Summer's here, school's out, and the weather's warm... so why not hit the beach and bask in the beautiful sunshine? Don't forget your sunscreen though! It's important to wear an effective sunscreen. The attributes I look for when buying sunscreen is it's photostability (will it retain it's SPF under heat and sun exposure), it's broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and it's SPF (must be at least SPF 30 to provide all-day sun protection). Here are some of my recommendations.

- Coppertone Sunblock Lotion Oil Free for Faces, SPF 30. This is certainly one of my favorites. It did not irritate my skin one bit (which is great because I have skin that is only occasionally sensitive). It's also oil free which means no shine.
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 45. It had a pleasant scent and leaves your skin feeling soft and lovely.
- BullFrog Bull-Frog Marathon Mist Sunblock Sunscreen. Great for us lazy people. Spray and go! :)

Personally, I like buying drugstore sunblocks compared to expensive, cosmetic brand name ones. I find that they are just as effective and the less you pay, the more likely you are to apply liberally and often!

Anyhoo, I leave you with the wise words of Mary Schmich and the artful direction of Baz Luhrmann. I only wish that the speaker at my commencement was this engaging.

Linda

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The new Summer/Spring 2008 A.P.C. collection has just arrived, and although I’m a big fan of A.P.C.’s high ready-to-wearability factor, this season’s collection makes it hard for me to justify paying top dollar for it versus simply purchasing similarly made items from H&M or Forever 21. Sure the pieces are freakishly enticing with its smart use of neutrals, ultra-feminine silhouettes, and just overall prettiness, but when I decide to shell out the dough for designer duds, I would expect to be compensated with the subtle details that regular cheap imitations and reiterations don’t posses.

One might argue that A.P.C. isn’t the type of brand you go to if you’re looking for quirky details and embellishments, but despite the fact that their aesthetic focuses on clean, classic clothing, I still feel that with their top notch design team and price tags, they should deliver.

Still, I’m a sucker for their goods, so I’ll still be browsing and most likely stalking for sales, but until then I may have to turn my attention away and go to other contemporary brands and their more economical counterparts for the season.

Jill

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It’s barely even spring, and sunny weather footwear are out in full force in department stores and online retailers everywhere. Last time we brought you summer dresses part one and deux, this time we bring you an even more enticing array of eye candy, er, or should I say foot candy?

Here are some of my top flat sandal picks. Next time heels!

All sandals from shopbop.com. Background images from Lula Magazine Issue #6 Spring/Summer 2008.

Jill

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Designers Zowie Broach and Brian Kirkby are the duo behind Boudicca, the fashion label that is anything but just another clothing line. The eponymous label derived from an ancient British queen who led a formidable uprising against the Roman Empire, creates a women’s line that takes inspiration not from media and celebrity hype, but art, film, and conversations between friends.

With collections described more as a documentary or story rather than mere garments to cover the body, the pieces are reminiscent of the rigidity of Victorian form intermixed with architectural silhouettes that defy conformity to fashion norms. The exquisite tailoring and attention to detail, with each carefully sewn pleat and dart, complements the minimal color palette of black, white, and the occasional silver.

Accordion pleating, binding corsets, exaggerated juliette sleeves, and asymmetric shapes are some defining features of the line. Focusing on concept over profit, Boudicca has quickly gained the respect and credibility of fashion’s top names and built a devoted following of fans who appreciate and consider clothing as an art form.

Jill

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It’s not very often that I encounter a designer whose collection I would wear in its entirety, so I was pleasantly surprised to come across Australian fashion label Obus.

Designer and creative director Kylie Zerbst debuted her first collection in Winter 2000. Seven years later, Obus is on its fourteenth collection entitled Asphalt Dreaming. This Autumn/Winter 2007 womenswear collection focuses on sharp tailoring, quality knits, underrated neutrals like asphalt, plums, olive green, rust, teal, and other wonderfully muted colors.

