LA stay...

Shutters on the Beach, in Santa Monica, is the west coast version of Nantucket: clapboard exterior, blue and white beach style decor, and ocean views out every window.  

Located on the boardwalk, you are steps from the beach, a short walk to the Santa Monica Pier and a bike ride away from Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice.  

view from the room balcony

my view at the pool

beautiful hydrangeas throughout the hotel

 Santa Monica Pier

everyday is a surf day! 

all images by the EJT

LA finds...

Los Angeles has seen some very exciting openings recently. 

Côte, a charming nail salon moved in just over a month ago;  Violet Grey opened it's boudoir in early April, and The Row debuted its first retail space just two weeks ago!

Côte

 Brentwood  

California beach meets the South of France at this eco-friendly beauty boutique.  Manicure and pedicure services are offered on their covered outdoor patio (above), or inside the airy, beach themed shop.  All polishes are "five-free", meaning free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, camphor and formaldehyde resin.  While your nails dry, shop the shelves filled with locally designed fashion items, candles, beach totes and home accessories.     

Violet Grey

Melrose Place

Tucked away on an ivy filled alley along Melrose Place is Violet Grey.  The flagship store of industry approved beauty ecommerce site, of the same name, is stocked with beautiful beauty products, signature Le Labo candles, art deco furnishings and vintage images of 'the glamour of Hollywood'.  

The Row

Melrose Place

The first retail space for the minimalist luxury brand, is serene, welcoming, and everything is for sale.  The beautiful clothes mingle perfectly with furniture from JF Chen, Galerie Half and Thomas Hayes, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Sidney Garber jewelry and a selection of vintage jewelry and objects.  The designer twins describe the space as a 'home', certainly one that I would like to live in!

Additional reading on the store opening.

Nickey Kehoe

La Brea

NK Shop is not new to LA, but new to me.  This retail space is the vision of interior designers Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe.  Home to a mix of vintage items, japanese glassware, and private label furniture it is a must visit.

PS - if you missed the GOOP pop-up shop at the Brentwood Country Mart last month, the giant stripe jute totes are available in store!

via @goop

images courtesy of:

Côte and Violet Grey via EJT

The Row via LATimes.com

Nickey Kehoe via NKShop.com

LA eats...

Fresh off a whirlwind few days in Los Angeles, here are a few of my favorite meals from the trip!

Shopping and new LA finds to come.

Gracias Madre

Mexican influenced sibling to the popular Cafe Gratitude, in West Hollywood.  The setting is unbelievably charming, with an outdoor fire-pit and lovely black and white tile bar, you won't want to leave. 

Recommended dishes:  Guacamole, Coliflor Frioto, Flautas de Comote and Apple Cobbler.

FarmShop

Quintessential California farm to table feast - with market attached at the Brentwood Country Mart.

Recommended dishes: Crispy Artichokes, Poached Chicken Salad, and a slice of Banana Chocolate-Chip bread.

Gjelina

Seasonal new American fare in Venice.  Try to sit in their idyllic back garden.

Recommended dishes: Braised Pork Meatballs, Squash Blossom, Zucchini, Cherry Tomato and Burratta Pizza, and Red Butter Lettuce Salad.

images courtesy of each restaurant

On my radar…

A leather jacket may seem like an odd purchase at the start of summer, but it works year round.  Dakota Fanning uses the coat to protect her blonde locks in NYC recently, and looks early summer chic while doing so.  Faded jeans, classic white button down, Nicholas Kirkwood flats and a mini Chanel cross body, perfectly outfitted for a day in the city. 

Isabel Marant Etoile leather jacket

images courtesy of justjared.com and net-a-porter.com

Espadrilles...

Espadrilles are a sure sign of summer.  The casual woven flat, originated in the Pyrenees, and once considered peasant footwear, can now cost upwards of $500, thanks to a certain french luxury brand.   Elyse Walker, the Los Angeles based stylist and designer, has put her own stamp on the espadrille.  She not only used clever animal print calf hair and canvas tie-dye materials but she added a thin leather sole below the jute roping.  This extends the shelf life of the typically perishable shoe exponentially.    

Ed Note:  this particular style is mostly sold out on Walker's site, but Warm, in NYC, recently received a new shipment in store.

image courtesy of ForwardForward.com

And we're off...

Hope everyone finds some sunshine this weekend!

Happy Summer.

image by EJT

Airport style...

How to look chic after a long flight?

Take a cue from the jet-setters below by wearing  a blazer and sunglasses!   The versatile topper not only provides warmth for the climate challenged airports, but also hides wrinkled tee that you slept in on the plane.  

Julianne Moore arriving in Cannes last week 

  

Kate Bosworth

Elle Macpherson

Naomi Watts

Check here for EJT's blazer and sunglass picks

images courtesy of JM & NW - People.com; KB & EM - WhoWhatWear.com  

Weekend getaways...

'Tis the season of weekend trips, living out of suitcases, and constantly on the go.  

Packing like this can be daunting.  

Begin with basics, jeans and a white tee, and build from there.  

Add a classic grey tee, stripe button down, cropped pants with a bit of whimsey and a pair of silk shorts - options for mixing and matching are endless.  Dress up, or down, with a few key accessories and you are set to go, leaving lots of extra room in your suitcase for trinkets from your trip.   

