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CLARE VIVIER FLAT CLUTCH


I've decided that one of my next purchases will be one of Clare Vivier's flat clutches. Aren't they stunning? Clare began designing leather goods after noticing a need for chic laptop cases (#brilliant) and I couldn't be more smitten with her simple but chic designs. I'm torn among the three options above... The pink is the perfect pop of color, the leopard is a great neutral-with-a-twist, and the navy would go with my 99% navy wardrobe... Help a girl choose?!

P.S. Another favorite Clare Vivier piece here.

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WEEKEND WARDROBE



If you happen to be starting your Fourth of July festivities early, why aren't you taking me with you here's a little inspiration for your weekend look. Isn't the striped maxi seriously stunning? I'm sure I'd have to have it hemmed half a foot but it might just be worth it. Whatever you're up to this weekend, make it a great one! xx

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"THINKING IS SCARY, BUT IT'S WORTH IT."


"Do you ever go for a walk just to think?" an old friend asked over drinks the other night. I thought about it. I walk everywhere — to the coffee shop, the gym, the library. I walk my dog three times a day. But walking just to think? No, I guess it's been a while. Too long, in fact.

Do you ever catch yourself just going through the motions? Like you're out of energy and ideas? It's easy to keep on down that path, isn't it? It's way harder to acknowledge it and take time to really think about why that might be the case. 

I'm grateful for the people in my life who can tell me when I'm not my best self and who can give me a bit of a reality check. I don't have it all figured out right now so I guess today we'll call it food for thought. As my friend said, "Thinking is scary, but it's worth it."

On a happier note, I could not be more ready for a little vacation next week. I think a couple days on Nantucket with my cousins and siblings is just what the doctor ordered.


NEW ARRIVALS AT CHARM & CHAIN


ONE  //  TWO  //  THREE  //  FOUR  //  FIVE  //  SIX

I've always loved pearls and turquoise (and bonus points when they're together!). The new arrivals at Charm & Chain have both in spades so let's all play pretend for a moment. If you could choose one of the above to add to your jewelry box, which would it be? I love these but I think this takes the cake for me. Agree? Disagree? Let's hear it!


EASY AS 1-2-3



I stumbled upon this look on (where else?) Pinterest and thought it was too cute not to try to recreate the look with a few easy basics (and one killer handbag!). She makes it look so effortless! Now if only I could get my hair to cooperate for the perfect sock bun...!

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DESIGN DARLING SUMMER DRESS GUIDE


It's so hot in New York that the thought of wearing anything besides a dress is enough to keep me indoors for days at a time. I know I grew up less than an hour away and should be used to the heat by now but there's something about summer in the city that's bringing out my crankiest, sweatiest, tiredest self. Pretty, right? In an effort to turn my frown upside down, I've compiled twenty (!!!) pretty summer dresses to remind us why we wait for this season all year long. Enjoy!


(1) Joie  (2) Rory Beca  (3) Pim + Larkin  (4) Equipment




(9) J.Crew  (10) Ramy Brook  (11) Tibi  (12) Marc by Marc Jacobs


(13) Equipment  (14) Club Monaco  (15) BCBG  (16) Madewell


(17) J.Crew  (18) PJK  (19) DVF  (20) Contrarian


I don't know about you but I'm off to treat myself to a pretty dress or two! :)


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SNAPSHOTS


This Kushcush striped one-piece arrived and I actually love it! More sizes available here.

I'm rotating among three fragrances right now: Coach Poppy, Marc Jacobs Daisy (thanks, Mom!), and Ralph by Ralph Lauren.

I've been l-i-v-i-n-g in MiH's Marrakesh flare jeans. If you're looking for a dark wash, super soft fit, and the most flattering silhouette, I can't recommend these highly enough.

The colors of this necklace make me so happy. Fun fact: I named it after my cousin and partner-in-crime Emily!

I finally found my perfect beach bag: this seagrass number complete with a striped lining! This weekend it was the perfect accessory for grabbing a picnic blanket and heading to Central Park.

It was actually kind of fun to pick up my real camera and take a few pictures around my apartment. Maybe I'll do it more often :) In the mean time, there's always more behind-the-scenes action on Instagram!

