A sprinkling of lace tops and skirts were an exciting addition to my spring/summer wardrobe. And, based on what I am seeing in all the fall previews, it looks like what might have been a one-season wonder is now a full-fledged trend.  For those of us who are tired of the studs, chains and distressed leather that have dominated the virtual shelves of our shopping world, lovely lace is the perfect antidote. It is simultaneously sweet and seductive, an enviable duality. And just one great piece, when paired with the right basic, can take your outfit from average to incredible.

I’ve plucked some of my favorites for you to consider when planning your fall purchases. All of these are available now and can be worn during the transition time from warmer to cooler weather. One, very important piece of advice – a single item of lace in any outfit is pretty, anything more is a costume. So if you want to evoke Marie Antoinette, please wait for Halloween. Happy shopping!

1. Donna Mizani Lace Dress in Black $210 – This is a perfect summer to fall transition dress. You can wear it now with a black, strappy heel and later with a nude, closed-toe platform. Buy it at singer22.com.

2. Beyond Vintage Lace Dolman Top in Navy $180 – Dark navy lace is so appealing because it’s not the traditional black or cream but still works well with the fabric. Match the color of this top to your darkest denim and wear it with a nude or chocolate brown heel for a chic, monochromatic look. The cinched waist and see-through tummy adds sex appeal without being vulgar. Buy it at piperlime.com.

3. Joie Elvia Lace Top $198 – I love this top in black or cream. You can dress it up with a mini-skirt and boots or heels, or take it downtown with wide leg jeans, a studded belt and clogs. It would also look adorable with simple flats and dark skinny jeans, alone or under a blazer. Buy it at shopbop.com.

4. Twelve Dances Skimmers $138 – These pretty black ballet flats are light enough to start wearing in the warm weather with skirts and dresses but will take you well into the fall paired with dark or black denim, black pants, leggings or tights.  Buy them at Anthropologie.com.

5. Stretch Floral Lace Stirrup Legging (in black) $42 – These may look a tad racy but with simple flat boots (black, over-the-knee would be my preference) and an oversized tunic sweater or dress, they will make your boring staples bold. Buy them at americanapparel.net.

6. Free People All Pucker Lace Camisole $48 – Worn under a blazer or silky button-down, this cami is a discreet, sexy-sweet accent. Buy it at shopbop.com.

7. BB Dakota Issac Lace Skirt in Black $70 – If you want to try this trend but are a little intimated, I’d recommend this mini. Wear it with a boxy black sweater and nude patent pumps and you have a super classy ensemble for an evening out. Switch out the pumps for flats and you tone down the trend completely. And when you start to feel daring, try it with an over-the-knee boot in an unexpected color, like slate or maroon. But it at revolveclothing.com.

8. Pavonine Throw Back in Ivory $127 – A sexy but comfortable top with a dramatic back cutout is my perfect Saturday night outfit. That way I can enjoy dinner in something loose fitting and still turn heads! I like how it is styled with a peek-a-boo black bra and bright pants. It would also work with a nude cami and dark or black jeans. Endless possibilities and a great price! Buy it at revolveclothing.com.

xoxo Melina

August is just around the corner and, if you’re anything like us, every last weekend of the summer is booked! If any of your plans include staying with friends, you never want to show up empty handed. Especially if you want to be invited back! You don’t need to break the bank to show your gratitude—it’s the thought that counts! Inspired by my remaining summer plans and a desire to show up each weekend with something more memorable than a bottle of wine, I came up with this list of thoughtful and charming gifts all my future hosts (and yours) will be sure to love.

1. Double Walled Oil/Vinegar Carafe $22- These carafes by Ichendorf bring art to the dining room table or kitchen counter. So modern and chic – they will look gorgeous in any home. Buy at aplusrstore.com.

2. Roberta Roller Rabbit Napkins $8 each – Who needs to travel around the world when you have Roberta Freymann? Finally, Roller Rabbit has an e-commerce site that features some of Freymann’s most popular prints. Mix and match colorful napkins and placemats for a fun and unforgettable gift. Find them at robertarollerrabbit.com.

3. Tocca Yma Candle $36 – One of my best friends gave me this candle when she was visiting me at school a few years back. I instantly became addicted to the red current scent and have loaded up ever since! I also love the turquoise color of the packaging – it reminds me of a Tiffany’s box. I guess good things really do come in small, sweet smelling packages! Buy it at tocca.com.

4. Riviera Beach Bag in Red or Blue $95 – Your hosts will use this handy, handsome bag to tote books and towels to the beach or pick fresh produce and flowers from the farmers’ market. The best part? You give while giving back – part of the proceeds got to Sabala, a non-profit society in Southern India that provides opportunities to widows and economically challenged women. Buy at calypso-cell.com.

