Our Top 10 Vacation Essentials


It's that time of the year when we pack up, leave our troubles behind and jet-set (or road trip!) around the world. We've all been there before...taking hours to pack up for a mini vacation. We're all guilty of wanting to bring our entire closet and then some! 

Traveling lightly and bringing your essential items is the right way to vacation so check out our Top 10 list below and take some notes for your next mini getaway!

10. Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Creme

Who wants to spend hours on their hair on hot summer days? This Bumble & Bumble cream is perfect for when you get out of the shower, or after a nice swim, and want a quick and easy hair style. Apply it to your hair while still damp and let it air dry. You'll have carefree, relaxed and frizz-free curls in no time!

9. Soft Lip Colors


There's really no need for makeup in the summer, however it's always crucial for a girl to have an everyday lip color. Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Volupté Peach Passion is an extremely smooth and feminine color perfect for summer outings. If you're looking for something cheaper Estée Lauder's Azuree Coral is just as nice. Another personal favorite is Benefit's rose tinted lip-stain. If you're not a fan of lipstick's creamy texture then this item is a must-have!

8. Hats
 
You definitely cannot go away without a summer hat! We personally love vintage straw hats on really sunny days. It's protective and cute... what else could you ask for?

7. Mix & Match Swimwear

No one cares if you match head to toe on the beach, so be fun and bring some mix & match bikinis for your trip. We love printed high waisted bottoms because they have that adorable retro edge and are super flattering! These lemon bottoms are from American Apparel and the triangle top is from PacSun.

6. Over-sized Sunglasses


We are nothing without our shades, so grab your Jackie O's and enjoy a day in the sun! We love Free People's selection of sunglasses because they are affordable and have awesome retro round and curved frames. 



5. Collection of CDs



No road trip is complete without a good selection of tunes. Part of the trip includes the travel itself so bring along some fun summertime jams and have no shame singing loudly with the windows rolled down! We love Zooey Deschanel's band She & Him and their latest album Volume 3. Other favorites include MGMT: Congratulations, Lana Del Rey: Born To Die and Beach House: Devotion.


4. Polaroid Camera

You cannot forget to bring a camera! How else would you record all of those hilarious memories? If you're really feeling creative get a vintage Polaroid camera. It'll give you instant photo prints and captures the perfect moment in one shot!

3. Skin Products

Taking care of your skin on vacation is vital. With all that sun and tanning oil your skin needs a breather. Apply sunscreen before you step out for the day. Use facial and body moisturizer after showers and before you go out as well. We prefer the oil-free facial moisturizer by Kiehl's and Josie Maran Vanilla Apricot Argan Oil for the body.

2. Books

A good book goes a long way. Whether it's fiction, a biography or just a collection of photographs, books are a great way to relax while at the beach. Some of our favorites include Piper Weiss: My Mom, Style Icon, Boris Vian: Foam Of The Daze and it by Alexa Chung. 

1. Summer Dress

Of course number one is going to be a dress! When you're running around on vacation you need a go-to summer lightweight dress. We prefer loose casual floral sun dresses that are comfortable, yet chic. The above dress is a vintage 90s grunge floral by yours truly, Lotus Vintage


So there you have it, our essentials for the perfect summer getaway. And make sure to use the ultimate bohemian duffel bag to feel extra prepared!


Have fun and enjoy!
xoxo


Our Favorite Lotus Picks

We can't deny it...Lotus girls are big vintage lovers and with summer approaching we can't help but want to go shopping! Lotus Vintage has some really great pieces for the summer and lots of awesome accessories too! So we all got together and decided to pick our favorite items. Though it may have been hard to pick for some, while effortlessly easy for others, we all chose beautiful and unique vintage pieces exclusively at our retail store. Take a look at our favorites below!


