The Beach Bash

This week, I received my save the date for the 2011 Red Cross Beach Bash, a fixture on any young Palm Beacher's social calendar and a great way to celebrate the end of one year and the start of the next. Sponsored by Lilly Pulitzer, the fete draws about 400 guests clad in company's bold prints. Last year, I used the opportunity to break out one of my favorite vintage Lilly pieces, a pristine 1960s Lilly Men's Stuff blazer which featured a vibrant zoo scene. Check out the blazer and more pics from last year's Bash below. 

Red Cross Beach Bash, December 29, 2011, tickets ($125) available here. 

Wardrobe Staple | The Khaki Trench

Tried this Black Fleece mac on at Brooks, and it's easily my favorite piece I've seen this spring. Fabric is spot on, the color is gorgeous (more of a British khaki than the photo suggests). Yes, it's a little pricey, but it's a steal considering a similar Burberry number would run you at least twice that. What's best is it's got that perfect fit without the extra helping of Thom Browne ... weird.

Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers Military Trench, $700, available here

Strong Island

With the mercury today reaching near-tropical heights (compared to the past few weeks), it's become clear that summer is around the corner. That means it's time to make sure you've got all the essentials for a beach trip, whether it be to the Eastern Shore or East Hampton. This (obviously) includes swimwear. If you're still sporting some baggy, cargo pocket-ed trunk, ditch 'em for a suit from Strong Boalt, by Palm Beach native (and Ralph Lauren alum) Amanda Boalt. Now in her second season, the suits are well cut and sport some gorgeous prints inspired by South Florida and the Bahamas. (And they look adorable on girls, too!) Throw on a white linen shirt and you're set for an après-beach cocktail.

Flying Fish Swim Trunks (Papaya), $145, Strong Boalt

The Brilliant Mister Bastian

The weather is finally getting nicer and already this guy's got me longing for fall. Check out some of my favorite looks from two Michael Bastian-designed collections for fall: his eponymous line,




and from his much-talked-about collaboration with Gant.

This guy's unstoppable. Fall 2010, here we come.

Spring/Summer Swatches

The lovely folks over at Pierrepont Hicks give us a peek at some of their fabrics for the coming season. For those of you not familiar with the Minnesota-based neckwear company, all their ties are handmade in NYC's Garment District (including my favorite reversible bowtie from this fall). Really interested to see what they do with that gingham and the Nantucket red...

Hot Pants

Happy new year, everybody! Hope everybody got what they asked for from Santa. And while the weather outside is still pretty damn frightful, the warming trend coming to the Northeast this weekend (40s!) has my heart aflutter over spring clothes. While it's best not to get too excited yet (it's still winter), now is always a good time to start thinking about what the wardrobe is going to look like come March. Here's something I'm looking to add to mine: Polo came out with some linen pants in six great colors - they've got the mainstays of white, navy, and khaki, but my favorite is this coral red color - perfect for that classic WASP look of linen pants (in a go-to-hell color, natch), a blue or white shirt, blue blazer, and cordovan tassels. Simple, elegant, easy. Done.
Preston Fine Linen Pant, $125, at Ralph Lauren stores and online

Seven Days of Fall | Day 1

Considering October's right around the corner and the weather is just starting to change, fall seems to finally be here (even in oft-humid D.C.). Time to break out the tweeds and cableknits! With that in mind, here are the seven things I can't live without this fall.

The Cashmere Flannel

Once-stodgy New Haven shirtmaker Gant has been revitalizing itself over the past few years, reviving classics from their archives and hawking their Americana in upscale stores like Barneys. This year, they're celebrating 60 years with six shirts representing the six decades they've been in business. They're all pretty great, but this cashmere/cotton blend flannel stands out in my book. Pair it with a navy blue puffer vest and you won't even need a jacket.
Gant Cashmere Flannel, $235, available soon at gant.com

Steven Alan S/S '10

Dapper Max

Photo: Stephanie Leondis

Hitting newsstands today: New York Magazine's Spring Design Issue, featuring the fabulous Drew University dorm room of my dear friend Max. Check out the article here.

I remember his first dorm decorating job as a senior at Choate. The walls were wallpapered with nautical charts (from Papa), there was an antique trunk at the foot of the bed full of cashmere cableknits, and part of our hallway was commandeered for use as a dressing room. Max could often be found on the fire escape, starching and ironing his white Frette hotel sheets.

One of our first design collaborations? A set of pink and green china for the dorm, $10 from a local thrift store. Takeout from Wallingford Pizza never looked so good.

Come Hell or High Water (Pants)

A recent article in the New York Post tells of CFDA award-winning menswear designer Thom Browne's financial woes:

"He's in a real squeeze," said one source close to the situation. "If he can't wriggle out of it in the next couple of weeks, he's facing a potential bankruptcy."

The designer, who (like me) grew up in Allentown, PA, is famous for tight, cropped suit jackets and ankle-flashing "flood" trousers that carry pretty high price tags (suits are around $5K). With the economy failing, so is the market for products that are viewed as too fashion-forward for the mainstream consumer. It's a shame, for while his company is small, his impact on the entire menswear industry has been substantial. As the suit has become cool again, designers at every price point have adopted a watered-down version of his look, with slim lapels and shorter jackets. Here's hoping that he makes it out of this slump.