I put together a list of ten looks that I wore this summer and what I was wearing underneath. I frequently get questions about strapless and backless bras, so here are my favorites. I hope this helps because it’s one of my most asked questions. You can find the links under each look, and also here where I have all of my undergarments in one place to shop.

This orange set called for a racerback bra and a half slip due to the fabric being slightly clingy. The pale blue dress was loose and airy so I wore a bandeau and a comfortable boy short.

This set required a strapless bra due to the placement of the straps and I opted for a high waist thong due to the sheerness of the ivory fabric. The black cotton dress needed strapless bra but one with some support and shape that would stay up and since the bottom was loose I opted for super comfy breathable high waisted cotton brief.

This blue silk gown called for a lot of smoothing and this slip did the trick of holding in and smoothing and I wore a high waisted thong. This silk set was tricky I needed a backless bra and smoothing shorts to make this work for me.

This white linen set called for nude underwear so I went with a great supportive bra that also has temp control and my go to thong. The white dress has a deep v and this bra worked perfectly for that and since I was walking a lot in this dress I opted for non chafe shorts for underwear and they are life saving when traveling.

Once again this dress called for a racer back bra with a deep V and this one never disappoints. I opted for some super light weight boy shorts since the dress was loose and flowy. Last look I needed a strapless bra but with some support and some simple briefs to stay cool and comfortable.

I recently did a post on Instagram with my son featuring some back-to-school looks, and it performed really well. I decided to extend that here with some additions to my list! This is how I still see my son not the college guy he is now.

My son is a rising sophomore in college and plays lacrosse. He balances everyday looks with athletic wear, spending a lot of time at the gym and going to practice, but also in class. I think boys are actually very specific in what they like to wear. Even though the clothes may seem basic and repetitive, it’s actually a very nuanced selection. If I had to pick a few investment pieces that I know my son wears every day and they have truly held up it would be these pants in black and these in navy, these shorts in grey and these in khaki, this light weight hoodie hoodie, this pullover and this henley. However you can find the full recap with everything here!

I realize a lot of these styles are $100, which may seem very high, so I balanced this edit with some more affordable options as well from Old Navy. These are great affordable pants on khaki and navy as well as a great long sleeve henley and a short sleeve henley.

A lot of you asked for shoes and accessories, so I included his favorite sneakers, both for everyday wear, for working out, and for what he calls his going-out shoes.

These are his favorite everyday sneakers and these are his going out sneakers

I also included this affordable suit that’s navy that your son can wear for any sort of formal or awards night, but you can also wear the navy jacket separately with khaki pants. It really works for everything. I’ve included a button-down classic shirt that can work under the suit or alone, and a pair of affordable dress shoes, because let’s be honest, he’s going to destroy these by the end of four years of college.

Some of you asked for accessories, so I have included his dopp kit, weekender bag, suitcase and a back pack that he uses every day for class.

For skin care I kept it really simple with some face wash, moisturizer, body lotion and chapstick.

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Hair

I get a lot of questions about my hair and how I’m able to have a blowout last for five days and what my secrets are to do that. When I get the blowout done, I always get it professionally done because I can’t do it on my own, and my stylist does not put any products in my hair. He blows it out without any additional products using big roller brushes to set it as he goes.

When I travel on the plane, I just put it back in one of these clips that have a flat back so that it doesn’t bother my head on the plane. By day two, I usually need some dry shampoo. I use this travel size Crown Affair dry shampoo. Be warned, it comes out fast, and you have to let it sit for a minute or two and then rub it in so that all the white powder is no longer visible. I only use it on my part and a little bit around my face.

That’s it. I don’t use anything special to sleep. A lot of people have asked me that, and I just don’t touch my hair a lot. I use a wide-tooth comb when I travel like this, and other than that, I brush it in the morning and at night, and I just leave it alone.

