Flower Power

Flowers are back and they are BIGGER and BOLDER than ever!

My favorite looks are from D&G's S/S/ 2011 show.

Mixing and matching different floral prints  and having fun with it add a youthful look to what otherwise may be a tired floral look that comes back every spring/summer.

Chanel on my nails

Illusions d'Ombres de Chanel for Fall 2011

It is a trio of seemingly mineral inspired, pearl nail colors.

I am lucky to have tried Graphite - a grayish black hue with a glittery finish - at the SoHo Chanel boutique the day it was launched and boy do I love it!!!!

CHANEL dictates the 'IT' colors, we follow. 'Nuff said.

Salsa done right by La Esquina Chef

Double Dipper
A Salsa Duo from La Esquina's Akhtar Nawab

 La Esquina chef Akhtar Nawab created a salsa and share it via Daily Candy New York . One is red, one is green, and both are easy to make and spicy enough to encourage healthy levels of hydration.
 Now all we need is the cerveza :)

Salsa Verde
Serves four
Ingredients
10 lg. tomatillos (about 1.5 lbs.), peeled and washed
1 jalapeno, destemmed and deseeded
1 Haas avocado
Juice of 3 limes, fresh
3 garlic cloves
½ red onion (about 4 oz.)
½ bunch fresh cilantro, minced
1. Wash and dry all ingredients well.
2. Puree in a blender until smooth (about 2 minutes).
3. Season with salt. Serve with chips or as a sauce with fresh grilled fish or shellfish.
Pasilla Chile and Raisin Salsa
Serves six
Ingredients
4 pasilla chiles (stemmed and seeded)
8 roma tomatoes
3 garlic cloves
¼ c. raisins
½ red onion (about 4 oz.)
2 tsp. oil
1 qt. water
1. Heat oil in a medium skillet. Add pasilla chiles and toast until aromatic and slightly bright in color. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. On the grill or under a broiler, char the tomatoes, onion, and garlic until dark on one side (about 3 minutes). Turn and char opposite sides.
3. Add the charred tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a pot with the chiles, raisins, and water. Cook until soft (about 15 minutes).
4. Transfer all ingredients to a blender in batches and puree until smooth.
La Esquina, 114 Kenmare Street, at Lafayette Street (646-613-7100 or esquinanyc.com).

HEALTHY HAMPTONS Part 2

Hamptons Workout Guide

Here's your black book to summer fitness in the Hamptons. Take your workout on vacation with these beachy, body-beautiful hotspots:

Drink the coconut water.This cult spinning fave has two studios out in the Hamptons--so you never have to go without your SoulCycle fix. Bridgehampton and East Hampton

Unleash your workout b(east).B East's Amagansett studio has it all: TRX training, cycling on RealRyder bikes, boot camps, Zumba and Intensati workout classes. 199 Main St., (631) 267-0900, MAP

Hit the barre.Strengthen, lengthen and feel the barre burn at the Physique 57 Bridgehampton studio. 264 Butter Ln., (631) 537-5722, MAP

Leave it to him.The man behind the hottest bikini bods: Ari Weller. This integrative movement personal trainer combines the best of functional strength training, yoga, Pilates and Gyrotonic for a style that slims and tones. Lift Hampton, Wainscott Village Shopping Center, 354 Montauk Hwy., (917) 514-8459, MAP

Get to the core of it.Tone and tighten with Core Fusion classes led by founders Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito. 2415 Main St. (Montauk Hwy.), Bridgehampton, 212-249-3000, MAP

Double up.Test your limits using Flywheel's TorqBoard, then hit the barre with a sculpting FlyBarre class. Sag Harbor (spin only) and East Hampton locations

Breathe easy.Find inner peace--or core strength--in a Restorative, Yoga for Athletes or even Surfer Yoga class at East Hampton's KamaDeva Yoga. See all the classes available this summer here. 66 Newtown Ln., (631) 604-1382, MAP

HEALTHY HAMPTONS

Dining

Here's your black book to summer food in the Hamptons. Take your taste buds on vacation at these hotspots for snacking and savoring:

