Happiness is a Pair of Silk Shorts

I love nothing more than shopping for vacation-wear.  It's my own little time to play out my traveling fantasies and there's something, oh, let's call is "zen-like" about envisioning what exactly it is I'm going to wear out on the beach.  Or exploring a quaint little downtown.  Or perhaps noshing on lobster and sipping fruity frozen drinks.  You get my point.  This past weekend I was able to visit one of my very favorite boutiques Standard Style in Kansas City.  Their selection is absolutely jaw-dropping and the one thing I kept picking up were silk shorts!  My favorite by far were the floral printed Karina Grimaldi beauties you see below.  I love them for so many reasons - although they feel as comfy as my favorite pajama bottoms, they are structured enough where they don't look like it.   I also loved the print - those big, pink flowers, didn't feel too "tropical" - like so many florals can - and were just down right pretty.   I did not purchase these babies (I have enforced very strict rules for buying resort-wear, the first being that I don't allow myself to purchase anything until 30 days before my trip - unless the item is on sale.  Or it's showing there's only one left at Shopbop.)   But I will be for sure tracking down a pair in approximately ten days ;)
THE CULPRIT

Other silky shorts I'd wear in a heart-beat...

Starting at Top Left-
Anna Sui - Floral Print Silk Crepe and Lace ShortsMulberry - Eyelet Silk ShortsStella McCartney - Deckchair Striped Cotton and Silk ShortsElizabeth and James - Colby Silk Trimmed Brush Twill ShortsMarni - Contrast Silk Print ShortsJil Sander - Ello Striped Silk Shorts

...In Brighton...

I visited Brighton once.  And it really was a bit of a dream.  Perhaps it was because I was so hungover, or maybe I was just exhausted (my days spent across the pond were jam packed), but the little time I did spend in the beach-side town was a magical blur that started with sunning on a rocky beach and ended with an amazing seafood dinner with my ladies.  When I stumbled across Mulberry's SS2012 ad campaign featuring Lindsey Wixson and Frida Gustavsson, I couldn't help but mentally travel back to that darling seaside town.  The whimsical, oversized props and bubble-gum bright attire are perfectly fitting for a resort town that truly could come from a story-book.

My girlies and I at Brighton beach.  

Take me to London for Mulberry, Please.

So my fairy godmother came to me last night and granted me three wishes. I politely asked....

Wish 1:  Take me to London.
Wish 2:  Get me into all the fashion shows.
Wish 3:  Give me everything in Mulberry's Fall/Winter line.

Shoot, that was just a dream.  But it's pretty easy to see why Mulberry's F/W 2011 collection could leave a girl mesmerized.   We'll start with the scarves.  The oversized checks in the coolest of colors (purples, golds, grays) and they're so big, they just look cozy.  The whole look of the collection is part glamour girl, part outdoorsy chic (note the fishing pants and shooting jackets), a combination that I'm not sure has every been pulled off quite so effortlessly.  Mulberry's creative director Emma Hill described the season's inspiration: "She's a gorgeous girl living in a dilapidated country estate, popping outside for a cigarette."

The fushia and teal that snuck it's way into the collection look fresh amidst the grays and camels.  It's pure magic the way that pleats, quilted patterns, and oversized gold buttons and detailings take this look beyond elegant without being overtly sexy.  And I haven't even mentioned the bags.  The gorgeous, to-die-for bags every model was lucky enough to carry as she took to the runway.