Fashion Forward #9 - To Summer Is A Verb

I borrowed this logo from the awesome blog Summer Is A Verb

Indeed, 'to summer" can be used as a verb and nowadays many a people frown when it comes up   in conversation. While it is indeed tightly bound to the Prep world, a degree of snobbishness and the whole summering in Nantucket habit, I like to use it just for, as one of my dear friends likes to say, "shits and giggles" to gauge my friends' level of abhorrence to the expression.

A gorgeous family on a beach on Nantucket

To come back to the idea that brought this famous Preppy Handbook mème into my mind, August, the month I consider to be the pinnacle of all summer gaiety and debauchery, is upon us and I realized I did not talk about summer accouterments at all.

Grown up in Europe, my image of swimwear was, how can I put it, dimensionally curtailed?! Though not as huge a fan of Speedos as was in my childhood, my opinion on size when it comes to any kind of shorts stands. The beaches of America are sadly laden with over-sized, monochromatically afflicted swim-tents. Even GQ saw the problem rising and decided to say something in one of their 2009 summer issues.

GQ featured a couple of guys that had some size problems with their swim trunks in June of 2009. What the sad part is is that so many guys with great bodies choose to hide them in these over-sized ugly board shorts, instead of showing off their hard work in the gym to the rest of the beach. If you've got it flaunt it is almost appropriate in this case.

Though it is a tad late on the summer timeline, here are a few swim trunks that veer away from the all too familiar and sometimes boring solid swim trunk. Summer is about being spontaneous and ebullient, so why not show your inner happiness through what you wear on the beach!

1. Ralph Lauren Molokai 6" Floral Trunk - Jacobian Floral - $59.99; 2. Parke and Ronen - Chilmark Bikini - $90; 3. Ralph Lauren Molokai 6" Floral Trunk - Blue Paisley - $59.99; 4. Lilly Pulitzer - Capri Trunk - Daquiri Pink - $90; 5. Parke and Ronen - SSI Sunset Ivy 4" Swim Short - $95; 6. Parke and Ronen - NDM Navy Del Mar 4" Swim Short - $95

I really hope all of your summers have been nothing short of amazing and I am looking forward to transitioning with you all into Fall, my favourite season!

Gushing Gurgling Galoshes

With snow still faling in many parts of the northern hemisphere and spring rain soon to follow, my thoughts go directly to what shoes can I wear that will both cope with the inclement weather and survive the slush mush that is snow or the gurgles of rain while still preserving an ounce of style.

While looking into this issue, the first solution I found, though practical, and versatile, was not very pleasing to the eyes and was not even that affordable:



1. J&G Rain Bootie Shoe Cover
This specific Rain Bootie is clunky and seems more fit for a ski trip rather than a walk to the office. I give it an F because I hate both velcro and nylon by themselves, moreover in combination as is the case with this shoe cover.

If for some obscure reason any of you would be interested in purchasing it and therefore going against my dire wishes you can find it here.

2. Totes Rubber Footwear

The second item I stubmled upon held much more promise as it was not a shoe cover but a Galosh (et. Fr. galoche - clog) which by definition is "a waterproof overshoe that protects shoes from water or snow". The Totes galoshes get a B for being very affordable (under $20) and versatile ( they offer men and women galoshes and they are the only company that offers a galosh for bigger work boots, working wonders for all you Timberland fans out there). The reason why I did not give the Totes galosh an A was that I found their lack of available colours disappointing and that they did not do anything to vary their designs.
Nonetheless, for someone who is practical and needs a good solution for rainy weather, Totes galoshes can be purchased here.

3. SWIMS Galoshes

Recently featured in GQ, the SWIMS galoshes are my absolute favourites. They come in different sizes, different colours, different styles and are deisgned with a style-savy consumer in mind (yes, women too :) ). They get an A+ for everything I mentioned above and for delivering not only to the U.S. but to Europe, Asia and the rest of the world as well. The + is for not forgetting, as most American retailers do, that there are just as many consumers, if not more, outside of the U.S.A. rather than inside.



The SWIMS website can be found here, while their online shop can be accesed here or you can purchase them from Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC, San Francisco, Chicago or Philadelphia. Enjoy the galoshes and the other items SWIMS are starting to sell, like these very cute cute slippers for men.


Caring for your shoes during Fall, Winter and Spring

Water is leather's worst enemy and unless your wearing pure cotton shoes most any other materials will suffer from water exposure. Here's a few tips that could save you money and your shoes their life.