The Basics:

Rag & Bone crepe tee

Current/Elliot jeans

K. Jacques sandals

Clare V. pouch 

Valentino leather tote

Kule signet ring

The Extras:

Chinti and Parker stripe shirt

Rocksanda Ilincic jacquard pants

J.Crew vintage tee

Piamita silk shorts

Manolo Blahnik patent heels

Sergio Rossi metalllic flats

Mother of Pearl printed dress

House of Lavande vintage earrings

images courtesy of listed shopping sites

Carry-on...

Vanessa Traina Snow, in Paris this past winter, travels with a rather large Hermés Kelly bag.

For those of us that want to travel in style, and reality, a few carry on options:

Maiyet

Reed Krakoff

Jil Sander

photo courtesy of: Vanessa Traina Snow via Style.com; Maiyet and RK via Net-a-Porter.com; JS via shopbazaar.com

What's in your tote...

Is your beach tote ready for the weekend?!

Sensi Studio woven beach bag

Warby Parker sunglasses

Merino for Target stripe hat

Emily Giffen The One & Only

Fresh sugar lip balm with SPF

Supergoop sunscreen

TenOverTen nail polish in Hudson

Tkees sandals

images courtesy of listed shopping sites

Meet Stan, again...

Phoebe Philo has the magic touch.

Not only does she create a sold out, covetable line for her own brand, but she sells out other brands too.  

At the Céline Fall 2011 show, Philo took her bow wearing a pair of Adidas Originals Stan Smith sneakers.   

The Start of the Trend: Phoebe Philo at the Fall 2011 Céline show

Flash forward to Winter 2014, Stan Smiths were the shoe du jour for the fashion set:

For her Pre-Fall 2014 collection, Isabel Marant created her own version of the classic sneaker in white and burgundy. 

Isabel Marant Pre-Fall 2014

Isabel Marant Pre-Fall 2014

The original - currently sold out online.  

Adidas Original Stan Smiths

images courtesy of: PP, streetstyle - style.com; IM PF14 Journelles.de, SS - adidas.com

New additions…

Summer is finally on the horizon.

Backyard barbecue's, weekends at the beach, birthday's and fireworks are all on the agenda.   

What will you need to survive summer's social calendar? The EJT Shop has the answers; 

from tunics, to rafia clutches, the go-to gold sandal and the perfect pair of white jeans. 

Happy Shopping!

Cos and effect...

European high-street phenomenon Cos is set to open its first brick and mortar shop in SoHo later this year.  For those who simply just can't wait, their e-commerce site launched this week!  Get the affordable, chic, minimalist wears delivered right to your doorstep.  

A few EJT favorites:

Wide collarless shirt, $89

Structured pocket blazer, $135

Stripe print dress, $125

all available at Cosstores.com

images courtesy of Cosstores.com

Shoeday Tuesday...

For Spring 2013, Lanvin created the perfect summer sandal; a low gold staked heel, with a black ankle strap and tan strap at the toes.  It went with everything, from shorts to dresses, from day to night.  It is the kind of shoe that you wish you had bought in duplicate.  

Rarely am I a fan of a direct designer copy, but these from Steven by Steve Madden have peeked my interest.  Spotted at Lord & Taylor recently, they are dead ringers to my beloved Lanvins.

Lanvin image courtesy of polyvore.com, Steven by Steve Madden image courtesy of LordandTaylor.com

Eye on eyelet...

Summers sweltering heat is just around the corner.

Key to looking chic while melting - a white eyelet shirtdress. 

   

The Thakoon Addition version, on the right, shows contrast eyelets using black thread, while the Zara version features a full back panel of eyelet.

Decisions, decisions.

images courtesy of Zara.com and ModaOperandi.com  

Weekend reading...

The Sofia Coppola special issue of W Magazine is out, and true to form, does not disappoint.

In SC's editor letter she recalls reading the mag when she was young, how it gave a glimpse inside glamourous living, and the refinery that went with it: hand written notes, elegant table settings with place cards and fine china, and always coiffed hair.  SC not only achieved the sense of the glamour that once was, but set the standard of what glamour should be today.  

Available on newsstands now.

image by the EJT herself

In the bag...

Tiny enough to fit in your weekend clutch, chic enough to want to use everyday, these Vianel card cases make purses happy.

Available in colors from neon lizard to classic smooth grain luggage leather, each can be personalized with your moniker as well!

Vianel card cases, prices range from $220 thru $250, available at VianelStudios.com

images courtesy of VianelStudios.com

How do you get your news...

Instagram!

The popular photo-sharing app has been the platform of choice for designers to show their wares, and a new breed of consumer to learn and shop.  For example, Oscar de la Renta released his Fall 2013 ad campaign over the 'gram, Beyonce announced her new album, and Vogue posted NY Fashion Week Photo Shoots via Insta (featuring a Jenner sister). 

A favorite Instagram account to follow is retailer ShopFiveandTen.  They mix boldface names such as Proenza Schouler, Band of Outsiders, and Victoria Beckham with emerging favorites such as Olympia le Tan handbags,  Assad Mounser jewelry and AR clothing.

AR, an extension of the popular shop Aloha Rag,  is a brand that I learned of thru Instagram.  Made up of casual pieces that easily transition from day to night, work-week to weekend, this collection is destined to end up in my closet soon.       

An AR dress paired with a Proenza Schouler purse

The dress that first caught my eye! AR ruffle dress and Repetto ballet flats

All Instagram needs now is a 'click to buy' feature!

images courtesy of instagram.com/shopfiveandten