Despite the line being entirely manufactured locally in Melbourne, Obus gives a very classic European feel with its tailored wool trousers, crisp cotton dresses, and delicate knits. Add to that Obus’s signature style of layering numerous pieces, giving the line a very Japanese streetstyle meets German army functionality and structure.

Obus is available for purchase in various locations in Australia, Japan, and the United States. Check the website for details.

Jill

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Me thinks someone at Club Monaco ran out of ideas for bags this season. If you’re going to rip off a prominent design like the Mulberry Bayswater, at least add something useful, like a shoulder strap or a longer set of handles for shoulder carrying functionality! I mean, this doesn’t really hinder my childhood love for Club Monaco — after all, a really good percentage of my wardrobe comes from them, and they do really have a knack for absorbing my monetary funds, but it always makes me a little sad to see a company that I respect and support go the easier and seedier route of blatant design ripping. They should be above that (yes, I know I’m being wildly idealistic).

But in all honestly, the nude-grey suede is really quite lovely and considering the affordability (bags at Club Monaco range in the 100-200 range compared to a rather astronomical 900-1k for the Mulberry), it’s not a bad deal. I guess one could also consider this simply as a testament to the strength of the Bayswater design — forever a classic.

Club Monaco

Mulberry Bayswater

Sherry

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OK, so I admit it. If you haven’t already noticed from my prior posts glorifying Anthropologie for its modern take on antiquated homeware, fun and elegant clothing, and just plain ol’ supreme cuteness—I am a total slave to Anthropologie. Sure they charge exorbitant prices for simple things like door knobs, tank tops, underwear, or light switches, but if you are lucky enough to live close to one of its numerous branches, they usually have sales that let you buy a few good pieces (read: a pair of socks and earrings if you’re lucky).

Case and point—I managed to snag a few fancy schmancy drawer knobs to bling-ify my otherwise staid cabinet for only $3! That’s a good price for knobs isn’t it? What do I know about buying hardware. If it’s pretty, shiny, and looks like it could be useful, I say come to Mama. Maybe I am a little biased and deluded from seeing anything in the store for under $10, but I digress.

So, if like me, waiting for a sale to happen is not enough to satisfy your cuteness hunger pangs, then maybe checking out Bound Together, Anthropologie’s exhibit of handmade artists’ books, will satiate that insatiable I-Like-Pretty palette. The exhibit opens on June 28th at their gallery at Rockefeller Center in New York and features bound books from out of the ordinary materials and sculptural objects created from recycled everyday items.

For all you non-New York residents, you can check out some of the artwork at Anthropologie's website. It's not much, but it should hold you over at least until the next big sale!

Jill

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Another summer means another round of dress whoring hoarding. For those who did not get enough the first time around, Sherry and I have decided to combine our dress hoarding-Internet researching-style obsessing prowess to bring you a second installment of “I Love Summer Dresses”. But wait—there’s more! Colin, previously mentioned here, will be our guest blogger today, giving us his perspective on what he would wear thinks is “super cute” for summer!

Sherry and my (Jill) picks:

Top Row: Forever 21 Woven Floral Dress • Anthropologie Little Havana Peasant Dress • Anthropologie Festa Dress • J. Crew Anchor-print Shirtdress • Harmon Gun Flap Dress • Dries Van Noten Mini Baby Doll Sports Dress

Bottom Row: Forever 21 Linen Dress • Banana Republic Striped t-shirt Dress • A.P.C. Plaid Dress • Generra Ruffle Bottom Dress • Joie Lovely Feeling Dress • Stella McCartney Tank Dress

Colin’s picks, with some words of wisdom:

I haven’t always been the domesticated, well-trained boyfriend who can rifle through a sale rack and instantly recognize the serious deals on some designer women’s threads. Oh no. There was a time when I would have told you that dresses were a rather bland item of clothing. How many different styles or prints could you really have? A dress is a dress is a dress, I thought. Now, after countless hours of shopping and using the phrase “ohhh, that’s really cute”, I’ve grown to appreciate the designs and styles of women’s clothing (and dresses in particular). Without further ado, on to my summer dress choices:

• I like fun dresses… something different with a little flair. That’s how I feel about the “Kitty” Cargo Shirtdress by DVF. It’s casual and super cute. I like the flared collar and the little self tie belt. The design, along with the khaki color, makes for a super casual and comfortable looking dress.

