Archive for the ‘BEACH FINDS’ Category

Kikidoll readers all know she cannot turn a good coconut down, especially when it comes delivered in Big City style.  To Go.

Olivia Giacobetti of Honore des Pres perfumes comes knocking with her all organic range of scents as an homage to her recent relocation from Paris to New York.  Less a story of scents in the the city, the trio of Love NY perfumes–Love Coco, Vamp a NY and I Love les  Carrottes– is more a joyous loved-up affair with her new digs.

Prior to her move, Olivia launched  Honore des Pres after developing fragrances for Diptyque and L’Artisan Parfumeur.

Packaged in her eponymous rounded-edge atomizer bottle, that is then tucked into a plastic coffee cup, then placed in a brown paper bag, buying Love Coco is better than being first up at Starbies for that morning latte.

After you are hit with the raw coconut, the milky smoothness settles in like cream with an undertow of vanilla and a sneak of anis. But wait–there’ a shot of coriander to jizz it all up into a near-fizzy frothiness.

Sit back in your cubicle, put those perfectly pedicured feet up on the desk and sip away.  In a NY minute, visions of yourself in a bikini in a hammock by the beach and palms fronds dangling overhead will be yours. No trace of Hawaiian Tropic or a morning-after Pina Colada, Love Coco comes sashaying with surprising 8 + hour lasting power and more subtlety than a summer island breeze.

Launched in Europe, first in Milan at Excense and then at Colette and Bon Marche in Paris, the trio of goodies to go are now available at Space NK UK, and will be finally winging their way over the pond stateside in the autumn.  If you need that hit of a tropical romance earlier, you know where to go for take-out.

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• Breath of Exotic, Coconut in Perfumes (fragrantica.com)

More summer crushes and ‘tropical romances’ (big mahalo to Tami’s fabtastic SugarHigh tee) on Juli B fashion blog featuring Kikidoll’s collection of surf-perfect bikinis and cover-ups.  Big rollers and endless days. Fireflies and rainbows and afternoon rain. Sun-streaked hair and tanned toes. August is when the light bends and the sand shimmers and all is well on Planet Surf.

Whether ripping, shredding or riding smooth, grab a board and a Kikidoll bikini and get out there in the big blue.

Juli B showed Kikidoll’s signature printed Shell string bikini  in Aqua Pool, above. Also available in Shell Pink, Cocoa, Banana or Coral print, this iconic cutaway shell symbol is Kikidoll’s registered trademark logo. Seen on her eponymous sofa and cushions, beach bags and tees, it conjures up those dog-eared memories of summer, once autumn slides in to overtake August’s reign.

Kiki keeps a few of these shells on her desk, in her car and in her bag for just those times when reflections of summer brighten any day.

Surf’s Up!

Juli B: ‘Blue Crush‘- Kikidoll: http://bit.ly/drhHs6

Kikidoll’s Bikini In A Bottle

Whats Kikidoll’s bikini in a bottle all about ?

Kikidoll is preparing to ‘launch’ her capsule Cruise Collection of swimwear for 2010-2011–literally–drifting towards a beach near you sometime this autumn.

Filling 21 bio-degradable sea-worthy bottles each with her newest 21 Hawaiian-inspired printed string bikinis that she just previewed at Miami Swim Week for next year, Kiki is sealing them up, ready for a  voyage of a lifetime.

Releasing them from her native Waikiki Beach, Honolulu next month, Kiki is relying on the very same equatorial currents that guided the Pacific peoples of the Marchesas and Tahiti to the islands of Hawaii several thousands of years ago by canoe and paddle.

It is estimated that each bikini in a bottle, will hit land between 60 and 90 days, using the current map, above, as a guide. Watch this space for updates and photos of the launch and any sightings when they hit landfall. Photos are invited from any lucky beachcombers!

The Southern currents will push the teeny bikinis in a bottle  towards the Pacific rim basin–Australasia and Pacific islands. Northern currents will take the bottles towards the Americas, north, south, Latin and central. The West wind drift will push them towards Europe and the Pacific drift will send some aloha to Canada.

The rule of finders-keepers applies, so get out there in time to scoop up a Kikidoll bikini amongst the shells and treasures of the ocean!

Bikini In A  Bottle

Kikidoll Womens Swimwear Cruise 2010-11

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Nothing paints a picture in the sand with deeper, more defined and clearer colors than a beautifully designed beach towel. It makes a statement like a canvas in a bare room, except this time, it’s under, not above, your gaze.

Think of it as a backdrop for your point of focus. The key element in the scene. You, the gorgeous sea creature, the beach girl on display.

You’ve climbed those stairs. Run those miles, swum those laps. Now it’s the world’s turn to see the results of blood, sweat and tears.

Put on your new bikini that follows every girlie curve and swipe that SPF gleam on your skin. Now show off  the goods on a rocking towel.

Try the classiest classic of them all, Hermes.  This towel is a life-time investment at $530 but the intertwined pink and fuchsia seahorses on it will keep the romance going for years.  ‘Hippocampe’ measures 36 x 60 inches. Kikidoll has a pair of matching Hermes towels with Queen Conch shells on them handed down from Granny, they last so long! Look for gently loved Hermes towels on eBay, too!

If that price puts you back a few car payments then opt for the tourist option. A towel that doubles as a postcard. ‘Wish you were here’ declarations like ‘aloha’ and ‘Hawaii‘.
If screaming out your travelling status is not your preference there are designer models that won’t break the budget.  Those Juicy girls offer up a surfboard shaped one at Juicy Couture, measuring  32 x 80 inches at only $32. Adorable, it comes with its own pink sand bucket.

Then there are always those road side- dime store- souvenir shop ones that go for a tenner and never seem to make it outta the hotel into your homeward bound luggage. These are the cheap and cheerful stand-ins for the lost and forgotten. They may not hold up to a hot Tide wash but they sure do scream out ‘holiday’ and ‘beach’ with their tropical colors and designs!  Job done.

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• Hermes Beautiful Printed Beach Towels (shoppingblog.com)
• Beach: Tropical Towels (shoptherapy.pronto.com)

The snappiest way to amp up the summer color chart is with a big carry-on accessory–enter the fabric tote bag.  Aimed at carrying everything but the kitchen sink, it holds all the normal keys, wallets, and make-up, with the added room to pile in the beach necessities of towel, bikini and sun potions.

Some are even made in or lined in plastic-coated or water-proofed canvases and nylons to withstand the aftermath of sand and dripping suits.

They are normally wide open without much in the way of fussiness or closure so you can even layer mags, flippies and even the odd beach mat through the straps on the top.

The best totes make double duty for city life after the beach with room to spare for the change of clothes, shoes and the newspaper flung in.

Take Marc Jacobs multi-colored bag with slashes of graffiti-like scrawl over the print. It screams urban but somehow looks exotic and tribal too. The zip gives it street cred security.

Or if crayon colors are too primary for your summer palette the Burberry classic is a winner in its neutral tartan.

If statement color is more in keeping with your need for zing nothing wakes you up more than fresh OJ with this Tory Burch in orange canvas delivering the call of duty with its sturdy leather handles and matching T logo.

For a retro cast-back with its updated leather strapping Diane von Furstenberg is ticking all boxes. This tote in red palms is totes the bag that does it all.

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• Summer’s Five Best Beach Bags (purseblog.com)
• Handbag Search: Spring-Ready Canvas Totes (prontostyle.com)