Roberta Freymann & Roberta Roller Rabbit

Here in Houston summer lasts through September, so early August is really just a midway point in our very long, very hot summer season. With daily temperatures hovering around 95 degrees, I find myself looking for cool, loose clothing that's easy to wear and yet still stylish and the Spring/Summer 2009 collection from Roberta Freymann would be absolutely perfect for August weekends. Freymann's signature style is a sort of Hamptons-meets-global eclectic, and I love the graceful ease of so many of her pieces. While the price point isn't what I'd call a steal, it's on par with BCBG or French Connection. Alas, Freymann's collection can only be purchased at one of her brick and mortar stores -- none of which are located anywhere near me. Next time I make it out to NYC though, I'll be sure to stop in to her Upper East side flagship -- which looks like such a lovely mix of exuberant bohemian and New England prep.

Roberta Rabbit by averillh1

Roberta Roller Rabbit is Freymann's second, more inexpensive line of home goods, children's clothing and women's loungeware -- and I'm happy to report that it's finally available for purchase online. A selection of my favorite items are posted above. Roberta Roller Rabbit has a huge selection of lovely, lightweight kurtas (or tunics) that would be the perfect top to throw over shorts, jeans or even just a bathing suit. Priced at $70, they're far less than what you'd pay for a very similar looking Tory Burch tunic and they come in sizes from 0-18.

RRR's selection of home accessories is great fun as well. I absolutely adore the fun patterns, bold colors and the reasonable prices (e.g., pillows are $40). I'm thinking about picking up a set of the placemats and napkins in the Flavia Blue for the new house. Don't you think they'd look darling in my new breakfast nook?

Color Personality Quiz

Tonight I finally had the opportunity to thumb through the September issue of House Beautiful and all I can say is "wow". The issue focused on color and there are some truly gorgeous rooms featured -- I urge anyone who doesn't have a subscription to get to their local newsstand immediately and get a copy.

The back of the issue featured a color personality test -- a series of questions with no right or wrong answers that is designed to get you thinking about what colors you naturally gravitate towards. Earlier this week, Things That Inspire did a lovely post with her answers to the quiz and I thought I might follow suit today with my own thoughts on the matter. As longtime readers know, I'm a huge fan of bold colors, so I suspect the following answers won't be much of a revelation.

House Beautiful

What is the first color you see in the morning? A deep gray-blue.

Nathan Egan

What color are your eyes? Light brown.

Mary McDonald in domino

What color do you wear the most? Navy.

Katie Ridder

What color do you never wear? Yellow.

Sherrill Canet

What do you color do you wear when you want to feel confident? Hot pink, Kelly green or peacock blue.

Metropolitan Home

What color gets you the most compliments? All of the above (which is why I wear them when I want to feel confident).

Phoebe Howard

What color is your lipstick? I don't wear much lipstick -- I prefer gloss -- but when I do, it's a nude-ish pink. I’ve always tended to focus on playing up my eyes, so I tend to go for a more natural looking lipcolor.

Sara Story

What color was your living room growing up? Walls were beige, but I remember a lot of red in the furniture, draperies, rug etc.

Ruthie Sommers

What color was your bedroom growing up? Pink and white.

Barbara Barry in Metropolitan Home

What color are your sheets? Ivory.

Annie Selke in House Beautiful

What color was favorite crayon as a child? Blue-green.

Elle Decor

What color is your car? Dark gray.

Thad Hayes

What color was your prom dress? Navy. [Moment of confession: I never got to wear it. I spent my senior prom in D.C. at an economics competition. Don't judge.]

Jamie Drake

What is your favorite flower? Orchids.

Elle Decor

What color makes you happiest? Teal, aubergine – jewel tones.

What color depresses you? Beige.

Phoebe Howard

What color calms you? Blues generally, but especially a light blue. It’s like a cool neutral – you can put anything with it, but even on its own, it can be very refreshing.

Jeffrey Bilhuber

What color makes you grind your teeth? Burnt Orange -- and I even went to UT for law school!

Elle Decor

What color would you like to try, but are scared to? I’m pretty fearless when it comes to color – both in fashion and design, but I suppose I’d have to say white. It’s the absence of color that gets me nervous, but I do think there’s something beautiful and pristine about a lovely white suit (or better yet – a white tuxedo on a woman!) or an all-white bedroom!

What about you? I'd love to hear your answers!

Always a Bridesmaid...

Okay so I actually got married before most of my girlfriends, so the old adage doesn't really apply to me. But, I do find myself yet again a bridesmaid -- only this time it's for my younger sister and this time I'm the maid...okay fine, matron...of honor. The best part of being the matron of honor is that I will actually have some serious input on what dress I'll be required to wear down the aisle.

As a first time matron of honor, this will be a nice change of pace. For the women in my life, I have gladly donned everything from a $40 Hawaiian print sundress (in the bride's defense, the wedding was on the beach in Mexico) to a $400 floor length ball gown skirt in goldenrod with a white taffeta wrap shirt (this was back in 2002 when separates were all the rage). Needless to say, while no one has (thankfully) asked me to wear something completely objectionable, I'd be lying to say that I loved each and every dress I've worn in the name of standing by a dear friend or relative on her Big Day.

This time though, I'm getting to choose what I wear (with the bride's input, of course) and I'm absolutely loving Vera Wang's Bridesmaid Collection. Of course, I realize this isn't particularly newsworthy considering the fact that even those who have only a cursory knowledge of bridal couture know that Ms. Wang has ruled the aisle for years. In fact, I think it'd be a far statement to say that Vera -- and to a growing extent Monique Lhuillier -- is the final word in bridal fashion. That said, it's been a few years since I looked at bridesmaid dresses and I'm just now getting up to speed.

What I love about these dresses though is that they don't scream bridesmaid. They're not the satin A-line strapless dress worn by countless maids across the country. Of course, I'll be the first to admit that my bridesmaids all wore satin A-line strapless dresses in -- can you guess? Navy! The end result was lovely, if not a little boring.

The dress above (called Erin) is my favorite -- I absolutely love the combination of the amethyst and plum. Depending on the dress Jane goes with, I may be able to talk my way into this one.

All of the styles come in at least several different color choices (and many come in nearly a dozen). All the dresses shown here are in various shades of blue and purple because that's what my sister is looking at in terms of colors.

Prices are also not unreasonable, especially considering what I've been asked to spend on far less appealing dresses. In fact, most of the dresses are under $250, with many of the shorter styles $200 or less. Even better, I honestly -- and I swear I'm not just saying this -- think that a lot of these shorter styles would easily work as cocktail dresses. None of this "if you cut it short you could TOTALLY wear this silk taffeta pink dress again" b.s., these dresses are nearly indistinguishable from the after 5 dresses you'd find at any good department store.

So tell me, what was the worst bridesmaid dress you've ever had to wear? Do you keep your dresses after the Big Day or toss them? ...And have you ever actually worn one again?