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Get the Look: The Pineapple Fashion Trend

Not to go bananas—I mean pineapples—on you, but playing off my roundup “Put a Fruit On It” in Sunday’s Boston Globe), followed up by the pineapple centerpiece, I’m offering up 40 examples of pineapple fabulousness from StyleCarrot partners and others that illustrate this season’s pineapple fashion trend.

Inspired by Tory Burch’s pineapple obsession for spring (I’m not sure what’s up with that . . . I couldn’t find any quotes from her about it online), I found so many cute examples of on-trend pineapple-printed pieces, from pineapple handbags and jewelry to pineapple swimsuits and sweaters, I wanted to put them all out there for you. And with its preppy aesthetic, its perfect for New England summers.

I think my favorite pineapple styles from the selection here (many of which are from my partner brands), are the Tory Burch pineapple beach shirt, the Chinti & Parker pineapple intarsia sweater, and the pineapple-embellished espadrille slip-ons by Soludos. And if I had a daughter I would be very tempted by that glittery pineapple purse from J.Crew.

While the best pineapple may well be served up in tropical cocktails, these pineapple fashions are pretty darn cute. If anyone’s interested in a pineapple decor roundup (minus the gold pineapple finials), I’m happy to oblige.

S H O P P I N G

1 Pineapple Picker Vinyl Tote by Kestrel, $144 at Nordstrom.

2 Ananas Pineapple Studs by Moon and Lola, $38 at Tuckernuck.

3 Emma Pineapple Sequined Sweater, $555 at Net-A-Porter.

4 Cork Convertible Clutch by Lenore by LaRegale, $43.40 at Kohl’s.

5 Pineapple Party Silk Scarf by Echo, $68 at Nordstrom.

6 Metallic Pineapple iPhone 5 Case, $15 at Topshop.

7 Lula Pineapple Wedges by Sophia Webster, $410 at Net-A-Porter.

8 Pineapple Clasp Belt, $14/set at Target.

9 Pineapple Slide, $195 at Tory Burch.

10 Vivia Woven Clutch by Koku, $175 at Net-A-Porter.

11 Pina Ring by Vera Xane, $98 at Nasty Gal.

12 Pineapple Scarf by Joy Susan, $24 at Casa.

13 Pineapple Sweater by Chinti & Parker, $505 at Net-A-Porter.

14 Vivian Satchel by Brahmin, $375 at Nordstrom.

15 Tashi Pineapple Espadrille, $59 at Lucky Brand.

16 Pineapple Stud Earrings by Lee Renee, $98 at Wolf & Badger.

17 Pineapple Print Tunic Shirt by MSGM , $398 at Intermix.

18 Printed Pineapple Cotton Skirt, $415 at Net-A-Porter.

19 Pineapple Straw Tote, $50 at Topshop.

20 Vivian Jacquard Clutch by Koku Vivia, $175 at Shopbop.

21 Pineapple Stud Earrings by BCBGeneration, $14 at Macy’s.

22 Global Bazaar Pineapple Dress, $86 at Sperry Top Sider.

23 Pineapple Tote by SO, $9.99 at Kohl’s.

24 Pineapple Charm Bangle, $28 at Alex and Ani.

25 Girls Glitter Pineapple Purse, $49.99 at J.Crew.

26 Pineapple Hearts Graphic Tee, $12.99 at Target.

27 Pineapple Stripe Tassel Scarf, $195 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

28 Foil Print Pineapple Swimsuit, $168 at Topshop.

29 Adele Pineapple Sneaker by Sophia Webster, $195 at Nordstrom.

30 Sailcloth Pineapple Clutch, $45 at Sperry Top Sider.

31 Mira Pineapple Beach Shirt, $250 at Tory Burch.

32 Knotted Pineapple Tote, $350 at Tory Burch.

33 Pineapple Box Bag by Skinnydip London, $48 at Nasty Gal.

34 Pineapple Crop Top, $29 at Pixie Market.

35 Pineapple Boyleg Maillot by Seafolly, $158 at Anthropologie.

36 Pineapple Key Fob, $60 at Tory Burch.

37 Pineapple Bikini Bottom, $95 top, $95 at Tory Burch.

38 Pineapple Bikini Top, $95 at Tory Burch.

39 Pineapple Espadrille by Soludos, $65 at Bloomingdale’s.

40 Bahamas Pineapple Espadrilles by KAANAS, $99 at Shopbop.

Get the Look: The Perfect Black Skinny Pants