Diane von Furstenberg Kitty Cargo Shirtdress

• For my second pick, I wanted to choose something with a simple design but nice, summery print. This Sweet Pea by Stacy Frati fits the bill. The colors are very soft and pleasing and the cut is cute. I like the ruffles around the neck and am always a big fan of the knotted tie.

Sweet Pea by Stacy Frati Ruched Dress

Happy hoarding!

Jill, Sherry, & Colin

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Having taken my first stab at sewing my own clothing, I have come to a real appreciation for the people who toil away for hours at the variety of ready-made clothing we consumers have available to us. Cutting, assembling, measuring, and stitching each piece carefully and with the extra loving touch of TLC is no small feat, especially for a novice such as myself. That is why I was immensely impressed when I came across the intricate designs by Uniform Studio.

Creating clothing for infants, children, and adults, each piece is simultaneously simple and intricate, as well as classic and modern in its design. The tremendous work that must have gone into putting in such fine details (check out the surprisingly enticing blister-like bubbles) is undoubtedly impressive in its own right, but more noteworthy is the fact that each piece looks effortless to create.

With mottos like “Emphasis is on manipulation of fabric, rather than embellishment”, Uniform Studio has quickly won me over.

Check out images of their collection here.

Jill

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A few months back, Sherry introduced me to Lula magazine, a funtabulous biannual fashion and art magazine based in the UK. The magazine is full of wonderfully styled editorials, fun interviews, and a ton of eye candy for those of you, like me, who covet the artsy fartsy.

A bit of a challenge to find, you can subscribe to Lula through their website ($54 for 2 issues—kind of steep), or if you’re one of the lucky few who stumble across this elusive little magazine at a local bookstore, it is about $15 plus tax per issue. Only in its fourth issue, Lula is a great addition to any collection, not only for its writing, but also for the dreamlike shoots and illustrations.

Jill

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In the ever-changing world of fashion, it is very trying to keep up with each fleeting craze. The latest ‘IT” bag, this season’s colors, ballet flats, wedges, trapeze dresses, nautical—it is enough to give anyone a headache (or one big irreparable hole in their designer wallet).

One thing you can definitely be sure of is the abundance of great things coming out of Australia. Some designers to keep a close eye on (and a few of my favorites) are:

Lover

LifewithBird

Alice McCall

Karen Walker
(Karen Walker actually hails from New Zealand, but has stores throughout Australia)

Valerie Tolosa
(I covet the Ashlee Frill dress)

These names are but a few, and if you are not convinced yet, then take it from Tyra Banks who set the location for this season’s America’s Next Top Model, in where else but lovely Australia.

Jill

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After walking about a mile (a mile may be stretching it a bit, although each excruciatingly painful step felt like FIVE miles) in one of my favorite wedges, I found myself cursing my feet for their lack of natural cushioning. I mean what sane person would think walking any more than a block in three inch wedges would not result in instant pain and suffering?!

Either I have the worst judgment in shoe comfort, or I am a complete shoe masochist. Thankfully, there are designers like Kristen Lee who creates stylish shoes that don’t leave your feet so impaired the only way to get around is to perform an army style belly crawl—trust me, halfway down the street, I was considering it.

I first came across Kristen Lee from the new TLC show Shut Up! With Stacy London. Upon hearing the words ‘comfort’ and ‘style’—combined with London’s familiar screech “Shut up!!”—my ears instantly perked up. Boasting of comfort technology with its micro soles and memory foam, Lee’s shoes offer women respite from the modern day torture device otherwise known as high heels. Designed in New York and produced in Italy (a shoe lover’s paradise), Kristen Lee’s shoes combine the chicness of city living with the old skool craftsmanship of Italian artisans. Although I’m not too keen on all the styles, a few definitely jump out at me—the spring/summer 2005 collection is my favorite.

