Coquette

Banana Republic Milly Collection

Banana Republic's new Milly Collection is the perfect antidote to kicking off summer. This limited edition collection features Milly's fun and colorful prints. Pictured above: Olivia Palmero sports the Banana Republic Milly Collection Elephant Print Short ($55) while Zoe Saldana looks elegant in the Banana Republic Milly Collection Striped Fit And Flare Dress ($140).

Here are more of my favorites from the Banana Republic Milly Collection:

Pleated Patio Dress ($165)

Printed Halter Top ($79.50)

Medallion Print Roll Sleeve Top($89.50)

Feathers Short ($55)

Medallion Scarf ($69.50)

Enamel Lock Bangle ($39.50, more colors)

Toting Michael Kors

I am so in love with the colorful saffiano leather MICHAEL Michael Kors Jet Set Totes. They come in some of the freshest candy colors but also classic black and brown. In a land of inflated bag prices where even a tote could set you back almost $1,000, it's nice to see that these stylish totes are affordably priced in the $200 range that you can easily gather one up in a couple of your favorite colors.

The MICHAEL Michael Kors Saffiano Jet Set Medium Travel Tote ($278 at Zappos) is generously sized to place all your essentials as well as stuff you will need for a day trip to wine country or for lounging by the pool. It's definitely a perfect size to take on an airplane.

The MICHAEL Michael Kors Jet Set Small Travel Tote ($228 at Zappos) is great for looking chic and elegant while bopping around town. It holds your essentials plus a little more.

Melinda Maria Jewelry

I adore the new edgy look in jewelry but I have a small frame so I like things that are bold but still delicate. While in Hawaii browsing the magazines by the pool, I ripped out a page from last month's In Style magazine featuring Emma Stone wearing Melinda Maria's gold-plated Titus Ring ($58). She wore this arrow shaped ring ever so stylishly on her index finger at a Revlon event. I plan on getting this ring but can't decide what else I want because once you visit the Melinda Maria site, you'll become hooked. The jewelry is gorgeous and she has a range of pieces that are wallet friendly.

Melinda Maria's jewelry is loved by many celebrities and her pieces can look delicate on their own or stacked together for a chic statement.

Here are more of my favorite Melinda Maria jewelry pieces:

3 Pyramid Drop Earrings ($70)

Emma Baby Cluster Earrings ($115)
(Currently out of stock but I am patiently waiting for these)

Jennifer Ring ($56)

Mila Ring ($58)

Vanessa Pod Ring ($78)

Single Pyramid Pave Necklace ($95)

Macy's Union Square in SF Celebrates the 140th Anniversary of Levi's 501 Jeans

(Photo: Denimology - Jennifer Aniston wears Levi's 501 jeans while filming The Bounty Hunter)

On Monday, the original classic blue jeans – Levi's 501 celebrates their 140th anniversary. If you're in the Bay Area, come to Macy's in Union Square to hear Levi's historian Lynn Downey share the evolution of the blue jean with special Levi's® archives:

• The XX, one of the world's oldest pairs of jeans (1879)
• Levi's Calico mine jeans (c1890s) - discovered in the abandoned Calico Silver Mine
• Levi's jeans from the 1930s, 1950s, 1960s
• Levi's jeans signed by The Rolling Stones
• Historic advertising ranging from a 19th century sales flyer to 1930s/40s American West point-of-sale pieces

There will even be a special 501 themed birthday cake!

Mention you heard about this event from Coquette to receive a special Macy's $10 gift card.

Monday, May 20, 2013, 6PM
Macy's Union Square, Third Floor
170 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Explory: A Mobile Storytelling App

I love to take photos with my iPhone but once it's copied onto my computer, they are most often forgotten. I only wish I had time to create fun movies of trips or my daughter's birthdays. Now there's a new app in the works called Explory. With Explory, you can actually your own movies using your photos and videos – all from your mobile phone or iPad. I have never seen anything so brilliant and easy to use. Just think about how perfectly easy it will be to capture a special event, birthday party, vacation or just a fun afternoon.

The team is made up of the amazing geniuses that created Flash who are also my former co-workers from Macromedia back in the 90's. Help support them in the creation of Explory as they try to launch this product by this summer.

Visit the Explory Kickstarter page to find out more about the app and help contribute.

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum

I'm not a huge perfume person but I am starting to venture out of my safe signature Chanel scents. Each time I'm at a department store I'll try something new. Yesterday at Bloomindales I had already sprayed on a Jo Malone scent and wanted to try Miss Dior but I was smelling too much like apricots to smell anything else. So while picking up my Dior Show Mascara, the sales associate gave me a small sample of Miss Dior to take home.

This morning I tried it and I fell in love. The fragrance is soft, but not too soft. It lingers with you and has such a sweet smell. I adore the beautiful bottle too that has a cute silver bow. Pick up Miss Dior at Nordstrom.com and get free shipping.


