Our resident FlySpy Nana wanted me to raise the flag that Bluefly.com is hosting a “Deal a Day Sale” this Fourth of July weekend.

Here are the important deets:

Today: 20% off dresses

Friday: 10% off handbags

Saturday: 15% off shoes

Sunday: 15% off tops and tees

So if you’ve had your eye on some high-end goodies for awhile, whip out your Blackberry on the beach or at that BBQ and get thee to Bluefly.

In addition to the fact that Vogue Italia’s landmark July issue addressed the appalling lack of black models in fashion spreads, I was psyched to peep the return of the head scarf. And let’s face it, I couldn’t resist after last week’s heated summer scarf discussion.

Now that the heat – and humidity – are with us for the next three months, there’s nothing like a pretty silk scarf to cover the wild, swollen strands of summer. By day, you can rock it the way Gwyneth Paltrow’s character Marge did in The Talented Mr. Ripley – as a super-glam ponytail holder.

By night, create a chignon effect the way Tyra Banks did here (in a picture from the Italia spread) by smoothing it over your head and letting the scarf’s tails hang.
You can amp up the glam by knotting the scarf’s tails into a bun.

The coolest thing about the head scarf is it triples as a neck tie and shoulder throw – ‘cause in this economy it’s all about doubling your money. Speaking of, you can get the red Gucci scarf pictured above for 30% off on Bluefly.

If it’s fly, I’m all over it – which is one of the reasons I totally heart my job blogging for Bluefly.com. From the super chic (and sweet!) chicas in my neighboring cubes, to the fashionistas on the curb (our office is just a block away from NYC fashion mecca, Bryant Park!), it’s wall to wall flyness. And did I mention, I style-stalk celebs too?

I’ll be mentioning all that and then some as your very own FlySpy, helping you recreate looks spotted on celebs and the put-together ladies we run into on the street or the subway and envy just a bit. Check me here at The Tastemaker Diaries every Wednesday – and catch me (plus the rest of the Bluefly blog crew) daily on FlyPaper. Stay fly!

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re everywhere this season: summer scarves. This trend can be spotted on celebs and real people of both sexes. From John Mayer…

To Jessica Alba…

…there aren’t many places these lightweight accessories haven’t been spotted. Even Rachael Ray has donned a jaunty scarf, though that didn’t work out so well for her.

You won’t see me sporting a scarf this summer. I get the arguments for: it’s an easy way to add color and pattern to an outfit. (Believe me, I went through a scarf phase about 10 years ago because I thought they were a professional way to add pizzazz to a suit. I had a very elaborate way of tying the fabric, that in retrospect, made me look like I had been decapitated and was trying to keep my head tied to my body through a small square of fabric and sheer force of will.)
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I love summer because I can streamline my shower and beauty routines. Although more leg-shaving is required, I don’t feel like I have to wear as much make-up or do as much to my hair when the weather heats up. Part of that is due to the overall freedom that summer allows in clothing trends and hair styles (hello, waves!) But, another good reason for streamlining is that your hair might not hold up so well in 100% humidity and you certainly don’t want foundation sliding off your face. It doesn’t look good and feels even worse!

I use nearly all these products daily in the summer to keep my beauty and shower routine simple, fun and affordable. You can by all of these things–except for one or two–at your local drugstore, Target or on drugstore.com.

Shower

• Dove Advanced Color Care is a shampoo I tried on a whim and loved. It really softens my very color-treated hair and helps prevent split-ends and frizz. The scent reminds me a bit of Downy fabric softener–in a good way, trust me–and the color of the bottle is about the girliest you can get.
• Aveda Blue Malva conditioner saves my hair. I’m naturally brunette, so when I dye my hair blond, it has a tendency to become quite brassy in the sun. This conditioner zaps those gold tones out and brightens the cool tones in my hair instead.