Jill

P.S. She makes bags too!

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The Great Games Experiment

Gamers love to pretend that we are in tune with developers. Take a trip to any MMO forum and you will see countless people talking about how much better they can design the game. Well, thanks to The Great Games Experiment gamers and developers can now work a little closer together. Dubbed the “youtube of games,” The Great Games Experiment gives a chance for both indie developers and the big names alike to place their games up to the judgment of the gamers themselves. GGE has everything from flash games to free games; even classics. Many games can be played directly from the site, while others require you to download them. For games that will cost you some change, there are reviews from gamers as well as notes from the developers. This site is in beta, and it is already one of the most useful sites I go to for gaming information. When it becomes popular it should do some wonderful things for the game industry.

This is completely related to:

Fuzzy Shoes

Ok, I’ll admit it. I hate shoes. If I could wear sandals everywhere I would. The problem with this of course is that on cold winter days, I nearly freeze. This is where bonsai sandals come into play. They are just like the ratty Birkenstocks that I normally sport, but instead of a cold cork they are lined with fuzzy warm fluff. According to the website they are a year round sandal designed to keep your feet warm during the winter, and cool during the summer. They come in four different colors, all of which are equally cool.

Ok, maybe they weren't so related.

Kris

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If you’re dragging a backpack around town, why not collect some solar energy to power your cellphone and other devices while you walk? Domino Magazine is celebrating green in its current issue. They interviewed Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger, about his eco-friendly lifestyle. Graham carries one of Voltaic Systems' solar-paneled backpacks to juice his portables as he travels to his various power lunches. These packs come in an array of hot colors from silver to orange and green and your basic black. Styles range from classic backpack style to messenger bag and cost from $199-$249. They’re not for charging laptops, though: only small portable devices like ipods, cellphones, PDAs, cameras, etc. And they do require sunny days, which thankfully have been plentiful recently, at least around here.

Mimi

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Nothing pleases me more than when I find a great new artist, music, designer, blog, gadget, website you name it, to add to my inspiration jar! That’s why I was tickled pink when I stumbled upon Alyson Fox’s illustrations. Something about the simplicity of her faceless/headless creations really appeals to me. Fox’s drawings depict everyday occurrences splashed with a touch of whimsy and fantasy. Set on a brown paper backdrop, portions of the artwork are subtly highlighted with a pop of color. I love the faintness of each line and the randomness of the images like taking a snapshot of her daydreams.

With a degree in photography and fine arts and a background in visual merchandising, Fox currently freelances on design projects, as well as creating her own line of fashion accessories and products for the home. For more detailed images and information on pricing, check out her website.

P.S. Big ups to design*sponge for making my inspiration jar a little more happy!

Jill

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APC is evil. But wonderful. Their marketing is brilliant. The clothing is simple but styled really well. It is a bit expensive, but the stock is very limited, so the demand is high. And I am a sad little sucker for their oh-so-lovely Summer 2007 collection. It’s like the siren’s song to me, and I’ve been making googly eyes at the little tunic dress, the short sleeved balloon shirt, and all the skirts.

*Peers into empty piggy bank*

The line is masterminded by Jean Touitou, who previously also designed for Kenzo and Agnes B. It’s easy to see a similar design thread running through all three lines, although APC wins out on price. The same youthful basic-chic-cool appeal. Simplicity with an understated but thoughtful twist. Intriguing interview from Index Magazine.

As great as their stuff is, I almost choked when I saw the price tag for their wedges. $439. Blame the euro.

Sherry

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Being constantly on a lookout for things that help me to relive my youth, I was excited to come across Spanish fashion label Jocomomola—try saying that five times. With its vibrant colors, playful prints, and loose cuts, the collection instantly brings me back to the idyllic days of yore skipping around in Punky Brewster sneakers and brightly mismatched ensembles.

