Starting Over

As Josh and I are finishing up work with our latest client she’s been on my mind daily and has turned out to be my inspiration for this latest article. This particular client has a very interesting story as she came to us looking for someone to help her re-build a wardrobe that she’d spent 30 years carefully compiling, only to have it lost in a fire a couple months ago. She’s been amazing to work with and it’s brought me personally so much joy to witness us being able to help her feel optimistic about a very sad and frustrating situation.

I got to thinking about what if that had happened to me? Where would I even start? That’s when I thought this may be a very interesting exploration as it seemed it would be a way for me to communicate to my readers what I think are the must-have foundation pieces for a woman’s wardrobe this fall. I’m not going to lie, this article took me a solid day to pull together as I only let myself choose 20 items, and of course I wanted to find the “best” available. I’m putting best in quotes because what I think is the best is not going to be universal among all of my readers. As you’ll see I’ve “chosen my battles” a technique I’ve written about in other articles. I chose to spend more money where I think it’s important to do so, less in categories where I know you can still achieve the same classic and high-quality look while spending less.  A couple more things: 1. I did not give myself a budget to work within, I simply chose what I think is the best available online today for the 20 different key pieces, and 2. I did not cover things like undergarments, athletic attire, etc. I just stuck to work and casual wear essentials.

After all of that, what did I choose?*

1. Black pants (works with blazer to make a suit)
2. Trench coat
3. Pearls
4. Tank top
5. Pencil skirt (works with blazer as well)
6. Long, refined cardigan
7. Black pumps
8. Black blazer
9. Dark blue denim
10. Statement belt
11. Printed blouse
12. T-shirt
13. Tall boots
14. White button-down
15. Handbag
16. Casual cardigan
17. Dress
18. Hoop earrings
19. Black denim (that I would hem to the ankle)
20. Flats

(*For product details and links to purchase items featured, please email me and I’ll send you the list of the specific items.)

How much would this all cost to buy? My choices ended up tallying at about $8500.00, which may sound crazy but when you’re starting with nothing and you are in a financial position to make some educated decisions about where to spend your money, this is what I would recommend this season. I would love to read what some of your lists/choices would be if you are up for the challenge! Please send them to me at info@cabinetdenvie.com and if I get enough responses I’ll report back in an upcoming article.

You can also read this article among others by Jen Bakken at www.suzysaid.com

The Sartorialist – Book Signing In SF

I’m sure most of you know of Scott Schuman (better known as “The Sartorialist”) by now, but for those of you who haven’t yet, prepare to jump on the bandwagon.

After working in the fashion industry for years, Scott began taking pictures of what real people were really wearing in their everyday life in New York. He then shared those pictures on his blog. Little did he know, the following he’d receive would quickly and continually grow. Now, he’s being sent around the world to continue his work, has retailers developing window displays based on his photographs, and is one of the most influential individuals in the fashion industry. I’ve been following Scott for years and cannot be happier for the enormity of his success.

 

Scott has recently released his first book that showcases some of his favorite images from over the years. The book highlights some of fashion’s most famous figures as well as the random people he’s seen on the streets from around the world.

 

If you’re going to be in San Francisco Wednesday, October 21st, Scott will be doing two book signings. He’ll be at Barney’s from 5:00-7:00 and then at the Paul Smith store from 7:30-8:30.

See his blog at:

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

You can purchase the book in various book stores across the country as well as online. Or, you can purchase now here:

http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Search-Show?q=the+sartorialist&x=0&y=0

