Summer is coming to an end and we’re doing our best to savor every last moment!  

Here are some of our favorite cocktails to keep your Summer vibes going strong.

1.  Purple Haze

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 6 blackberries
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce lavender simple syrup
• Soda water

DIRECTIONS

1. Muddle blackberries in a mixing tin.
2. Add other ingredients and shake with ice.
3. Double strain into an ice-filled highball glass.
4. Top with soda.
5. Garnish with lavender blossoms and a floated blackberry.

2.  Islander

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces rum
• 1 ounce coconut milk
• ½ banana
• 1 ounce pineapple juice
• 1 ounce lemon falernum

DIRECTIONS

1. Muddle banana in a mixing tin.
2. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice.
3. Double strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a dissection of pineapple leaves.

When watermelon is in abundance, this is a great way to use it. Bobby Flay purees seedless watermelon chunks, then strains the juice through a sieve and mixes it with silver tequila, sugar syrup, blueberries, mint and fresh lime juice.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 8 cups diced seedless watermelon (1 pound)
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 3/4 cups blueberries
• 3/4 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus 8 sprigs for garnish
• 1 1/4 cups silver tequila
• Ice

This light and refreshing cocktail is as reminiscent of the American South as it is of the South of France.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 a large peach, sliced
• 6 small basil leaves plus extra for garnish
• 1/2 oz great lemon juice
• 11/2 oz gin
• 1oz Lilet
• 1/2 oz simple syrup (I like agave syrup)
• Ice
• Club Soda

DIRECTIONS

In a tall glass, muddle the peach with the 6 basil leaves and the lemon juice. Add the gin, Lillet and simple syrup. Add ice cubes and top with club soda. Garnish with basil.

The Collins was most likely named after 19th-century bartender John Collins of London’s Limmer’s Hotel. The Tom Collins was originally made with Old Tom, a sweet style of gin that’s extremely hard to find today.

How to Make Insanely Easy Granita

INGREDIENTS

• 16 ounces limoncello (lemon-flavored liqueur)
• 12 ounces gin
• 8 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 24 paper–thin lemon slices
• Ice
• 16 ounces chilled club soda
• 8 mint sprigs

Strawberries sweeten these mojitos from mixologist Joaquin Simo.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 lemon wedges
• 24 mint leaves, plus 4 mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
• 4 strawberries, plus 2 halved strawberries, for garnish
• Ice cubes, plus crushed ice
• 8 ounces gold or aged rum
• 3 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 2 ounces prepared sugarcane syrup or agave nectar

7.  Cucumber-Honeydew Freeze

Fruit flavors generally mix well if they’re from the same botanical family. This cool and light summer cocktail works because cucumber and melon both belong to the Cucurbitaceae family.

INGREDIENTS

SWEET FENNEL SALT

• 2 tablespoons ground fennel seeds
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt

COCKTAIL

• 1 lime wedge
• 8 ounces gin
• 2 cups chilled chopped peeled cucumber
• 2 cups chilled chopped honeydew melon
• 6 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup honey
• 5 cups ice
• Cucumber wheels and honeydew melon balls, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, mix the kosher salt, sugar and ground fennel seeds.
2. Moisten half of the outer rim of 6 chilled white wine glasses with the lime wedge and coat lightly with the sweet fennel salt.
3. In a blender, combine all of the remaining ingredients except the garnishes and blend until smooth. Pour the drink into the glasses. Garnish the drinks with the cucumber wheels and honeydew melon balls.

8.  California Caipirinha

Duggan McDonnell of San Francisco's Cantinariffs on the caipirinha by embellishing the classic combination of Cachaça, sugar and lime with Essensia Orange Muscat from Quady Winery in Madera, California.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 limes, cut into eighths
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
• 16 ounces Cachaça
• 4 ounces Orange Muscat
• 4 ounces Simple Syrup
• Ice

9. Mango-Peach Sangria

 John Besh serves this lightly sweet, fruity white-wine sangria over plenty of ice cubes. “Use Viognier—it has a nice balance of fruit and acidity,” he says.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup mint
• 1 cup Grand Marnier
• 2 peaches, cut into thin wedges
• 1 bottle Viognier
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 mango, chopped
• 1/3 cup sugar

10.  Rosemary-Infused Honey Sidecars

INGREDIENTS

• 3 sprig fresh rosemary
• ¼ c. sugar
• 1 c. Honey
• 2 c. VSOP Cognac
• 1 c. lemon juice

FOR ADDITIONAL RECIPES FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST @ADACOLLECTION

SOURCES REFERENCED:

Burgundy has been a hot color for fall since 2012 when the shade oxblood broke out as the seasons signature color.  And it looks like it will continue strong for fall 2016.  It’s an easy color to wear and even a touch of the color gives your outfit richness and sophistication. I love the idea to mix different shades of burgundy together, pair it with an unexpected powder blue or wear it from head to toe in a monochromatic look.  By adding a belt, these looks have become more cohesive, flattering and polished.