Yeliz



  

What 
Wide Leg Purple Jumpsuit
 80s Foster Grant Sunglasses
70s Floral Leather Belt
70s Floral Scarf
80s Boat Hat


 Why

"Jumpsuits are everything! If I could go back to any decade it would be the 70s so I can rock this look at Studio 54."


Mimma


 

    What  
70s Prairie Skirt
 90s Army Jacket
Vintage Harley Tank
Sweet Freedom Necklace
50s Sunglasses

  
Why

"I chose this outfit because I really like the boho-rocker feel, but also because it embodies my personal style really well."

India






 What 
70s Sparkle Lurex Maxi Dress


 Why

"This piece is so unique and funky! I think it's feminine with a bit of a fun side."
Adriene


What 
1930s Hand Embroidered Piano Shawl
1920s Flapper Hand Fan

 Why

"How could you not pick these items!? It's so unusual to find such rare pieces that are still in great condition. They have that true French bohemian style and classic glam." 
 
Come into our store to check out all of these items and more! 
Located at...

12 West Carver Street
Huntington, NY 11743

OR

Visit our online store for more!

Gypsy Jewels. Our Exclusive Redesigned Vintage Jewelry Collection

Did you know Lotus Vintage now has a jewelry line? Gypsy Jewels is our latest collaboration with our stylist, Mimma, who helped create these unique bracelets and necklaces. The line is a mixture of redesigned vintage and contemporary pieces. This jewelry has all the glamour and style of the 20s Great Gatsby era, but with a modern twist. Some of the pieces have a 20s and 30s feel, while others have more of a 70s boho / festival look with turquoise beads and cross necklaces. 

Now available exclusively in our webstore








Gypsy Jewels photos by: Lauren Weissler


When she's not working on Gypsy Jewels, Mimma also has her own jewelry line, Sweet Freedom. 





We caught up with Mimma to ask her about her latest creations...

How did you start making jewelry?
Initially I was searching for a creative outlet to express my style. I wanted to create a clothing line of my own and decided my passion was geared more towards jewelry. Eventually, with trial and error, Sweet Freedom basically came to be!

Where do you look for inspiration?
I find inspiration from all over. I get most of my ideas through Native American designs and the 70s hippie era. I especially love female rock stars and their looks, especially Stevie Nicks and Debbie Harry.

What’s your favorite piece from the Gypsy Jewels line?
My favorite piece is the Crescent Bib Necklace. I absolutely love statement pieces and that's a really cool bold necklace that makes one big statement!

How is Gypsy Jewels different from your own line?
Gypsy Jewels features redesigned vintage pieces whereas Sweet Freedom is a more modern throwback to bohemian style. Since Gypsy has actual authentic vintage pieces it has a more classic feel. Sweet Freedom, on the other hand, has a more tribal, ethnic and edgy vibe. Both lines are beautiful in their own unique way!


Girl Crush Wednesday: Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore is a style chameleon. Whether making friends with extra terrestrials or falling in love with Adam Sandler over and over again, she's been one of our favorite fashion icons for years. Here are some of her best looks:


Her sweet, free spirit went perfectly with her hippie look




She made grunge look good




Her cover shoots with Harper's 
Bazaar in September and October 
of 2010 were stunning


As was her photo shoot 
with them in January 2013


At The Golden Globes, this past 
January, pregnant and gorgeous


Boho chic

Rockabilly and glam




She can go from boho to classic 
Hollywood in point three seconds


As Drew Barrymore has grown, so has her style. We can't wait to see where she goes next. On beauty, she has this to say: 

"I think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period. Happy people are beautiful. They become like a mirror and they reflect the happiness." 

Here's hoping we can all be as happy and beautiful as Drew!


Model Off Duty - Toni

Meet one of the faces of Lotus Vintage, Toni Mennella. Toni has been a Lotus model for two years now and is a favorite amongst many of our shoppers!


As a 20-year-old Fashion Merchandising major at FIT her love for fashion goes beyond just modeling as she hopes to become a stylist someday in the near future.

