Slow breathing by Samantha French

We recently came across the Etsy shop of painter Samantha French and are seriously digging how she captures sun-dappled light on the bodies of swimmers. Totally evocative of lazy summer days spent floating in the pool and diving for quarters, Samantha’s paintings are a gorgeous reminder of the simple pleasure of a cold pool on a hot afternoon.

Samantha French’s Etsy Shop

xx, L*SPACE

We’re so thrilled to be partnering up with the fab Tala of Bathing News to give away the L*SPACE citrus Strap Back top, Taboo bottoms, and The Collection Wilderness Wrap pictured! Head to Bathing News to find out how to enter, now through May 19 – good luck, little mermaids!

xx, L*SPACE

As the weather’s growing warmer and we’re gearing up for bikini season, we’ve been scouring the internet for new and different ways to spice up the salads that keep us looking and feeling our best – and there’s no better way to add a twist to your salad than the addition of sweet seasonal fruit!

A few recipes we’re dying to try pictured above, clockwise from top left:

Arugula Salmon Blueberry Salad via Reimann Family Farm CSA

Watermelon, Heirloom Tomato, & Feta Salad via Coastal Living

Strawberry Salad with Honey Balsamic Viniagrette via A Couple Cooks

 Avocado & Mango Salad with Passion Fruit Viniagrette via Bon Appetit

xx, L*SPACE

Welcome to the favorite beach of our L*SPACE President-Creative Director, Monica Wise: Juan-les-Pins!

Located to the South of Monte Carlo’s gambling and Nice’s glitterati, and to the North of Cannes’ resort culture, Juan-les-Pins is a French beach town legendary for its spotless white sand, laid-back vibe, and vibrant night life.

Painted by Monet and Picasso, Juan-les-Pins also counted among its early visitors Coco Chanel, who was refused entrance to a casino because she was dressed casually in the new craze – “beach pajamas.” We have Mlle Chanel to thank for introducing the fashion of beachwear and making sunbathing socially acceptable – particularly  in JLP, where,  these days, chic bikinis and cover-ups are de rigueur.

Want to see what Monica would pack for a quick jaunt to Juan-les-Pins? Head over to the Swell Blog to find out! 

xx, L*SPACE

True Religion Jeans // Frasier Sterling Necklace // Sprig Anjou Pear Candle // L*SPACE Demi Underwire Top in Pistachio // L*SPACE Scanty Bottom in Pistachio //Madewell Sunglasses // Essie Nail Polish in Mint Candy Apple // C. Wonder Bag // J. Crew Bracelet // Joie Sandals

Cool, refreshing, and oh-so-fabulous against sun-kissed skin, Pistachio is one of our favorite shades for spring and summer. Whether it’s poolside in L*SPACE or running errands in a pair of  jeans, you simply can’t go wrong with this color!

xx, L*SPACE

In her element as a Tropézienne, Brigitte Bardot cultivated an effortless, tousled, laid-back brand of glam that was all her own. The actress, style icon, and animal activist had a natural sex appeal and carefree spirit – the opposite of her tightly corseted bombshell contemporaries Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Her easygoing glamazon aesthetic was a breath of fresh air to beach babes (and bros, of course) when she hit the scene in the 1950′s, and continues to inspire today.

xx, L*SPACE

Simultaneously timeless and trendy, mirrored sunglasses have been part of the pop culture fashion zeitgeist since Maverick and Goose rocked them at Top Gun Naval Flight School. While we’ll always be suckers for the classic Ray-Ban silver mirrored aviators, we’re also majorly crushing on colored mirror lenses as a fun variations for Spring. Which do you dig – the classic silver mirrored frame, or the colored mirror varieties in these inspo images?

{images via: the chic street  z catwalk clover accessories fashionable j fashion gourmet}

xx, L*SPACE

No matter how fab your office and co-workers might be, Mondays can be miz for even the happiest of ladies. Enter the L*SPACE Monday Sunshine playlist – a few phat beats that’ll have you bopping around the typing pool in no time! All songs and artists listed below – feel free to listen to this playlist directly from our brand new L*SPACE Spotify account! Also, we’d LOVE to know which jams help you get through a case of the Mondays! xx

1. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore + Ray Dalton

2. Gumboots – Paul Simon

3. Disparate Youth – Santigold

4. Short Skirt/Long Jacket – Cake

5. You Used to Hold Me – Calvin Harris

6. 5 Years Time – Noah and the Whale

7. One Big Holiday – My Morning Jacket

8. Beauty and a Beat – Justin Bieber/Nicki Minaj

9. Something Good Can Work – Two Door Cinema Club

10. Bebe Buell – Chester French

11. Runnin’ Down a Dream – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

12. Scott Mescudi vs. The World – Kid Cudi + Cee Lo Green

xx, L*SPACE

Thank you so much to everyone who left a comment sharing their favorite summer memory from childhood! We absolutely adored reading all of your memories – you definitely took us on a trip down memory lane, and we’re more psyched than ever for Summer 2013!

It was incredibly difficult to pick a winner – we loved all of your memories so much. In the end, we had to go with the sweet memory above. Ashley, we’ll be in touch to get you your prize.

Thanks again, everyone who entered!

xx, L*SPACE

Nothing spices up sunning the ol’ buns like an ultra-fabulous beach blanket – and lately, we’re obsessing over the brightly colored and printed offerings from Saffron James. The only thing better than one appears to be three layered over each other, as shown in this fab shot from a recent BikiniBird editorial. The blankets are currently out of stock online (silent tear), but you can bet your bottom dollar that we’ll be checking back daily to nab a few as soon as they’re in stock!

images via BikiniBird

xx, L*SPACE