10 Observations Made During NYC Fashion Week 9.’09

1. Pulling together a show is a CRAZY amount of work. This could possibly be the understatement of the year, but for those of you that have never been to fashion week, but watch shows like “Project Runway” the final episodes when they’re at the tent only begins to tell a fraction of the story. A show in the tent at Bryant Park (and beyond) is as involved as a Broadway production but unlike Broadway the “show” really only lasts for about 15mn, (not counting the hour you wait for the show to begin at least as they never start on time). Here’s a little video of Zac’s show that does a pretty good job of showing some of the prep: http://videos.nymag.com/video/Zac-Posen-Spring-2010-Collectio#c=YR6LF31TF3L9YWT2&t=Model%20Diaries:%20Sean%20O’Pry
2. You get what you pay for. It was clear to me, (and now to my husband after me pointing it out), between the 3 shows that I saw this season and shows I’ve seen in the past you get what you pay for when it comes to talent, (i.e. the models). Because unfortunately the performance on the runway by those models does influence how your audience will interpret your work. We were at one show that clearly had a small budget so the designer was forced to use models that were probably good at commercial/catalogue work, but were not trained for the runway and many of them just looked nervous and anything but graceful on the stage. Runway models are meant to be essentially clothes hangers for the designers, so their lines need to be sleek and their movement needs to be steady, smooth and extremely confident. Mr. Posen on the other hand used amazing girls for his show, many of which I recognized from other runway shows by top designers and a couple I recognized from Vogue spreads, (you too possibly if you watched the video). If it were me and I was casting for my big opportunity at the park, I would take a less is more approach and invest in a few killer girls because they do make the clothes look that much better, which could mean millions to a fashion designer.
3. I’m loving the trends that I saw happening for spring. I must admit that I’m a fall/winter fashion lover at heart, but what I saw at two of the shows in particular really made me excited for what’s to come in a couple seasons. At the Academy of Art show I really loved the student’s use of fabrics and knits in a beautiful array of muted peaches, yellows, blues, purples and pinks. Everything that I saw coming down the runway felt really pretty and happy. Modern geometric shapes influenced the designs as well as bold patterns, while traditional madras plaid inspired some of my favorite looks.
    
   At Zac Posen’s show he too applied similar trends in his use of bold patterns and geometrics, but his palette overall was in much bolder hues. Zac gave a very noticeable nod to the 40’s in a lot of his work and I love his playful introduction of colorful fur for spring – very San Francisco appropriate! The gowns of course were out of this world with sequin detail to die for, and the sculpted silk pant that he designed (featured below) was not only fabulous, but it looked wearable – as did 99% of the clothes I saw go down his runway btw. I want to note again how prevalent fine-gauge knits are going to be for spring and I couldn’t be happier. Although we’re all going to assume that these knit pieces are going to look perfect on the models, I am confident that this style (ala Missoni) is one that really will work on everyone. It moves with your body, flows over your curves and wears much better than others.

    

4. Chanel is still the “it” bag. Now this may seem like common sense to some of you, but to me it was a bit of a surprise. Sure, it’s Chanel, so of course anything by the label will be 1. Extremely high in quality and 2. Timeless/ageless in style, but I guess I don’t think of it as a bag that I would carry to a show as a statement piece or the must-have accessory to pair with my look. Seems I was sadly mistaken because at least at NYC fashion week, Chanel was the bag to carry.
5. Anna Wintour and Rachel Zoe look exactly the same in person. I had to put this in here because these are the two that I saw at Zac Posen’s show that I got the most questions about. What were they wearing, how did they look, etc…? The one bit of dirt that I will share is that I was about 12 inches away from Donna Karen in a restaurant; she did not look the same as she has looked in mags, TV… And let’s just say, to be kind, the woman could use a very long nap and possibly a little tutorial while in the hair and make-up chair.
6. Choose your battles. It became clear to me pretty early on that although all of us attending the shows would love to be in couture from head to toe, in this economy it’s just not the possible for the majority of us. Women are now “choosing their battles” in that they’re making choices about what key pieces they’re investing in, and they’re mixing those pieces in with affordable yet fashionable items. For example, at The Academy of Art show in the tents that we attended on Saturday I sat next to a fabulous woman that was wearing a ring that was easily $20,000, yet her outfit was quite plain, black layers, no labels to speak of. At the Zac Posen show I noticed some of the same, I saw a woman that was dressed in Zac but sporting a very affordable, but very chic, Alexander Wang bag. And at both shows I noticed several girls confidently wearing denim paired with a form-fitting blazer, but their bags were clearly where their money had gone, as they were some of the best of this season. I too practiced this philosophy, (see pics below); I went to 3 shows and at each wore a mix of high and low. On the far left I’m wearing a Trina Turk fur bomber, over an Ann Taylor satin sheath dress, a wide faux diamond necklace from Neiman’s, (the designer’s name escapes me…), Prada pumps and Prada bag. In the middle shot I’m wearing a Zara denim biker jacket, over a Rachel Roy dress – (her exclusive line for Macy’s is fab – check it out!), bag and accessories from a no-name favorite shop in Chicago, and grey Louboutin pumps. Last but not least, on the far right I’m wearing an M by Missoni dress, Marc by Marc jewelry, paired with Prada boots and bag.

