Spring Into Summer!

Here in the Golden Isles, the month of May is when spring turns to summer, with Memorial Day Weekend kicking off the start of our vacation season. In our feature, we’re embracing the transition from the rainy days that made our flowers bloom into sun-soaked beach afternoons and vacation mode. Fashion, food, and fun await.

Pep in Your Step    

One of the first things we think about when getting ready for summer is trading in the shoes and boots that got us through the cooler, wetter months for cute flip flops and strappy sandals. We want to kick up our heels and show off our pedicures. Bright colors and bling look fabulous   against our tanned skin and we’re tired of hiding our feet away. Time for toes in the sand and on the dance floor too. 

The Pampered Foot, located at 3419 Frederica Road on St. Simons Island, has been an island staple for footwear for more than 20 years, and has chic styles that will cushion your feet in comfort and turn heads too. Owner Martha Banister says, “We’re ready for the warmer weather and the biggest trend right now is comfort. We’re seeing more designers than just traditional stand-bys like Cole Hahn or Pliner focusing on comfort in women’s shoes, which made the trip to market very fun!” She also says that fresh colors and metallics continue to be very popular. “From well-made comfortable casual shoes like Flex and NAOT to classic evening looks by Louise et Cie and Stuart Weitzman, we can help you find your perfect pair for any occasion.”

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Don’t Step On My...

Don’t Step On My...

Blue suede sandals may not have been what Elvis had in mind, but we adore these Mavis sandals by VanEli with scalloped straps, metallic details, cork foot bed and heel that we found at The Pampered Foot.

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Splash of Color

Splash of Color

Watercolor paintings inspired the colorful print on VanEli’s block-heeled Bena sandal from The Pampered Foot. Pair these with an all neutral outfit to really make a statement.

These bright multicolored sandals from Spanish footwear designer Brenda Zaro accessorized with this green fringe-covered clutch are perfect for the spring into summer transition. You can use this combo to add color to your LBD or as a complement to white pants and a sunny yellow top. Available at Shackelford Shoes, 28 Market Street, Suite 122, St. Simons Island. 

For a wild and whimsical touch that calls to mind nights in Marrakesh, slip into these jeweled

P-Araminta sandals by Yellow Box from Wild & Personal Boutique, located at 214 Redfern Village on St. Simons Island.

Brush aside the boots, grab some new sandals, and put your best foot forward! 

A Polished Pedi

In the movie What a Girl Wants, Amanda Byne’s character tells her royal father, played by Colin Firth, "Mom says if you can walk on a beach and you have a steady hand with nail polish, there's no reason to ever pay for a pedicure."

While we agree in principle with this statement, we also know that the foot and leg massage that generally accompanies a good pedicure is worth every penny! So whether you choose to have someone else pamper your feet or decide to give your toes some TLC yourself with a little foot scrub and some new polish, we’ve got some tips about what’s on trend this season as you slip into your sandals.

Pinks and reds are never out of style. Neutral shades from Essie’s Sheer Silhouette collection offer long-lasting benefits of a gel polish with minimal need for touch-ups and nude-like colors that will complement anything. To bring out the warmer hues in your skin, choose a shade of red with a slight hint of orange, like poppy. If you want to make a feminine statement in bright pink, Chanel’s Camelia is a designer look that’s as iconic as the name itself. Sugar Daddy by Essie offers up a cotton candy pink. A cute trend for spring and summer brides who want to be sure to wear “something blue” is to do it with a baby blue or sky blue pedicure. 

On the runway, glitter has been on point, with models in Kate Spade’s Spring 2019 show sporting flecks of gold courtesy of Essie. Sparkling shades of emerald green are also on trend for the bold. We think that anything that catches the sun and makes you smile is perfect for your personal pedi. 

Everyday Essentials

You can find everything you need to weather the weather, as unpredictable as it may be, right here at our local retailers. We fell in love with this belted floral raincoat by Catalog Classics at Ronne’s on Market Street. With a removable hood that features a reflective strip, it’s a functional and fashionable way to add some color to a grey and dreary day! Keep whatever you’re carrying dry with a fun waterproof tote or clutch in cheery lilac or cherry red, also available at Ronne’s. She has a wide variety of cute bags to suit your look no matter the weather. St. Simons Drug Co. has the best selection of umbrellas around. After seeing their wide range of styles, sizes, and almost every type of pattern and print imaginable, you may want to grab a few to suit your mood or match your rainy day attire.

When it comes to those sunny days, we again turned to Ronne’s on Market Street for our essential beach cover-up/maxi-dress. This light and flowing blue, green, and white beauty by Lula Life can take you right from your chair in the sand to dinner and drinks at ECHO, and is just one of the many cover-ups she has in stock, with more inventory arriving every day. And a stop at St. Simons Drug Co. ensures you’ll have everything you need to do your beach time in style. From the necessary hat to shield you from bright rays to a whimsical flamingo beach towel to dry your tootsies, and the starfish embellished flip flops to complete the ensemble, they’ve got you covered from head to toe. Tote it all, along with your sunscreen, a NY Times bestseller, and the latest copy of EIL, in one of the many cute beach bags they carry, like this straw “Beach Mode” bag we snagged. Their full line of Scout coolers and bags are an ideal way to carry your favorite snacks, beverages, and more. 

Ronne’s on Market Street is located at 28 Market Street, Suite 124, (behind the CVS & Zaxby’s) on St. Simons Island. St. Simons Drug Co., who just proudly celebrated its 60th anniversary, is located at 209 Longview Plaza. Stop by and tell ‘em EIL sent you!