The entire site is in Spanish, and while a brief stint in high school Spanish can only get you so far, you can definitely navigate around the site to view the collection. Can you say, “¡Quiero comprar!”?

Jill

P.S. Currently their line is only available in parts of Spain, but here’s to hoping it will make its way stateside.

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With the new year comes a new round of birthday parties. If you are going to a birthday party for a lovely lady and have no clue what to get, or you are sick of buying (and receiving) yet another gift bundle from Bath and Body Works or Victoria Secret, then feast your eyes on this handy gift idea.

I introduce to you, Birthday Girl by Philosophy, a $35 five piece set that provides a bit of pampering and fun for the hands, feet, lips, and bath time. Packaged in an adorable white vinyl tote with a classic Philosophy print, birthday girl is a treat for a friend, relative, or even an acquaintance.

Jill

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I grimly stuck by my wide-legged jeans and my straights, and now…they are back! One has to love (or hate) how quickly the denim trend wheel spins. I’m just hoping that color denim dies a quick and painful death since I have yet to forget the nightmare caused by the ill-fated season that Gap unleashed on the world with their hyper-neon color jacket/pant sets--back, oh, not THAT long ago. Seriously.

Anyways, NY Mag has a nifty guide full of wide leg jean reviews (supposedly tested and validated). Not sure I agree $58 is really a bargain for Lux quality jeans, but relative to $300, it’s a steal. Anyways, if you’re looking for a real bargain, H&M and Levi have yet to fail me.

Sherry

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I heard about Zafu from a colleague who swore she found and bought great fitting jeans using this site. Since I have shelves full of jeans that are either too baggy, too huggy or too high (mom jeans) or too low (J-Lo), I am desperately seeking a pair that fits just right.

Zafu does only one thing. It helps you find jeans that fit. They don’t sell shirts, shoes, bags or anything else. What they do is take you through multiple steps to define your body type and style preferences using photos and filters that make it easy to determine your preferences. Then they deliver a dollop of denim options just for you. You can even sort their choices by price or brand. Each item is described in detail by the folks at Zafu who’ve actually tried the stuff on and can tell you whether the manufacturer sizes run large or small. I’d rather buy a size four that’s cut big than a size six that’s cut small, but that’s just me so this was really helpful info! In fact, I ended up buying a pair of jeans that even Goldilocks would like ‘cause they fit “just right.”

Mimi

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Recently I came across Michi Girl, a free Australian daily e-mail newsletter that brings to you fashion finds, weather forecasts, latest sales, and just a random mishmash of lovely finds from the land down under. Being a subscriber to Daily Candy, a similar web site and e-mail newsletter for those in the US and London, I was eager to explore offerings from our neighbors across the world.

What really drew me to Michi Girl was the beautiful artwork featured on the site and newsletter. The pictures are by Kat McLeod, the illustrator for the fun and useful book The Cocktail: 200 Fabulous Drinks by Jane Rocca. I sent a little note to Kat, and not only was she modest and very nice; she was also quite helpful. Upon my request, Kat pointed me in the direction of another book that she illustrated simply titled Bird (at the moment, the site is down)—a book that observes the link between birds, the female form, and fashion and how each influences the other. The book is a wee bit over my budget, but with the production that goes into it (real embroidery and a variety of paper stocks—drool) I definitely plan to own a copy someday.

Jill

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You know when you find something that is so amazing that you only want to hoard it for yourself for fear that once it catches, it will be ruined forever? FOREVER! Well, that my friends, is Impulse. I stumbled across this wonderful little gem through Pike/Pine (a Seattle street style blog) via face hunter. Impulse is a Seattle-based boutique that is relatively new, but which carries a lot of my favorite brands- can we say A.P.C, Mayle, Alice Roi, and other pricey but enduring goodies? Not to mention that the merchandising on their blog is genius. They (quite nicely and with much personal style and flair) model the clothing they sell as if it were a natural extension of their wardrobes.