• I love all Burt’s Bees products, but this Radiance Exfoliating Body Bar takes the cake. It has a sweet–but not overbearing–scent, which is a huge plus. Others soaps can have too timid a scent or one that’s too strong. I like the rich lather of this as well.
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish face scrub is a morning and evening must for my skin. During the summer you sweat more (obviously), so you want to make sure you keep your pores clear of dirt and bacteria to avoid break-outs. This scrub gets my skin clean without irritation and also has anti-wrinkle ingredients in it. Although I’m 21, it’s never too early to prevent early signs of aging.

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A few weeks ago, I was quickly flipping through the Ballard Designs catalog when I saw this piece:

At first, I didn’t think much of this Tole Topiary plaque but as the days passed, it just stuck with me. It’s an interesting piece and one I had not come across before, how refreshing!

Whenever I think of a grand home, I envision a pair of these three-dimensional topiaries flanking the front door. They make such a regal and classy statement.

I don’t have a grand home with a winding drive leading to the front door — yet — but the Faux Topiaries from Ballard could be a great stand in. I love how subtle they are and how flat they seem against the brick. I also love the idea of using them to add a different dimension and texture in the entry way of a home. Imagine at the holidays hanging little white lights on them? Too sweet! They are available in medium and tall. I guess the old saying is true: if you continue to think of a piece for days or weeks than it is one you should purchase, or else one day you will wake up to regret it!

Is there a piece of home decor to this day you wished you had purchased?

Every once in awhile, a product comes across our desks that makes us smile. So we had to share this box of goodies sent to StyleFeeder by the nice folks at Tshirtbordello.com.

Yeah, there’s nothing new about t-shirts with clever designs, but Tshirtbordello.com has some we haven’t seen before. If your man is a fan of cult movies like The Big Lebowski, Old School or Tommy Boy, here’s a way you can subtly support his obsession without wearing an “I’m With Stupid” t-shirt yourself…and win big girlfriend/wife points. My husband is currently livening up his Office Space with a new Initech mug, courtesy of moi, and lately he’s been looking at me like the new chick from Logistics.

Fame and fortune, people! It could all be yours by entering Greenloop’s ReShirt Cutting Contest. All you need is a pair of scissors, an old t-shirt, a camera, and your imagination to get a chance to win a $300 gift certificate from eco-boutiqueGreenloop and a 30-minute virtual styling session from celebrity stylist Barbra Horowitz. Not only that, but all winners’ work will be featured on Greenloop’s blog,In The Loop!

Do you love reworking your old pieces to make something hot for the club or office? Do you have piles of shirts in your closet begging for a purpose? Give those ill fitting t-shirts from days gone by a serious revamp and enter ReShirt today!

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You. Easy as a summer breeze. A Bikini, sparkly sandals, and off you go. The only piece missing? A killer cover-up that will take you on and off the sand. Here are three smashing looks sure to showcase you as the million-dollar babe that you are. Surf’s up.

The Kimono

Lolita Jaca of Saint Barth designs some of the most feminine, unique beachy creations on the planet. Her kimonos look sexy-cool over a two-piecer and can also double as tres chic cocktail party tops when paired with chandelier earrings and white jeans. The tops average between $500-600 each, but are classics that you will reach for in your closet summer after summer.

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I know the title of this blog might create high expectations, but let me say this first:

I’ve never been really big on flip-flops. Sure, there were those uber-Californians in my high school who wore their battered flip-flops faithfully through the dead of winter (60 degree weather, oh my!), but that was never me. The ones I had were never that comfortable, plus they always ended up breaking somehow — not good for frequent beach trips, let me tell you!

Then, on a music trip to Brazil two summers ago, I discovered Havaianas. Since then, Havaianas have become my favorite brand of basic rubber flip-flops, hands down — I refuse to wear anything else. Made from Brazilian rubber, they’re durable, come in a rainbow of colors and prints, are extremely inexpensive, easy to clean sand off of, and most importantly, they are incredibly comfortable. It sounds gimmicky, I know, but I swear they add a spring to my step!

The basic pair of Havaianas. I own this style in both black and white, and it comes in so many colors, even metallics (I especially like the pretty fuschia ‘Acai’ color).

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