I See London, I See France...

...I see a new stash of HCH Papillon Knickers!

My newest style has been a bit of a hot seller, so while I've been working on my official collection, I made sure to sew up some new colorful pairs for the shop. Check them out and snap up a pair or two for yourself (or your favorite leading lady).

Clockwise from top left: Nea Papillon Knickers ($60), Georgia Papillon Knickers ($50),

Aida Papillon Knickers ($60), Thalie Papillon Knickers ($55)

There are even more new pieces in the Knicker section of the HCH shop than ever before, including larger sizes in beautiful colors and laces. The Papillon style is going to be a staple in the official collection, and I'm so happy it's gotten so much attention so far. My current favorites are these, which feature a gorgeous silver elastic and velvet bow!

Adrienne Papillon Knickers ($65)

Which are your favorites from the new Knicker stash?

3 Ways to be Your Most Beautiful

Louis XV's mistress Madame de Pompadour was onto something when she said "Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman more beautiful after drinking it." Having consumed quite a lot of wine in my days, I can definitely attest to the validity of Mme. de P's claim. Red wine leaves me flushed and tired, white wine leaves me loopy, but champagne just makes me smile. And we all know smiles are beautiful.

This weekend, Elizabeth Street Cosmetics, SIGH Sonoma and Honey Cooler Handmade present three ways to make yourself more gorgeous, all wrapped in one trunk show:

1. Flirtatious lingerie from Honey Cooler Handmade will revamp your undie drawer.
2. Champagne and bubbles from SIGH lend a sexy effervescence to any ensemble.
3. Sultry new lip colors from Elizabeth Street Cosmetics will pump up your beautiful smile

Combine all three and you have the makings of that je-ne-sais-quoi that will make you feel your most irresistable as you navigate this gorgeous summer weekend. And don't take my word for it; both The San Francisco Chronicle and Refinery29 are singing our event's praises.

Swing by and get pretty! Saturday, August 24th from 2 - 5pm at SIGH, 29 East Napa Street, Sonoma.

New Style: Papillon Knickers

Yes it's true! There's a new style available on the HCH official site and on Etsy: Papillon Knickers. The drafted pattern is similar to that of my traditional Knicker style, but with more room and gathered stitching in the seat. It's an extra-sexy style that gives more definition to your rear and is sure to attract attention.

The name "Papillon" comes from the French word for butterfly. When laid out, these lovelies remind me very much of a butterfly's wings!

Lovella Papillon Knickers

Check out the three new pairs available: Lovella (featured above - dachshund motif silk jacquard, size medium), Dierdre (polka dot lavender silk jacquard, size large) and Philomena (green floral motif silk chiffon, size small).

HCH Papillon Knickers are perfect for a a sexy striptease, leisurely lounging or just about anything beyond and in between, don't you think?

Fly Away Home

Having spent most of my childhood growing up in Pennsylvania, each time I visit the East Coast my bearings get a little tangled. I love California, but I love Pennsylvania. I love my friends in San Francisco, but I love my core group of high school pals who live all along the East Coast. When my husband and I hopped our flight from Philly to SF last night, I swore up and down that I didn't want to leave my family and friends, but the second I stepped in my house again, the comfort of a home base settled my mind. The eight years I've spent living in the glorious city of SF have muddied my concept of what home really means. Is it possible to feel like you belong in two places at once? Life certainly seems that way to me a lot of the time.

The Ocean City, NJ boardwalk.

Our last few days back on the East Coast were spent in Ocean City, NJ. A group of high school pals, my husband and I got together at the same shore house we've been hanging out at since well before college. It feels good to have that kind of familiarity with a tight group of people after all these years. We basically grew up together and we're now adults together. Now instead of bonding over high school crushes, we bond over beer, cigars and the complications of "grown-up" life. It's so strange, but the saying is true: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In addition to finishing off all the alcohol in the shore house, we had one other duty on our final day in Ocean City: to hit up the boardwalk. There, nothing has changed. It's still loud, crowded, bright and annoying. But it's full of nostalgia too: the good kind. The kind you can only really grab when you're shoulder to shoulder with people you really like. We filled up on Manco & Manco's pizza, Kohr Brothers custard and crab fries while taking in the sights and sounds of the Ocean City boardwalk.

Now I'm back in SF and back to the grind. Back to loving this fair city and back to waiting patiently for another visit back East. There are lots of exciting things on the horizon for me and Honey Cooler Handmade and I can't wait to share them all with you!

The trip back to SF

Beachy Keen in Cape May

If you follow my adventures on Twitter, you know that I traveled to the East Coast on Tuesday to visit my family, attend a wedding and hit the beach. I don't much consider myself an outdoorsy girl, but if a trip to the beach is involved I'm always in. I grew up in Pennsylvania, so my summer vacations often consisted of spending lazy days on New Jersey's beaches. Lucky for me, I get to put my feet in the sand TWICE on this trip since my mom, sister and I decided to visit my mom's place in Cape May together before I head to a pal's house in Ocean City on Sunday.

All sorts of beachy prettiness, including my gogeous sister Kate.

A summer in Cape May is unlike any experience on the West Coast. The ocean is warm enough to swim in, the sun is scorching hot, the nights are balmy and everything there feels very old-world. Cape May is a town chock-full of gorgeous Victorian homes and tons of unadulterated history; Walking down any of its beautiful streets feels like visiting another time.

A walk through the streets of Cape May, dinner at The Lobster House, Miu Miu sandals.

I love coming home to the East Coast each summer, because true summer is what my San Francisco experience is missing. Yes, it's humid, yes, it's hot as all get-out, but being awoken by an early morning thunderstorm on the beach reminds me of what it was like to grow up in this lovely place.

A brewing storm.