Make Up and Skincare

Next, let’s talk about makeup and skincare. My skincare is all about hydration. I like a really thick cream for when I’m traveling. Some of my favorites that I have in travel size are the Ubeauty travel set discount code KARAM20 for 20% off and the Augustinus Bader travel set.

If you want to bring just one product, I would suggest La Balm. This is an amazing moisturizer that you can use anywhere: on your face, your hands, and your lips, and it is super hydrating.I have a discount code too KARA15 for $15 off. I also brought this hydrating lip mask from Tatcha and this salmon DNA PD-RN from YURSLF for at night to give me a boost.

Another product I’ve been trying lately that I really like is this eye cream from Dermalogica. I put this on in the morning and at night to help with the bags and the dark circles. As far as face wash, I bring the travel size from Caudlie. The foam works well for light makeup, and the oil helps if you’re wearing a lot of sunscreen or heavier makeup. I also like these Ursula Major wipes. I use them on the plane, and if I’m walking around and get really hot, they’re a great refresh and cleanup. I use them on my face and neck, and then finish off by using it on my hands before I throw it away.

Next, let’s talk about makeup. I try to keep my makeup to a minimum when I’m traveling. I bring a set for day and a set for night. Really, the night is just an upgrade from the day that I can just add a little bit more to my eyes and lip. Some of my favorite products listed below:

Dolce Glow self tanner for my face because my face is never as tan as my body

Kosas Dream Beam SPF 40 gives a glow and protects

Chanticaille Bio Lifting concealer shade almond very light because its hot (on sale)

Refy Brow Gel keeps them in place all day and slightly darkens them (on sale)

Laura Mercier secret camouflage for broken capillaries, and anything I want to cover

Saie Beauty sun melt in medium bronze so easy to apply looks like a real tan

Saie Beauty big brush I use for everything

Chanel lip and cheek tint in shade 3 vital beige love a two for one

Maybelline sky tubes mascara is great for day and comes off so easy

Prada lip gloss in shade B201 chocobot light, hydrating and a beautiful wash of color

Charlotte Tilbury setting spray to keep it on

For night I ramp it up:

Bobbi Brown cream shadow stick in golden bronze beautiful on any eye color

Victoria Beckham eyeliner in cinnamon so easy glides right on

YSL lash clash in brown love the color and the bold lash

Victoria Beckham posh nude lip stick in shade 02 looks good on everyone

Victoria Beckham posh nude lip liner in shade 02 defines the lip for night

Westman Atelier hydration balm in shade juice summer shade that gives a pop of color

Lastly I travel with this Valentino hair and body mist scent golden coconut for night, the bottle is plastic so will not break and Josie Maran golden hour for day as well as her travel moisturizer.

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Outfits I wore in Paris

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Since we were going all the way to Paris for this one event, we decided to extend our trip a few days in order to really enjoy it. Since Ella and I have been to Paris so many times, We kept the itinerary really simple, with the only real plans being our dinner reservations. We focused on great food, spending lots of time walking since the weather was amazing, and some shopping together.

Our first stop, after we landed, was to drop our things at our hotel, which was absolutely amazing! The Monsieur George Hotel & Spa is a boutique hotel right off the Champs- Elysees of Paris. It’s very close to every major monument. You can walk to the Arc de Triomphe, to the Eiffel Tower, and to so many museums. It’s really centrally located. The staff was absolutely wonderful. The rooms were great. I was in room 201, which had the prettiest view of a Parisian street. It also had a great breakfast every morning, as well as a beautiful spa with a steam room, a sauna, and a place for a massage. The gym also had everything you could need. The hotel is just 46 rooms, and it felt like staying in someone’s home.

Day One

After checking in, we had lunch at the hotel and then walked to the Chanel boutique. The area where the Chanel boutique is has many designer stores. It’s a beautiful location to walk around. We were not initially intending to spend our time there, but once inside, we decided that we would make a purchase together to remember this amazing trip!

