Bargain Chic

July 22, 2011

Living in Phoenix, I am landlocked by desert, which means my only access to any seafaring is tubing down the Salt River or playing with toy boats in my bathtub. The city is surrounded by several man-made lakes, and there is a much-ballyhooed urban "lake," but seafaring really looses its panache when you are doing it from a speedboat or catamaran.

I'll admit, I have never really had any seafaring experiences -- unless you want to count a harbor cruise around San Diego Bay or a ferry ride to Ellis Island. And I am not sure I'd be the picture perfect Poseidon of the sea. I'd probably be hanging on for dear life as my captain -- a likely twin of Jack Sparrow -- hoisted the sails or battened down the hatches (whatever that means).

But that won't stop me from imagining an experience similar to the made-up scenarios in J.Crew catalogs. I picture myself on a strikingly white sailboat with a handsome captain, blustery ocean breezes whipping through my perfectly weathered mane, wearing a cute nautical-inspired outfit.

Of course it is all about the clothes! More than my love of the sea and cute sailors, is my love of nautical stripes. And, I love them on everything from dresses to shoes to handbags. No matter what it adorns, the nautical stripe makes anything look fresh and easy. And just because I don't live near the sea or own a sailboat, doesn't mean a desert dweller like myself can't look the part. I say if you can't be at the sea, at least look like you are. And here are some great example of bringing the sea to your style without having to find a boat and a cute captain.