5. Lacquer Tea Caddy $48 – This caddy, in it’s bright assortment of colors, will surely become counter candy in your host’s kitchen. Fill one with an assortment of loose teas (try Tazo teas) or something sweet like YummyEarth Organic Lollipops for a gift that keeps on giving. Buy the caddy at johnathanadler.com. You can find Tazo Teas and Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops on amazon.com.

6. Monogrammed Mug, Missus $6 – Personalize your gift with your hosts’ initials on these Alice in Wonderland-style mugs. Their morning coffee has never been so dreamy. Buy them at anthropologie.com.

7. Cheese Knife Set $42 – All my friends know that I am obsessed with French culture and cheese. That’s why this cheese knife set adorned with French statements is the perfect gift for all us Francophiles. C’est parfait! Buy the set at pinkolive.com.

8. Sweet Lydia’s Gift Baskets $4 to $50 – Everything on Sweet Lydia’s site is homemade and utterly delicious (I know too well from experience). You will need all of your willpower not to buy one of each of the assorted baskets of S’mores, Chocolate Covered Pretzels or Flavored Marshmallows. Good luck resisting temptation and getting your basket there in one piece without sampling some for yourself. Indulge at sweetlydias.com.

xoxo Lauren

In my high school, you could get out of gym class for one semester if you took home economics. It was either spend the second half of my freshman year sweating it out with most of the varsity softball team, who looked at me like I was a pretty doll they planned to vandalize, or try my hand at the domestic arts. So I baked, sewed and, in order to appreciate the responsibilities of parenting, carried an egg around in a basket for a week without breaking it. I did not excel in any of these arenas, but I was especially bad at sewing.

I am befuddled by buttons and harrowed by hems so it goes without saying that I am always in need of a tailor. That was, however, until I found Bristols 6 “Hem Tape”. I had just bought my first pair of Genetic Denim and wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep them long to wear with my new spring wedges or shorten them to show off my summer sandals. In 5 minutes, Hem Tape gave me a clean, shorter hem that was temporary enough to remove easily without any damage to the fabric but sturdy enough to last multiple wears and even a couple of washes. Problem solved – the new jeans did not have to go under the knife and I could wear them with whatever shoes I wanted.

Bristols 6 has a lot of fashion fixes to help you keep things in place and cover others but I am most intrigued by their “Adjust-a-Button”, which allows you to extend or tighten your waistband. The genius of this invention is obvious – poke a pin through the waistband of your favorite pants and let them out or take them in up to 1.5 inches. While I haven’t tried it myself, I am really excited about the possibilities…

Gain a couple of pounds in the winter months and now things are a little tight? No need to buy new pants, just add an “Adjust-a-Button”. Tone your tummy in Pilates and now your favorite jeans are loose? Cinch them in with “Adjust-a-Button”. Not to mention the miracle this could be for women in early pregnancy who need more room but aren’t ready for maternity jeans. It seems to me that having some of these on hand could be very useful.

You can buy Hem Tape ($12) and Adjust-a-Button ($18) at Bristosl6.com or on Amazon.com.

xoxo Melina

Changing your bedding is like getting a haircut. The change is not too drastic but it’s just enough to make you feel refreshed. I spend a lot of time in my bedroom and get easily bored with how it looks. So I need to switch things up a few times a year. The best and quickest way to do that is to change my duvet cover and bedding accessories. I don’t rotate my duvets with the seasons. Instead, I let my mood dictate my selections just like when I pick out my clothes. As you can imagine, this compulsion has produced quite a little collection.

Now I am putting that experience to good use and sharing my two favorites resources for all things bedding…John Robshaw Textiles and Dwell Studio. Both of these linen emporiums offer high-quality duvets, quilts, sheet sets, shams, throw blankets and pillows, baby bedding, and more textiles for your bath and table. John Robshaw’s designs have a bohemian feel, as they are sourced and produced in Asia and India. Dwell Studio is somewhat more modern and polished but still very unique.

I don’t use throw pillows on my bed because I think they are essentially a waste of time but I do have two sets of king pillows and two euro shams. I like to mix and match my sheets, pillow covers and shams so every time I switch out my duvet cover I don’t accessorize it exactly the same way. This may sound ridiculous and like a lot of work but I think most women can relate. Your bedroom is your sanctuary and so it must be aesthetically pleasing. I know that if my bedroom looks and feels “off” I can wake up cranky and feel less inspired. And nobody wants that!

xoxo Melina

She’s unique, colorful, pretty and will hold all your “baggage”. The Stephanie Medium Hobo by Diane von Furstenberg could be your new best friend. I first spotted her poolside in Miami on the arm of a very fashionable South American and popped up from my lounge chair to find out where this beauty had gotten her beauty. Rarely do I stare but the metallic, knitted leather was so shiny and different that I became transfixed. So when my fellow sunbather told me the bag was DVF, I was a little shocked I hadn’t come across it yet.

