I've always loved nautical, military-inspired details, and the classic appeal of the Breton striped shirt calls out to me. Why are stripes, and in particular navy stripes, so closely associated with sea-faring activities? Here's the scoop: the Breton shirt enjoys a long maritime history, dating back to 1868 when it was first introduced as the uniform for French navy seamen. Later on, it was embraced as a garment by the wider mariner population, and now is reincarnated in both casual and dressy outfits.
The top is so versatile and can be low-key or sophisticated. The material is thin and great for balmy summer days (although I was sweating this humid weekend), and I'm looking forward to pairing it with skinny dark denim and blazers in the fall. Whoa, I can't believe I just said I'm anticipating the coming of fall! Autumn is my least favorite season; after all, summer is as far as it can be, and you have to start heaving bulkier jackets/sweaters everywhere. I'll always be a California girl at heart, but am starting to appreciate cooler weather!
Eight sixty top - Nordstrom Rack
Forever 21 shorts
Banana Republic mixed chain necklace
A casual, fun ensemble. These cheery yellow shorts make me so happy, and I take advantage of any opportunity to wear them. I tucked in the top because the shorts bubble out a bit and create a bulge when the shirt is pulled over.
7 For All Mankind shorts
A more serious option, and you can see the untucked length. Maybe it's a relic from something I used to own when I was younger, but I love love the combo of boatneck + 3/4 sleeve, balanced by a longer length.
Walked to Central Park, and discovered one of the "Play Me, I'm Yours" pianos in the city! Such a cool idea - created as part of a larger art project by British artist Luke Jerram, who has placed snazzily decorated pianos across multiple global cities to encourage spontaneity, creativity and a sense of community. In NYC, there are 60 units located in public parks, streets and plazas, free for all to play, enjoy, interact and share. Recently, I'd read a WSJ article about it but was still completely surprised to come across one! The piano at Central Park was colorfully painted and looked inviting.
I sat down and decided to play one of my favorite pieces from Amelie: Comptine d´un Autre Eté. It's been a while since I've played so I was pretty nervous, and my anxiety was wasn't alleviated by the small audience sitting on the benches directly in front of me. It was exhilarating (and a relief!) as the song came to an end, but what a unique experience on a beautiful sunny day.
If you're in NYC, go to this link for a map of all the piano locations. They'll be "on exhibit" until July 5th!