We’re on our second snow day in a row here today, making this a four-day weekend. Two and a half more days until Florida. In the meantime though, I’m here. Since I don’t work in an office (unless my sofa counts), I don’t actually have to dress particularly professionally that often. When I do, it’s really just about stepping up my casual look, which often consists of the perfect black skinny pants or in more casual situations, a pull-on legging. (Not the workout variety, mind you.)

This fall and winter I’ve been wearing a larger variety of non-perfect and perfect black skinny pants than usual, as a few companies sent me pieces to try out. Here are my perfect black skinny pants findings (some links lead to StyleCarrot partners).

1 Pull-On Moto Pant, $99 at A Ruby.
2 The Skinny Black-on-Black Denim, $165 at AYR.
3 Elettra Leggings, $250 at Rag & Bone.

A Ruby is a local Boston area startup led by Avra Myers who believes that less is more and that a wardrobe revolves around five essential basics: a knit pant that works anywhere, a white shirt that can be casual or dressy, a tank that can be layered or worn solo, a fun and flattering graphic tee, and a comfortable, feminine V-neck sweater. Sizing goes from 1-5 and fits sizes 0-18. No muss no fuss. Myers sent me a pair of A Ruby Pull-On Moto Pants, which I’ve been wearing a lot. They’re made from a mid-weight synthetic (but soft) fabric that doesn’t stretch out, sag at the crotch, or bump out at the knee. The waist band is wide, which I like, and twists a little bit, as they tend to do, but not too much. The proportions and fit are excellent. I really like them.

The folks behind the men’s brand Bonobos has recently launched AYR, a line of sleek essentials for women. The company invited me to the Bonobos Guide Shop in Boston for an AYR pop-up shop and a fitting for the perfect pair of skinny jeans. The publicists were so lovely and the clothing is amazing. Very well cut from gorgeous fabrics. In addition to my complimentary skinny jeans, which are made from a great stretchy fabric (denim is their specialty; the founder worked in denim at Madewell), I ordered an amazing jacket I wore all fall. I will be shopping here again.

Several years ago I purchased a pair of Rag & Bone cargo leggings that I loved so much I ordered another pair. I wear them incessantly. They’re lined wool so they’re quite warm and not itchy (an issue for me). Rag & Bone don’t make this style anymore, of course, but their Elettra leggings are probably worth trying out (and they’re on sale). I love Rag & Bone, and there’s a boutique in Boston that I assiduously avoid for just this reason.

• • •

4 Minnie Stretch Twill Pant, $89.50 at J.Crew.
5 Ponte Leggings, $49.50 at Lou & Grey.
6 Essential Modern Skinny Pant, $69 at SlimSation.

J.Crew is of course a standby, though I don’t normally do well with their tailored pants or jeans, I think it’s the rise that is never quite right for me. I do sometimes have luck with tighter fitting legging-like styles. (As for the Dreamy Cotton Pant, I live in them. Like seriously all day every day.). The Minnie Stretch Twill Pant look to be similar to a style I purchased last year that work well with blazers and booties.

If you read StyleCarrot regularly you might remember when I partnered with Lou & Grey to profile the new Lou & Grey store in the Natick Mall this past October. Owned by the same parent company as Ann Taylor, Lou & Grey is a cross between Madewell and Eileen Fisher — loungey with a touch of edginess. The stores are gorgeous , the looks well styled and comfortable, and the prices excellent. On my visit, I purchased a pair of leggings that I’ve worn quite a bit, made from a tech-like fabric and accented with slanted zippers. They’re no longer available but the current Ponte Leggings are surely worth a try.