They have a knack for putting together simple but quirky pieces that have that little ingredient called *personal style*. I get the feeling that each piece has lovingly been picked out because it reflects the taste (excellent taste at that!) of the store owner, rather then a mishmash of trendy in-the-moment hot labels slapped on a model without much styling or creativity. Sadly, the prices are not entirely wallet-friendly, but still very much worthy of sporadic investment splurges. Repeats to self: “Cost-per-Wear...”

Sherry

P.S. Did I mention that you can email them and they will let you know about stock availability and take phone orders? They are super duper nice.

Posted by Sherry at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the temperatures dropping to a whopping 40° (don’t hate me for living in sunny California), winter is officially in full effect! What does winter mean to you? For me, winter is a new wardrobe filled with warm coats, fuzzy hats and scarves, tights, warm woolen mittens, and of course, a mug full of hot chocolate. These are a few of my favorite things:

•1 Rebecca Taylor Military Style Overcoat •2 Rebecca Taylor Embellished Pea Coat • 3 Tocca Guendalin Coat • 4 JCrew Handknit Popcorn-stitch Gloves • 5 Stella McCartney Leather Gloves • 6 Herringbone Tights • 7 A.P.C. Knit Cap • 8 Candela NYC Lurex Knit Berets

Jill

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Every now and then I'll come across a product that just seems completely random and out there. The type of item that results in nothing less than a confused response from the typical onlooker, including myself. Yet, such products tend to tickle my fancy and make my ooh, shiny! list. Indeed, I love the random and the peculiar, and today I wish to present you with one such item…

Behold! The T-Qualizer.*

The dancing lights aren't just the result of animated GIF wizardry, but the shirt itself, as the T-Qualizer has an actual working equalizer on its front that responds to nearby sounds. You're probably thinking, "Sean, a shirt certainly doesn't need such a feature." I wouldn't disagree, but that's in part what makes it so great. Besides, any shirt that necessitates batteries is worth at least a moment of consideration in my view.
---
On a completely different note: sometimes it's nice to have an example to work from when tackling an objective for the first time. The numerous video sites on the web work pretty well in not just telling, but showing you how to accomplish a variety of potentially mystifying tasks. However, sorting through those sites to find what you're looking for can be somewhat daunting.

A few months ago I came across a site that seems pretty well thought out and is specific to the land of instructional videos. VideoJug.com is full of staff- and user-submitted videos showing you how to do pretty much anything and everything. Interested in learning how to buy and prepare fresh flowers? They have a how-to video on the subject. Being tormented by your neighborhood vampire and looking for a way to deal with it? Yep, they have a video on that too.

Enjoy!

Sean McKnew
Product Specialist

*Hugs and kittens to the Paperclip Fairy for alerting me to the T-Qualizer

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Jill pointed this designer duo out to me quite a while ago (mostly for their insanely cute dresses but also for a certain girly similarity in design and color palette to Tsumori Chisato) and then today, I read about it on another fashion blog. Sooo it’s being carried by Barneys. Always a good sign.

Sherry

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There are times every now and then when I hit a shopping lull. I become bored, jaded and underwhelmed. My usual suspects just aren't doing it for me:

• AG, Citizens of Humanity, James Jeans, Paige. Great, have them all. No more needed.
• James Perse, Rachel Pally, Ella Moss, Velvet jersey frenzy. Check.
• Marc Jacobs. Fun, but usually not the most practical, flattering or affordable.
• DVF prints and dresses. Her universally flattering wrap dresses make me look anorexic. No offense DVF, you have some great prints and cuts.
• Baby doll/pregnant shirts & dresses from H&M. Lovely, but I need classics!