Ella had been looking for the perfect everyday black shoulder bag, and I was looking for something special but still practical. Ella chose the coveted 2026 Medium Preppy Coco Flap, and I ended up with the Suede Quilted Medium Double Flap Grey. Ella also purchased a pair of loafers that were brown shearling perfect for the cold winters in NYC! After trying on quite a few heels, she went with the most practical purchase and something that she could use all the time. I can be a boring voice of reason when shopping!

Afterwards, we stopped at Fouquet’s for a cocktail, which was very cool but outrageously priced. The cosmo and fries hit the spot though!

We went to an earlier dinner reservation at 7 p.m. at La Petite Letitia.

We had to take a taxi to get to the restaurant, but it was in a charming residential neighborhood. We were fortunate enough to get a table outside, and it was daylight until 10 p.m. when we finished our dinner of lobster pasta. The food was excellent, and the profiterole dessert I highly recommend.

Day Two

We spent the second day at La Vallee Village. This was just a 30-minute drive outside of the city and, honestly, well worth it. The village was designed to look like a charming French village, and each designer store was built out like a real designer shop, the same way their shops would be anywhere else. The staff was excellent, and the prices were 50% to 60% cheaper than what it would be in the regular stores. Some of the stores, like Isabelle Marant, also had additional discounts of up to 70% off.

We were there from 10:30 until 4:30 and barely scratched the surface, so when you go, I would make sure you have the whole day blocked out for this. There are so many shops and such great prices, it’s really worth the time.

We stopped and had lunch there at La Perouse

It had opened just two days before. The truffle pasta was excellent, and it was the perfect stop in the middle of our shopping to refuel. They also had little coffee shops, ice cream, and Laduree, so there were plenty of other places to eat as well.

We took the car back into Paris and quickly changed and headed to dinner at Juvenal’s Wine Bar. This is a tiny restaurant that you definitely need a reservation for. The food was excellent and extremely affordable. I can understand why this is a local favorite. There were just a handful of tables and no air conditioning so be prepared!

Day Three

The third day we went vintage shopping and had lunch at the Café de la Poste.

This restaurant was in the Marais, where all of the vintage shops are. It was excellent and had the best chicken Caesar salad I have ever had in my life. We just spent the day wandering around the Marais and went to amazing vintage stores, as well as furniture stores and regular boutiques. Ella bought a few peices from Nuovo -130 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris. We also stopped at EREM - 132 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris and of course Chez Snow Bunny - 12 Rue Dupetit Thouars, 75003 Paris. Demain Retro - 154 Rue du Temple, 75003 is also lovely. It’s a great neighborhood that we were just recently at in May, and we love it here you can just wonder around and stop in to whatever looks good to you there are so many vintage stores and new ones all the time!

For dinner, we went to Cafe Emilia, which again was very small and you definitely need a reservation for. It’s an Italian restaurant with incredible food, and everything is made from scratch. They do not take Amex only Visa learned this the hard way!

Day Four

On our last day, the weather was spectacular, and we really just wanted to walk for miles. We didn’t have any plans for dinner or lunch.

We started our day at the restaurant Marcelle in the 7th arrondissement which is a really young neighborhood. It reminded me of the West Village. It had so many Pilates studios, charming little brunch spots like Marcelle, and great shopping.

For lunch, we stopped at the Tribeca Cafe. We had great cocktails and split a pizza and fries, and then had ice cream after on the way home. Its a great spot for people watching inb a really pretty neighborhood!

That night, we also spent time just walking the streets of Paris. The World Cup final was on, so we stopped at a bar to watch some of it and then ended with dinner at Fleurus, with the most charming heart-shaped chairs and the best Nutella banana crepes for dessert.

I felt like the girl I was when I was 25 and working in Paris during Fashion Weeks, with epic dinners and long lunches and just wandering around during my free time. It was an amazing four-day trip. I could not have asked for better weather or a better experience, and I will treasure this time that I had with my daughter always.