As I said, autumn brought a windfall of offers to try what each company touted as the perfect black skinny pants. When a publicist for SlimSation, a womenswear brand launched in 2012 offered to send me a pair of perfect black skinny pants to try, I sent her my address. The line, which focuses on basics pant styles that is supposed to be a kind of relaxed fit shapewear, almost, and includes extended sizing. The contoured waistband is meant to help present a slimmer silhouette, smoothing the lower tummy and shaping the hips. I’ve worn the SlimSation skinny pant a few times, and while I like the stretchy fabric, I feel like the cut is more of a casual, almost activewear piece. It may be because I ordered a size too large. I enjoy them on my brisk exercise walks around the Charles River.

• • •

7 High Riser Skinny Skinny Sateen Jean, $128 at Madewell.
8 Women’s Scuba Pant, $27.99 at Target.
9 Satin Side Strapping Ponte Legging, $275 at Vince.

I live for Madewell denim. When I purchase jeans, I always buy Madewell, and have for several years. The fabric, the cut, the color, the style are all perfect. My current rotation includes lightweight dark rinse jeans, thicker hi-rise gray denim, and new this fall, black denim with holes and an unfinished hem. I have not tried the sateen style I recommend here, but I’m confident they’re excellent, as I am a devotee of Madewell High Riser Skinny Skinny styles.

At the risk of losing my fashion cred, I am going to admit I own very many pairs of perfect black skinny pants from Target. Yes, it’s true, under the Mossimo label there are stretchy nylon/spandex leggings cut in a five-pocket jean style that come in black and heathered charcoal, and I unabashedly adore them. They shrink like nobody’s business, and the consistently comes loose and pops off, unable to be repaired, but I keep buying them and wearing them. They’re inexpensive, fit perfectly, and look good (until you wash and dry them one too many times).

Finally, Vince. I think of Vince as the big name brand that does a stellar job with the whole wardrobe essentials concept. Admittedly, I have not yet tried a legging by Vince, but I love the look of the Vince Satin Side Strapping Ponte Legging and imagine that it could indeed be a pair of perfect black skinny pants, with its high waist and sexy satin tuxedo stripe panel.

Gift Guide: 25 Last Minute Gifts You Can Get At the Mall

It’s two days before Christmas. Are you panicking over last minute holiday gifts? We celebrate Chanukah in our home, so not only am I finished buying, we’re just about through with our eight nights of giving. If you do the whole Christmas celebration thing, you’re probably required to come up with a whole slew of presents for friends and family. It’s now officially too late to order online unless you’re willing to pay exorbitant overnight shipping costs, and even then, it’s risky. So, off to the mall it is. Here are 25 last minute holiday gifts you can pick up at the mall and/or the free-standing chain stores in town.

S H O P P I N G
1 Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker, $129.99 at Target.
2 Brass Love Object Paperweight, $29 at West Elm.
3 Back-Zip Pullover Sweater, $69.50 at Madewell.
4 Pagoda Salt & Pepper Shakers, $34.99 at Jonathan Adler.
5 Downing Embossed Leather Clutch, $88 at J.Crew.
6 Nate Berkus Faux Fur Stripe Pillow, $29.99 at Target.
7 Magical Thinking T-Bar Jewelry Stand, $34 at Urban Outfitters.
8 Gilded-Edge Agate Coasters,$98/set at Anthropologie.
9 Buttery Leather Satchel Crossbody Bag, $100. at Gap.
10 Oh Joy! Acacia Serving Board, $19.99 at Target.
11 Pascale Monvoisin Georgia Ring, $125 at Club Monaco.
12 Pop Art Dry Erase Calendar, $19.99 each at The Container Store.
13 Tom Dixon Eclectic Mini Candle Gift Set, $120 at Anthropologie.
14 Ribbed Cashmere Hat, $78 at J.Crew.
15 Fuse Sweatshirt, $71.99 at Athleta.
16 Space Age Floral Crystal Studs, $58 at Kate Spade.
17 Printed Tablet Case, $33.99 at Gap.
18 Glass Bud Vases, $14 each at West Elm.
19 Marc Jacobs Beauty Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl , $28 at Sephora.
20 Fujifilm INSTAX Instant Smartphone Printer, $199 at Urban Outfitters.
21 Ray-Ban Sunglasses, $104.95 at Sunglass Hut.
22 Selvedge Japanese Chambray Utility Shirt, $98 at J.Crew.
23 Chemex Classic Drip Coffee Maker, $34.95 at Sur La Table.
24 Dipped Leather Bill Holder, $128 at Jack Spade.
25 Mauviel Copper Butter Warmer, $90 at Williams-Sonoma.