     

7. Act like you know what you’re doing and people will think you KNOW what you’re doing. That was the vibe we gave off when we were at the shows and because of that we were offered better seats, invites to next year’s events, as well as interest from designers. Confidence is everything, especially in NY and especially while navigating fashion week.
8. Watching a show at Bryant Park is something that anyone that loves fashion should do.  Seeing the excitement and anticipation on my husband’s face as we were waiting to get into the Academy Show was really amazing. I had been to shows there before so I think I forgot what it felt like to go for the first time, the rush you get from the eye candy of a tent full of people dressed incredibly, (most of them anyway), that are there because they have a shared passion for the industry or the scene itself, is pretty invigorating. And the show itself, especially the first time, always exceeds your expectations. The experience, (albeit extremely quick), is also truly inspiring as you see such incredible craftsmanship parade in front of you and you think of the months of work that went into every stitch.
9. NYC (more specifically Manhattan) is the only part of this country that truly lives and breathes fashion, period. I have traveled to, lived in, and almost lived in, the most cosmopolitan cities our country has to offer and every time I go back to NYC, (and not just during this particular week), I am always in awe of the appreciation that both men and women have of fashion and the time they take to actually “dress”. And by “dress” I mean taking the time to pull together a look for whatever they’re doing; going to work, going out to eat, going to the gym – it doesn’t matter, New Yorkers are doing it in style.
10. A girl (i.e. this girl) can only be glamorous so many days in a row. Before I left SF I told my Mom over the phone that I was going to NYC to “play dress-up” for a few days, and that’s what I did and it was great, but by day 3 of heels and make-up and “dressing” – I’ve got to tell you I was ready to come back to CA to scale it back a bit. In California it seems just about anything goes, (this is both good and BAD), but I have to tell you it’s pretty nice to have the option to wear just about anything at just about any time of the day; and stepping out of the airport to the smell of redwoods in the air, well that didn’t hurt my feeling about being back home either.

Fall Boots for the “Rugged” Man

The rugged work boot trend has carried over from last season and is still alive and well. I absolutely love the look, but it’s difficult for some people to pull off. For example, it’s almost not right for me to wear a pair of Red Wing work boots to the office. It’s just not fair to the boots themselves. It would be like buying a Ford Super Duty truck to commute to an office job in the city. The good news is, there are some incredible boots that will allow you to achieve the “rugged” without looking like you’re going to chop some firewood right after your 3pm conference call.

 

Maybe it’s my Wisconsin roots showing once again. Or, maybe after three years in San Francisco, I’m truly turning into a hippie more and more every day. Either way, over the last couple of years I’ve fallen in love with two shoe companies, Quoddy and Yuketen. Quoddy has been making hand-sewn boots and shoes in Maine since 1909. They make many varieties of shoes/boots, but my favorite is the Grizzly Boot.

http://www.quoddy.com/styles.html

 

Yuketen on the other hand began in 1989 and is based in California. They too have many styles of shoes/boots, but the Hunt Boot is perfect for my taste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.yuketen.com/06HuntBoots.html

 

If either of these boots are still too “rugged” for your taste, I’d instantly go to the new John Varvatos deck boot. It’s the first boot he’s made under his USA line (which just means, it’s really quite affordable at $265.) The boot comes in multiple colors, but I love the blue or the weathered brown seen in the picture. They’re great boots that you can wear with just about anything, including your heavy flannel shirts or thick, cable-knit sweaters.

http://www.johnvarvatos.com

J.Crew +

Collaborations between different companies and designers have been hugely popular for the last couple of years. Some companies have used these types of collaborations as one-off offerings and others have used them to continually add to their full-line collections. In my opinion, J. Crew has done an unbelievable job using strategic collaborations to broaden their already stellar collection.