Sip, juice, love.Treat yourself to a juice, smoothie, raw food or even vegan ice cream at Organic Avenue's Southampton boutique. 28 Jobs Ln., MAP

Go fish.Making its debut this summer, Nobu is opening at the Capri Hotel in Southampton. Expect Chef Nobu's signature dishes, made to perfection. 281 County Rd., 39A, (631) 488-4248, MAP

Be a softie.Our favorite healthy dessert shop has opened a shop out east. Soft Serve Fruit Co's low-calorie, fruity concoction is as close to guilt-free as it gets. 869 Montauk Hwy., (631) 726-6166, MAP

Rusch here.Montauk's latest dining hotspot comes from the guys behind The Fat Radish. The restaurant at Ruschmeyer's features fresh seafood with local ingredients and an extensive list of biodynamic, sustainable and organic wines. 161 Second House Rd., (631) 668-2877, MAP

Naam naam naam.We love The Juicy Naam's customized cleanse, made of organic, superfood-rich juices. And when we're not in the mood for a full cleanse, the daily fresh juices and raw food snacks are perfect for a day at the beach. Sag Harbor store, 51 Division St., (631) 725-3030, MAP; East Hampton farm stand, 27 Race Ln., (631) 604-5091, MAP

Do the local motion.You don't have to be vegan to enjoy East Hampton's Babette's: the organic eatery offers dishes for meat-free and meat eaters alike. Plus Babette's seasonal ingredients make it easy to be a locavore. 66 Newtown Ln., (631) 329-5377, MAP

Answer the Q.A Bridgehampton gem, Yama Q is known for its fresh fish dishes, high-quality sushi and oversized salads. Yum! 2393 Montauk Hwy., (631) 537-0225, MAP

Masculin Feminin

I like menswear inspired, minimalistic fashion...

Smart separates: a white buttoned-down shirt, tailored pants, slim denim, a black sweater, boyfriend coats/blazers...

Jil Sander and Celine do the perfect masculin feminin in their designs.

Below are a few examples of "borrowed-from-the-boys looks" that are sure to fit the bill this summer.

Little White Lace Dress

Yes, lace can move beyond bridal associations...

I pair mine with unexpected shoes so it doesn't scream wedding chapel or little house on the prairie :)

Pick your Tribe!

Tribal print has made a come back and what a come back that is!

Let the print take center stage and have fun with it!

I will certainly be rocking my DvF number  I had picked up at Bergdorfs many many seasons ago ;-) 

(THANKS MOM! )

Le Labo Elizabeth Street

I love it when things come in simple, utilitarian packaging — it kind of says that whatever’s inside is so special that it doesn’t need any help from its container.

Legend (internet) has it that when cult perfumer Le Labo rolled out its latest scent, Santal 33, a two-block-deep line formed outside the NoLita boutique in anticipation. I would like to stop by and pick up a bottle for myself this weekend.

To “pick up” a bottle of Le Labo perfume is sort of an understatement, though. Once you choose from the dozen or so scents, a lab coat-clad mixologist blends a fresh helping of it for you, and prints a label with your name on it. It’s a semi-couture fragrance. There are body lotions, massage oils, candles, and even a Rose 31-scented laundry detergent (think about Rose 31-scented underwear! )

Santal 33 is a woodsy, Marlboro-man inspired juice that appeals to men and women—a common thread in Le Labo creations.

So when you oh-so-thoughtfully gift one to your live-in significant other, be sure to remind them: sharing is caring.

In the BAG with fitness guru Tracy Anderson

Live in Style - House Tour with Robin Tunney

I fell in love with Robin Tunney's hillside home in L.A. the second I have spotted in in last August's InStyle. Not sure why I have waited this long to post about it but here goes:

I love the serene feeling her house exudes and the pop of color that she has added to every room in her house. I especially liked her minimalistic bedroom, the Missoni towels in her bathroom, Jonathan Adler pillows and her patio.  What’s your favorite room or detail?