Luckily I had the DKNY Fall 2006 collection & the Pure line to bring me back to sanity with wearable city staples. The runway show actually lacks some of the other pieces I found…an offbeat taffeta dark green skirt with an elastic black bow that would look perfect with a sweater, black tights, and chunky black heels, a couple sweaters and dresses with floral prints remniscent of some older marni collections, and a lovely black silk sleeveless shell with a silk tank underneath. It is exactly the kind of clothing that I need and am dying to stock my closet with. Very urban, but with a chic unfussy attitude. The kind of clothes that I can just throw on in the morning without having a nervous breakdown trying to match the odd assortment of pieces I own. And shockingly enough, the styling and quality are very reasonable for the price. A breath of fresh air considering how disgustingly overpriced everything else is getting. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, just go to Anthropologie.

Sherry

Posted by Sherry at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have been recently looking for a charm bracelet. I felt that there was no better way to commemorate my life’s events and travels. After I found a great deal on a gold charm bracelet on eBay, I went off in my search for the perfect charm to commemorate my May 2004 trip to Glasgow, Scotland.

What I first learned is that it will be very likely that I will be spending more on one charm than I did on my bracelet. Fortunately, there is no shortage of charms out there. There are dozens of websites that specialize in them, so there are plenty to choose from. There are two types of charm bracelets that I have seen so far; the traditional link bracelet and the more contemporary Italian charm bracelet. They also come in different metals; 10-14k white and yellow gold, as well as sterling silver. If you are on a budget, the sterling silver choice is your best option, as you can get a very pretty charm for around $20.

I found a lovely 14K gold Bagpiper charm for $117 on a website called Charm'n Jewelry. I really like this site because they have the best selection of charms that I have seen online so far, and they seem to have the best prices as well. Now that I know that my choice metal is going to be expensive, I'll have to save up to purchase charms to commemorate my upcoming Hawaii trip in December, and my Dublin, Ireland and Berlin, Germany trips next year.

Why do I have to have such expensive taste?

Jennifer

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Found this interesting article about color forecasting. Might help explain all the flashes of neon yellow/lime on the runways recently.

(Thanks, the Fashion Spot)

My personal favorites from this season: HC (of course), Jeremy Laing (even if Jill contends that his previous collections are stronger...), Aquascutum, YSL and McQueen. And of course, DKNY for wearability and price point.

Clockwise from top left: Hussein Chalayan, Jeremy Laing, Aquascutum, DKNY, McQueen, and YSL (purple flower godessness)

Sherry

Posted by Sherry at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yoox is such a heartbreaker. They have a terrific selection of designer goods for many different styles and price points (ex: Prada, Marni, Dries, Isabel Marant, Clements Ribeiro, Hussein Chalayan, and more). I love their selection and the random treasures are just waiting to be discovered, as long as you have a good chunk of time to set aside to browse their site--it's not easy to navigate and they simply have a humungous selection of products from past seasons. Unfortunately, this site is not for the faint-hearted or indecisive. If you see something you like or want and the price looks suspiciously good, snatch it up. The best things usually only have 1 in stock, and disappear very quickly. Case in point, my two most recent losses:

• A lovely black Evisu coat (in an XS!)
• Black leather Camper boots (questionably my size)

I contemplated the coat for less then 24 hours and boom, gone. I hesitated for less then 12 hours on the boots, and they sold out. The coat I’m a bit heartbroken about. The shoes, well, there are many cute flat black boots to be found. Life goes on.

They occasionally have sample sales, so get on their mailing list and keep your eyes peeled. I saw a gorgeous blue Marni coat go for $200 once, although alas, not in my size.

Sherry

Posted by Sherry at 06:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 20th is National School Backpack Awareness Day. Do you know what your kid’s backback is doing to his back? Do you know what yours is doing to yours?

• More than 7000 emergency room visits in 2001 were related to backpacks and school bags. Half of those injuries involved kids 5-14 years old
• The average student carries a backpack weighing almost 25% of his/her body weight.

But you don’t need statistics to tell you that heavy backpacks equal achy necks, shoulders and backs. If you lug a laptop bag around, you too may suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous back pain.