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Dates To Know:

Icon Early Access: July 14–17

Ambassador Early Access: July 15–17

Influencer Early Access: July 16–17

Public Access (Everyone): July 18–August 9

Coats

This is a recap of the things I think are the strongest. I want to start out with coats. I think Ralph Lauren had some really beautiful ones in the sale at great prices. I also found a gorgeous suede barn coat and a really spectacular camel coat. Investing in a coat at a great price makes sense to me.

Shoes

Next, I selected a few pairs of shoes that I think are great to have in your closet. There are two pairs of sneakers: one that’s more for everyday wear with athletic wear and one suede one that I would wear with my jeans and sweaters throughout the fall. I also included two pairs of unique ballet flats: an animal print and a woven pair.

Rosalee Ballet Flat | The Woven Paz Flat | 327 Sneaker | 574 Suede Sneaker

For my East Coast ladies I included a pair of Sorrel boots that I just know I will wear nonstop. Up here, it gets really cold, and the weather can be miserable, and these boots are perfect.

One Ave™ Alpine Faux Fur Trim Waterproof Boot

Denim

Let’s not forget denim. I selected 2 classic styles I own and love. The Mother denim and the Madewell.

Activewear

For activewear, I kept it simple with some of my favorite basic pieces from Vuori, especially the travel pants I link all the time.

Energy Racerback Tank | Daily Layered Crop Tank Top

Bags

For bags I included a great cross body, my most requested style as well as a beautiful black clutch for evening events or parties, a tote and a suitcase that I have and love!

Dakota Saddle Crossbody Bag | Zaria Pebbled Faux Leather Clutch

The Shopper Tote in Soft Grain Suede

The 22-Inch Expandable Carry-On Roller

Beauty

I also included some beauty. A few of my favorite brands are participating in the sale:

• Westman Atelier is doing an amazing capsule of her best-selling cheeks and her best-selling lip.

• Victoria Beckham eyeliners, which are my absolute favorites, are in the sale, which is incredible because I don’t think she ever goes on sale.

• Bobby Brown has some of my favorite eye shadow sticks all 3 are beautiful colors.

• YSL has the cutest gift set I would save as a gift for my daughter for a holiday or birthday. The packaging is gorgeous for gift giving

  Satin Kajal Jewel Liner Collection Set | Petite Baby Cheeks Blush & Lit Up Highlight Stick Duo | The Lip Edition Set

Golden Glow Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick Set | Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss Gift Set

I also included a few other great values from Augustinus Bader, Flamingo Candles, a mermaid brush and a red light face mask that I love. I don’t think it’s about volume from a sale like this. I think it’s about curating a very tight edit of things that you know you will actually use versus purchasing things just because they’re on sale.

Good luck!

Augustinus Bader Face Cream | Flamingo Estate Candle | Theraface Red Light Mask

Bur Bur The Mermaid Brush

Let me know what you’re picking up from the sale. I can’t wait to hear what you order!

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• Beach & Vacation

• Casual every day

• Evening & Wedding attire

Some of these dresses I own, some of them I wish I owned, and some of them are a little bit of a fantasy or dream that I would love to own. The majority of this post is really realistic styles that would work for a lot of body types and have the sleeve that everyone requests each week.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you.

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Let’s start with the opening price points. The first dresses we’re going to talk about are from H&M. These are all super casual but really pretty prints and easy to wear.

belted tunic dress

linen tunic mini dress

Next I spent some time organizing my ShopBop hearts if you click here you can see everything I like with a sleeve the price points range from $100 to over $1000.

Selma Dress

Seersucker Check Midi Dress

Alberta Dress

Remy Spot Lace Mini Dress

I love Farm Rio for a dress with a sleeve its not cheap but i find their quality is beautiful and their fit works well for me as a size 8/10.

Boho Beauty Maxi Dress

Sand Nature Short Sleeve Maxi Dress

Sea Garden Scarf Midi Dress

Speaking of great fit Me & Em also has some beautiful dresses with sleeves that can definitely cross over to the office as well as events.

