While I’m notorious for my largely black wardrobe, bright summer days make me want to add a pop of color to my outfits.

I love this Calvin Klein Hammered Silk Blouson Dress: the bright orange hue is playful and bold while the flouncy sleeves and sash add super feminine finishing touches.

This dress is perfect for a day at the office or cocktails at my favorite restaurant at sunset.

Calvin Klein Hammered Silk Blouson Dress is available online at Nordstrom.com for $59 (marked down from $118!).

Between the sun, chlorine and sampling lots of slick glosses, summer often leaves my lips feeling beyond parched. To remedy this, I’ve been relying on this handy little lip care kit when I need smooth lips, stat!

The first step of the Artistry Lip Care Kit consists of an emollient exfoliator with super-fine scrubbing particles that are perfectly grainy without being too sharp or rough for such a delicate area. After thirty seconds or so of gently scrubbing my lips with it, I “dust it off,” as instructed. At first, I thought I would be defiant and rinse this off instead, but sure enough, a gentle “dusting” and a little blotting with a tissue removed every last trace of the grainy exfoliating beads, no water required.

The next step is my favorite: the lip conditioner is AMAZING! Not exactly a balm or a gloss, it feels like a moisturizer, soaking in almost immediately but leaving behind a hydrating barrier (not sticky, oily or even wet) that bathes lips in comfortable moisture and leaves them perfectly smooth.

Artistry Lip Care Kit is available online at ArtistryBeauty.com for $20.

I must admit that while I wasn’t entirely thrilled with the new Sex and the City 2 movie (I was a little let down by the far-reaching Abu Dhabi plot and ho-hum Carrie/Mr. Big relationship), I am completely enamored with Sarah Jessica Parker’s SJP NYC fragrance.

This new scent is described as a “sophisticated fruity floral” with notes of strawberry, gardenia and the creamy musks that SJP is known to have in all her scents.

I love how the bright, happy packaging is a collision of patterns and colors in a reusable canister.

This fragrance comes in a body lotion and eau de toilette fragrance spray and is available online at sarahjessicaparkerbeauty.com.

This summer, I’m finding myself more enamored than ever with floral footwear! Little flowers adorning sandals instantly add a romantic, feminine touch that’s as special as it is fun.

I love these sky high 4 ½” strappy wonders! They’re gorgeous and elegant and would be the perfect addition to a gala summer event.

Badgley Mischka “Randi” Sandal is available in black satin, white satin, pink satin and pale gold satin for $215 each from Nordstrom.