Memorial Day Weekend means fun in the sun, good grillin’ and casual chic fashion. Here’s what we are craving right now to make the perfect combination for some memorable weekend outfits.

1. Casual Blazer - A blazer (see above) adds instant sophistication to any outfit. Try with shorts for daytime and over your maxi or mini dress by night.

[Forever 21 Open Weave Fedora, $12.80]

2. Straw Hat- You won’t catch me without a hat this Memorial Day. Wear those natural waves or put your hair up in a loose, on-trend braid.

[J.Crew Deck-Stripe Bandeau Bikini Top $56, Bottom $48]

3. Bikini – I love the green stripes of this “retro-done-right” bikini. Don’t shy away from brights, stripes or patterns this season. Nothing goes better with this look than plenty of SPF!

[Bop Basics Straw Day Tote, $80]

4. Beach Tote – Pack all of your essentials in this functional straw tote with adorable rope detail. And at this price point, you won’t have to feel too guilty if some sunscreen spills inside!

[Soludos Dali Flat Espadrille, $28]

5. Bright Espadrille - Easy and lightweight, these coral espadrilles are the ideal summer weekend shoe.

[J.Crew Faded Chambray Popover, $72]

6. Chambray Shirt - The fading on this chambray popover really amps up the cool factor. Chambray is so in right now and the perfect top to pair with a nautical skirt, white pants or bright shorts.

[NastyGal Twisted Peplum Dress, $58]

7. Transitional Dress -Navy will never do you wrong. The peplum detail gives this classic color a twist.  Throw on a neutral wedge and stacked bangles to make this ensemble out-to-dinner perfect.

[Zara Loose-Fit Open-Work Jumper, $79.90]

8. Open Knit Sweater - Let your bikini peek through by day, and rock this head-to-toe white look by night with neutral sandals and a bright clutch for evening festivities.

-Alana Quagliariello

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[image via Shopbop.com]

Alice + Olivia Bella Print Flat Sandals, $148: Snakeskin and brights make for a sizzling hot combo.

[image via JCrew.com]

J.Crew Audra Patent Sandals, $98: This glossy “dahlia” hue elevates these strappy thong sandals to a new realm.

[image via Shopbop.com]

Boutique 9 Piraya Multicolor T Strap Sandals, $78: A tri-color T-strap should be a girl’s best friend.

[image via Shopbop.com]

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Love Embroidered Thong Sandal, $198: It’s no wonder they’re called “Love Embroidered.”The luscious coral, green, and hot pink make this price point worthwhile.

[image via ASOS.com]

ASOS Fame Leather Flat Sandals with Beaded T-Bar, $44.36: The white whipstich edged ankle strap juxtaposed with cutting edge beading makes these sandals a wardrobe-enhancing must.

[image via Shopbop.com]

Rebecca Minkoff Bettina Flat Sandal, $125: It doesn’t get much bolder than this audacious neon yellow.

FPD Tip: Pair with a bright pedicure for a color-blocked feel, or keep your toes neutral in a pale matte pink or fluid beige to let the sandals shine on their own

Tell us: which pair is your fave?

-Alana Quagliariello

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We can conceive of “beauty and brains,” but never did we ponder “beauty and action-figures!” Marvel Custom Solutions has teamed up with Benefit Cosmetics to co-create SpyGal, a wise-cracking, pore-zapping persona modeled after the POREfessional pore minimizing primer.

The POREfessional ($29) is a beauty sensation, with over 1 million products sold worldwide. Can the super hero keep up with that? The packaging now depicts a sexy, vintage female action figure, and her weapons of choice? A pore-zapping gun and a touch-up case, naturally. Marvel and Benefit united a creative team including famed writer James Asmus (of Uncanny X-Men, Captain America) and acclaimed artist Phil Noto (Avengers: The Origin, X-Men Origins) to bring SpyGal to life.

SpyGal will contend with work and dating worries, while dishing out justice, and of course, beauty tips! The limited edition comic is available in May at Benefit counters everywhere.

Humor, strength and intelligence are the newest beauty remedy — and we are certainly not complaining.

-Alana Quagliariello

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From our friends at thefind.com:

Although I’m arguably a shopaholic, I’m still a relatively smart shopper, so even when I spot a pair of shoes or a bag that I “must have,” my instinct is to scour the ‘net for where I can find it (or a budget-friendly lookalike) for the cheapest price possible. That said, rarely will an accessory make me fall in love at first sight. The brand-new Viscid Watches from Anthropologie, however, were an exception. I blame it on the fashion bloggers I follow on Instagram – one look at the mint-and-gold face and candy-colored gummy strap, styled with an assortment of coordinating arm candy, and I was sold! Luckily, despite being from the not-so-modestly priced Anthropologie, these Baby G lookalikes are playful, chic and reasonably affordable at $58 a pop. While I’m still drooling over the mint (and even ordered it online although it’s supposedly backordered until July!), the watch comes in an assortment of equally covetable colors, like hot pink, orange, and yellow (which is more of a highlighter-bright lime shade in person)! If you’re as enamored as I am with these luxe takes on the gummy watch, make sure you pick one up before they’re gone for good!

