It’s finally summer in the City, which for the uninitiated means NYC proper has turned into a sweat box. I’m not complaining though. Our most recent winter was brutal, lasted forever and I thought I’d never feel heat again without getting on a South Africa bound plane. So I happily will run my AirCon, pay and exorbitant electricity bill and wipe my sweaty face with a smile. The good news is, I’ll look cute while I do it, thanks to the good folks at Macy’s who last month offered me the opportunity to run wild in their stores thanks to their “American Icons” campaign, celebrating all things American and good, especially New York.

I’ve been heading to the Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square weekly for the past six weeks and usually shopping with reckless abandon… so much so that I require breaks at one of the Starbucks, which can be found on nearly every floor. (I know, I know. Tough life. :-)

I’m more focused this week because I’m gearing up for Essence Music Festival on July 4^th weekend in New Orleans. “EMF”, is a fashion show as much as a music event and I have a few dinners and appearances lined up in addition to the concerts. The trick here is to find cute clothes that I won’t sweat to death in, in all that NOLA humidity.

I have most of my looks planned, but I needed a few extras. Here are my Macy’s treats that I hope will have me feeling and looking cool over the holiday weekend.

If you follow me on Instagram or watched “The Show”, you know I’m a dress girl and also a pretty modest one at that, but I will make an exception for something really cute like this adorable Rachel Roy play suit. I gave it a spin last week when I went to see Dave Chappelle and Erykah Badu at Radio City Music Hall and received lots of compliments. I paired it with red flats by MIA (available on Macys.com) to give the look some extra “pop!”… and I thought this romper would be too scandalous with heels.

: Rachel Roy playsuit

I spotted these rompers on the Macy’s website this morning. Hmm… Maybe these should go to NOLA too?

: Guess Tie-Dye denim romper. ON SALE: $59.99

: American Rag ruffled print romper. ON SALE: $29.99

: Guess floral romper. ON SALE: $47.99

I’m also breaking out of my knee-length A-line cut shell lately. I loved the pattern on this French Connection maxi dress so much that I had to give it a try, even though it’s longer than I would usually do. I fell in love! I have a fancy dinner party my first night in NOLA and this makes me feel more Belle than Brooklyn.

: French Connection maxi dress

Of course, I can’t get out of Macy’s without a run through the make-up department! (I’m a borderline make-up junkie.) I love a good smoky eye and pale lip so I picked up these awesome finds from Urban Decay. (If you’re not an expert at smoky eyes, they come with instructions :-)

: If you’ve ever thought , “I like her make-up” anytime in the last 2 months (and I wasn’t on TV), I was wearing one of these. I swear by Naked 2.

Because Urban Decay hasn’t failed me, I’m relying on this setting spray to hold my make-up together in NOLA heat. I’ll keep you posted on its progress via Instagram! LOL!

: I'll be using the "oily". Thanks, Mom!

If you follow me on social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter), you know that all those Belle dresses caught the eye of the good folks at Macy's and last month, I began a partnership with them for their "American Icons" campaign. What does that mean exactly? It means I spend all my free time ~~perusing~~ shopping the many, many floors of Macy's Herald Square, the flagship store! It's like Christmas in July, or er, June. It also means I've been charged with infusing Macy's Americana-style with a lil' bit of Brooklyn.. and Belle!