Beauty Break: My Beauty & Fitness Gurus

I’ve been meaning to write about my beauty squad for a while. I used to write the annual Best of Beauty picks for local magazine Improper Bostonian, so believe me when I say I’ve tried a lot of beauty services in Boston. It’s always fun asking an aesthetician to wax just one side of your bikini line so you can have another aesthetician attack the other side. Same with eyebrows (though not really recommended). With all that experimentation and plethora of free services, I’ve actually remained pretty loyal to my longtime favorite hair stylist, facialist, spa, and mani/pedi place in Boston—Kristen Moshiek, Natalie Maibenko, Mandarin Oriental Boston Spa, and MiniLuxe.

Recently my circle has expanded to include fitness peeps too. I joined the David Barton gym which is opening on Arlington Street, but not until March. (I was one of the charter members of the David Barton gym on the Upper East Side in the ’90s, so there’s some nostalgia involved.) But better than a gym is the virtual fitness routine I started in September. A childhood friend of my husband’s named Sarah John trains me by Skype twice a week. Last week I added her friend, yoga instructor Kristy Wright-Terrell to my morning fitness mix. I actually love it.

Here’s a little bit more about each of them, and others I rely on to get me gorgeous. (Note: These lovely ladies are not paying me, and don’t provide me with regular free services. I have received comps from some of them through work, but these are the professionals to whom I pay money when I need beauty help. They’re that good.)

H A I R

Photo by Jared Leeds • Boston Weddings

I’ve been getting Japanese hair straightening treatments since the mid-’90s, before it was a thing. (No, my hair is not curly, just annoyingly bumpy.) When we first moved to Boston, a colleague of my husband’s recommended Kristen Moshiek at Beaucage Salon on Newbury Street. Kristen, who is so sweet, talented, and pretty, has been straightening my hair ever since. Whenever I had to actually pay for a haircut, I went to her too. These days, Kristen is a new mama almost three times over and focuses on styling hair for brides getting married in New England. This past summer I interviewed Kristen about bridal hair styles and such in “The Tress Tamer” for Boston Weddings.

While I’m lucky enough to have Kristen travel to my home to straighten my hair, I needed to find someone in town for cuts and color (starting to sprout pesky grays). Kristen steered me to the funky and energetic Emily Reale at Beaucage Salon. Emily, who often sports blue or magenta strands herself, mixes color to perfection and gives great haircuts. And despite the Newbury Street address, the $45 price tag is highly affordable. Emily does wedding hair too . . . maybe I should find occasion for an updo.

S K I N

Natalie Maibenko is my absolute favorite aesthetician in Boston, and one of my favorite people. This generous and ambitious Eastern European beauty has been servicing my skin for many years. I first discovered her at Beaucage as well. She was a massage therapist then, and gave me the best massage ever. Ever. When it was time to write Best Ofs one year, I tracked her down at an Aveda salon near Quincy Market for a repeat performance. With all the excellent local publicity, Natalie was able to forge out on her own with a small South End practice. Now Natalie has her own beautifully designed space, Unique Verve, on Newbury Street, where she concentrates on facials. Natalie is always up on the latest skin science and consistently invests in new technologies. Her newest tool is a Visia skin scanner, which gives a multi-dimensional view of six aspects of the skin for individualized facial rejuvenation treatments. But I’ll let Natalie explain it. Make an appointment.

