You may have noticed that The Fashion Magpie is “all aboard” with the nautical trend — just take a gander at the “Nautical by Nature” and “Ahoy, Matey” posts from a few weeks back. This Markus Lupfer t-shirt (a vastly overpriced $170 at Net-A-Porter) pretty much sums up my approach to the look:
But what about marine life itself — beneath the sea rather than above deck? I’ve been noticing a lot of accessories featuring clamshells, seahorses, starfish, and more — and I love it. What could be better for my upcoming “Bachelorette Party Kick Off” at the beach house of my fellow fashion magpie and bridesmaid (I’ll call her Ms. On-the-Money — she’s one of those girls who always has just the right outfit for the occasion)?
Let’s start with the items on my current lust list. I have literally begun the purchasing process for this Kate Spade clamshell ring 2,923 times ($125 at Nordstrom) — each time worrying that I might be going too big with this one:
I’m bananas about this Pisces-perfect Emilio Pucci dress ($1,860 at Net-A-Porter) — can you imagine how hot it’d be with a late summer tan, some super-high white pumps (Fendi, $980, also Net-A-Porter), and an updo? Love.
I’ve already shared with you my love of starfish. I featured these precious studs by KEP Designs ($250) a few days ago and have been drooling over them since:
But how adorable is this delicate starfish charm on a chain by DogEared ($46 for sterling silver; $54 for gold-dipped)? What a perfect gift for a good friend or a bridesmaid (hmm…my wedding is coming up in August) — or maybe just for myself:
One of my very dearest girlfriends from UVA gave me a Dogeared necklace with a solitary pearl on it for Christmas and I wear it every single day I’m not wearing a big statement piece. Magpie Deal: you can get 20% off your order at Dogeared by entering the code LuckyBreaks5 at checkout!
If you’re a fan of the starfish, too, consider this bauble by Bounkit ($495, Marissa Collections):
Other sea-creature featuring jewelry? The covetable Mesi Jilly rings I blabbed out in my Tropical Punch post (definitely the most popular post to date — check it out if you haven’t seen it! — and side note: Miss Big City emailed me the other day to say that Jenna Lyons, the head designer over at J. Crizzle, must have been taking a note out of my book, because she just featured a new “Turks and Caicos” spread as well!). The Jilly rings are insta-heirloom masterpieces — and I recently found out why: they’re all handmade in Italy and individually designed by Ms. Jilly herself. Um. Uh-may-zing. You can pick one up for around $1,000 from Kirna Zabete:
I also like the idea of lounging by the beach all day in a coral print bikini (the one below is by the one-and-only Melissa Odabash, a very hip UK-based swimwear designer — $166, Madison L.A.):
Don’t mind if I do. I’d throw on this airy batwing tunic, also by Melissa Odabash, and available through her own online boutique:
While you’re on the Odabash site, browse all of her tunics/cover-ups. They are ridiculously chic. Believe me — if you wind up putting down your plastic, you’ll seriously consider booking an impulse trip to St. Tropez just to have an adequate audience for your new beachwear’s debut.
If you’re more inclined towards the preppy, check out Lilly Pulitzer. She has a bunch of coral print items out this season, including this bright bikini, available at Lilly Pulitzer’s eShop:
Continuing with the coral motif, consider splurging on this Simon Tu coral necklace:
With some metallic accessories or a pair of hot wedges and a raffia clutch? Perf.
You’d need to wear it with simple accessories — say, white Jack Rogers and a little white woven clutch. Anything else would look a little overdone given the scale and whimsicality of the print. Think lobsters are charming but find the above dress over-the-top? Why not entertain with the style? I’m nutso about Dabney Lee’s monogrammable lucite serving trays ($120):
But back to sea-scape-inspired home decor: why not spruce up the bedroom with some coral-print sheets (these are from Williams-Sonoma)?
Or maybe add some coral-print pillows to the couch (Pottery Barn):
And — because I won’t be happy concluding this post until I feature a few little gems I’ve been stockpiling for just-the-right-post over the past few weeks — consider toting your life around in this adorable Henri Bendel carry-all ($128, Henri Bendel):
And finally: though the pirate is not officially an aquatic life-form, he looms large in oceatic iconography, and I’d be remiss to omit this adorable little pirate sarong by Tara Matthews ($68, TheOutnet):
With a little white bikini and some gold sandals? I’d be happy as a clam.