- Alexandra Gambardella

I first mentioned the Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations (May 10, 2012 – August 19th, 2012, at The Costume Institute at The Met, NYC) in January,  when it possessed a slightly different title (I think this one is much better), and covered The Met Gala/Costume Institute Fundraiser this past week, so opening day, you better believe I had an hour and a half blocked off on my calendar to be at The Met!

[All images of the exhibition via screenshots from the video found at MetMuseum.org]

The entire concept of “Impossible Conversations” is an intriguing one; an informal, interview-style conversation between two women whose paths never physically crossed due to the separation of decades, who share striking similarities, the first of which being that they are both Italian.

I could wax poetic about Italy, identity, and fashion, but perhaps I will save that for another post; let’s just say having two degrees in Italian gives me a bit of an authority on the subject! I digress; the exhibit showed video clips throughout of an elegant dinner featuring a conversation between Schiaparelli (played by actress Judy Davis) and Prada; which laced whit and humor throughout the exhibit, which also can be considered monuments of both designer’s signature styles.

The “Conversations” were broken into categories: “Waist-Up Waist-Down,” “Ugly Chic,” “Hard Chic,”"Naif Chic,”  “The Classical Body,” “The Exotic Body,” and “The Surreal Body,”  which helped to bring out the varieties in each designer’s body of work within itself, as well as the clear comparison and contrast of their aesthetics and techniques.

“The Surreal Body” certainly stole the show; the garments were encased in clear square boxes, juxtaposed with images that certainly made you do a double take; eyes slowly blinked, skirts billowed, and visitors stood and stared!

The headwear for the exhibit, created by Guido Palau was exquisite;  some mimicked luchador masks while others mimicked silken metallic hair strands, bobbed at the chin and cemented to the head. In my opinion, an exhibit shouldn’t even exist here, unless Mr. Palau is commissioned for the headgear, as it added such tremendous value to the story.

Why should you see this, if you live in NYC, or are considering to trek here to check it out? Prada and Schiaparelli each have a very distinctive point of view, and beat to their own drum; this is the stuff that fashion legends, and musuem archives, are made of.

Click here for the narrative on the exhibit by Andrew Bolton, Curator, The Costume Institute.

Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, is showing May 10, 2012 – August 19th, 2012, at The Costume Institute at The Met, NYC)

In this episode, Julia reviews the latest items, including $2 essentials from e.l.f. – eyeslipsface.com.

TIME Magazine Goes There With Toddler Breastfeeding Cover [The Frisky]

How to Curb Impulse Buys [Already Pretty]

In honor of ‘Dark Shadows,’ Johnny Depp’s 8 most makeup-tastic roles [Betty Confidential]

6 Things Mothers-In-Law Love to Hear [How About We]

Iris Apfel Teams up with Eyebobs Eyewear [FashionPulseDaily]

[Image via Strange Invisible Perfumes]

Two successful companies with the same values, yet different aesthetics, have collaborated to introduce “The Perfume Commune.”  Le Labo and Strange Invisible Perfumes have joined forces to introduce a new way to bring much-needed detail to perfumes and to reinstall the glamour of the fragrance industry. Both stores now happily co-exist alongside one another on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California, offering close to fifty perfumes collectively.

Though they are different in many regards, both agree on quality, as each fragrance is hand-blended and bottled in-house, which prioritizes the standards of the ingredients and esthetics. Alexandra Balahoutis from Strange Invisible Perfumes acknowledges the success of a collaboration involving two different companies; “Le Labo’s creations are different from mine, yet the two perfumeries are somehow complementary.” Both Le Labo and Strange Invisible Perfumes have one goal, which Fabrice Penot of Le Labo states; “the intention behind our work is the same: to make life more beautiful through the art of perfumery.” We couldn’t agree more!

- Ambika Makin

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[KORE Self Stripe Shift Dress]

For Spring/Summer 2012, the London based Greek designer Sophia Kokosalaki drew on her heritage to craft an ethically conscious collection, available exclusively at ASOS.com. The lineup gives life to a certain pure sensuality, while maintaining a youthful feel.

Even more inspiring, the brand’s pivotal focus is the empowerment of young women via social responsibility. This ethical commitment is established in a long-term relationship with a community cooperative workshop in Sri Lanka, where all of the hand crafted lace trim is produced, providing a consistent income for the all-female local team.

[KORE Self Stripe Star Tunic]

[KORE Washed Silk Pants]

You’re sure to swoon over the stunning drapery and the hand-crafted lace folded in and out of each design. The power orange halter dress is simply divine (we can’t get enough of this color this season), and also the silk pants feel fresh and visionary. Retailing from $110-$900, Sophia Kokosalaki hopes KORE will reach a broader audience, yet maintain her artistic, cultured aesthetic.

-Alana Quagliariello

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She’s an industry leader in handbags (think The Nikki and The Morning After styles) with a clothing line to boot, and now Rebecca Minkoff’s taking on a new type of design project. Style Studio with Rebecca Minkoff is the new Yahoo! series where she will be guiding the stylistically lost to a path of fashion-forward freedom.

Join the famed female designer every Wednesday as she “opens up her style studio” to engage with women looking to comprehend style without losing their sense of self. In a unique three step process, Minkoff reminds women that style is not a mere vanity, but something that can help them gain the confidence to achieve dreams.

Check it out here!

-Alana Quagliariello

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