STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

Forty years after The Beatles charmed us with their good looks, fab style and great musical talent, they continue to influence fashion and design

(and music of course!).

Here are some recent Beatles-inspired finding that are so chic.

BEATLES 4 EVER!

The Fab Four together in 1966.

Check out the round shades with colored lenses

on Paul and John...

Fast forward forty years - the glasses are making a comeback!

In June 2009 at the L.A. premier of The Hangover,

Mary Kate Olsen sported her new signature look... Beatles-esque sunnies!

Taken July 25, 1969, Paul with his pregnant wife Linda McCartney

(daughter Mary was born August 28th that year).

I love how chic Linda looks in her black dress and t-strap sandals!

Steal Linda's look with these black Dolce Vita sandals for only $39!

In 1969 Yellow Submarine was released as a soundtrack

for the film by the same name.

Heinz Edelmann, Yellow Submarine's art director

passed away recently

on July 22, 2009.

Designer Marc Valega created this set of mock juice boxes

for an imaginary line of drinks called Beatle Juice:

Apple McCartney, John Lemon, George Pearrison, and Mango Starr.

(via Serious Eats)

The album art for 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

feature John, Paul, George and Ringo in vibrant military-style uniforms.

Beyonce recently sported a Sgt. Pepper-inspired military jacket

from designer Balmain (that goes for a whopping $11,410)

Rihanna also stepped out in a Balmain jacket (hers for $5,075).

Both Balmain styles are on sale now at Net-A-Porter

"All these places have their moments, with lovers and friends, I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living. In my life, I've loved them all." -In My Life, The Beatles

CHIC READS

I am constantly on the lookout for what I like to call "Chic Reads," coffee table books, guides and must-have reading I go to time and again to get inspired. Here is a peak at my bookshelf of CHIC READS:

Practically Posh by Robyn Moreno. What makes it Tres Chic? Moreno covers everything from being a chic hostess, to beauty on a budget! It's light, fun and refreshing.

How To Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi. Why so chic? Mizrahi spills all his style secrets for real women with real bodies (love it)! The book is almost all photos (of fashion do's and don'ts) and the inspiration boards are fun! More on How To Have Style here.

My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living by Jonathan Alder. The title alone is so chic! But Alder does an amazing job of mixing colors and patterns in his interior designs. If you want to redecorate, this book is a must!

Influence by Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen. We all know the Olsen gals are uber chic (they were the face of Badgley Mischka in 2006) and have made a killing in the fashion industry with their lines The Row and Elizabeth & James. So it is interesting to see who has influenced these two sisters. I love the scrapbook style of this huge coffee table book. It's the kind of book I would love to write!

Wedding Chic by Colin Cowie. "Chic" may be in the title, but Cowie really does live up to the name! In a sea of wedding design books out there, Cowie offers up a nice collection of inspiring photos to help any bride design her dream day!

Style A to Zoe by Rachel Zoe. Tres chic? No doubt! Zoe lives a pretty chic life as a stylist for Hollywood's elite (i.e. Selma Hayek, Kate Beckinsale) and has become a household name with her hit Bravo reality series The Rachel Zoe Project (back for Season 2 on August 25). Zoe's book is a fun guide to all things glamour...from head to toe to home!

What is on your bookshelf? Any Chic Reads?

CHIC & BASIC

Barcelona has long been on my list of cities to visit. The food, the culture, the architecture and the art history make it so appealing. I recently found a fun and cheeky hotel in a hip area of Barcelona, and I am digging their sense of calm... and humor!

Chic & Basic Born Hotel in Barcelona claims to be "a concept, a hotel, a city, a neighborhood, a chill out space, a bar, and many other things you won't see elsewhere."

Love it!
Have you ever seen hotel soap this great?




Inside Chic & Basic Barcelona

Chic & Basic Born has hotels, hostels and apartments in Barcelona, Amsterdam and Madrid. You may just want to stay forever!

RIGHT ON THE DOT

In the 1930s my grandmother was married in a navy and cream polka dot dress. It was all she could afford but she looked so chic. Today a polka dot dress is still so classic and still makes me smile.

Chic on the street! Love the touch of red!

