Balmain Fall 2012 Campaign

Balmain's Fall campaign has been out for a while, but it is still one of my favorites of the season. The more pared down ads are definitely starting to have an impact in the face of excessive accessories-focused spreads.

Via Blame it on Fashion

Weekend in Montauk

A few weekends ago, Mark and I went out to Montauk and stayed away from some of the hot spots on a nicely secluded beach. For the occasion, I pulled out my sun hat and a book of crosswords and painted my nails in a beachy fade. For the look I used Nars Koliary and Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow. If you're out there, I definitely recommend going to St. Peter's Catch for a lobster roll and picking up a pint at the Montauk Brewery next door.

Into Now: 6.26.12

Cynthia Rowley Sleeveless Dress, Clinique Chubby Stick, Supergoop! SPF 50 Day Cream, Hansel From Basel Zig Zag Envelope, Zoku Quick Pop Maker

There is something so carefree about mixing day and night looks with this Cynthia Rowley floral neoprene dress and Hansel from Basel's sweetly geometric Zig Zag clutch. I can imagine going from eating homemade popsicles on my deck to the roof of the Wythe Hotel, substituting a berry-stained lip gloss for the real thing. And since I'm never without SPF during the day, I appreciate a formula that does double duty as I go into the night like Supergoop's antioxidant-rich formula.

My Weekend: 6.25.12

This past weekend was the first where I was in full-fledged summer mode. It included a trip to Fort Tilden with friends, delicious granola at the new Williamsburg restaurant Parish Hall and a new set of Sally Hansen Salon Effects (leopard from the Rock of Ages collection). Overall it was the right mix of fun and relaxing.

All photos via my Instagram: @ebmonson

California in April

In early April, Mark and I took a week-long trip to California. We started in San Francisco where we toured Alcatraz, took in a Gaultier exhibit the De Young, spent a day spring skiing at Tahoe and I painted my little brother's fingernails. Next was off to LA for the night before heading out to my family's house in the Palm Desert. We hiked a ton and took in the insanely beautiful surroundings. California really can spoil you.

Photos by Mark Iantosca

Into Now: 5.9.12

Hanging planter, Boy. Band of Outsiders barn jacket, Coach Classics mini, Revlon Lip Butter, Serpent Sea rug

I'm pretty much in the same mood at last week, but this time around it is all about the perfect tiny purse from Coach classics and my favorite new lipstick discovery, Revlon Lip Butter. My favorite color is lollipop, a springy berry shade that feels like a chapstick but has much more pigment than most lip butters.  At $6 a tube, its a no-brainer.

Bracelet Mystery Solved.

Since high school I have worn the same delicate gold bracelet on my right wrist (you can see it here, here and here) and as such I have long since forgotten who designed the thing. It wouldn't much matter except that at least once a week I get asked where I bought it. A few weeks ago a woman literally stopped me mid-yoga class to inquire about it as a gift for her sister. Well, thanks to an anonymous commenter on my Refinery29 Wrist Wear post, I now know that it is by jewelry designer Jane Hollinger. Isn't that one of the beautiful things about blogs? Now I can share something that I've enjoyed so much with others.

Jane Hollinger Coco bracelet, janehollingerjewelry.com

Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2012

My excitement for new Proenza Schouler collections never wanes.  It is only amplified by the fact that they always draw inspiration from the coolest and most exotic locations (this time Everest) and translate it into the most exciting garments. My only issue is that they're sort of hiding the accessories here. I guess its a good thing to leave us wanting more.

Photos via Vogue.com

3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2012 Bags

How amazing are Phillip Lim's Spring 2012 handbags? They are modern, minimalist and completely his own. If the popularity of the Pashli satchel is any indication, these will be flying off the shelves as soon as they hit.

Via Purseblog

Proenza Schouler Pre-Spring 2012 Handbags

Proenza Schouler's Pre-Spring handbags look to be a nice experimentation with patterns, textures and textiles. Their branding knowledge really shines in these instantly recognizable versions of their PS1, PS11, tote and keep all bags.

I also can't help but smile that I found these pictures from a Tweet linking to Proenza Schouler's new Google+ page.

Via Google+