Me Wants It: Tie-Dye Halter Dress by SUNO

Have you heard of SUNO?   

The fashion line was recently featured in Vogue magazine. They have received press in Lucky, Marie Claire, and numerous other outlets. 

In today's "Zoe Report" email, Rachel Zoe featured this halter dress from SUNO’s Spring/Summer 2010 line.  

So what makes SUNO and this halter dress so special? 

The design is simple enough: it is a loose-fitting, sleeveless halter with two front patch pockets. 

What makes it so unique is the lightweight silk material.  Each dress is a one of a kind creation.  Although the dress is designed in New York City, the silk is hand-dyed by artisans in fair-trade workshops in Nairobi, Kenya.   So no two dresses will ever be the same.

Kate Bosworth is a fan, and has been spotted wearing this very dress:

The company itself was founded for a unique reason.  From the website:

“SUNO was formed in 2008 by Max Osterweis after more than a decade of collecting textiles in visits to Kenya.  The prospect that Kenya’s recent post election turmoil might keep foreigners from visiting or investing in a country overflowing with natural resources, talent, and good will became the catalyst to actually do something with those collected fabrics.  Building a successful and visible company that employs local Kenyan talent, treats workers fairly, and showcases some of Kenya’s artistry, could potentially affect positive and lasting social and economic change.

The design and development for SUNO takes place in New York City, employing skilled sample and pattern makers in New York’s garment district.  The patterns and samples are then brought to Kenya where the garments are artisanally produced in small workshops.

SUNO’s Autumn/Winter 2010 collection was inspired by late 1960s American interiors, traditional East African textiles, Klimt, travels to Turkey, Paris, and India, as well as our friends in NYC.  With this collection we have started to design most of our prints ourselves, sometimes directly referencing our influences, but sometimes just using our inspirations as jumping off points.  We are showing off the rapidly growing skills of the tailors we work with in Kenya as well as experimenting with some truly exquisite beading and embroidery.”

Sounds like a company I'd like to support.  The clothing is pricey, but you'll have a one-of-a-kind item!

Click here or here to buy the teal version of the dress for $625.

OR you can buy this equally adorable halter in grey and white on clearance from Opening Ceremomy here in limited sizes!

All images from Google or Opening Ceremony

Places to Go: Santé Wellness Center and Spa

I don’t like the idea of a stranger touching me. It makes me uncomfortable in a twitchy sort of way.

Taking that into account, is it any surprise that the idea of getting a professional massage has always freaked me out? I mean, that is some pretty intimate touching.

I can handle a hug. A pat on the back.

But a massage? By someone I don’t know? The very idea of it always gave me the hibbe-jeebees.

Until the magical day I stumbled across the Santé Wellness Center and Spa.


Santé Wellness Center and Spa - the main house

I had been preparing for an upcoming Western Caribbean Cruise by researching each of the ports we would be visiting. It was when I started reading about our final port – Roatan, Honduras – that I first heard about Santé. It seemed like no matter where I looked (cruisecritic.com, tripadvisor, or random internet searches) I kept reading about Santé.

So I checked it out. I was intrigued by the idea of a spa visit, but that whole massage angle kept bothering me. Yet I kept reading. And when I started having issues with my back and shoulders, I read some more. Deep tissue massage. Scary. Aztec Stone Massage. Cool but still scary. Swedish massage. Sounded painful.

I was such a scaredy-cat. Me? Get a massage? By a stranger? The thought of it almost made me break out in hives.

Then I read these words: “Caribbean Cooler Tropical Herbal Wrap with Grape Seed Massage Oil.”

The description was – in a word – heavenly:

"A two hour treatment perfumed amidst lush tropical gardens with the soft sound of the sea surrounding your senses.

Includes: Coconut Milk Body Wash after an invigorating Body Brushing, Banana Smoothie Body Scrub, Relaxing Therapeutic Massage with warmed grape seed oil, Warm Herbal Body Wrap with Lavender, Facial Masque with Cucumber, Melon, and Ginseng, Cucumber Eye Soother, Peppermint Lotion Water after treatment body spritz, Herbal Pedicure Foot Bath with Tea Tree Oil, and a cup of herbal tea and biscuits."

All for $135 plus tax.