My research started via iPhone at the pool that Memorial Day weekend where I learned Stephanie was  a relatively new style, having debuted as part of DVF’s 2010 resort collection. New summer colors had already been released and were selling at the big online retailers. Hmmm, I thought, I must not have been checking out bags enough lately or I would have noticed them. Then I realized that Stephanie didn’t look so hot on-screen. So if you are thinking the same thing now, I challenge you to go out and find one in person so you can see what all my hype is about. Because after seeing Stephanie at The Raleigh Hotel pool, I was sold and purchased one of my very own the next day. I have been wearing it all summer and getting tons of compliments. From the sales girl at Intermix to the lady shopping next to me at Whole Foods, everyone stops, stares and proclaims to love it.

The fall colors (featured above) have arrived and while I am very tempted to buy a new version for the cooler weather I am going to try and abstain. Instead, I’d rather share it with all of you…

You can buy your own Stephanie at dvf.com, shopbop.com, and neimanmarcus.com.

xoxo Melina

After an 11-year hiatus, Lilith Fair is back with a refreshing roster of female performers. When the festival originally launched in 1997, my friends and I passed. It got a quick reputation as an earthy-crunchy, lesbian love parade and seemed more like a pity party than a way to empower women.

The new ladies of Lilith could change all of that. Truth be told, I am not rushing out to buy tickets this time either but that’s because I am not in love with the Chicago lineup. The newcomers, such as Sia and La Roux, are paired with performers whose music and style are, by comparison, a bit antiquated. And while I wish them the best of luck, I have to question whether anyone who wants to see Sia will stick around for Cheryl Crow? So I created my own mini Lilith playlist, featuring some of my favorite, lesser-known females in the festival this year.

Metric - Their most recent album, Fantasies, was released last year.  Download “Gold, Guns, Girls”, and  ”Help I’m Alive”.  itunes.com/metric

Janelle Monae - Her first album, The ArchAndroid, dropped this May. Download “Tightrope”, “Dance or Die”, and “Cold War”. itunes.com/janelle-monae

Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels, their first album, was released May 2010.  Download   “Hollywood”, “Mowgli’s Road”, “Oh No!”, and “Are You Satisfied”. itunes.com/marina-and-the-diamonds

Anjulie - Her self-titled album was released last summer and she also contributed to the motion picture soundtrack for Fame. Download: “Boom”, “Crazy That Way”, “Addicted2Me”, and “Big Things” (from the Fame soundtrack). itunes.com/anjulie

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Rockin’ Grace and her nocturnals released their latest eponymous album this June. Download “Paris (Oh La La)”, “Tiny Light”, “Medicine”, and “Goodbye Kiss”. itunes.com/gracepotterandthenocturnals

Susan Justice – New to me, after hearing her first single (released this month) I think I may want more. Download “Wonder” and “Forbidden Fruits”. itunes.com/susanjustice

Now if these gals were playing together, I’d be there…

xoxo Melina

Summertime and the livin’s easy with our selection of fresh and light seasonal cocktails. Unlike some served at bars and restaurants, these refreshing drinks aren’t loaded with calories and ingredients you’ve never heard of. They’re essentially guilt-free (or so we’re telling ourselves)! So round up your grateful friends, gather around the patio, pool, or rooftop, and toast to the rest of a carefree summer!

The Bicicletta Cocktail (from Bon Appétit):

Ingredients: Ice cubes, 2 ounces Campari, 1 ½ ounces dry white wine, ½ ounce club soda, Lemon slice.

Directions: Fill wine glass with ice. Add Campari, wine and soda; stir to mix. Garnish with lemon slice, if desired.

Berry-filled Sangria (from The Domestic Goddess):

Ingredients: 1 cup sliced strawberries, ½ cup bluberries, ½ cup rasberries, juice of ½ lemon, ¼ bottle dry white wine, ¼ bottle dry champagne, 1 bottle rose zinfandel, ¼ fruit infused vodka, 2 cups white cranberry juice, 1 ½ cups soda water.

Directions: Put ice cubes in bottom of pitcher, toss in fruit on top of ice along with lemon juice. Add wine, champagne and vodka and stir.

The Flirtini (from Marie Claire and created at Whiskey Blue at the W Hotel in LA and Westwood):

Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. Grey Goose L’Orange, 1 oz. pineapple juice, splash of Champagne

Directions: Serve in martini glasses and pour the Champagne last.

Citrus White Wine Spritzer (from the Food Network):

Ingredients: 2 (1/4 inch) slices of lemon, 2 (1/4 inch) slices of lime, 4 oz. Pinot Grigio (or other white wine), 2 oz. lemon-lime flavored seltzer water, ice cubes.