P.S. Don't forget to enter the $100 Smathers & Branson giveaway!

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FAB DECOR & GIFTS

Chairs  //  mirror  //  iPad case  //  ballpoint pen  //  cutting boards  //  pillow  //  rug

I love brands that aren't afraid of a little color. All white rooms are so boring, not to mention a nightmare to keep clean. These are some of my more colorful finds from Fab, a site that's brimming with modern home decor and quirky gifts for guys and girls. I love the idea of bright cutting boards in the kitchen and of course a striped pillow for the sofa. And seriously, how perfect is that rug?!!! If that doesn't scream summer, I don't know what does. Be sure to sign up for Fab's email newsletter to be kept in the loop about new products!

*This post is sponsored by Fab, a brand I genuinely love. Thank you for supporting the companies that make Design Darling possible! 

SMATHERS & BRANSON $100 GIVEAWAY

Are you all familiar with Smathers & Branson? They make the best needlepoint goods, from belts to flasks and everything in between. I was ecstatic when they sent me these nautical coasters and Jolly Roger baseball cap — they're perfectly preppy and an absolute must for summer! Get excited because Smathers & Branson is giving away a $100 gift card to one lucky reader. All you have to do is follow the instructions in the widget below! (You'll have to click over to the blog to enter.) I'll be contacting the winner on Friday. Good luck!

OUTFIT {VINEYARD VINES & J. McLAUGHLIN}


Dresses with pockets might be my favorite thing ever and I love the white trim on this one most of all! Is it not absolutely perfect for the Fourth of July? I'm headed up to Nantucket that weekend and this is most definitely making the cut for my weekend bag. Speaking of bags, I'm obsessed with this hot pink wicker one. Hot pink, navy blue, and white... It doesn't get much better than that in my book! 

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OTTE SIGNATURE


Confession: I kind of live for solid colors. Besides my go-to gingham and stripes, I don't own many printed pieces. Florals strike me as too busy, geometrics too trendy, so on and so forth. Plus I love mixing and matching different solid pieces — the combinations are endless! That's why I was so stoked to stumble upon Otte's signature line of silk tops. Available in a number of colors and styles, they're exactly the kind of basics you can invest in now knowing you'll live in them forever. Don't mind if I do!

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WOULD YOU WEAR A ROMPER?


Some of my favorite posts are when you all chime in on whether you paint your own nails, wear lipstick, etc. Today I thought I'd throw you a fashion question: would you wear a jumpsuit or romper?

Right now I can't get enough of them. Yes, it takes me ten minutes to wiggle into it and it's wildly impractical when you have to use the ladies' room... But they are just so effortless and playful! Like an equally comfortable and infinitely chicer version of the footie pajamas I wore on Christmas morning we all wore as kids.


So tell me: what are your thoughts on rompers? Do you own one? Would you? Let's discuss!

PARKER NEW YORK



Lately it's been so hot in New York that I've had no choice but to wear dresses and skirts every day. You know I would live in jeans year-round if I could but right now I'm reaching for the easy-breeziest pieces in my closet. I'm pretty obsessed with these options from Parker, a Manhattan-based brand that designs beautiful basics with girly details like bow closures, exposed zippers, and gold buttons. The Nicole dress would be perfect for daytime meetings and the Lulu dress was made for nights on the town! And of course I can't resist a good romper. 

Do you own anything from Parker? Which one of the above would you be most likely to add to your wardrobe?

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FRIENDS WITH STYLE {EDDY}


Look who's back! Truthfully I love styling boys as much as I like getting dressed myself. Menswear is just as much fun to shop for if you know where to look! That's why I was so excited when my friend Nikki introduced me to Hugh & Crye, a D.C.-based brand whose dress shirts are sized by body type: athletic, lean, tall, etc. It's kind of genius for those of us buying shirts for our boyfriends, brothers, and dads — get rid of the confusing numbers (who knows their dad's neck size anyway?) and shop by build and height. Umm, why didn't I think of that?