Wow. I felt relaxed just READING that. So what did I do? I emailed the link to my (now ex) boyfriend to see what his thoughts were, as he too had never had a professional massage before. I was sure he’d think the idea was silly and suggest scuba diving or something adventurous instead. I was wrong – he decided he’d like a massage as well.

Well OK then!

With that settled, I contacted the lovely Angela Missaggia to setup our treatments. Angela and her husband Leon had left the San Francisco Bay area in 2000 and moved to Roatan. They had visited the island before and fallen in love with its beauty, culture, and people. Angela is a licensed nurse practitioner and aesthetician and began offering spa services shortly after they moved to Roatan because they were – at that time – unavailable on the island. The two of them realized that they could offer something special and Santé was born. In its current form, Santé is located on a small, private peninsula on Roatan’s southern coast.

A view of the Caribbean and across the peninsula from Santé's private beach

Angela worked with me prior to our cruise to ensure that our treatments were set-up properly. She provided detailed instructions on what we should do upon our arrival in Roatan to ensure we make the most of our visit to Santé. She answered all of my silly questions and calmed my fears about getting a massage.

Finally the day arrived and our ship, the Carnival Legend, docked at Mahogany Bay. As Angela had instructed, we took a taxi to the 200-acre Parrot Tree Plantation. The Parrot Tree Plantation is one of Roatan’s gems. It’s a beautiful high-end resort community surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. It is also the portal to Santé.

Upon our arrival at the Parrot Tree we found Angela’s husband Leon waiting for us on the dock, just as promised. From there he whisked us by boat across the bay to the beautiful home he shares with Angela. This is what makes Santé so special - it isn’t just a business to the Missaggia’s – it is their home.

Heading to Santé from the Parrot Bay Plantation!

Arriving at the Santé Wellness Center and Spa - dock area. Main House visible in the background.

Angela greeted us at the door with a welcoming smile and gave us a tour of the house (it’s more of a villa, actually). This particular day we were the only spa customers. A gentleman was staying on the grounds as a customer of the bed-and-breakfast (I would love to come back as a bed-and-breakfast customer one day!), but save for a brief glimpse of him in the kitchen, we had the whole place to ourselves. Angela showed us the pool, jacuzzi and private beach area - all of which were available for our use. We couldn’t wait to get to our treatments!

The welcoming pool at Santé.


This little guy was hanging out on the balcony


A view of the dock from the balcony.

Angela began working on my treatments on the main floor while her assistant took care of my boyfriend on the floor above me. Since we were the only two spa customers that morning we were able to enjoy a “couples massage” experience, although each of us got lost in the treatments. I closed my eyes while Angela worked on me and focused on the sounds around me. Soft tropical chimes blowing in the warm tropical breezes. The ebb and flow of the Caribbean. The relaxing music. It was sheer perfection.

I feel asleep.

Me. The woman who broke out in hives at the thought of a stranger touching her. The woman who swore she’d never get a professional massage. Yes, me. I was so relaxed I fell asleep.

My two plus hour treatment was pure heaven. My skin felt absolutely invigorated after the body brushing/wash and scrub. The banana smoothie scrub not only smelled fabulous (I could have eaten it), but it refreshed my skin. The wrap was like a warm cocoon and I think it was the lavender scent that led to my falling asleep. The facial masque and pedicure were both top-notch.

And the massage: Oh. My. God.

Angela has magic hands. That is the only thing I can say. The massage was one of the loveliest experiences of my life. She managed to loosen every knot in my body until I felt like a pile of mush (in a great way). I don’t recall ever feeling as relaxed as I did that day, and it was a PERFECT ending to the cruise.

Even my after-treatment shower was heavenly. Angela had requested that we keep our showers brief because they collect, store and use rainwater on the grounds. Although the shower was brief, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I will never forget the purity of that water and the lush surroundings.

My boyfriend had opted for a shorter massage, so while I was relaxing/napping/showering he explored the grounds and ended up snorkeling at the nearby coral reef. When he returned he could not stop raving about the reef and how wonderful his snorkeling experience had been. The waves had been a bit rough, but he said that the experience far surpassed the time he had spent in Grand Cayman and even Cozumel. It turns out that Roatan's reef is a part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world - the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. No wonder it was such a phenomenal snorkeling experience for him.


