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Pom Poms and SPF

Saint Barth, Summer Hats, Pom Poms…OH MY! You heard right, cheerleaders aren’t the only ones that can rock the pom poms! My recent vacation to Saint Barth was completely magical: the warm sand in my toes, the fascinating views, spending quality time with my family, and enjoying nature in style.

The only struggle with packing for an exotic vacation is you always want to pack your absolute favorites! For this trip- that’s exactly what I did. I could not leave home without my favorite summer item. I made this navy dress that I am wearing in the photo. It is so light and flattering on my figure, and it is made out of breathable UPF 50+ fabric! This dress became an easy solution for when I am in a hurry – I just put it on for an instant sun protection. It also looks summer friendly while hiding me from those unfriendly rays. I must have worn it a thousand times since I put a last stitch in it! I really want to make more of these dresses before summer comes:)

I paired my dress with color-friendly shoes by Elina Linardak. These Pom Pom sandals were so playful, I thought I was a kid on the playground again. I completed the look with spirit-filled summer hat with the matching pom poms! I love how this hat brought my outfit together, from the details in the texture, to the added pom poms placed in the center of the hat. Not to mention, this hat was chic and provided great coverage from my outtings in the sun.

No summer outfit is complete with out a pair of polarized sunnies. These sunshades set the entire mood for my outfit. With the rounded cat eye shape of the frame, it embodies some edgy characteristics- but also keeps the outfit looking sleek and summer friendly. This style of sunglasses can really transform an outfit.

If you are planning a family vacation, or just a simple park stroll with your family, you can always look trendy, and stay safe from the sun beat downs. I have learned that the sun will not get the best of me, and I can always find fashionable alternatives to create a fabulous outfit. What are your favorite summer outfits, or what do you like pairing your favorite summer dress with?

Day Time Beach Party

During our last trip to St. Barth we were invited to a private picnic lunch on Colombier Beach. This beloved beach can only be reached by a hiking trail or by boat. The invitation indicated a 12 p.m. docking time. I was very apprehensive about going because this event was taking place in the middle of the day when UV ratings are at the highest. However, the picnic was set to celebrate my good friend’s birthday, and I did not want to miss the fun because of my need to avoid sun. So I vigorously covered myself with sunblock, put on this 50+SPF swimsuit, donned a wide brim straw hat and got on that yacht.

As we anchored off of Colombier Beach and I saw the prestine white sand, gorgeous clear water and a flowing white tent set up, I was overwhelmed with happiness. This beach was ideal for swimming and snorkeling. My boys spent the entire afternoon in the water while I enjoyed a fantastic lunch and live music in the shade. This day turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences and I was proud that on that morning I refused to let melanoma alter my life.

On this day I wore gorgeous Tomas Maier Palm-print long-sleeve swimsuit paired with James Perse Linen Trousers. I finished the look with Eric Javits wide brim floppy hat. Eric Javits has become my favorite hat designer. His hats block 95% of UVA and UVB rays while adding a cool edge to any wardrobe.

The Mad-Hatter

Well, this is no Alice in Wonderland, but summertime is approaching which means: HATS HATS HATS!! The most essential accessory to have during the summertime is a trendy hat. Not only can hats really transform a bland outfit, but they are very protective from sun rays and harsh heat, while you are undergoing your outdoor activities. I have picked out a few of my favorites hats that I will be wearing during the heat season, and their benefits when it comes to your skin protection! Enjoy, and make sure you let me know which one is your favorite!

Baseball Cap

Baseball Caps for women’s fashion is on the come up. I remember when you only would wear a baseball cap for a bad hair day. Boy have times changed! Most women wear baseball caps to simplify their outfit, or for a quick run into Target. They are becoming very popular to wear with cuffed jeans and a plain white tee! With the wide brim visor on baseball hats, it will protect you from the direct hit of the sun.