This muted fall orange, that pantone calls Pumpkin Spice is  a rich tone for fall.   I loved to see how its being incorporated with black, white and print in the images above… but…that little belt is tying together the entire look.

Leopard print has become a staple for fall and you’ll want to keep it classy and sassy. There are many great tips out there for wearing leopard and I think one of the key things is to wear the print and not let it wear you.  You can mix leopard print with other neutrals, or prints and then unify a seamless look with a solid belt.  Choosing the right belt will depend on the color of print, your outfit and your body type.  However, the one belt and color you can always count on for every body and outfit – is the classic ADA Wrap belt in black or tan.

How do you give your seasons-old coat a fresh new look?  Add an ADA belt.  Every year I get a call or email from a customer excited to tell me that she personalized her coat and added shape to her puffer jacket with one of our belts.  And its true, ditching the generic belt your coat comes with and adding your own leather belt to it – will get you excited!  It’ll give your coat a pop of luxe and stand you out from the crowd.

I couldn’t be more excited for the pant suit trend!!  I think they are sharp, chic, sophisticated and I love them.  BUT even the best tailored suits can look boxy and too masculine.  Adding a belt high on the waist can define your figure and make you look slimmer, pulled together and more feminine.  Here are my favorite pant suit belts options.

A beautiful flowy dress worn under a coat, sweater or shirt – can look very frumpy.  And if that’s not the look you’re going for – a quick easy fix is a waist-cinching belt.  Many women know how to wear belts with pants or over a coat but not quite sure how to wear them with a dress.  Choosing the right belt for your body is important and I have a great video, “A belt for every body” showing you how to wear a belt for your body type.  Good news is – the ADA Wrap Belt is a belt for every body.

• Wine and pumpkin spice are not only for drinking – but these colors dominated nearly every fall runway show.  Both  flattering colors on many skin tones and look great in a monochromatic styling and with…black.  We have many belts in both color tones and we’ll be launching them soon…

• Dressed up bohemian. Boho chic for fall is all about the layered luxe.  And without a doubt, an ADA belt gives the flowy styles – shape, personality and flattering appeal. My favorite free-spirit apparel line, Free People, will be carrying the ADA wrap belt in rich fall tones including wine, cognac and black.  See all the ADA boho belt collection.

• Print motifs in florals, stripes and leopard dominated fall runway shows.  But as much as I love print –  I have to be careful to wear the print and not let it wear me.  Fool proof styling secret…. break up prints with a belt!  My favorite classics  layer smoothly over prints including the classic wrap belt, skinny wrap and midi wrap.

• Oversized trench coats and puffers. Lovely but shapeless – and obviously a necessity for cold weather.  But how about personalizing a coat or jacket with a belt?  Want to see my favorites – click here.

• Different shades of tan – From tan, cognac, latte, rustic tan, taupe, vintage tan – we have 10+ shades of tan in belts you can mix match with your tan apparel, scarves, coats & boots.  See all the options here.

Denim crazy!  You’ve probably seen denim in every shape, dress and cut up form.  And of course,  we have belts to complete the looks for every style – classic, boho, western inspired and sophisticated.

The snaps on the Cala allow you to control the placement and just snap it in place without any overhanging leather. It’s an AMAZING style for covering those seam lines and elastic waists on rompers and jumpsuits and defining your waist with comfort.

How to make it yours

You know how much I love versatility to allow for your creativity.
Here are a few images of how the Cala can be snapped.

Side note: Share with us your favorite ways to style and wear the Cala belt!(#adabelts on Instagram and Facebook @adacollection) so we can re-share with our followers!

Don’t worry – don’t worry – I have a video in the works for wearing the Cala belt for your body type.

Thank you so much for reading – and now I’d love to see how you’re styling the Cala belt!

Tag us @adacollection #adabelts

Leave a comment below and share your feedback

All of my best,

XO
Ada