See that gorgeous turquoise colored water? Some great snorkeling to be had right there.

We spent the rest of our time at Santé exploring together.

We became friendly with the beautiful scarlet macaw who lives on the property. He greets you with "hello" and "hola" amongst other things!


Isn't he gorgeous? And he loves having his photo taken!

We explored every nook and cranny we could find.

I wish this was MY front yard!

We walked down to the beach.

Look at how clear that water is!

We relaxed and looked out at the Caribbean, all the while wishing our time did not have to come to an end.

It doesn't get much better than sitting in a palapa and gazing out at the sea.

This hammock was a close second though!

But alas, soon it was time to return to Mahogany Bay and say goodbye to the haven that is the Santé Wellness Center and Spa.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Roatan I highly encourage you to visit the Santé Wellness Center and Spa. If you do, you will have a wonderfully relaxing experience at a retreat you will never forget. My only regret is leaving!



A view of the Caribbean, including the Mesoamerican Reef, from an observation point on the way back to Mahogany Bay. 

Goodbye beautiful Roatan - I'll never forget you!

Please note: this review and all the content within are the writer's own personal thoughts and opinions. It is not a paid advertisement or any such nonsense.

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Me Wants It: Labradorite, Alice + Olivia, maxi dresses and more!

What do you do when you need a distraction of some sort, but you don’t feel like leaving your home and putting on a “happy face”?  I love my friends dearly, but lately I have just needed some time to myself.  I know that when you are grieving over a break-up you SHOULD “suck it up” so to speak and force  yourself to be social, but sometimes I just don’t have the energy to act like everything is OK.

So what do you do instead? 

I’ve been spending a lot of time online “window shopping” and expanding my shopping lists.

Let’s start with the items I am currently coveting from shopbop and net-a-porter.  These would all be GREAT additions to my life:

This oversized Roberto Cavalli labradorite ring.  As Gollum would say “me wants it….”

I love Alice + Olivia and this one-shoulder draped silk and jersey minidress is just gorgeous.   Love the color!

And in the same vein, this Alice + Olivia faux wrap dress.

Then we have this fun Alice+ Olivia sequin minidress in Bronze.

And for a more casual look, I NEED to own this Alice + Olivia sequin stripe tee!

This printed silk-blend georgette dress by Diane von Furstenberg would be a perfect addition to both my professional and night-out wardrobes.   *love*

You can never have enough maxi dresses, and this one by Patterson J. Kincaid is screaming “buy me”

In addition to maxi dresses, you can also never own enough jersey dresses.  Like this one by Helmut Lang:

And how about this fabulous Only Hearts lace bomber jacket? Who needs cardigans when you can wear this instead!

This leopard print wrap dress by Haute Hippie has a halter neck – and would look great on a curvy woman like myself!

Gorjana’s designs never cease to impress me.  This Graham studded wrap bracelet is the latest item I am coveting from her collection, and at only $50 it’s a MUST BUY item.

I love window shopping.

(all images from net-a-porter and shopbop)

Icon: Cheryl Rae Tiegs

Driving into work today I was listening to my favorite Cleveland morning show – Q104’s Wilde and Fee – and was happily surprised to hear them talking with the iconic Cheryl Tiegs.

She came across as surprisingly down to earth during the interview. I could imagine talking to her as if she was just “one of the girls.” Granted, she spoke about jet-setting to Europe for her son’s upcoming graduation, which I am sure none of “my girls” have done recently. But you could hear the pride in her voice as she spoke about the man her son is becoming. You could hear the passion as she spoke about her dedication to being green, and her involvement with that movement. You could hear the laughter in her voice and sense the obvious camaraderie while Alan Fee flirted with her during the interview. She wasn't at all pretentious and she did not act "entitled" as some people do.

Cheryl Tiegs is an icon.

Her work as a model, and specifically some of her work for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, is among the best and most memorable we’ve seen in the last 30 years. She has graced countless magazine covers and remains a stunning beauty to this day.

Do you remember this 1978 poster of her in a pink bikini? It became a pop cultural image that, I am sure, once graced countless bedroom walls.