Directions: Arrange slices of lemons and limes between ice cubes in large stem glasses. Pour 4 ounces of white wine (1/2 cup), and 2 ounces of sparkling lemon lime seltzer water (1/4 cup), down over fruit and ice. Stir, serve and enjoy!

The Ginger Drop (from Marie Claire and created at Megu in NYC):

Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. Bacardi Limón, 1 oz. Lillet, Champagne, Fresh Ginger

Directions: Muddle fresh ginger with the Bacardi Limón and Lillet. Then pour into a champagne glass. Next, top with Champagne and garnish each glass with a piece of crystallized ginger for the pièce de résistance

And remember, it’s 5:00 p.m. somewhere!  Cheers and enjoy!

xoxo Lauren

I love, love, love vintage shops and antique markets. Not a fan of mass-produced anything, I like finding unique pieces to add to my home or wardrobe that allow me to tell a greater story about my own aesthetic and sense of style. I also like the guarantee of originality, as there is normally a limited supply of any one vintage item. 1stdibs.com is the virtual equivalent of one of the worlds best and largest antique markets, offering furniture, art, home accessories, and now jewelry and vintage fashion and couture. Prices range from $50 to $150,000, depending on whether you want a glass vase from the 1950’s or an emerald ring from a 1920’s estate collection.

The depth and variety of 1stdibs offerings are what makes the site so exciting. You can search by category and subcategory, which are both comprehensive and specific. And within each search you can sort by price – low to high or vice versa. All of this makes finding what you’re looking for, within your price range, super easy. If you just want to browse try the “All New Listings” search or the “Special Searches”, where they have broken down listings into categories like “Art Nouveau”, “Americana”, and “Folk Art”.

I’ve chosen a few of the pieces that are available today but, as I mentioned, there are one or two of each of these items available so don’t be shocked if you click-through and it’s already gone. These are just examples of the breath and scope of what you can find on 1stdibs.com.

1. American Mid Century Opaque Aqua Glass Vases: $70

2. French 19^th Century Vintage Side Chair: $495

3. 1972 Liza Minelli Cabaret Poster: $ 225

4. 1970 Vintage Signed Pucci Silk Scarf: $150

5. American 21^st Century Owl Umbrella Stand: $165

6. 1960’s American Mastercraft Brass Greek Key Dining Table: $1600

Good luck hunting for your own vintage treasures!

xoxo Melina

If you’ve been paying attention, you’d know that MKIA has an affinity for pop music. It’s no surprise – I grew up idolizing Madonna and, thanks to Lauren’s influence, have come to love the likes of Britney and Gaga. But our post today is about a lesser known and formerly less poppy musician, Sia. Taking a break from her more somber state of mind, “We Are Born” is all 80′s pop influence. And while I’ve been listening to Sia’s music for years, I would not have been so quick to mention it on MKIA due to its mostly melancholy demeanor. That is no longer the case, as this album does a great job at rounding out her lineup while still showcasing her intoxicating voice. Sia gives some credit for the new sound to her relationship with DJ JD Sampson of Le Tigre as well as her childhood icons, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna.

These references are obvious throughout the album. She even covers Madonna’s “Oh Father”, which cannot replace the original but is interesting nonetheless. The beats, unique and not sampled, stand up to Sia’s strong, melodic vocals and the glorious combination sets her apart from her contemporaries. My favorite tracks are (no surprise here) the most danceable: “The Fight”, “Clap Your Hands“, “You’ve Changed”, and “Bring Night”. There is one ballad, however, that stands out as a testament to Sia’s original strengths and her last album, “Some People Have Real Problems”. More Fiona Apple than Madonna, “Be Good to Me” is a lingering, sultry adventure that should not be missed. I will no doubt be belting it out in the shower sometime soon.

Listen at myspace.com/siamusic and download at itunes.com/sia.

xoxo Melina

Who says you can’t learn anything from reality TV? Au contraire! Because of Miss Know It All, I can read, watch and listen to almost anything that involves copious amounts of consumption and call it research. Now thanks to Bethenny Frankel and her show Bethenny Getting Married, I can finally justify what is obviously an embarrassing obsession. On a recent episode, Bethenny had a bridal/baby shower where she gave her guests fantastic party favors – gorgeous sets of bangles by Jennifer Miller. Plug or not, Jennifer’s jewels are worth taking notice.

I love wearing bangles but unless I want to spend a small fortune assembling a collection made of real gold I am left with the cheap, unattractive options so many of us end up sporting.  Always on the lookout for something better, when I saw Bethenny’s bangles, I thought those are really, truly special. While they look like they cost more than they do, they are by no means cheap. Starting at $175 for a set of 10 and moving up to $195 for a set of 27, they are gold plated and feature pretty, faux diamond details. A minor investment for an accessory we use so frequently.

Check out the entire collection at jennifermillerjewelry.com.

xoxo Melina