J. Crew has always offered beautifully made, classic pieces while always staying on-trend. That’s one of the reasons it’s the perfect place for almost anyone to shop. But, they’ve now partnered with some of the top brands in their respected crafts in order to make key pieces that will stand the test of time. Each piece is the perfect balance between each classic brand, while still fitting in with the overall J. Crew collection.

You can see all of their designer collaborations on J. Crew website, but following are five of my current personal favorites. Each of them can also be found at jcrew.com.

 

Timex

J. Crew has teamed up with Timex to make an incredible military-inspired watch from the 40’s. Its face is distressed just enough to give it a great vintage look and the nylon strap makes it even that much more authentic. The best part is, since it’s made by Timex, you know it will last for years. I instantly fell in love with this watch the moment it came out and has definitely become one of my favorite new accessories.

Timex Military Watch: $150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sperry

It seems that you see Sperry Top-Siders everywhere you go nowadays. And for good reason, their classic style and comfort make them a true original. J. Crew worked with them to come up with a few different versions. But, my two favorites are the “Broken-in Original” and the “Original Nubuck Chukka”. The Broken-In Original is perfectly distressed to look like you’ve been wearing them for years. And the Nubuck Chukka is a great alternative to the classic slip-on.

Broken-in Original: $98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Nubuck Chukka: $125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mackintosh

Charles Macintosh (yes, his name was spelled without the ‘k’) was a true innovator in creating water-resistant fabrics over 200 years ago. And, they’ve been making incredible rain coats ever since. Mackintosh coats are absolute classics. Their long lasting heritage along with their incredible quality, make them the perfect partner with j crew. The price may seem a little steep at first, but I guarantee, this coat could last you a lifetime.

Mackintosh Coat: $800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baracuta

I’ve been a fan of Baracuta jackets for many years. This classic jacket was worn (and made famous) by one of my favorite style icons, Steve McQueen. But, it goes far beyond him. It’s been worn by some of the most stylish gentlemen in history, from Elvis and Sinatra all the way up to Mr. James Bond himself, Daniel Craig. I was thrilled to see J. Crew partnered with them to offer this incredible piece. You’ll see me sporting this jacket throughout this summer in navy.

Baracuta Jacket: $275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Mason

Any man who thinks “a dress shirt is just a dress shirt” hasn’t worn a quality dress shirt. The fabric quality and cut mean absolutely everything. And, when you find a quality dress shirt, it will last for years. Thomas Mason has been making that quality of shirting since 1796. They’ve partnered with J. Crew to make an entire line of shirting. They’re all incredible, but I’m partial to the classic white dress shirt (a staple in every man’s wardrobe.) The tailored fit with mother-of-pearl buttons makes this classic stand out.

Thomas Mason point-collar dress shirt: $135

Self Tanner: A Tutorial

If I were to list one of my absolute “must-have” accessories for every season, I would have to say it would be my self tanner. I chose to write about using self tanner this week because it’s a “how to” question I answer for my friends a lot, especially this time of year. I’m half Norwegian and half German; so let’s just say that I’ve been “pigment-challenged” all my life. And now in my later years I’ve even actually acquired an allergy to too much sun – is the universe trying to tell me something or what?  Could be, but I will still continue to “worship” the sun, only now a “sun in a bottle” because nothing makes you feel better or look better than “a little color”, am I right? 

I have to start off by saying I consider myself somewhat of an expert on self tanners as I’ve tried nearly every brand in the book over the past 10 years of dedicated application. And over those 10 years I have self-educated myself on how to apply it properly and evenly, how to keep it off my clothes, and how to keep the shade of darkness in check – even on the really dry spots. With the rest of the article I will share my knowledge of how to make the most out of this genius product because although self tanner will never replace the sun, it IS the smartest thing to do for your skin and your health this summer.

