farpitzs.

and here’s the rest of the ann taylor summer 2012 collection. there was a bright burst of wearable neon, a palette of sunset-colored grecian gowns, and an updated collection of separates for work. “updated” as in, this ain’t your mom’s separates; every piece of white and black clothing was mix and matchable, which is imperative when creating a conservative office wardrobe. the final section was, in my opinion, one of the most important. it was full of nautical resort pieces, but also ann’s very first swimwear line. i will definitely be checking out the retro-inspired suits when they land in stores.

as i revealed earlier in the week, i had the opportunity to check out ann taylor’s newest collection for summer 2012. (i hope you don’t mind, but it was so full of awesomeness that i had to split it into two image-heavy posts.) last season featured tons of punchy shades and this collection merely continued into a colorful line for the warmer months.

and can we take a moment to bask in the glory that was the accessories? i mean, the bracelets, necklaces, belts, and purses were so much better than what i could have ever imagined. the ann taylor accessories department is underrated. there was intricate wiring, chunky rhinestones, and…basically, they were all incredibly eye-catching.

i told you i’d show it to you, didn’t i? that i would reveal some of the stella & dot spring 2012 collection? here ‘tis. not familiar with the site? well, let me break it down:

• over 50% of all pieces sold cost under $50
• prices range from $30 to $250, respectively
• limited edition, limited quantity design editions peak at $300
• the “delicates” collection was purposely designed for layering
• this bracelet was created to benefit breast cancer awareness 

in addition to all of those memorable bulletpoints, stella & dot gives you the option of becoming a “stylist.” this allows you to sell pieces out of your own home and earn a profit similar to the avon, mary kay, and chloe & isabel business models.

also? i never ate one of those macarons and i’m really regretting it right now.

last week, amidst craziness, i grabbed my sister’s hand (we hold hands sometimes—is that weird? whatever.) and brought her with me to the presentation of erin wahed’s latest collection. before she emailed me, i’ll be honest, i wasn’t aware of bande des quatres. i should have been. as you can see from the photos above, this is some avant garde deliciousness incarnate. basically, wearing her pieces is like carrying around a museum exhibit on your wrist and/or fingers. bande des quatres is a boutique jewelry line created less than a year ago by erin and her mother, jeweler janis kerman. each piece is inspired by the bauhaus masters and world renowned architects; they’re a bit pricey, but the craftsmanship and quality is fully evident.

as i announced late yesterday afternoon, i recently had the pleasure of viewing the latest wares from erica weiner. i also met the weinz herself. i’m not sure if she’s okay with being called “the weinz,” but we had a good chat over some champ and cheese, so i’m just gonna go with it. anyway, i’ve been a fan of hers for a while, so seeing all of her pieces in one room was sensory overload; it was like stepping back in time to a place where jewelry actually meant something. each charm had a purpose, every imprinted word was well-thought-out. but aside from all that, the best part about erica’s collections is the fact that i, and you, can own them. well, most. maybe not this ring.