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WHITE FISHERMAN SWEATERS


All I want to do right now is shop. It happens every year: August rolls around and suddenly it's my birthday, New York Fashion Week is creeping up on us, retailers are rolling out their fall wares, and I. Cannot. Resist. But instead of buying everything in sight, I make a list of a few pieces I'd like to invest in each season. This fall? D'Orsay flats and lots of cozy sweaters, starting with a little white fisherman sweater. Wear it in August/September tied around your neck with white jeans or tucked into an A-line skirt, then layer it under a scarf or a blazer come October/November. Here are a few top picks:


What pieces do you have your eye on for fall?!


COLORFUL HAMPTONS HOME TOUR

Weekends on Nantucket always leave me reeling with home envy. I could stroll around with iced coffee and an iPhone snapping pretty little cottages literally all day long. So it's extra fun to see the inside of a summer home that's particularly well decorated. This one is happens to be in the Hamptons but, really, beggars can't be choosers, amiright? I've added a few product picks below each space to help you get the look chez vous:


Framed swimsuits (this would be an easy DIY project!)


Orange and pink throw pillows


I'm definitely a blue/white/green kind of girl in my own space (with pops of pink, of course) but this makes me wish I had extra space to play around with a warmer color palette. Orange, pink, and purple make an unexpectedly chic combo, don't you think? 



PAINTBOX NAILS NYC

A few of you requested more beauty-related content on Design Darling and, while it's admittedly not (yet) my area of expertise, I'm excited to try out a few new-to-me products and services and bring you the best of what I find!


First up is Paintbox Nails, a chic-as-can-be manicure studio in SoHo that specializes in nail art. Now I'm normally not a big fan of nail art (some of the designs I've seen remind me of the little flowers I requested during manicures circa age seven) but Paintbox has a range of designs that are more minimal and sophisticated than anything my elementary school self would have sought after. I brought my Design Darling summer interns, Mary Claire and Taryn, during an extra productive work week and it was such a fun way to celebrate! 


The decor inside is to die for: bright white walls, navy leather banquette seating, and modern fixtures that are a serious step up from my usual neighborhood nail spot. And the manicurists were super friendly and had lots of advice on which colors and designs would look best. The three of us wound up choosing three different looks — I imagine it would take years to get through their full range of options!


I got navy and white colorblocking, Mary Claire got lavender with a pink stripe, and Taryn got coral with a white stripe. I think I'd get something more subtle next time but it was fun to try something a little outside my usual pink and red comfort zone!


(Side note: how hilarious is this candid of Mary Claire and Taryn? I trained them well ;) I am going to miss these two SO much!!!)


A close-up of my manicure (worn with a cameo ring from Sweet & Spark!). Have you ever tried your hand at nail art? Would you give Paintbox a go? You can book an appointment online here!