Here are some bright ideas for better back care for your kid:

• Wheeled backpacks (Blatant plug.)
  
• Backpacks with waist straps to balance the load
  
• Thick padded shoulder straps to ease the load
  
• Duplicates of books at home so your child doesn’t carry heavy texts back and forth each day.
  

As for you, how about a bumbakpak that rests on your ahem. These new computer/messenger bags balance on your back using a unique Y strap system. They offer cool color combinations, a multitude of pockets for paraphernalia and three sizes for one just right for your laptop.

Or perhaps a messenger bag from Ameribags, makers of the Healthy Back Bag. I’ve sworn by mine through multiple airline trips. It balances the weight on one shoulder with its unconventional sling shape and has loads of convenient pockets to stay organized.

As the sponsors of Backpack Awareness Day note, “Lighten up!” Dragging a heavy bag around is just...a drag.

Mimi

Posted by Mimi at 06:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

One day I awoke with an insatiable need to own the perfect shade of blue nail polish. Now, I do not want some tacky bright blue or teal that you might have once considered “totally cool” in the fifth grade, nor some excessively glittery or iridescent debacle, but a lovely deep shade of blue, which I have currently only been able to find on automobiles.

I have performed an exhaustive trial and error with both department store and drugstore brands like OPI, L’Oreal, Revlon, New York Color (NYC), and Wet ‘n Wild to the point where it looks like Punky Brewster is my manicurist. Even brands known for carrying unconventional colors, like Urban Decay, Hard Candy, and MAC Cosmetics did not have an exact match of what I wanted.

The closest I have come is Nightfall by MAC Cosmetics, which incidentally is an exact match to my car color—huzzah!! (The image does not do the color justice.) I am going to check out Moody Blue also by Mac Cosmetics, Aruba Blue by Essie, and Blue Velvet by Rimmel, but I am guessing that those colors are much more of a blue black, which is not what I want.

If all else fails, I may have to resort to some service that customizes nail colors the way some companies do for lipstick, foundation, and other cosmetics. If anyone out there knows of any companies/services that customize nail polish color or other brands with great shades of blue, a heads up would be greatly appreciated—I promise to name my firstborn after you.*

Jill

*Disclaimer: All mention of baby naming is due to excessive amounts of inhaling nail polish fumes and will not be honored. Have a nice day!

Posted by Jill at 04:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night, I was sitting in a local café when my friend and I were approached by a complete stranger carrying a contraption very similar to a skydiving or bungee harness. Because there was neither an airplane nor an open field for landing in sight, I figured that his curious contraption surely served another purpose than to hold a person’s total body weight as he thrust himself out of a plane several thousands of feet in the air.

After some questioning and testing of the product, I discovered that the puzzling gadget was neither a skydiving nor bungee harness but an innovative alternative to the ubiquitous Jansport or Eastpak backpack.

The BackTPack is an ergonomically designed bag developed by a physical therapist with 35 years of experience behind her belt. With two lateral bags on each side of the body and adjustable shoulder straps and front-hip buckle closures, this bag promotes good posture and balance, as well as relieving back and neck pain. The BackTpack also comes with tons of compartments and padded panels for enhanced comfort and carrying space.

As it turns out, the stranger was no skydiving enthusiast, but a field researcher gathering opinions and suggestions about the bag. After testing out the product, I must say that it definitely has potential. The bag is comfortable, has numerous pockets, and really useful for people who already have back problems or are concerned about prevention. Although you may get some stares from the unconventional appearance of the BackTpack, it does come in various color combinations so that you may at the least wear it proudly with colors you like! Where was the BackTpack when I was lugging my oversized textbooks from class to class, cursing the lack of a butler or personal cubby space? WHERE?!

Jill

Posted by Jill at 04:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Even though I am no longer in school, and will probably not experience back-to-school shopping for a while, I am going to indulge myself for a second and make my “wish-back-to-school want list”.

I've created my back-to-school wishlist on flickr with the