Cowboy

Yee-haw! This stylish new trend is taking a turn! Are you going to a country concert anytime soon? Or are you just going to the park with your kids? Style it up with a Cowboy hat that can set off any romper, or any simple outfit! Just like the baseball cap, the wide brim will definitely protect you from the sun, and also will protect your back if you are wearing a strapless/tank top outfit! Let the summertime fun begin!

Fedora

Ladies! This is my ultimate favorite!! With Fedoras you can pair them with any outfit- year round! They are no longer considered a summer hat. I am obsessed with this fashion accessory, and I am so glad that you can wear Fedoras with almost anything and everything.Fedoras can really be the game changer with your outfit: you can be flirty, sophisticated, or casual. Fedoras come in all sizes and shapes, but the most common design you should consider purchasing would be a hat with a wide brim. The wide brim prevents harsh rays from outdoor activities, and they also can help protect your facial features.

Panama

Let’s take a trip to Panama, with this super chic Panama Hat! It is described to be a shorter version of the Fedora, but more of a stiff brim. The Panama hat has the same added benefits as the Fedora. Going out for a girls dinner, or maybe going wine tasting? This is the hat for you. It is very simple, but still adds a bonus of texture and style to your overall outfit.

Straw Hats

Working in the garden? Sitting on the porch all day long? Or going on a simple stroll through the park! This hat screams, PICK ME! Like most of these hats the wide brim adds extra support to your protection from the sun. Make sure with these hats you are also wearing sunscreen on your cheeks and chin, due to the fact that the UV rays can still slip through the fibers!

Visors

Serena Williams you have competition! The visor, also known as the tennis hat, is such an added bonus to protecting your face from the harsh rays. Why do you think all tennis players wear these hats all day long! While they are trying to beat their opponents, they are also trying to hide away from sun. Visors have the widest front brim out of all the hats described today, so your entire face will be protected, while you are being stylish.

Turbans

Turban hats are a new style that just evolved around 2014-2015. Not only does it keep your hair out of your face, but it also absorbs the sweat and the sun rays coming directly onto your head. When I think of Turbans, I automatically think of the fashion sleek items that Elizabeth Taylor would wear. Absolutely gorgeous! Even though they do not completely protect your body from the sun, you are still getting more added protection than not wearing a hat.

Boater Hats

This style is something that I was recently introduced too. They are super comfortable, and also provide you with almost a nautical feel! You can pair this cute essential with a nice romper, or dark denim jeans with a white tee for a more comfortable look! Even though boater hats are not as protective as some of the other options, it will still protect the top of your head from the UV Rays!

Bucket Hat

What are bucket hats? I consider them the trendy fishing hat! I have seen this style transform from the “Dad Hat” to seeing women wearing these at concerts. The lightweight material can absorb sweat, as well as, protect you. Because these hats have a lightweight brim, you can easily adjust it to your style preference. My favorite are the summer colors that you can wear while you are out on the beach!

Floppy Hat

THE WINNER! This hat is the winner of all hats- when it comes to protection from the sun. With the extremely wide and flexible full coverage brim, the sun does not stand a chance. I normally choose to wear this hat when I know I will be on the beach for extended periods of time. With the extremely wide brim on these hats, it can almost protect your skin to around your waistline! That is incredible, and extra helpful when you are spending those long hours in the sun. This hat will provide you with a very stylish and sophisticated look with any outfit. The bigger the hat, the more the compliments!

Tasseled Maxi Dress for Sun Sensible Lifestyle

I underwent a little bit of a heartbreak when I realized that committing to a sun sensible lifestyle meant that my wardrobe will be limited to full-length pieces. That means that none of those cute camisoles, sophisticated culottes, or short playsuits will make it into my day closet; I would have to start dressing for maximum coverage. What I discovered for my kind of lifestyle, though, is that the fashion industry has endless, stylish options for any dressing needs I had—I just really had to be open to the challenge and learn the rules of the style game.

One trick I learned? If you’re stocking up on full-length pieces, vamp it up with prints, patterns, trimmings, and inventive silhouettes. That way, you keep things playful and interesting.

