THE MANIA is mine, but I know there are people out there who agree with me. And this is our time of year!
Every spring I scout around for new patterns; some of the pieces from earlier posts are still available. Styles range from the sophisticated to those truly for the silly season. The sophisticates seem to be beating out the more whimsical offerings, and not just in my editing. And I’m not saying that I buy more dishes each summer—my cupboards would collapse. But I sure do like looking at them. And . . . every once in a while . . . okay, I buy one or two. That’s why God invented canapé and dessert plates, right?
Here’s what I’ve found this time. Feel free to pile on and share your discoveries. We addicts like to compare notes.
The Beatriz Ball Collection shows a very different approach to melamine, and a lovely one it is.
LEFT: The 14-inch-diameter Vida Alegria Bowl comes in blue, shown, also creamy butter, green, salmon and white, and features beaded trim along the crinkled edge. It’s $57 at Nordstrom. Vida Alegria has a matching 21-inch-long lozenge-shape serving tray ($50), a 20-inch-square serving tray ($62) and a sweet footed cake stand ($62).
RIGHT: Beatriz Ball Collection captures summer salad in white melamine with this Vida Large Lettuce Leaf Bowl; it’s almost 14 inches across the top and $52.50. The Small Vida Lettuce Leaf Bowl, 8½ inches across, is $26. All at Nordstrom.
Here’s melamine having fun.
LEFT: From Kate Spade New York comes this four-piece Citrus Tidbit Plate Set. The plates are six inches across and $30 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
RIGHT: From Anthropologie comes the Tropical Collection, here a trio of Tropical Melamine Nut Bowls in assorted patterns and colorways. $18 for the three at Anthropologie. Single Tropical nut bowls are also available, now $4.20 each.
From the One Kings Lane website comes this sophisticated blue-and-white melamine dinner ware, Indochine Ikat by TarHong. From left to right is the 15-inch-long Indochine Ikat Serving Tray, $50; the 10½-inch Indochine Ikat Dinner Plate, four for $80; and the 8½-inch Indochine Ikat Side Plate, a set of four in coordinating patterns for $55. A set of four 4-inch bowls (not shown, in coordinating patterns) is $45. All at One Kings Lane.
The Ingrassia by Latitude Run 16-piece dinner service (dinner plates, salad plates, shallow bowls and tumblers) comes in three colorways. You have to pick one—Sea Aqua, Citrus Green or, not shown, Canyon Coral—but each one has pattern and contrast within its color palette. Each set is currently on sale for $46.99 at Wayfair, which features a seemingly endless selection of melamine dinner sets.
LEFT: Anthropologie’s Tropical Collection includes 10½-inch dinner plates; choose red motif (upper left) or green motif (the one with the frog). They’re now $7 each at Anthropologie.
RIGHT: Anthropologie strikes again with Hailee canapé plates in, from top, pink, raspberry or turquoise. They’re now $4.20 each. A set of three Hailee Nut Bowls, one in each colorway, is now $10.50.
LEFT: This Edison by Bay Isle Home 12-piece dinner service for four in waterside colors is $74.99 at Wayfair. The pattern is also available à la carte, as it were, in sets of six dinner plates ($38.99), six salad plates ($37.99) and six cereal bowls ($38.99). Should you crave order, there is also a 13¾-inch-wide serving bowl ($59.99), a two-piece serving platter set, one oval, one round ($53.99) and a three-piece serving set (chip-and-dip server, oblong platter and three-section divided serving dish, on sale for $45.99). All at Wayfair.
RIGHT: The clever folks at Juliska have now made it safe to take their delicate style outdoors. From the Juliska Isabella Collection, we show the Isabella Acrylic Berry Bowl (5 inches across, $15 each), Isabella Acrylic Goblet ($17 each) and the 72-ounce Isabella Acrylic Pitcher, $49. Juliska’s Isabella Collection also includes tumblers, cocktail and wine glasses and other pieces. They’re all at Bloomingdale’s.
LEFT: Anthropologie is really on a melamine tear. These Lehua dessert plates comes in peach, cream, sapphire and turquoise. A set of four of one color is $32. Lehua also comes in 10½-inch dinner plates. For a limited time, a set of four—in peach, turquoise or sapphire—is $28.
RIGHT: Anthropologie’s Colloquial 6-ounce melamine tumblers come in five cheerful designs: Watermelon Whimsy, Lemon Meringue, Haute Dogs, CC: Cats and Literal Leopard. They’re $6.50 apiece.
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