 

Let’s start with what you will need to purchase:

1.  Buy self-tanner as well as a basic lotion to mix with it. The self tanner I highly recommend and use myself every day is: Dove Energy Glow*, for medium to dark skin for $10.49 available at drugstore.com or if you’re lucky you’ll find it at your local Target or Walgreens. The basic lotion I recommend is Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15 for $8.29 at drugstore.com.                                                                        

 

[I can very genuinely write that I’ve tried many tanners, cost not necessarily being a factor,
and this extremely affordable Dove brand is simply the best.]

 

 

2.  Buy a loose robe/sundress/t-shirt to toss on after you’ve applied the lotions. Make it cheap and make it anything but white as it will discolor even if you wash it regularly after many mornings of use while you’re skin is still drying. I wear a cheap and short strappy cotton sundress I got from Gap Body and it does the job perfectly.

3.  Buy a loofah or use your current loofah at least once/mo.

 

Now a list of “how tos”:

1.  Take a shower and scrub off as much really dry skin as possible. And by “really dry”, I mean don’t obsess about normal dry-ish skin, but do concentrate on exfoliating dry knees, elbows and feet; and ankles are a must.

2.  After your shower apply tanner in combination with lotion. First dab a little of the basic non-tanning lotion to the “dry” spots, (all of your joints and your feet – tops/sides/back as feet seem to suck this stuff up fast). Next apply the combination of lotions and the ratio’s like this: if you want to look like you’re tan, use 3/4 tanner and 1/4 lotion; if you want to look like you have a light sun-kissed tone to your skin, use 1/2 and 1/2. Squeeze both of these lotions in your hand and mix, then apply as evenly as possible to your body. I would recommend starting with your legs, work on rubbing in the lotion until it feels like it’s 99% soaked in. Then wash your hands. Reload your hands with the combo and tackle your torso, arms, tops of hands, and I always dab a little on my cheeks, tip of nose and forehead followed up then by my normal moisturizer over my entire face. Wash your hands thoroughly again – always with soap because self-tanner can stain.

3.  Put on your cover-up and continue on with your morning and/or getting ready. Ideally you will be able to give your body a chance to soak in the lotion as to avoid any streaking or residue on your clothing, but honestly at times I barely give that process 10mn and the result seems to be the same.

 

Finally a few more tips about tanner:

1.  Be careful when you’re wearing white or a light color over your “tanned” body not to itch yourself hard enough where the fabric rubs your skin roughly as the fabric will most likely pick up some tanner. It will show up as a little spot that you can get out in the wash only.

2.  Be prepared for light colored clothing to stain over time upon consecutive tanner use. Frankly, it doesn’t bother me enough to stop using the stuff, nobody else can see it but you as it typically just effects the inner lining of pants, or maybe a collar of a shirt or jacket on a really hot day or over numerous wearings.

3.  Self-tanner is not sunscreen and it is not permanent. I love to prep before the beach by getting a nice glow, but I know that I still need to apply more of my Lubriderm as sunscreen over it, (yes, the Lubriderm lotion is the best sunscreen in the world because it works, 100% the same as “suntan lotion” and it doesn’t smell!). And the no-so-permanent aspect of it?  Let’s just say it does eventually sweat or wash off, so you will need to reapply after a day at the beach to get that glow again.

4.  Self-tanner does help “extend” your tan. You would not belive how many times my husband has said post-mini vaca that my tan has lasted so much longer than his has. We both have the same white skin, but I’m using tanner every day – so you do the math. 

5.  Self-Tanner is more effective with daily or multiple-day usage. The more days you use it in a row, the deeper the shade of “tan” you’ll see. So if you’re prepping for an occasion, start early, I would suggest at least a week prior to the day.

 

This article and many others written by me are on suzysaid.com, under the “by Jennifer Bakken” link.

Father’s Day Gift Guide

 

We all know how much our dads mean to us. They take out the trash, help fix things around the house, walk the dog (especially when it rains), and most importantly, they love us unconditionally. This Father’s Day, show him how much he means to you with something in which he may not invest the time or effort, his summer wardrobe. Instead of overwhelming him with any big changes to his summer collection, I recommend starting with a few key accessories that will improve any of his summer outfits (even though he would never admit he wears “outfits”.)