Note to boys everywhere: you pretty much can't go wrong with complementary shades of blue. Navy, light blue, and brown boat shoes is kind of as good as it gets — and it's a look that works everywhere from a business casual office to happy hour with your college pals to date night with your lucky lady. Bonus points for navy gingham — I love gingham on boys as much as I love stripes on girls.

Do you dress your beau or your guy friends? (Or in this case, your male coworkers?) What do you love to see them in? Do tell! 

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NEW ARRIVALS!


We just added a handful of new products to Design Darling {The Boutique} and I hope you'll click over and take a peek! I'm crazy about these summery statement necklaces (this one in particular) and I think this business card holder is kind of the cutest thing ever. Check out all the new goodies here and let me know what you think! xx

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SUPERGA SNEAKERS


I sort of hesitate to admit this... But sneakers have totally become part of my weekend look. Before you cringe at the thought of me in athletic sneakers and skinny jeans (seriously, why is this legal?) let's clarify. There's something playful and maybe just a teensy bit hipster about wearing sneakers with a dress or shorts (yes, I realize pink gingham negates any notion of hipsterdom here). 

I have these in gray and these in white but lately I've been craving a little color. If I wear neon ballet flats, why shouldn't I have hot pink sneakers too? Enter Superga: an Italian company known for its classic tennis sneakers in a bevy of colors, currently creative directed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Colorful, comfy, and cute as can be — need I say more?

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WORK IN PROGRESS.

I went on a date a couple weeks ago and the guy (boy? date? kid? man? none of these sound right...) asked me the one trait I'd most like to improve about myself. I thought it was a great question, especially for someone you don't know very well. He said he's trying to be less judgmental before getting to know people. I thought about it for a moment and decided on...

Patience. I might be the least patient person in the world. Waiting in line at Starbucks is a daily exercise in restraint. Walking behind an elderly person/woman on a cell phone with a stroller and two small dogs/person with zero body awareness (aren't those the worst?) gets me more worked up than I care to admit. I'm not proud of it... but there are times I've actually had to stop myself from hitting my computer because my Internet connection was so infuriatingly slow. I'm impatient with myself, with others, and with inanimate objects... Not good.

What do you do to try to be patient? Sometimes I think it's just a question of stepping back, taking a deep breath, and realizing it's not really worth getting worked up over... Easier said than done, of course. If you have any tips or tricks, you know I'm all ears.

This isn't a pity party but I do think it's important to acknowledge that we're all works in progress and that there's always room for improvement. What's one trait you'd like to work on? I'd love to hear!

*more images here

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FOFLOR RUG GIVEAWAY + EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT

I've mentioned before that I think rugs are one of the hardest parts of a room to source affordably (see some of my suggestions here). I'm excited to share a fun new site called FoFlor with lots of bright, preppy options that would work in a number of spaces. Dorm room, kitchen, powder room... There's something for everyone! Here are a few of my favorite patterns:


Cute, right? The patterns are an exclusive collaboration with SCOUT by Bungalow which explains why they're so fun and happy. The best part? FoFlor is giving one lucky Design Darling reader the runner of his or her choice! To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below (you'll have to click over to the blog to enter). 

Oh! And if you find something that strikes your fancy, they're also generously offering 20% off all orders placed before June 23 with code DESIGN4FLOOR at checkout! Get shopping here. Good luck!

OUTFIT {NAVY AND WHITE AND TIED WITH A BOW}


Can I just say that I think Club Monaco is absolutely killing it right now? Carver, Emily, and I were lamenting the loss of Rugby the other night but all agreed that Club Monaco has really stepped up its game. These shorts. This sweater. Next on my list? This dress, this skirt, or maybe even this vest. Oh, and this jacket has a total Olivia Pope thing happening. Like I said, killing it. 

A word on the shoes: yes, technically they're in the wedding section but I think they're the perfect statement shoe for birthday parties or even just dinner with friends. And if you do happen to get married in them, all the better! :)

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GIRL CRUSH


Elena's blog Classy & Fabulous is brimming with outfit inspiration and the most beautiful photography.  Isn't she stunning? The perfect reminder that classics are classics for a reason. Grab your blue oxford, white jeans, and nude shoes and have a perfect Sunday! xx

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