I’m actually more excited about the homewares than the clothes. And I think a couple of things might sneak their way into our apartment… (All photos from the Target lookbook.) What do you think?

Bring on the sun!

Many years ago, I stumbled across the perfect pair of wide-leg, bright pink trousers, in the now defunct (and much-missed) Minx magazine. Paired with a fawn-colored cashmere sweater and stack heels, it was the perfect outfit. The perfect blend of classic style with a pop edge. And I’ve never been able to find such a pair. (At least, not that I could afford…) Until now!

Many thanks to Taylor Sterling over at Sterling Style, who debuted a pair of just such trouser-shaped lovelies from Zara. And yes! San Francisco being the international cosmopolitan city that it is, there are not one but two Zaras downtown. They will be mine. Oh yes…

Pink trousers from the delightful Sterling Style

Photo credit: Sterling Style

Every summer, without fail, the fog descends. Early mornings and early evenings are blanketed in a creeping gloom that renders everything damp, grey and singularly mysterious.

But, this doesn’t mean we can’t do a mean summer picnic. Even in the evening. And in the middle of the city. Here’s what we made on a recent jaunt to an open air screening of my favorite film, When Harry Met Sally, in Union Square. It was FREEZING, so we needed to keep warm, with sausages, fajitas and good red wine! Plus guac, because in San Francisco, you can’t really have a picnic without avocado:

One of the best discoveries I’ve made recently has been my local library on Sacramento Street. Long a bibliophile, I’ve spent many happy hours in libraries, including the tiny one in the village where I grew up, and of course, the beautiful and imposing building on my university campus, where it seemed that all social strata would mix in the heady pursuit of some peace and quiet to finish that dissertation.

So, I was delighted when I found out that Sacramento Street library was re-opening after months of renovation. Small, but perfectly formed, I giddily poked around in the shelves of fiction and non-fiction for some new bed-side reading treasures. I’m definitely guilty of spending a lot on books, so this is a great way around my insatiable reading appetite, and also a really nice way to support the local community. Which I’m all about.

The funniest moment of my first trip (remembering it’s been many years since I graced a library with my presence), was when I gave my books to the assistant to stamp. He gave me a look that was halfway between amused and disgusted, before silently pointing out the self-service barcode scanner machine. Times change, but I’m lovin’ the library again.

My best pick? The wonderful memoir from NPR book critic, Maureen Corrigan, “Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading.” Which, thinking about my childhood and how my love of books at times encroached on family occasions, birthday parties and even soccer games, should really be my catchphrase!

And no, of course this isn’t my local library in the picture above. But it’s so beautiful and inspiring don’t you think? LOVE.

Biblioteca Di Bella Arti, Milan, Italy (archive photo)

I’d love to tell you where Scribe is, but I’m afraid I want to keep it a secret, all to myself…

Have a great one!

There’s really nothing better than a luscious pink bloom, is there? Like most women who devour shelter and style blogs and magazines, I adore peonies. They can be hard to find in San Francisco, but Trader Joe’s, that epic grocery store full of many things you didn’t know you wanted to eat until you see them, glistening on the shelf, is now stocking them. And being TJs, they’re of course at a very reasonable price.

Aren’t they beautiful?

Instead, I’m looking for ways to update my summer wardrobe on the cheap. Summer being kind of a misnomer, because I live in San Francisco. But whatev. It’s officially the season to wear white and floaty clothes.

Here are three ways I’m thinking about extending my wardrobe and making it look like it’s summer:

1) Accessories. Ok, i admit it, I did invest in J Crew for this one. And it’s something I’ve rarely worn in the past but am now re-thinking. The J Crew Panama. I’m not a huge lover of hats unless they serve some practical purpose. And given that on any given day, my skin is paler than an eskimo’s camouflage suit, it was high time I got myself a good sun hat. Boy, did J Crew deliver. I love my new Panama sooo much. It’s made its way to Hawaii and Sonoma, and adds that jaunty air we all strive for. (Yes we do, admit it.) One of the great things about it is that you can’t squish it into a suitcase, so have to either wear or carry it through the airport, which always signals to everyone else that you’re on vacation and not taking the red eye to somewhere awful for business. So yes, I will take that margarita on the rocks even though it’s only 11:00am, thank you very much…

Hats are a great accent piece. Ditto delicate gold jewelry. Which for some reason just looks right in the summer sun. I love my hat.