2-in-1 Cotton Voile Dress

Fit & Flare Crepe Maxi Dress

Tiered Cotton Slub Jersey Dress

Twist Front Cotton Maxi Dress

A few vacation styles that I think are fun from Boden

Heidi Jersey Dress

Embroidered Kaftan

Kimono Jersey Dress

Lastly to round it out a few wedding guest beauties..

Alexis Alloro Dress

Bonnie Midi Dress

Yellow Lace Hem Dress

Pink Feather Jamie Dress

See my Shopbop hearts of all dresses with sleeves!

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Fast forward to 51 and finding a bathing suit I like has become much more challenging. My body in this stage of menopause has changed drastically and I think about it a lot. More than I would like honestly. I understand we need to embrace our new bodies! Be thrilled we are alive and for the most part healthy but I do yearn for that carefree time in my life when my body was not something I ever thought about.

That being said I wanted to link the bathing suits I own and like and give you the reasons why so maybe if you feel like me and put off buying bathing suits and just keep wearing the old ones you don’t like this will give you the confidence to try something new. I have included all types of suits and all price ranges and all have been worn by me so it’s not a random recommendation. I hope this helps and maybe gives you the ability to feel like that young girl you once were who didn’t care about what she looked like in her suit because she was too busy living her best life.

Starting with opening price points these 3 are great ones! The Public Veil one piece is $19 and the style is great for the price. There is no lining or support but the cut is flattering and the straps are adjustable with a lot of bang for your buck for sure. The H&M styles are $44 and are not lined but have padded cups that I always immediately remove. They are great designs with minimal support but to me look more expensive than they are.

H&M blue swim suit | H&M black swim suit

Public Veil One Piece

The J.Crew styles are higher quality fabrics with pretty details and full butt coverage. The fit is easy and they are both on sale!

J.Crew Gemma Strapless Swimsuit | J.Crew Lana Eyelet Swimsuit

At $150 beach riot suits are a great fit with beautiful colors and affordable pricing. They also have matching mini me suits for the little ones!

Akira One Piece | Lindy One Piece | Phoenix Red One Piece

Jessie Zhao has the prettiest reversible bathing suits I have ever seen. Her prints are gorgeous and you get 2 suits for one price. They are not cheap but they are very unique and super high quality with a great fit and full coverage.

Reversible One Piece Swimsuit

The next group of suits are mostly around $200 and the quality of the fabric is very nice. The Hutch swimsuit is full coverage, lots of support and thick straps, the Left On Friday really holds you in but it does not have cups but I will say they have a lot of support due to the weight of the fabric. One thing to note is the butt coverage is not full. It’s fine I really like these 2 suits but a bit of tush shows if that bothers you.

Hutch Barrett One Piece | Hutch Riviera Cover Up Pants

Left On Friday Club Suit | Left On Friday Reef Suit

Lets talk expensive swim. L’agence swim is $295-$360. I have several styles and they are beautiful, they have gorgeous fabrics, very expensive prints and trim details and some of them have built in bras for support. Also linked is a gorgeous blue sculpting suit from The Stylist (fun fact the girls who started this went to college with my sister!)

Indore One Piece | Remi One Piece

Indore One Piece

Lace Up Sculpt Swimsuit | Remi One Piece

Lastly bikinis! This is something I mostly wear in Europe but I should wear them here too because who cares. For major support this one is amazing from Vetchy. I also love this super comfortable one from negative. I have it in 2 colors, the brown and the black with white trim.

Vetchy Laguna Bikini

Negative Cut Out Top | Negative French Cut Bottom

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My husband and I love to travel and now that our children are older we have a lot more freedom to do so. We have always wanted to visit Ischia and booked The Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa a year in advance. We flew from JFK directly to Naples which is a relatively new flight option. Fair warning depending on the day and time you land it can be chaotic and very hot with the lines outside. We then took a 30 minute cab to the port to catch a one hour ferry to the port of Napoli (Beverello). The hotel sent a taxi there to pick us up. They do also offer private boat transfers as well that would pick you up at the port to avoid the ferry and deposit you right at the hotel.