 

Sunglasses

Every guy needs a great pair of sunglasses. And, I’m not talking about sunglasses he wears when running, biking, working-out or glasses with massive (and very gaudy) logos on the sides. I think guys are much better off going with timeless pieces like metal or plastic aviators that never go out of style. There are many to choose from (Randolph, Selima, Oliver Peoples, etc.) but my personal favorites are Ray-Ban Aviators in silver/grey and Persol in Tortoise. Either pair will bring any outfit to a new level and will look completely effortless. And, let’s be honest ladies, either pair will bring out your man’s inner Redford or McQueen (and how can you not love that?!)

Ray-Ban Aviators; $129

Persol: $360

Both available at sunglasshut.com

 

    

    

 

Weekend bag

There’s nothing better than a long weekend summer getaway. And, whether you’re going to the beach, lake, or resort, you’re guy needs the perfect “weekender”. It’s time to leave the gym bag at home and get him a great fabric duffle. Get the right bag and it will last him a lifetime. There are a lot of options from which to choose, but you don’t have to break the bank for an incredible bag. My personal favorite is the Filson medium cotton duffle with bridle leather straps.

Filson duffle bag: $280.  Available at filson.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swim Suit

Beaches, pools, water parks, or even the occasional run down the Slip-n-Slide when the kids aren’t watching, he’s going to be getting wet this summer. And, he needs a great swim suit. It’s time to finally retire those (way too long) board shorts for good. It’s alright to show a little bit of leg and, I have to tell you, the shorter swim trunks are actually much more comfortable when you’re in the water. (And, ladies, don’t tell me you don’t love seeing those short bathing suits worn by Jude Law and Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley.) I’ve been known to sport the “short suits”, but you don’t have to go to extremes. Two incredible options are from Sundek and Original Penguin.

Sundek Rainbow: $125 (3” inseam). Available at saksfifthavenue.com

Original Penguin “Boxed in the Line”: $59. Available at: originalpenguin.com

  

         

 

    

 

 

Hat

As much as we love being in the sun, we still need to be protected from it. A great hat can not only protect his head and face from a wicked sunburn, it can also be a perfect accessory. Unless he’s on the golf course, take away his standard baseball hat with his favorite golf brand on it and get him a light-weight driving cap or straw fedora. As far as the driving cap goes, look to get him one in a material the breaths extremely well like linen. We want to be sure he stays cool and comfortable while being protected from the sun.

Ivy Linen Driver Cap: $35. Available at jjhatcenter.com

Goorin Brothers Straw Fedora: $45. Available at nordstrom.com

 

    

 

 

 

 

Summer Shoes

Running shoes are an absolute must have…to run in. That does not mean dad should be wearing them with jeans, shorts, and chinos throughout the summer. Consider getting him a pair of casual sneakers or a classic driving moccasin. The right casual sneaker or driving moc can look incredible with everything from shorts to dress pants. Personally, I love to wear my casual sneakers with light-weight dress pants to give a more relaxed look to outfits, and the driving moc with shorts to bring a little more sophistication to the outfit.

I’m obsessed with the adidas Rod Laver sneakers because the mesh breaths incredibly well for the summer months. They are still, in my opinion, the best summer sneaker on the market. Regarding the driving moc, there are a million different options out there. I love the classic version by Tods, but you can easily go with a more moderately priced version. A great option would be the Allen Edmonds Brooker. Or, if you’d like to add a little color to the mix, look at the Carson Driving Moccasin from To Boot New York in Arancio (orange).

adidas Rod Lavers: $60. Available at shopadidas.com

Allen Edmonds Brooker: $195. Available at allenedmonds.com

To Boot New York Carson Driving Moc: $245. Available at endless.com

 

     

 

 

 

 

Josh

The Prodigal Shoe Returns

I’ve been a runner for as long as I can remember. I competed in track & field though high-school and into college. After finally getting over some lingering injuries, I’m running again on a regular basis. Of course (as most of you know) with everything I do, fashion is always apart of it. And more specifically, shoes.

I know that some of you may say that running shoes are not the most fashionable of items, which I agree with…to a point. But, every once in a while there comes a shoe that stops you in your tracks. For me, that shoe has always been the adidas ZX8000 Torsion. I had this shoe right when it came out in 1989 and has been my favorite running shoe ever since. In fact, I’ve been hunting to get a pair of these classic shoes again for years.