Right alongside posters of these women:

Some people might disagree with me, but today’s models don’t have the same impact on our culture that Cheryl did. Sure, there are some beautiful women out there - Giselle for instance - but I don't recall seeing any iconic images coming out of photo spreads from recent years. Have you?

(all photos courtesy of google images)

Relationships: Time to Breathe

Sometimes you just need to take a step back.

Close your eyes.

And breathe.

Think about the little things that make you happy.

Focus on them.

And continue breathing.

Relationships: Sense of Time

My boyfriend and I broke up a little over two weeks ago.

*pause*

I had to stop just now and look at the sentence above again. REALLY look at it.

Two weeks.

It’s only been two weeks.

It feels like a lifetime.

I hate being this person. I hate feeling this empty. This numb.

People think I am a strong person. He used to tell me I was a strong person. He used to say he envied that about me. I don’t feel strong now.

People always tell you to move on after a break-up. Take care of yourself. Improve yourself. Work. Keep yourself occupied. Spend time with your friends. With the people you love. Each day will get easier. You’ll move on. In my past experience, all of this is true.

You accept. You grow. You learn. And you move on.

But guess what.

It doesn’t always work.

I am doing all of those things, but they aren’t even making a dent in the emptiness.

“Time heals all wounds” they say.

True, it does. Time works wonders. But what happens when you have no sense of time?

Two weeks.

It’s been two weeks and I feel like it’s been a lifetime.

I’ve been in relationships before. I’ve loved before. But this – this was different. This was the deepest connection I have ever had with someone. This was the deepest and truest love I have ever felt. He was best friend I’ve ever had.

But he didn’t feel it. At least not the way I did. And it wasn’t enough for him.

So now we are both alone.

But I can’t imagine he feels the emptiness I am feeling right now.

I know it’s time to let go. I know it’s time to move on.

But I don’t know how.

I am not strong.

Relationships: Letting Go

When I decided to start my own blog I thought I’d be focusing my writing on some of the things I am most passionate about. Fashion. Film. Music. Photography. That sort of thing. Fun topics that make me happy.

I could write about upcoming fall fashions.

The premiere of Eclipse at the end of this month. (Team Edward!)

Eminem's new CD.

I could post a photo of a beautiful daylilly.

Instead my first blog post had to do with breaking up.

A break-up wasn’t something I had envisioned in my immediate future. Actually, I hadn’t envisioned it in my future at all.

Maybe that makes me a fool.

I loved him. I still do love him. It wasn’t a “bad break-up” so to speak. No one cheated. No one lied. No one intentionally hurt anyone. But it happened. And it’s all I can think about right now. It’s all I can focus on.

The days are still passing. I still go to work each day. I still do what I need to do. But I can’t stop thinking that this was a mistake.

Every bone in my body is telling me that this is a mistake.

That this is wrong. That our relationship deserves a second chance.

I know there are no guarantees in life. But I also know how I felt and do feel.

I am having an impossible time letting go.

I don’t know how, and I feel LOST because of it.

*Beautifully Invisible* is no longer listed as in a relationship

Remember the good old days when breaking up was easy? OK – maybe breaking up with someone has never been easy. Break-ups always were and always will be difficult. They should be difficult. They should make you cry. They should make you want to eat ungodly amounts of ice cream. They should make you want to go on a shopping spree. They should make you want to get a makeover. A haircut. Some killer shoes. Whatever.

All of those things make sense. They are paths along the road back to normalcy.

Enter social media. Specifically, enter the facebook “relationship status”.

You start dating someone.

You fall in love with that person.

You are filled with such joy and happiness you want to dance in the streets.

Sing in the rain.

Shout it from the rooftops.

So you update your facebook status to “is in a relationship”. That is kind of like shouting your joy from a rooftop. Only safer.

Then… you break-up.

And you are heartbroken.

And you have to somehow deal with the emptiness and grief you are feeling. Even though it seems impossible.

You attempt to hide at least some of your pain from the world, so they don't see the depths of your despair.

And then you realize, you have to change your stupid f%#&ing facebook status. Because you are no longer in a relationship.

So you change it.

And then - so does he.

And you feel like you broke up all over again. Only this time EVERYONE in the CIVILIZED world was witness to it.

Breaking up once was bad enough.

Stupid status.

Now I need TWO pairs of killer shoes.