Yoana: 1 part slinky bathrobe, 2 parts beautiful dress...

Yoana Baraschi 'Heiress Boho Lux' black silk dress,

$199 from $438

I am loving the lacy detail and relaxed, feminine silhouette...

Click here and enter martini.lifestyle@gmail.com if you aren't a RueLaLa member yet.

SHE has a SECRET

Yo doodles, SHE boutique has a "secret sale" going on, whereby using discount code 'SECRETS' you can take 30% off everything (including sale items)! Naturally, I'll help get you started with these completely related items below: long skirts and swimsuits.

Kushcush Underwire Maillot,

$70 from $180

^Yeah, ok, I'm not thrilled by the model but I like the suit.

Catherine Malandrino chiffon stripe skirt,

$165.20 from $395

Richard Ruiz wool pinstripe swing skirt,

$112 from $330

Lovely People Shoes + Discount Code

Lovely People shoes will make you feel like a ballerina at the beach!

Heh heh, Photo of Veronika Antsipava in Rio by Photographer Luis Sanchis (2009)

Clearance? Eh? Deep discounts on beautiful shoes? * adjusts hearing aid * ...I mean, * takes out iPod earbuds * ...

Cute-attack-level-innovative brand, Lovely People, is offering an extra 30% off all regular and sale-priced shoes at its online boutique when you use discount code "DCDEAL" at checkout.

Sadly, the crazy-cheap clearance section is not included in the deal, but in there I did find a number of even more deeply discounted (deeplier discounted?) classics from last season that I would love to take home with me, now for a mere song...

Lovely People light pink 'Chelsea' platform pump,
$40 from $125

Lovely People dark pink 'Hollywood' ruffle pump,
$40 from $125

Lovely People black mary jane 'Francesca' platform pump,
$40 from $125

Lovely People snake detail black 'Ophelia' flat,
$35 from $110

^Summer is a good time to stock up on flat black basics from last season with a stylish twist, like this one

Trina Turk adds color to my damnable Monday

Trina Turk 'Amalfi' floral print dress,

$118 from $298

Check it out! This is the dress I would snap up in half a moment if I weren't saving my moolah for my trip to NYC next week...zomg droolz, etc. If you have the funds and are looking for a colorful summer dress that doesn't scream 'I shop at Forever 21 and always choose the wrong size!' go for the refined beauty, above, or any of the items offered at the current Trina Turk sale on Gilt. I implore you.

And, the yoosh: Gilt Groupe has given me THIS HANDY LINK for any of you ladies who wish to have access to its sales.

Excellent Weekend Music...

SOUR brings to mind early Brushfire-Fairytales-Era Jack Johnson...in Japanese. Lovely and chill. Did I mention the video is also pretty awesome? Watch and listen:

'Hibi no Neiro'

Sour (band website here)

Water Flavor EP

Felicidades Fourth of July

'Fireworks' by PES

Your mom's a monkey

by photographer Allan Tannenbaum

Monkees of Fredricksburg, while generally a little too *prep* for me (note the verging-on-vom enormous Lily Pulitzer section...) has a snog-tastic sale in progress. As per yoosh, I really can't resist perusing a sale that promises me things like '50% OFF!!!' with lots of !!!!!s in my inbox...

Buy me:

Trina Turk silk 'huston' hexagon halter top,
$108 from something way higher

Daniblack black 'mimosa' rosette flat,
$62.50 from $125

Vanelli silver 'puppy' (?) pump,
$42.50 from $85

If only he'd had the chance...

R.I.P. Michael, you big talented weirdo.

One Serving...

They really are better when you grow them yourself. I'm convinced that massive-scale farming has ruined tomatoes.

Mmmm....lycopenes...

(previous editions of 'one serving')

Another Addition to the 'Nude Files'

By Piergiorgio Rozza, whose manipulated subject happens to be making my standard I'm-really-not-impressed-with-you-and-don't-find-you-worthy-of-a-facial-expression face.

Many of you followed my quest for the perfect nude/beige bag, which culminated in this lovely Hobo International find. It's doing quite nicely, btw.

You may be less-well-aware of my even longer-running quest for The Perfect Nude Heel (see end of linked post). We're talking Holy Grail status questing here, folks.

So, imagine my surprise when I opened up my emails this evening and saw an ad from Beyond the Rack for something along the lines of 90% OFF ALL SHOES CRAZYPANTS SHOE SALE WOO BUY SHOES AND THERE ARE SOME NUDE ONES! My expression changed from mildly interested to this:

Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2000

Needless to say, I was intrigued. But, I reasoned, I am probably not going to find anything--these sorts of sales sell out in the first four seconds or less. Except for the scary loser reject shoes. I know you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Well, let me tell you, these Faryl Robin nude wedges named 'Yuki' with the attractive t-strap and filigree detail pretty much jumped out and smacked me in the face. Then, the price smacked me on the other side of the face--$50 from $299.95??????? Really???? Nowayreallypants? My mood put on a bright pink helmet:

Malgosia by Katja Rahwes for i-D Magazine 'EVERYWHERE KISS ME,' April 2009

In other words, it was go time. When you've trolled the sale-discount-deal-bargain-y underbelly of the internet for as long as I have, you know it when you see it. This was one of those grail moments, believe me.

Voila!
^By the way, at this point, these shoes are probably completely sold out. So, if you really must have them, I have found the same style at Endless, also on sale! A slightly less awesome sale than the one I just fell into, but hey, they happen to everyone eventually. You must simply wait like a spider in its lair...

NOTE: BTR is one of those invitation-only web destinations that have been springing up like mushrooms these days...delicious, wallet-emptying mushrooms...ahem, anyways, if you want in, use this personal invitation code to sign in and register a new account: NRH6F08A161.