M A S S A G E + R E L A X A T I O N

If I want a pampering massage, spa treatment, soak and steam in Boston, the The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston is my top destination. There’s no other spa that comes close to its service and facilities. I love, love, love the hot tub and steam room. There’s also icy showers and such, in which I do not partake. Recently the Mandarin treated me to its Time to Release spa treatment. a full-body massage that uses volcanic hot stones and Mandarin Oriental’s signature Release body oil (a calming blend of cypress, eucalyptus, clary sage, juniper berry, frankincense, pine,and jasmine) to help focus the mind, recharge the body, and release muscle tension. This massage was pure bliss. (Anybody reading this who wants to send me a present, I’d like another massage at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston. Thank you.)

N A I L S ( + W A X I N G )

For mani/pedis, and more recently, bikini waxes, I go to MiniLuxe on Newbury Street, where I’ve been going since they first opened. (They now have locations in number of Boston suburbs too.) The bright white and pale wood space with bamboo floors is a pleasure to sit in. (I hate sitting still for manicures.) The prices are a few dollars higher, but the atmosphere and practices are a thousand percent more sterile. Another Beaucage find, Donna Charloff, runs the training program that ensures the manicurists there know what they’re doing, so I don’t have a regular favorite. Every manicurist does a good job. I’ve very rarely been disappointed in the quality of MiniLuxe mani/pedis. (Sometimes the scheduling system can be wonky, so if you book online, make certain your confirmation email comes through.)

C O R E T R A I N I N G

I’ve never actually met Sarah John, once known as Sarah Dubitsky, in the flesh. But I’ve been hearing about her for years, and even sat with her dad at the Blackfish bar in Truro for dinner one night. Sarah is a friend of my husband’s from his childhood summers on the Cape. We became Facebook friends, exchanged messages, and this fall, I signed up for his private virtual training sessions. Sarah, a former teacher and corporate lawyer, is a mom to three adorable young kids (they make an appearance in our sessions from time to time) who became interested in fitness during one of her pregnancies. You can see her leading a paddleboard fitness class in the photo above. Through her company, Sarah John Fitness, Sarah offers private and group core training. She is in VERY good shape, and is great about modulating the pace and exercises to my needs. It’s the first time I”ve actually enjoyed and stuck to workouts. Thank you Sarah.

Y O G A

A couple of weeks ago Sarah introduced me to her friend Kristy Wright-Terrell. Kristy is super sweet, with a lovely, lilting Southern accent, and is slowly, patiently teaching me yoga. Last week marked my very first yoga class ever, and Kristy’s very first Skype training session ever. We’re learning together. I start and end the week with one hour of yoga with Kristy. I love the stretching, though not sure I’ll ever learn to really relax.

B A L L E T

Inevitably there are days I can’t connect with Sarah or Kristy, so if there’s a long stretch between sessions, on the weekends I boot up my quickie vdieo from Ballet Beautiful, 15-Minute Beautiful Body with Mary Helen Bowers. Bowers is a retired New York City ballet ballerina with unnaturally long, lithe limbs, and apparently trained Natalie Portman for Black Swan. That, and her airy white studio, was all the convincing I needed.

A T H O M E

Not to sound like a fitness nut (because really, if you know me, you know I am severely lacking in that department), I’ve taken to using the Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair at my desk for a bit each day. (It’s slightly too short , so if I use it for hours my arms fall asleep.) It definitely helps me feel more conscious of my midsection during my marathon computer sessions. The ball comes in handy for sessions with Sarah, and my kids like to see how long they can kneel on it before toppling over. This balance ball contraption has been a win-win.

I’ve also purchased a few other items for my fitness ventures.