 

 

 

 

 

My quest has finally been (partially) answered. adidas has recently celebrated this incredible shoe and re-released an updated version of it…even in the original colorway of Crystal/Calvi (or as I like to simply say, teal/purple/yellow). They incorporated some of their modern running technologies like Formotion, but they’ve kept the visual integrity intact. Just looking at this shoe brings back so many fond memories running on the track back home in Wisconsin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m still on the hunt for the original from ‘89, but at least for a little while, I can breathe a little easier knowing the shoe is back to enjoy once again.

For more information and where to buy, go to:
http://www.shopadidas.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3309373&shopGroup=R&cp=2019627.2039609.2012801.2006445&colorId=930466

Josh

Couture Jewelry at Costume Prices

This week I wanted to share with all of you what I thought was an amazing find in Chicago this past weekend.
Just outside of the “Old Town” neighborhood’s gates lives an understated little store called “Fabrice”, www.fabricechicago.com. The original Fabrice store is located in Paris and within it they sell their own line of jewelry, all handcrafted, all one-of-a-kind. The Chicago store features in addition to the Fabrice line numerous other incredible jewelry designers mainly European, but some American.

The reason I’m writing about this store is because of the incredible value I found in the selection they had to offer. I’m telling you this jewelry is not only incredibly unique (as it’s one-of-a-kind), but it’s also priced incredibly low and I mean low for what you’re getting. The quality of these pieces is outstanding, the thoughtful craftsmanship apparent in every one.

The piece I ended up “splurging” on, (as I was to buy nothing this weekend – yah, right), was the “Chain Link Resin Necklace” (see picture below). I’m featuring the turquoise one as it was my favorite of the two colors featured on their website, but the one I purchased was in black. The reason I couldn’t pass this necklace up was because it looked nearly identical to a piece that Prada did that I was coveting this winter; same style, same resin, same weight, same everything – but the price point! This necklace was/is a steal at $120, like all of the other pieces I’m featuring here. I also have to tell you that when I tried this on I felt that the length was a little too short and the woman that was helping me offered me two more links to add to the necklace, (which made it perfect btw), and then she said that she would not charge me for them! That kind of service is unheard of and a reason for me to go back and for you all to check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Chain Link Resin Necklace; $120

Please also note that the website is not the best at showing the variety that lives within that store, in fact it only tells you a fraction of the story. For instance, the resin necklace and click bracelet come in about 15 different colors/color combinations and the site only features two… So please, if you don’t see what you like color-wise, give them a call!

 

Fabrice   1714 North Wells Street    Chicago, Illinois  60614    312.280.0011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cream Pearl and Ribbon Necklace; $545

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Row Links Necklace (in Metal); $385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click Bracelet; $75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Flower Necklace Pale Blue (comes in purple too-gorgeous!); $515

 

You can also read this article (and much more) on www.suzysaid.com

Mr. Smith goes to San Francisco

The new Paul Smith store in San Francisco has now been open for a couple of months, and it has instantly become one of my favorite shopping destinations. First of all, I’ve been in love with Paul Smith clothes and accessories for as long as I remember. He always has his personal take on traditional elements whether it be color, cut, or materials. Case-in-point, I recently purchased my latest obsession, which are his Miller Brogue shoes. They’re a beautiful, classic pair of suede wingtips, but in an incredible “washed green” color (see picture below). They are come in red and (if you’re not one for such colors) a traditional brown as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second reason it’s one of my favorite destinations is because of the store design itself. The exterior is an incredible mid-century modern design and the interior is filled with separate rooms offering different visual and merchandise experiences. They offer so much more than just clothes and accessories. It’s filled with so many books, photos, and curiosities, you wonder if you’re still in a retail store or in a museum. And for that reason alone, it’s the perfect place to shop for that person “who’s got everything.”

Whether you live in San Francisco or just visiting, the Paul Smith store is an absolute must-visit destination.  
I promise you will not be disappointed.

Josh

 

Paul Smith
50 Geary Street
San Francisco
CA 94108