One case in point I’ve had is this Dodo Bar Or tasseled maxi dress. It’s a breezy maxi dress made from black and white cotton-gauze, with a geometric op-art print that is no short of enchanting. It’s incredibly detailed, and I love every bit of it, from the silhouette-defining tassel trimmings to the gathered skirt. Needless to say, this dress has officially become my favorite for the summer, and I can’t rave enough about it!

The dress is already a showstopper, but I wanted to maximize it by pairing it with dark Celine sunglasses and a skull-embellished, black cowboy Bullhide hat. I wore it to lunch on the beach, and then a local town center for a casual shopping session with some of my friends.

I always get so ecstatic when I find something this intensely stylish for my sun sensible wardrobe. It doesn’t hurt that it’s versatile, too; I can definitely see myself wearing a lot more frequently and styling it in new ways in the future.

Photographed by Max VanderNoot https://www.facebook.com/maxvandernootphoto/?fref=ts

Long Sleeve Dress by Zimmerman

I dream all winter of our summers in the Hamptons- and it is finally here! Vacations that solely revolve around my family and friends are my favorite, and the Hamptons is my go-to place to achieve just that! With the great shopping, fascinating food, and breath taking views- it is almost impossible not to want to move here forever.

During our recent visit to the Hamptons my dear friend, who happens to be an amazing food blogger, hosted a casual outdoor dinner to celebrate the start of summer, and of course, enjoy this new weather. By the way, if you like to cook and entertain, you absolutely must check her blog at www.artdefete.com. It provides full dinner menus, recipes & tips for hosting a perfect soiree at home!

I decided to wear this long sleeve dress by Zimmerman, and paired it with my favorite tan wedges. Since it is the summertime, the heat is not the only thing that I am worried about. I made sure to splash on tons of sunblock under my dress for additional coverage. This dress covered most of my body, but it was also light and airy- just perfect for the summertime outdoor festivities.

Nothing says summer without some crazy sunglasses to pair with this maxi dress, and I chose to go with my favorite shades from Tom Ford. These large sunglasses not only added a zest to my outfit, but also provided critical protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays.

What are your plans for the summer, and how are you planning to keep your skin protected, while looking amazing?

Day On the Boat

Most of us who have ever been on a diet would be familiar of the fear instigated upon intake of particular food groups, and the lengths we would probably take just so we could avoid particular foods. To be honest with you, I can say the same for my fear of being out in the sun. When we were invited to cruise around Miami on a boat that belonged to our dear friends, this fear initially jogged through my decision to go, tucking me in and holding me back from joining. There’s the image of the ocean spread before my eyes, and then there’s the sun’s rays drinking up my skin. And I thought, maybe not.

But maybe yes, too—because ultimately that’s now how things should be. You see, fearing and hiding from the sun isn’t a bad thing. But it becomes a real issue when you let it control your lifestyle—and that’s something you definitely don’t need happening. It’s you, really, who needs to take control. Sun protection is about adjustments to sun exposure, and that’s something you can definitely work on with fashionable clothing and daytime schedules.

For the boat ride, I wore a long-sleeved, printed rashguard surf suit from Mara Hoffman, and a long skirt for maximum coverage. To accessorize, I chose this pair of Illesteva Mirrored sunglasses and my favorite baseball hat—it made up for a cool, carefree look in all. I ducked under shaded areas of the boat when the sun was at its midday peak, but definitely went out once the rays were a lot less harsh.

Needless to say, I was very happy that I went—very happy that I exchanged my fear for a warm, lovely day with close friends. We spent a day cruising around vibrant Miami; at one point, even swimming in a canal where dolphins were swimming, too. We docked, and sat down to the most amazing crawfish lunch on the boat, making happy chitchat over our plates. And then much later in the day, we cruised into the sunset and wound down.

