-WEDNESDAY WINDOWS-

Club Monaco, Fifth Ave.

Beach houses and biergartens brim with bronzed bodies--Summertime is in full swing! The mannequins of Club Monaco Fifth Ave. are ready to rattle with rompers and seaside style. With opportunity for extended escape this July 4th, I search for a serene shoreline. This long weekend, I'll be cooling off in Cape Cod. How about you?

-WEDNESDAY WINDOWS-

 Lord & Taylor summer windows at 38th St. and 5th Ave.

It's prime time to share in the sun-sponsored festivities of Summer. Take a break; savor the sunlight with lazy days at the beach, laps in the pool or lounging in the sun… Let's get relaxin'! The mannequins at Lord and Taylor are stylishly set for the summer music scene with festive fabrics and carefree caftans. How about you?

-WEDNESDAY WINDOWS-

 Club Monaco on 5th Ave at 20th St. in the Flatiron district

"Art" substitutes practical utilitarianism for subjective beauty. In fashion, art reincarnates as couture, taking the form of billowy ballgowns, exquisite elegance and unlimited luxury.There's been a strong showing of artistic style in fast fashion lately; I'm buying into the hand-stitched embellishments, textured prints and non-traditional colors. This week, Club Monaco's Fifth Ave. store pairs sun-friendly summer wear with rope art, converting functional materials into reprioritized aesthetic masterpieces.

IFB LINKS A LA MODE: WEEK of 5/1

A long week is ending and a weekend of infinite possibilities is only beginning. With warmer weather and stretched, sunlit days, what's first on the to-do list? Time to trade the steamy sips for iced ones and swap sweaters for swimwear. Derby Day, food festivals, and sidewalk sales abound--what will you be up to this weekend? While you're deciding,  have a look at this week's ifb top 20 reads, including my interview with Designer Ann Yee!

-WEDNESDAY WINDOWS

Springtime has landed at Ralph Lauren Kids, Madison Ave. (at 71st St.) 

Winter break and wretched weather set the stage for a resort-style escape. Ralph Lauren's Madison Ave. flagship transports a taste of Bermuda to New York in its kid's store windows. Pastel hued houses, swimming shorts and sunny beach scenes warm up weary wills in Manhattan's melting metropolis. With flurries in the forecast, a few glimpses of short sleeves and summer style are a welcome wonder this endless winter.

STYLE SNAPS : SUMMER SIGHTS

Soho Street Art

NYC is a cosmos of diverse tastes and endless creativity. I love it. I hate it. I live with it. The summers are hot. Grass and trees are rare. People, people...EVERYWHERE! So what keeps me grounded in the cement jungle when clear air and endless greenery beckon? Other than the thought of an overwhelming commute from the suburbs, I enjoy the sipping, the shopping and the evolving style. Keep reading to see if you can guess the brains behind some of the sights I've snapped in passing this summer...