Dior 'Miss Dior' Eau de Parfum Spray ($90 for 1.7 oz, $115 for 3.4 oz at Nordstrom)

Dior 'Miss Dior' Signature Gift Set ($125 at Nordstrom)

Bookmarc x Krink: Markers & Paints Get Stylish

I can get pretty nerdy over pens, makers and paints. I'm already drooling over Marc Jacobs' Bookmarc and their new collaboration with Krink, the maker of the highest quality inks and markers. Bookmarc x Krink features three special pieces that will bring your design, art, or crafty projects to life. Choose from the K-12 Paint Marker ($9 in Black, Silver, Gold), K-47 Permanent Ink Marker ($8 in Blue, Green, Black, Magenta), and K-60 Paint Marker ($14 in Red, Yellow, Silver, Gold, Black, Light Blue). Time to get creative!

Pre-order your Bookmarc x Krink at marcjacobs.com.

Book Review: So Pretty! Felt by Amy Palanjian

So Pretty! Felt by Amy Palanjian
Published by Chronicle Books.

When I received Amy Palanjian's new book, So Pretty! Felt my 4 year old immediately said "Oh Mommy can we make these flowers?", referring to the beautiful array of felt flowers on a fabric clutch pictured on the cover of this book. Amy is the former deputy editor of ReadyMade magazine and her previous book is So Pretty! Crochet, one of my all time favorite crochet books (Coquette post here.) Needless to say, I am excited to be a part of the So Pretty! Felt blog tour. The book contains 24 stylish projects that are really easy to make. Many of them are so wonderful to make and give as gifts. Perfect for anyone to start DIY'ing!

Here are a few of my favorite projects:

I have a good felt collection and I love working with felt. It's one of the easiest materials to craft with because you never have to worry about frayed edges. These Rosette Hairpins are an easy way to get started and break into my felt stash. I love how they can dress up your ordinary bobby pins. I plan on making a few for my daughter.

This Double Ruffle Necklace is perfect for a little pop of color and texture to an outfit.

Likewise for the Spiral Necklace. It's such a beautiful statement necklace and the color combinations can take your outfit to the next level.

If you're interested in making very stylish projects that are easy, So Pretty! Felt is for you!

Please visit the rest of the blogs below for the So Pretty! Felt blog tour happening through next week!

Thursday, May 9 – The Sweetest Occasion and Ambrosia Creative
Friday, May 10 – West Coast Crafty and One More Mushroom
Saturday, May 11 – Mod Podge Rocks
Monday, May 13 – Handmade Charlotte and Fabric Paper Glue
Tuesday, May 14 – MINT and A Spoonful of Sugar
Wednesday, May 15 – Positively Splendid and Hart and Sew
Thursday, May 16 – Rouge and Whimsy and So You Think You're Crafty
Friday, May 17 – Aesthetic Nest and Dollar Store Crafts

Clarins Get the Look: Lauren Bush at the Met Gala 2013

I'm always on the look out for wonderful makeup application tips, especially for a dressed up evening out. Lauren Bush look positively radiant at last night's Met Gala 2013 dressed in Ralph Lauren and with makeup by Clarins. Her skin just looked flawless and I just had to find out how she got this minimalist clean look that looked fantastic for night.

Clarins makeup artist Jean Fayard shares how she achieved Lauren's look:

To get Lauren ready for the Met Gala, I first prepped her skin with Clarins Everlasting Foundation in Amber #112 mixed with a little bit of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for an instant glowing complexion. I then highlighted her brow bone and the ridge of her nose with Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector in Bronze Shimmer #03.

The theme was Punk so we wanted to give Lauren a bit of a dramatic eye that would really pop and complement her gorgeous Ralph Lauren gown. For the eyes, I opted for a soft smoky look going from the lightest purple to black. I used Clarins Ombre Minérale Mono Eyeshadow in Lavender Tea smudging the color along her lash line along with Clarins Waterproof Eye Pencil in Black #01. Next, I created a fading effect along the crease using Clarins Ombre Minérale Mono Eyeshadow in Sparkle Black and highlighted the brow bone with Clarins Ombre Minérale Mono Eyeshadow in Nude.

On her cheeks, I lightly brushed the Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour in Soft Peach #02. I went for natural lips using Clarins Lip Definer in Nude #3 and Clarins Rouge Eclat in Nude Caramel #15. To complement the lipstick color and add a little shine, I finished with Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in Apricot Shimmer #02.

The Military Jacket

(Photo: Zimbio)

Actress Diane Kruger looks casual chic on a Sunday with boyfriend Joshua Jackson in NYC. I love her military green jacket that becomes a great centerpiece for her outfit, along with her checkerboard Vans, of course. Military green looks so fresh for spring and is a perfect light coverup for the breezy spring weather.

Here are my picks for the perfect military jacket:

Willow & Clay Military Hooded Jacket ($110 at Piperlime)

Capulet Hooded Military Jacket ($154 at Piperlime)

Rag & Bone Nakamura Jacket ($550 at Shopbop)

Nili Lotan Military Jacket ($554 at Shopbop)

More on Shopbop.com: What We're Wearing Now | 6 In Rotation Wonders