She may be one of our gorgeous models, but Toni is overall a down to Earth girl’s girl!  

Get to know her in our little Q&A session below!



What are some activities you enjoy outside of work and school?
I love hanging out with my friends, shopping, and going to the beach.

Who are some of your favorite fashion icons?
I really love Nicole Richie’s boho-chic style and Lauren Conrad’s feminine style.

  If you could live in any decade which one would it be and why?
I would pick the 1920’s. I really love the glamorous and elegant fashion during that time.

      Where do you love to shop?
Some of my favorite stores are Urban Outfitters, H&M and Cotton On.

      Who are some of your favorite musicians?
I listen to all different types of music, but right now on my iPod I have a lot of Gavin DeGraw. I also love Demi Lovato.    



      How would you describe your personal style?
My style really depends on my mood that day, but for the most part I would say that I have a very girly style. My go-to is definitely a cute sun dress. I LOVE florals, my friends make fun of me all the time saying it's all I have in my wardrobe.
 
      What's your guilty pleasure movie?
Probably The Notebook or Crazy Stupid Love.
  
      Guilty pleasure meal?
 Definitely a huge plate of chicken parmesan!

      Where would you like to travel? 
I would love to go to Greece, it just looks so beautiful!

3 Ways to Bring in Spring!

Spring is finally here and with it comes the time for change. What better way to do that than by giving yourself some extra care?

We like to jump into spring by doing these yoga poses. They're a great way to wake your body up and they're good for you- inside and out. 

Cobra Pose:


After months of hunkering down in front of the fire (or heater), this pose is a wonderful way to open up your heart center, as well as lengthen your abdominal muscles and extend the spine. Cobra focuses on your kidneys, which help clean and purify your blood. 

Full Wheel:


This is a great backbend that extends your body, cleans out your liver and opens up for your heart for some spring loving! 


Staying healthy is about balance, both exercising and eating well. But veggies and fruit can lose their appeal once in a while. When an apple a day isn't cutting it, juicing can be another way to get your daily dosage in a delicious way! If you haven't heard of Love Grace- the gourmet raw juice company that's all about health and good living, you should definitely give them a try! They all have kinds of flavors. Here are some of our favorites:

Purify:
 When you want to start that new workout, this juice is perfect for getting rid of toxins, brightening your skin and keeping your body hydrated. 


Ginger Bomb Elixir and Beauty Elixir: 
To keep yourself motivated, try the Ginger Bomb Elixir. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties will keep you tough for the days spring decides to throw you for a loop- snow again?! 

For a fresh look, try the Beauty Elixir. With plenty of fruit, aloe and nettle, this one is great for a fresh face. 


Now that you're starting to get into shape, it's time to look good too! Dust off those cute wedges and sandals. If it seems like lately your shoes have become a messy confusing pile, here's a few fun ways to organize them.

Make your shoes art by storing them on shelves and urban chic boxes, like these: 




Rise above the clutter with a shoe ladder. Use an old wooden ladder like the ones you might find at flea markets or even an Ikea ladder shelf: 



Get outside and enjoy that sunshine! 

xoxo

Girl Crush Wednesday: Natalie Bergman

Natalie Bergman is one half of the psychedelic reggae-inspired band Wild Belle. Her and her brother Elliot released their debut album Isles in 2012 to rave reviews. With over a million views on their video for "Keep You" it's hard not to believe that this duo is going to be around for awhile.

The band has catchy and fun tunes, but really great style too! The gorgeous Natalie Bergman has been rocking the boho-chic look throughout various videos and live performances and we can't help but notice. Whether she's wearing a funky maxi dress, exotic animal prints or a pair of wide-leg pants and a loose white blouse she's always turning heads by creating her own unique modern version of a 70s bohemian style. Here are some of our favorite looks!













You can catch Wild Belle this year at Hangout Festival in Alabama or Governors Ball in New York. Click below to watch "Another Girl" and see more of Natalie's outfits!