Bananagram

Thanks to Prada’s S/S 11 collection, bananas have been the produce of choice for fashionistas world-wide.  Caution: please avert your eyes from the extremely unattractive hair/makeup situation on the models below — um, what is WITH the Frida Kahlo look?!  Terrifying.

While I’ll admit that these looks are not my cup of tea (bowl of fruit?) — the boxy shirts look like they should come with pocket protectors — there is something delightfully irreverent about the coloring and the mix of patterns.  Since their debut, I swear I’ve seen bananas everywhere…

{Charlotte Dellal with a banana clutch — as captured by TheSartorialist}

{a Prada banana skirt seen on Cynthia Smith — image via vogue}

{a banana print bikini seen on sterling style}

I’m not advocating that we all go Chiquita Banana on each other, but I’m loving the tropical pina-colada vibe — makes me very ready for summer, and very nostalgic for my honeymoon (now almost a year ago!)  Yellow, here I come.

Let me apologize in advance for the number of Charlotte Olympia tootsies I’ll be featuring in this post — I’d bookmarked her site (the designer is the lovely Charlotte Dellal, snapped above) a few weeks ago and happened to revisit it last night, and nearly went into epileptic shock as I ogled over all of the ankle-breaking goodies she had in store for me.  Move over, Christian Louboutin.  Come to think of it, I’ll start with a pair of her ba-na-nas platforms ($890, CharlotteOlympia — and also available Stateside at Neiman’s)  — I mean…do you die?!  (Or does your bank account?)

Be still my heart…and be strong my ankles.  I.want.these. like it’s nobody’s business.  The raffia fabrication is genius.  In keeping with our theme, let’s do a banana-cream-pie palette — I’d add a soft yellow shirt ($70, LesPommettes) and tuck it into a vintage lace skirt ($280, Net-A-Porter):

In an ideal world, I’d finish with this raffia box clutch by Gucci ($1,495) and this eye-catching statement piece by Malene Birger (on sale!!! and I’m oh-so-tempted to snap it up — $64, MyWardrobe)

I mean…I love the mixed media.  So chic and fresh for summer.  For casual wear, I’m thinking a breezy white sundress ($195, Calypso — and PS: have you checked out Calypso’s diffusion in line for Target?!  Lots of cute, summery items for self and home!  I love this linen wrap dress — and it’s only $42!)

I’d wear it on the weekends with some pop-of-yellow t-straps (I own a pair of neon pink K. Jacques that I sweat in a major way — K. Jacques, $220, Net-A-Porter; alternately, if you have freakishly small feet like myself, you can fit into the kids’ size 4 t-straps from J. Crew, which look identical) and an easy straw tote ($54, SouthMoonUnder), with a pineapple-print scarf tied to the handle ($32, TopShop):

For more formal occasions, how ’bout this banana split of a dress ($368, Alice & Olivia)

I’d pair with these gold strappy heels from — who else?! — Charlotte Olympia ($1000, Charlotte Olympia) — check out the pineapple accents at the toe!

They pair perfectly with this pineapple accented clutch ($225, KateSpade), which will, incidentally, forever haunt my dreams, since I ordered it in the neon yellow weeks ago, and the package was STOLEN from my doorstep…GR/POUT/PUNCH/DROP-KICK:

For jewelry: you know a like a bare neck with an interesting neckline like the one above.  I’m trying to get over my fondness for addiction to enorma-studs, so I’d try to get outside the box and wear some danglers.  These sparkling gems carry out the whole “pineapple” vibe in their shape and are affordable to boot (about $130, By Malene Birger — can’t get enough of her stuff today!):

And these filigree bangles would finish the look (Kendra Scott, $90, Stefani Bags):

For work, a “fresh canvas” with banana yellow accents is a nice take on a rather LRR routine.  Consider adding a white top (love the neckline on this style — $46, ShopRuche) to a pair of clean-lined, slim-fit white cigarette pants (have you seen the Prabal Gurung for J. Crew collection — suh-woon — love the line, especially these pants — $295, J. Crew):

Finish with an open-weave yellow flat ($69, Zara) and a yellow-and-green-trim tote (I’m serious about my raffia today — Meredith Wendell, $550, Net-A-Porter):

A pair of bold yellow-accented earrings finish it all off nicely (Lizzie Fortunato, $144, Charm & Chain):

As an alternative, try a crisp white blazer ($450, Rag & Bone) over a taupe top ($195, also Rag & Bone) paired with this lovely pineapple-striped skirt ($50, Dorothy Perkins)

You could play it safe with a nude pump, or a white patent heel (Carrie Bradshaw much?), or some combination thereof (check this Versace style out — yowza, little lady!) but personally I think you need some serious statement tootsies to knock this look out of the park — I’m thinking these Sergio Rossis ($760, Intermix) or even these stark-white Louboutins ($905, MyTheresa):

Now — and this is NOT for the faint of heart — if you’re willing to take the banana/tropical look to an extreme, consider pairing bold yellow with black and white.  Something like this tasseled DVF bag might float your boat ($525, Matches):

Or how about this bold beaded necklace ($180, 25Park) — it might work well against a black sheath dress with some huge shades for work —

Now — drumroll please.  I know that this isn’t exactly “banana/pineapple” themed…but.  O.M.G. it is just.too.beautiful not to post immediately.  I drool and die over this Malene Birger gown ($1,510, Malene Birger):

I mean.  Get outta town with that dress.  Is it real?!  It is just beyond.  The color palette…!  Marigold and soft dusty rose and mother of pearl?!  Who would have thunk?!  I’d keep the add-ons to a minimum — just some ladylike earrings (Jenny Perl, $1,650, Max&Chloe — don’t they match perfectly?!), a gold cuff ($95, Citrine By the Stones):

A simple pair of heeled sandals finish the look (Jimmy Choo, $465, Bergdorf Goodman):

Finally, I’ll conclude with an inappropriately bragadocious comment: I am OBSESSED with the Zimmermann dress that just showed up on my  door yesterday.  I mentioned my excitement in yesterday’s {magpie covets} post, but the dress turned out even lovelier and more elegant and chic in person.  The color has a slight luminosity to it — almost a golden sheen.  I DIE.  Can’t wait to attend that wedding next weekend!