The hotel was a dream. The scenery is spectacular. We spent most of our days by the water occasionally jumping in for a swim. Even though the hotel was full it felt empty with plenty of lounges there was always a spot available at the water or the pool. It was quiet and calm and relaxing.

The thermal spa was also excellent and included in the cost of the hotel. The closest town was just 10 minutes away with a hotel shuttle running until 10pm.

My first recommendation would be the Albergo Regina Isabella for a cocktail. They made the most delish skinny margarita in a chilled glass with the best snacks on the island. They also had live jazz at night that we went to listen to our last evening and loved it. We went to several restaurants in town including Bar Franco on the sea with a view of the famous mushroom rock, Ristorante LaBattigia this a beach side one with great spaghetti and clams. A very good local spot, Ristorante Pizzeria Piccoletto with mostly Italians and great pizza! We also went to a very special place, Lisola Restaurant that had the most spectacular sunset so book a table in advance and ask for the view! It’s about 25 min away but well worth the trip!

We spent one day at a local beach club Giardino Eden Ischia. I reserved 2 loungers and an umbrella on the little island which was gorgeous and made a reservation at their restaurant for lunch! You can get there by taxi or by water taxi! It was a nice change from the hotel and the food was excellent!

Our next stop was Sorrento, an underrated town in my opinion. It’s a great home base to visit along the coast. We used Mamma Mia Yacht Experience to get from our hotel in Ischia to Sorrento but also spent the day on the boat. They loaded up our suitcases at the hotel into the boat and then we spent the afternoon touring the islands near Ischia. We went for several swims along the way and had lunch at the new Le Sirenuse Mare beach club and restaurant which opened in April. It was gorgeous, expensive but the service and food were incredible and it is a scene so a lot of fun for an afternoon lunch. We then made the trek to the port of Sorrento where Mario the owner of Mamma Mia Yachts personally picked us up from the dock and took us to the hotel. It’s an amazing boat service and I would highly recommend it! However, book early, they fill up fast.

Our hotel in Sorrento La Minervetta is a family favorite we have been coming to since the kids were small. The owner is Marco De Luca and you will often find him there talking to guests. It’s just 12 rooms and feels like you are staying at a very chic friend’s home. The art and design are spectacular! Every detail is thought of. If you love small boutique luxury hotels this is for you. The views in every room look like this carved into the side of the cliff. Truly a very special place!

The hotel serves a delicious breakfast and a wonderful afternoon snack service that’s included in the price but you must go into town for lunch and dinner.

It is a 10 min walk with amazing views or you can take the stairs down to the Marina Grande below the hotel for great local restaurants on the water. The Bagni Delfino is a family favorite and if you want to spend the day in the sea they rent lounge chairs and umbrellas on their dock as well. Another tip is the tiny private beach Hotel Désirée’s beach is a hidden piece of paradise right up the block. You can also rent chairs here and have a nice little lunch. It’s charming and mostly Italians. It’s rustic and a bit of a hike but we love it.

In town we had several restaurants we loved. Momo piazza is great and if you arrive early you can get a seat outside for people watching, the Hotel Bellevue Syrene has a beautiful bar and restaurant with amazing views. We also went to Lo Stuzzichino that is up in the mountains. They sent a complimentary car to pick you up and take you home and the food was well worth the trip! For the best gelato it’s Raki you know its good when its in small metal containers.

For souvenirs Mary Charles Art Gallery has amazing jewelry, pottery and small things that I think are fabulous vs the back streets with all the touristy stuff.

Also you must stop at Syrenia Sorrento (via fuoro 60 location) and talk to Mina and Raffaele. They are the sweetest and will custom make whatever you want. A hand made custom sandal is a must from this trip. Tell them I said hi!!

Lastly, here are all my looks from the tip. I linked each one below!

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