Out East: Where to Shop This Summer

Why brave the Main Beach crowds this weekend when you can hit up the new East Hampton Balenciaga boutique to scoop up their tribal sandal boots (you'll be the most fashion forward person at Polo that's for sure). We have you covered with all of the new Hamptons store openings this season. Retail therapy always makes for the best vacation anyway.

East Hampton

Balenciaga (54 Main St.)--Expect oodles of things few people can afford (even Hamptonites) in this 900-square foot summer pop-up store. The store which was done in collaboration with Balenciaga artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière and French artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster boasts lime green floors and architectural space probe like display cases. The store will be dedicated to the brands accessories: bags, shoes, scarves, belts, jewelry and sunglasses.

Chico's (75 Main St.)--Yes, you've read correctly, this infamous mall chain for mature women shoppers is in fact opening in the Hamptons. Presumably someone has done some market research to assume that this outpost will be successful, and they very well could be right. Not everyone in the Hamptons is a 20-something and fashion forward. Expect Hamptons exclusives like a $99 Ikat clutch.

Juicy Couture (17 Newtown Lane)--This mass retailer will likely feel right at home in their new 1,800 square foot store (which was formerly a town firehouse). This store is concentrating on beach specific items like bathing suits, beach bags, fedoras and sandals. The store will also feature an exclusive "Choose East Hampton" line of t-shirts and tracksuits.

Masgaschoni (2 Newtown Lane)--This Hamptons mainstay has moved locations just in time for summer and has gotten a much needed makeover to boot. The store stocks knits in a rainbow array of colors, sportswear, home designs and accessories. Considering that tops start at $178 and things only go up from there don't expect any bargains.

Trina Turk (79 Main Street)--This is the second year that Trina Turk is opening a pop-up store in the Hamptons. Turk is calling this year's store a "chic beach shack" and it will house her men's and women's collections and jewelry and accessories. Turk's caftans, maxi dresses and flirty swimwear will definitely come in handy out east.

Southhampton

Michael Kors (30 Main St.)--Kors got his feet wet in the Hamptons retail scene last summer with a pop-up store in East Hampton's main drag and this summer Kors is moving several towns over with the opening of this permanent Hamptons retail location. Expect jetsetter ware from all of his collections, including his designer ready-to-wear line, Kor Michael Kors and Michael Michael Kors.

Sag Harbor

Lauren G (112 Hampton Street)--Lauren Gabrielson is the 22-year old assistant to designer Ginny Hilfiger (brother of Tommy) and she is opening a store which will exclusively sell her own collection along with that of her mentor, Hilfiger's Ginny H collection. The space will be curated with art, antiques and vintage clothing as well.

Matta (78 Main St.)--Matta designer Christina Gitti's line of easy going tunics, scarves, stiched leather sandals and shawls is a perfect fit for the Hamptons scene. Luckily her prices won't break the bank. The lightweight cotton Matta dress in coral runs $119. The dress even comes with celebrity fans including Jennifer Anniston who was spotted on the set of her new movie wearing it. This Sag Harbor store is the second outpost for this designer, who also keeps shop in Nolita.

Montauk

Cynthia Rowley (696 Montauk Highway)--Rowley already has an East End store under her belt in East Hampton but her latest venture in Montauk is much closer to home for the designer--she has been vacationing in this more laid back area of the Hamptons for years. Inside the store you will find all of Rowley's collections including her most recent surfing collection with Roxy. There will be also be select items from other designers including jeweler Waris Ahluwalia and Diptyque candles for sale. Perhaps more exciting that the store itself is the shed outside which will host a revolving door of people selling their wares like Chrissie Miller of Sophomore and William Brown who will sell homemade snacks and jams.

--Leah Bourne

My Week in Fashion Day 5: Casual Friday

Name: Sara Pashmforoosh

Job: Project manager and architectural designer

For casual friday Sara opted for a black vintage Betsey Johnson dress, worn with a button down navy and white stripe button down shirt from Necessary Clothing. She accessorized with a vintage 1940s Seiko white gold watch bracelet and neon-green canvas sneakers from Payless ShoeSource. It's an easy and fun look to copy for a low key day at work or a day of errands on the weekend. Keep your outfit simple and add a fun pop of color with your shoes.