SHOP THE LOOK:

Mara Hoffman http://www.marahoffman.com/swimwear/one-pieces

Free In St. Barth http://www.freeinstbarth.com

Illesteva Sunglasses https://illesteva.com/leonard-flat?child=880

Safari Chic Jumpsuits

It would be an understatement to say I love jumpsuits. If I have to pare my wardrobe down to 10 key pieces—factoring in my sense of fashion and concern for sun protection—jumpsuits will definitely be in there. They’ve got style and function rolled into one: providing maximum coverage while lending sophistication to your overall get-up while requiring very little styling effort.

With the sunny days just around the corner, you will definitely spot me wearing one of these full-length pieces. Because why not? They give you that much-coveted, effortlessly chic look. This one that I wore is a Safari-inspired jumpsuit from Ralph Lauren. It’s made of satin finish silk, which is said to have infallible UV protection and can help withstand the scorching island weather. Not to mention, the satin silk is soft on the skin.

You can expect this jumpsuit to provide ease of movement with its loose and light fitting, too. And for a day out and about, I’d require nothing less for an outfit.

Just as a dress is not style on its own, jumpsuits need a little work, too. I sprinkled a little color toe the soft nude hue of my jumpsuit with my wrist bangle. My Sensi Studio fedora hat has beaded details that added a little playfulness, too. Then I put on sunglasses to finish the outfit off with.

Sun Can Be Harmful to Your Nails Too: How to Keep Yours Looking Young and Healthy

Most people know that they need to take precautions to protect their skin and hair from the sun’s damaging rays by covering up with clothing or wearing a hat – but what about our nails? Many people are unaware that the sun can be damaging to our nails as well.

Why Sun Exposure is Bad For Your Nails

Too much exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays can cause nails to become brittle and easy to break over time. Over exposure to sun can also cause damage to the nail’s growth center – the white part at the base of the nail – which can affect the nail’s ability to regrow and can cause lasting damage to the appearance and health of the nail. The cuticle surrounding the nail is also sensitive to deterioration caused by UV damage and should be protected.

How To Protect Your Nails From the Sun

A fun and fashionable way to protect your nails from exposure to the sun is by getting a manicure and pedicure as all nail polishes provide some form of protection against UV rays. This is because nail polishes contain ingredients whose purpose is to keep the color of the polish from fading in the sun. If you want to be absolutely certain that your nail polish is protecting your nails against harmful rays, consider applying a top coat that is specifically labeled that it provides filters to protect from UV rays.

If you don’t want to paint your nails or don’t have time for a manicure before you know you will be spending time in the sun, applying a layer of sunscreen to your nails and cuticles can also offer protection from the effects of sun damage. Only put sunscreen on unpainted nails, though – sunscreen can ruin nail polish.

As with your skin, covering up is also always an option for protecting your nails from the sun. A nice pair of fashionable gloves will do the trick.

UV Rays at the Nail Salon

The drying lamps used by nail salons to dry freshly polished nails quickly and to set gel manicures emit UV rays. This has caused some controversy over the safety of using these machines, as consistent exposure to UV rays is known to cause skin cancer and premature aging of skin. While there are no studies that directly link the use of nail salon drying lamps to known occurrences of skin cancer, to play it safe The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends avoiding them altogether and allowing manicures to air dry naturally instead. For gel manicures that require time under the drying lamp in order to set, it is recommended that sunscreen be applied to the hands at least twenty minutes prior to when the drying lamp will be used. There are also commercial gloves available specifically for use with nail drying lamps. These gloves cover the hands and wrists while leaving the nails uncovered, thus reducing the amount of skin that is exposed to the UV light. These gloves can be purchased from Amazon and other online retailers.

To Sum It Up

The easy and fashionable way to protect your nails from becoming damaged from sun exposure is simply by keeping them painted with a top coat that is labeled to have added UV filters for sun protection. Just remember to be cautious about using a drying lamp when going to the nail salon, though there is no definitive proof that UV drying lamps cause skin cancer, it is always best to err on the side of caution.

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