(Credit: J Crew)

2) Proportion. One of the things I love to do is play with shapes and lengths when it comes to putting together good outfits. Taking a creative look at how something hangs together can reinvigorate even basic pieces. And you can do it with cheap clothes too, sometimes just by buying a different size than you usually wear. Think slightly cropped tops made swingy and voluminous by buying in a larger size, paired with neat, slim pants and heels. Or a fitted bodice with one of those beautiful 50s style full skirts that makes us all channel Mad Men (the good stuff, not the crazy Betty Draper behavior). This approach works really well in the summer, as you can fool people into thinking you have a ton of new cool clothes, when in reality, you just bought a $10 white T-shirt from H&M and made it look hot. Sneaky. But Effective.

(Credit: The Sartorialist)

3) The Wedge. Come Summer, there’s only one heel I want on my feet. And that’s the wedge heel. If you’re ahem, blessed with shorter legs than the average female, but don’t want to be constantly crying out in pain due to the vertiginous spikes that people call stiletto heels, then the wedge is for you. As we all know the wedge is not a winter shoe – it begs to be worn with bare legs and floaty skirts and tapered harem pants (yes, harem pants.) And a decent pedicure. I own three pairs of wedges in highly functional summer shades: black, burnished brown leather and gold. At no other time would I wear a gold shoe (ok, I might – I do love glitz), but in the summer, just like gold jewelry, it just looks right. And I wear them all the time. They just go with everything, make your legs look great, are comfortable, and will get you endless compliments from men (and women) that never usually notice shoes. So get some.

(Credit: StyleBistro)

Enjoy the summer! And don’t fall off those wedges onto the sidewalk.

I’ve been on a frugal kick lately. Partly due to starting to explore new career options, partly because I wanted to get healthier, (and delicious restaurants and I had been seeing waaaay too much of each other), and partly because it seems like a good time to take stock and re-balance, in all areas of my life.

One of the great things about deciding to be more mindful financially, is that you have to get more creative. And that can force you out of your comfort zone and into new things. Which is not just good for your wallet, but also good for your mind and spirit. And yes, it can also lead to you talking like you just spent three months at an ashram, “om”ing your way through each day.

But as it turns out, yoga is one of those activities you can enjoy for free in this fair city of ours. And no, I don’t mean by playing that DVD that you got free with a long-distant issue of Shape magazine and trying not to choke on fur balls as you downward dog on that rug you haven’t cleaned since you decided that actually seeing its original color might make a nice change. I mean a real, live yoga class, with great instructors, in fabulous locations. Free!!

First up, Lombardi Sports on Polk and Jackson does an awesome rooftop yoga class, every Sunday at 11:00am. Completely free of charge (they want you to wander downstairs afterward and drop dough on a snowboard – Don’t do it! Resist!), and with amazing views of the city on a clear day. This is a great way to greet the second half of the weekend, and a really enjoyable class.

Athleta, the fancy new women’s fitness store on Fillmore Street, also does a pretty good selection of free classes, ranging from Yoga and Pilates, to Kickboxing and a regular running club (too chicken to try that one, but maybe some day. I imagine it to be full of ruddy-cheeked, tight-limbed over-achievers in Spandex.) This is a great new marketing trick among the premium fitness brands, and San Francisco, home to some of the most disgustingly healthy people in the world, has caught on quick.

And my favorite, although not strictly in the “100% free” category, is Tuesday night yoga in Grace Cathedral. Yes, inside that beautiful building. On my first visit, I was quite overwhelmed by my surroundings, and once I’d experienced it, I couldn’t believe that all yoga didn’t take place in such an awe-inspiring, cool, spiritual environment. This class includes live music too, and is just a great way to re-set after a long day. And I don’t know about you, but Tuesdays are always pretty intense for me at work. The class is donation-based if you can afford it (so you should and I do because you can), enabling those who are really in need to get a free hour of peace and happiness, with the odd laugh thrown in. Yes, you can tell jokes at a yoga class! And this being San Francisco, of course the teacher (who is excellent), reads the meditation off his iPad. Would you expect anything less?

Photo credit: Labyrinth Yoga