Steal the Look:

1. Lightly striped empire maxi dress from the Gap, $79.50

2. Keds Champion Canvas Seasonal Colors shoe in creamcicle orange, $35

3. J.Crew suckered gingham shirt in abyss blue, $69.50

4. Timex stainless steel Dress Expansion watch, $55

--Leah Bourne

*Note, meant to be the fifth day in following someone through their week of outfits

What To Expect From This Year's CFDA Awards

Fashionistas may have decamped to the Hamptons or Capri for Memorial Day weekend but they don't have too long to relax--the Council of Fashion Designers of America's annual awards ceremony (often dubbed the Oscars of fashion) are set to take place in less than two weeks on June 7th. This is the second year that the awards ceremony will be held at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. Sarah Jessica Parker is presenting the CFDA Board of Directors' Special Tribute Award to the late Alexander McQueen. Model Iman is walking away with the 2010 CFDA Fashion Icon Award. And the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award is being presented to Michael Kors. As for the awards that haven't been announced--one of the hottest categories is of course womenswear. Nominees in that category include Alexander Wang, Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs. Another hot category is the Swarovski Award for emerging talent in womenswear. Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu have been nominated. Whoever wins will walk away with a Trova statue (the CFDA's version of an Oscar statuette).

Following the awards ceremony guests will be treated to be a buffet dinner. Don't be too envious, last year's included fried chicken, which raised more than a few fashionable eyebrows. No one sticks around for dinner anyway, with all of the after-parties that follow the awards. Rumor has it that nominee Alexander Wang has something in the works. Considering that the last fete he threw was in a gas station parking lot and Courtney Love performed, this should be one for the books.

--Leah Bourne

Summer Essentials: What To Keep In Your Desk Drawer

Now that summer has rolled around, dressing for work is harder than ever. It may be a sweltering 90 degrees outside, but likely your office air conditioning is leaving you with the chills. Transitioning to after work cocktails in the summer can also be tricky, after all who wants to wear a stuffy suit when you don't have to? Stockpile these essentials in your desk drawer and you'll be covered all summer long.

1. Keep a wrinkle free summer dress ready like this T-Bags v-neck jersey maxi dress ($230, net-a-porter.com) and you'll always be prepared for that last minute after-work cocktail.

2. It's nice to enjoy a quick lunch outside during a summer workday, just come prepared with sunscreen like Kiehl's Vital Sun Protection ($19.50 for 5 fl. oz., kiehls.com).

3. Combat the office chills with a great cardigan like Rebecca Taylor waterfall leopard print cardigan ($350, bloomingdales.com).

4. It's difficult to remember to bring sunglasses to work everyday so keep a spare pair ready, like Karen Walker's Helter Skelter vintage demi sunglasses ($170, gargyle.com).

5. Sure those new strappy sandals look fabulous but getting through the entire day wearing them can be a challenge. Always have a cute (and comfortable) pair of sandals on standby like J.Crew's patent leather Tabitha t-strap sandals ($88, jcrew.com).

6. Another great way to stay warm inside the office is with a summer scarf like Virginia Johnson's shark print merino wool scarf ($195, virginiajohnson.com). It's also a cute and effortless way to update your summer look.

--Leah Bourne

*Note: Would have done this as a slideshow if I had the capability

Fashion Insiders Weigh In On McQueen's Heir Sarah Burton

With the Gucci Group's appointment of Sarah Burton yesterday to the post of creative director of Alexander McQueen, fashion insiders have started to weigh in. The general consensus--it was a safe and solid choice, especially considering all of the rumors that have been flying about following the designers suicide earlier this year--including one that Lady Gaga would design a capsule collection for the brand. Burton worked side by side with McQueen for 14 years and has headed womenswear since 2000. New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn took to her blog On The Runway applauding the choice saying, "She's the only person really qualified for the job." Horyn continued, "She is not a star, but she is very well known in the fashion world and, most important, has worked closely over the years with the pattern makers and other technical people, especially in Italy, who produce the McQueen line. In promoting the best-qualified person for the job, and not going outside the house for a name designer not intimately connected to the McQueen story, Gucci Group and McQueen executives have a very positive statement about the business." Horyn isn't alone in feeling this way, supermodel Coco Rocha who has walked in many McQueen shows took to Twitter saying "I think its a wise choice to have Sarah Burton as the new creative director." And ex-Vogue staffer and current chief planner of New York fashion week at Lincoln Center Stephanie Winston Wolkoff said, "Long live the McQueen brand." Burton will present a pre-collection in June for the McQueen label and her first full spring collection in Paris in October.

--Leah Bourne