Long midsummer nights require easy-breezy wardrobe staples in subtle, flattering colors.

Traditional Swedish midsummer was celebrated on Friday, although there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue to celebrate the height of summer. Pure whites, metallics and shades of pink festive and easy to wear and will look great with your summer tan. It’s important that you wear comfortable shoes that don’t have pointy heels, since summer parties are often held on lawns and involve dancing.

Weimar Dress by Prairie Underground
Summer is all about easy shapes that move with you, and this butterfly-sleeve Weimar Dress by Prairie Underground does just that. Made in the USA from 100% organic cotton, it is the perfect warm weather dress. A natural waisted seam flawlessly hugs your curves and is the perfect base for a wide belt.
$162, Juno & Jove

JADEtribe Tie Dye Scarf
Handwoven by a women’s collective in Laos, this tie dye scarf by JADEtribe is a perfect cover-up for those sometimes chilly summer nights. Made from 100% silk, it feels great against warm summer skin too. The tie dye patterns is playful and subtle at the same time — a great way to add some color to your summer wardrobe.
$68, JADEtribe

Kim White Equestrian Belt
This wide equestrian belt is sculpted and contoured in the back to fit your body just right. It’s the perfect way to add some layers to that simple white summer dress. The metallic pewter color leather has just a little bit of shine, and will work with many different pieces in your closet.
$110, Kim White

Neuaura Bell Silver Flats
At some point during those long summer night festivities you’re going to want to be dancing, and that requires some seriously comfy shoes. These jute-wrapped ballerinas by Neuaura are made from silver vegan leather with a flexible rubber sole. The lace-up detail in the front is a subtle nod to summer’s big sportswear trend.
On sale for $79.99, Neuaura

Hand Dyed Tote Bag
The Textile Arts Center recently opened a retail shop in Manhattan. These ecologically sustainable tote bags are hand dyed and hand printed with natural dyes. Logwood, indigo, madder, cutch, walnut, and Brazilwood to create three unique shibori color combinations. All proceeds from handmade TAC products go to support programming for children and adults, aimed at preserving the art of hand-crafts.
$25, Textile Arts Center

Andy Lifschutz Gaia Crystal Studs
Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Andy Lifschutz is always seeking new ways to combine his signature artisan style with raw elements such as reclaimed metals, wood, bone and stone. These studs from the Gaia Crystal collection are handmade in NYC from 100% Reclaimed Sterling Silver. Each piece is custom made and takes about two weeks to make.
$113, Andy Lifschutz

DIY Flower Crown
Finish off your look with a pretty flower crown. With a few simple tools, a bit of patience and a bouquet of great flowers, they’re super easy to make too. Here’s an easy tutorial.

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These quartz rings bypass New Age to meet contemporary cool.

I first met jewelry designer Andy Lifschutz at New York Market this past February, and was drawn like a raven to his table of shining and shimmering quartz and reclaimed metal rings. I still feel how I did then – that these are intense statement rings that would alter the way you feel when you slip them on.

Because I can’t say it better myself, I’ll let his site talk: “His jewelry creates an appeal not solely focused on aesthetic value, but based heavily upon the indelible spirit of powerful organic forms. From more functional adornments to fashionable and thought-provoking ornamentation, Andy creates pieces that symbolize the force that is the natural world while articulating a balance between old and new.”

With that, I’ll leave you to peruse.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

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What is it about a presentation that makes my heart race?
Why is it that I don’t bleed red but thread?

Stumbling into my first New York Fashion Week experience, still in awe of where I now stand, I am realizing my dreams faster than I can acknowledge what it is I’m achieving. My focus this season is in observation and research, adoration and, at times, ecstasy. I aim to get my feet wet, set my eye on the next prize and walk away motivated by the creativity surrounding me enough to take flight towards my own fall presentation.

It’s time to get dressed again (perhaps the first time in a while my outfits don’t stick out), lace up my platform wedges and get my pen and paper ready.

This girl means business.

Richie Rich, fall 11′

I’ve knocked the first few days of NYFW out with a random array of shows.

Last night, Richie Rich’s show was all about trashy chic: Wild hair, bigger make-up, MEGA ‘tude’ and a ridiculous amount of spectacle, but that’s what Rich is known for and we got every bit what we wanted from it.

My good friend and sustainable jewelry designer, Andy Lifschutz, adorned all the models and I have to say his jewelry definitely kicked the looks up a notch and was where my attention stayed.

Richie Rich, fall 11′

John Patrick Organic was a study in  restrained English riding with a hint of tomboy chic. Textures ranged from sheer, hand dyed silks and vegetable tanned leathers to rich hand knit wool.  Slightly youthful, yet ever sophisticated, the collection left me with a longing to read Jane Eyre.

John Patrick Organic, fall 11′

Cropped sweaters, beaded belts, layering pieces in a way I wish all women would, the collection softly whispered in my ear to take it home and wear it right away. I walked away feeling as if sustainable limitations are a thing of the past and a girl like me can make whatever it is she wants thanks to all the options out there. The extra effort to obtain it seems to always be worth it in the end.

John Patrick Organic, fall 11′

Mara Hoffman has been on my covet list for years now with all her hand-dyed silks and inspiration from nature. I sat in line for an hour just to get my 15 minutes of merriment at her presentation, finding myself surrounded in a sea of black clad fashion folk – but this just reminded me how fun it is to stand out dressed all in neutrals. Hoffman’s rich colors, enchanting textiles and braided appliqué were something to behold and I can’t wait for fall when they make it into stores.

As swiftly as they came in, the models were then escorted out.  My moment with the rich red and khaki kaftans and body-con kaleidoscope dresses was over. My pocket book will soon be as empty.

Mara Hoffman, fall 11′

I tried (I swear I did), to run across town to one of my favorite shoe designers ever, Rachel Comey, but high heels, dead phones and taxi lines out the wazoo turned my window of opportunity into nothing more than an empty seat.

By far the show I anticipated most was the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation’s winning presentation of The Lake & Stars.

Those girls have topped my girl crush/style crush pile since teddies came back into my vocabulary. Always a little tongue in cheek, always super chic, Maayan Zilberman and Nikki Decker turned it up and out. Ice blue velvet, sheer nude mesh, Kelly Green and black and white?  Somewhere between form vs. flow and play vs. business, they got the job done. I wanted every piece on the models. Dancing between Italian Neo-Classicism and famed architecture group Superstudio, the collection felt nostalgic and modern all at once. I aim to hang with this tag team and I’ll even let a little campy S&M into my panty drawer if they tell me to.

As my feet ache, brain overloads and personal deadlines weave in between my fashion schedule, I find myself asking why I waited so long to immerse myself in live fashion – and when can I do it again?

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