Pool Time

Photographic pool scene + triangles overlay = badass print by fashion darlings Proenza Schouler. Silk snap shirt on sale in a size 6 for $206 from $790 at Forward by Elyse Walker. Download and buy it with Forward's iPhone app and take an extra 15% off, bringing it to about $175. Free shipping, too.

Bananas

I have mixed feelings about the fruit -- apparently it is nearly all sugar, and the process by which it is picked in Latin America and shipped to the U.S. is a study in the problems with globalized food consumption -- but I do like these facsimiles. From above, zipped lined hemp tote with leather handles and a silkscreened image, $73.75 (was $295!) from Virginia Johnson. Clever resin banana bowl by Areaware on eBay for $59.99 with zero bids and 1 day left, or buy-it-now for $100 (usually retails for $140).

Weirdly Shaped Bags + Columbus Day Sales

Are calling out to me. Of a Kind is offering $50 off any purchase of $150 or more through today, the 14th, with the code OCTOBERBEST, including this hexagonal shaped cream leather bag with black trim (the other one is sold out, sadly) by Metalepsis Projects -- made in LA -- for $124 (was $174). I also love this still-pricey bright orange pentagonal bag by for $270 (was $450) by Imago-a -- made in NYC -- at Pour Porter.

Other Columbus Day sales, as Racked NY aptly says, "in honor of a man that definitely didn't discover America,"make aspirational items slightly more within reach. Creatures of Comfort took an extra 10% off everything today only (no code needed); Maryam Nassir Zedah has a 15% off coupon, columbusday, good on everything through tomorrow the 15th; and La Garconne is offering an extra 20% off all sale items through today with code FALLOCT20. More comprehensive sale lists are here and here.

Comey Cardigans

A bunch of Rachel Comey from seasons past has been posted on eBay, including several nice size medium cardigans, with starting prices of $50. I particularly like the shiny blue one, but the others are perhaps a bit more practical.

Back-to-School/Work Geometry at CoC

Creatures of Comfort is finally marking things down to 70% off. I like this short-sleeved silk top by the Creatures of Comfort in-house brand, $54 (was $180), and this long-sleeved cotton button down by Emmanuelle for $87 (was $290). Both very work appropriate.

Dusen Dusen

One of my favorite print creators, Dusen Dusen, has a lot of nice stuff on sale on her site and elsewhere. I like, from above, this orange silk dress from seasons past at Pour Porter for only $59.75 (was $239); this silk blue and beige patterned top from the designer's site for $81 (was $192); and this fruit patterned shift dress on eBay for $88, which I'm probably too old to wear but which I can admire from afar.

Alternative Wedding Dress Ideas

I have had at least a few requests to look for affordable alternatives to the standard type wedding dress over the last few years, but it's so hard to find something like that when you're looking. Perhaps the first in a random series, this Rachel Comey fringe dress is so pretty and is $169 right now from Bird in a size 6 (was $690 -- still way less than I think wedding dresses tend to run, but my knowledge is based solely on Say Yes to the Dress). For a bit more bling, there's also this.

Ace & Jig

Before it cooled down a bit and was all kinds of hot, Ace & Jig seemed like the only reasonable sartorial option. There are a bunch of the super soft cotton pieces on sale at Ace & Jig's online shop affiliated with Of A Kind. Elsewhere, from above, this dress is $59.95 at Anthropologie (originally $198); these tops are both $95 (were originally around $150) from Pommettes and Founders & Followers, respectively; and these shorts are $80 (were $161) from Spindle & Canister.

Otte NY

Is taking an extra 40% their entire sale section with code EXTRASCOOP through July 14.

Sale on Sale (Blues)

Fourth of July = sales on the sales, among other things. I like, from above, this Creatures of Comfort velvet burnout blouse for $54 (was $225) with code UNCLESAM, which takes an extra 20% off all sale items through the 4th; this Henrik Vibskov chambray shirtdress at La Garconne for $134ish (originally $239) with code USADAY, which takes an extra 20% off all sale items but through July 7th; and this blue silky blouse by Won Hundred (would work well with either jeans etc or slim workish pants) at Need Supply Co. for $80 (originally $115) with code EXTRA20, which also takes an extra 20% off all sale items through July 7.