There are many highlights to summer, but one of my favorites is fresh fruit! It’s probably the easiest thing to prepare, tastes amazing, and can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert. =)
Ingredients:
16oz Strawberries
2 Large mangoes
1 Banana
1 Lime
1 ½ tsp Sugar
Instructions:
Peel & dice mangoes. * Mangoes have a tough center, like with pineapple, which you’ll want to cut around.
Dice strawberries & slice banana.
Sprinkle sugar
Cut lime in half & squeeze juice from entire thing onto the salad.
Mix.
Let it set in the fridge for at least an hour.
You can eat the salad plain, or mix it into Greek yogurt like I did for breakfast one morning. There are so many ways to go about serving it – get creative!
“Beauty can come from the strangest of places even the most disgusting of places,It’s the ugly things I notice more, because other people tend to ignore the ugly things”- Alexander McQueen
While I was studying fashion design at university, I was introduced to the wonderful and magnificent world that was created by Alexander McQueen. I became fascinated in his approach to Fashion… I found him an incredibly interesting person. He did not just create fashion for women to wear, he created stories, visually stimulating performances as captivating as a movie you want to watch over and over again.
His background in tailoring made him a perfectionist. Every little detail was done so well that I was often left breathless.
One of the first shows I was introduced to was “Deliverance” Spring/Summer 2004, and I think it has remained one the most beautiful fashion shows I have ever seen.
Deliverance was inspired by the 1970’s Sydney Pollack film ‘They Shoot Horses Don’t They’. When the famous dance marathon theme came alive and models and professional dancers sashayed intensely around each other, the runway became a theoretical performance. I loved the disturbance of this show, and the contradiction it created. Beautiful craftsmanship against the backdrop of America during the great depression was unsettling – a battle between the beautiful and the damned. At the end of the show, the professional dancer wears the exact same dress as model Karen Elson, who opened the show, but the sequins are tarnished and the embroidery unpicked and distressed. This show got me good, and I was then hooked to everything he did.
As you can imagine when his life ended, it broke my heart. Such a maverick was lost. However, a couple of days ago, I managed to experience some of his magic at the Met in New York. The “Savage Beauty” exhibit was such a beautiful and eerie experience that took my breath away.
we had a little fourth of july celebration at the office and everyone brought such amazing stuff! if you’re having, or going to, a party this weekend – here’s some tasty inspiration for things to serve or bring :)
and this last one, we didn’t have at our party, but i had to include it:
remember our rainbow tie-dyed cupcakes? follow the same instructions using just red and blue dye, and then add some sprinkles on top!
Office style this week was quite eclectic, it looked like people here at the office had done some travelling and picked up beautiful items from around the world. Very inspirational.
I especially adored our New Romantics designer’s print, which looked like it had come from Hawaii, and all the cool accessories especially that giant healing gem. Just another day at the office of Free People.
i have been eagerly awaiting this book since april when we went to austin to shoot it! it drops tuesday, but here are some behind the scenes photos i took during the shoot to hold you over :)
the july book was shot in austin, texas, by alexandra valenti and features models ashley smith, anastasia khodkina, jessica mau and our fave rockers, the happen-ins :) look for the entire catalog online and in the mail on tuesday!
It’s poll time again! This week we want you to pick your favorite look from our Japonaise collection. I’m a big fan of the look – it’s so sultry and mysterious! I can’t decide which pieces I want to buy first. Pretty florals, linear cuts, peak-out black lace – which is your favorite look?
On July 15th, me and few girls from the Free People stores are heading to the pitchfork music festival in Chicago. We‘re pretty thrilled to be heading to such an awesome festival. The lineup is incredible! Pitchfork is the No1 go-to site for new music and up-and-coming bands, so it makes sense that they are featuring some of the coolest performances.
What’s more exciting is that while we’re there we WILL BE style stalking to capture lovely girls in great outfits for our blog. Over the next few days you will see the outfits that we’ve created and a low down on what bands we are soooo excited to see. Post-festival you will get a run down of our style stalked outfits, candid photos, and close-up action of the bands on stage. We look forward to seeing you if you are attending, if not be sure to follow the experience of FP goes festival!
Pitchfork is set in the ever so stylish city of Chicago, so you’re able to dress somewhat nicer. I’m teaming the spin me wrap skirt with the crochet long sleeve top, these festival perfect leather ankle boots available come August and the and a cute little fringed bag – most items will be available when our Rock steady July book hits next week.
so, i just got an iphone…after holding out for a while, i decided to join the party. i still find it a little overwhelming, but i will say this – the photography apps are amazing! hence the office space polaroids…(taken with the shake it app).
do you guys have any recommendations for great apps, photo or otherwise?
Brooklyn is such a perfect little hub of culture and beauty. Most people come to New York to see Manhattan, but we think that Brooklyn is where NY’s true beauty is. All of the Free People Brooklyn girls live and work in Brooklyn! We want to take you on a little tour of one of our neighborhood’s prized possessions, Prospect Park!
Prospect Park is 585 acres of gorgeous grass, pond, trees, and sights that touches a handful of neighborhoods that surround it. Summer is when Prospect Park shines; Brooklynites all around the borough come to relax and plant their toes in the grass and enjoy all the events the park hosts.
The Green Market is one of my favorite parts of spring/summer in Prospect Park. It’s a beautiful farmers market that brings produce, dairy, meats and treats from upstate to Grand Army Plaza…
The Green market offers vast varieties of vendors! Anything you can imagine you’ll find at the Green Market; fruits, fish, product, meats, herbs, plants, and delicious treats!
If you are in New York and are looking for a way to treat yourself to amazing foods, stop by the Green Market!
And, I took a different path on my way to the Brooklyn Free People after leaving the Green Market and I came across the most beautiful mosaic house around the corner from our store. It pays off taking a different route every once and awhile :)