Celebs in polka dot chic:

Christina Ricci

Kat Deluna (left) and Lauren Conrad both in Nanette Lepore

Monique Coleman (left) and Miley Cyrus both in Alice + Olivia

Paris Hilton (left) and Mindy Kaling both in Marc by Marc Jacobs

Julia Roberts in the famous Pretty Woman polka dot dress

Chic polka dot dress finds:

Farhi grey corsage dress from My-Wardrobe

Alice + Olivia purple belted dress from Bluefly

Chiffon halter dress from Forever 21

Polka dot wedding dress from J. Crew

In memory of my grandmother who passed away 4 years ago today.

TRES CHIC BEST IN BATH

Over the years I have tried countless products, some great, some not so. With an array of options on the shelf it can be difficult to know which product to spend your hard-earned money on. Here are my top picks for the BEST IN BATH! Products I have tried and loved, and many I still use today!

BEST IN BUBBLE BATH:Bath & Body Works, Aromatherapy Body Wash & Foam Bath in Sensual (Black Currant Vanilla) $13 at Bath & Body Works. The scent is very sexy and fun for a bath built for two!

Fresh, Sake Bath (with 50 percent pure Sake) $80 at Fresh. This Sake Bath is said to have magical powers (maybe) but it does do something amazing to an ordinary bath!

BEST IN FIZZ:LUSH, Up You Gets Emotibomb $3.95 at LUSH. Place one in the shower and breathe in the citrus fragrance to help get you going in the morning! Break it in half and enjoy it for two showers!

ME! BATH, Bath Ice Cream (variety of scents like Cosmopolitan) $8.50 at ME! BATH. Drop the scoop into the bath and watch it fizz while it releases minerals and aromatic oils to hydrate the skin.

BEST IN BARS:L'Occitane, Shea Butter Soap $10 at L'Occitane (pronounced "lox-ee-tahn"). A bestseller for this luxury line of French products. The soap is a 100 percent vegetable base with nourishing Shea Butter and gentle enough for children.

Dove, White Beauty Bar $2.99 at any major pharmacy or grocery store, also online at Walgreens. This soap is a classic, an industry staple when it comes to a mild, moisturizing face and body bar.

Bliss, Big Blue Bar $18 at Bliss or Neiman Marcus (but I have found it at TJ Maxx and Marshalls for $7.99!) This oversized bar has been a regular in my shower since I started using it in December 2008. With a lemon-verbena scent, this soap is vegetable oil-based, moisturizing and lasts forever.

BEST IN SCRUBS:Fresh, Brown Sugar Body Polish $65 at Sephora. This scrub made from real brown sugar leaves skin so soft! It is addicting! Fresh was once known for their bar soap, now they are known for this sugar scrub!

Caudalie, Crushed Cabernet Scrub $35 at Caudalie. Crushed grape seeds and brown sugar make this scrub luxurious and very smoothing. It's like a fine wine for the skin. I love the container it comes in too.

BEST IN BODY WASH:
Philosophy, Cinnamon Buns 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath $16 at Philosophy. The scent is so good you want to eat it right out of the bottle! I love this product as a shower gel because it makes the skin feel amazing. It also makes a wonderful gift!

Olay, Body Wash plus Body Butter Ribbons $5.29 at any major pharmacy or grocery store, also online at Walgreens. An amazing, moisturizing body wash for the price! I love the thickness (you can even shave with it) and you don't need to apply lotion after!

Bliss, Vanilla+Bergamot Bubbling Bath+Shower Gel $24 at Bliss. Quick foaming body wash with antioxidants to help fight free radicals (bonus!), plus a scent you can't find anywhere else!

TEE TIME

Who says ladies can't look chic on the course? With golf accessories from Ame & Lulu it's simple! Boston based designer Amye Kurson launched Ame & Lulu in 2003 with chic golf headcovers and has since expanded the line to include coordinating golf, tennis and yoga totes and accessories.

I love the mix of fun and vibrant prints and colors. The entire Ame & Lulu line makes great gifts for the sporty chic women in your life too! For great deals on last season's prints check out the Sale 2008 Line at Ame & Lulu online. Anyone up for a round?