I've jumped heartily on the invitation-only bandwagon, reasoning that the more I'm signed up for, the more likely I'll find a crazy discount on a brand I loooove. So far, this rationale has worked. When one site dries up, interest-wise, a formerly boring-looking one suddenly gets all the good brands, and vice-versa...

FYI, I frequent, in descending order of awesomeness: gilt groupe, rue la la, hautelook, ideeli, billion dollar babes, the top secret, beyond the rack, and glamlist. If you need an invite, ask away.

Ooook, now off to clear some room on my shoe rack--eBay attack time!

Saturday Afternoon Sun Nap

Ahhhh, sun.

As if I needed an excuse to show some reclining wieners...

Reclining Peanut

Reclining Legend

Just because I can.

GOOD/BAD/UGLY: Saks Designer Sale...

Fancy Gold Feather Headdress Lady, photographed by Mario Testino

Welcome, peeplets, to the Saks Fifth Avenue Designer Sale! Prepare to be shocked and amazed by my repertoire of GOOD selections (i.e., attractive and reasonably priced), BAD selections (i.e., awesome, but questionable and WAY too expensive), and UGLY selections (i.e., dear God in heaven, not worth it at any price).

Onward...

The GOODIES: What's wrong with me? Why haven't I bought these already...

Alisha Levine Green Silk Top,
$109.80 from $183

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Lace Silk Dress,
$177.90 from $297

Theory Ponte Knit Colorblock Dress,
$171 from $285
Say it with me, 'ponte knit is the best, most flattering knit'...there, don't you feel good?

Cole Haan Metallic Sandals,
$137.34 from $295
I know, I know, they look weird in the picture--but I have experienced these suckers first-hand and the heel height / shape is classic haaaaaan beauty...trust me.

The BADDIES: What's wrong with me? Why am I even considering these...

Opening Ceremony Zip-Neck Dress,
$151.34 from $379
Sooooo, long sleeves in summer? Check. Bizarre zip detail in front and back? Check. High likelihood it will make me look fat? Double check. Then why do I still want it????? Blargh.

Loeffler Randall Graphic Wood Platform Sandals,
$268.07 from $575
These are only in my 'ugly' category because they're still so obnoxiously expensive even while on sale. Just look at the heartbreakingly cobalt blue! The clean lines! Sigh.

Jonathan Kelsey Diva Patent & Embossed Leather Booties,
$345.44 from $$740

Yes, these shoes are ugly. Even I think these shoes are ugly. And good lord look at the price. But I waaaant them. Damn you, dastardly overpriced and overblown Italian shoemakers...

The Godawful UGLIES: What's wrong with me? No. What's wrong with them?? Why does the fashion industry clearly think we're blind and stupid...

Proenza Schouler Flat Zip Sandals,
$490.18 from $1,050
* Insert a Mrs. Krabappel "HAH!" here *

Christian Louboutin Just Peep-Toe Lace-Up Pump,
$510.86 from $1,095
Christian, don't you dare play bait-and-switch with me. You know better than that.

Christian Louboutin Peep-Toe Fringe Boots,
$791 from $1,695
CHEWIE! CHEWWWWWWWIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Bonus: free shipping on all orders with discount code 'SAKSSHIP9'

And please, think of the Wookies...

Cheap Colorful Summer Tops, in Triplicate...

I am loving NY&Co.'s colorful summer tops this clearance season--and MAN ALIVE are they cheap. Here we have a Loose, Chevron-Printed Tee ($14.99!), and a Neato Boob-Snap Detail, Dotted Camisole (Holy Moses, $5.99!!)

Presented in BLUE (for Lisa):

Presented in BLACK:

Presented in PINK:

Lovely all around.

Beautiful Sandals for Beautiful Feeties (Or else, get yourself a pedicure, dammit!)

Hautelook is back on the ball. After a couple of months of nothing really interesting in their sales, I suddenly want all of these Bo'em sandals, ALL OF THEM. Especially at the ridiculous discounts going on here...

The faves, top to bottom:
Black Debbie snake sandal, $86 from $215
White Capri sandal, $82 from $205
Pewter June sandal, $96 from $240
Black Michelle gold teardrop sandal, $78 from $195
Coral Edie snake sandal, $76 from $190

What's that--you don't Hautelook yet? Please send your request to martini.lifestyle@gmail.com and I'll send you an invite.

I (rain cloud) UK, or, America Welcomes a Fresh Englishman

We interrupt today's fashion haze to announce....

Welcome to America, Ash!

And, congratulations Lisa and Ash, together in the U.S. for the first (PERMANENT) time :)

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Thakoon Wishes...

Basically, I wish I could afford anything by Thakoon...even on sale...and especially this pink chiffon accordian-pleat dress...siiigh...

Access here.

Happy Anniversary, Peanut!

^Peanut yesterday, at 1 year 2 months and 15.5 pounds

It's been a year and two days since we brought Peanut home from southern Virginia. I think we'll keep him :)

^Peanut at 4 months and 8 pounds

^Peanut at 8 weeks and 3.6 pounds, on his first day home

Guess what I'm getting...

Space-age stompy Italian silver boots!
(Size 10s, you're in luck, there's one left. Everyone else--nyah nyah nyah :P:P )

I've never gotten anything by the brand 'Premiata' before, so this is one of those 'boldly go where no one (or, no me) has gone before" esque moments...

Never fear, I will keep you posted.

A quick tour of the leafy premises...

I figured, if you're going to be reading this, this, or this, you might want a quick balcony garden overview.

Here it is, from the door...

And here it is, from the over-tall tomatoes at the end, facing the door...

These pics show approximately half of the total shrubbery I've got growing on our 5x6 foot deck. Kate, is it imperiling my marriage? Only time will tell...heh heh heh. Now, on to the details...