dress: This is my favorite item on this list hands down. No need to be partial, it is. Reasons why: a) It's fit and flare (like 4/5 dresses on the list), the dress type that fits me best, b) it is not too short for my 5'8ft body, which is something Lilly should work on pronto, c) THE COLOR. The Elanie dress is stunning, but the color on the Allyson is out of this world. I seriously considered buying it, but at the price point, I decided not to. Like my friend Anna said, Alexa, play Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé.

- Yves Saint Laurent Heart and Arrow Rouge Volupte Shine Collector Lipstick: Well damn that's a mouthful. I have a never-ending collection of lipstick, but this would be perfect for a gift or to reverse-Marie Kondo my bathroom.

- Gal Meets Glam Collection Edith Dress: I think a lot of Julia Engel's dresses are too old-time for me, but this dress could be lightened up with some fun accessories, my white Converse, a denim jacket and a smile. I dig it.

- Lilly Pulitzer Cascading Petals Earrings: When I saw this on the web, I fell in love. When I saw them on a model though, they were bigger than I thought. I will probably have to see them in person, but the idea is very cute and they would complement my extra persona really well.

- Gal Meets Glam Collection Zelda Dress: Another Julia Engel piece that puts me in a romantic mood and makes me wonder about Jane Austen's novels. Although Jane Austen did not write about love, she wrote about finding a husband. One of my favorite literature professors from my undergrad who sadly passed away on Christmas Eve said it, and I will never forget that.

- Kate Spade New York Glitter Heart Phone Case for iPhone X, XS and XR: I recently got an iPhone XR, so this cute case would be a nice addition. Kinda cheesy, but it goes well with all the other options on this list.

There is no particular reason that I compiled these things other than the fact that it made me feel good to look at this aesthetically pleasing image. I probably will not buy any of these things (the Allyson dress though... ugh so hard), but I just sat down to write this, did it in one sitting, and I feel good and less funky after it. That should be the point of blogging, after all.

Love,

- Ane