School spirit down to your soles!

| Posted Aug 20th 2008 11:17AM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Stores, Accessories, Shoes, Sporty wear, Designers

School spirit is always in style. What's one of the best ways to flaunt yours? Customize yourself some shoes in your school's colors.

The Adicolor kit you see at right was one of the first customizable shoe kits, by Adidas in 1983. Now of course, you can do your customization online.

Choose your favorite shoe designer below and get to work, you fabulous artists, you!

Keds
Nike
Reebok
Converse
Vans

Our pick for this season is Keds, and if you really want to take the Artistic License Bus to Customization Town, check them out on Zazzle.com!

OAK Boston Handmade Clothing & Gifts

| Posted Aug 19th 2008 2:29PM by Mallory Whitfield
Filed under: Stores, Interviews, Under the Radar

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Keara Sexton, owner of OAK, a Boston boutique stocking handmade clothing and gifts from over 175 different independent designers.

Continue reading OAK Boston Handmade Clothing & Gifts

Etsy Spotlight: Maryink - Scandinavian fairy tale meets punk rock

| Posted Aug 11th 2008 4:20PM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Bags and Purses, Stores, Accessories, Jewelry, Casual wear, Sporty wear, Vintage wear, Men, Designers, Tops, Do Good, Steals and Deals

We found you something. It's Maryink.

Maryink is an Etsy shop that sells t-shirts, jewelry, tote bags, candle holders, and more. They are run out of Nashville and have a terrific Scandinavian fairy tale meets punk rock vibe, resulting in designs that are retro-cool and playful. According to Mary, yes, the Mary, one of their items was even inspired by Sesame Street! (Blue Russian Nesting Dolls Tote, click here.)

Here's a link to a great video about the designers, Mary and Chris.

Continue reading Etsy Spotlight: Maryink - Scandinavian fairy tale meets punk rock

ShopBarbara, because she's cheap

| Posted Aug 1st 2008 1:00PM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Stores, Accessories, Under the outer, Casual wear, Sporty wear, Dresses and Skirts, Evening wear, Tops, Steals and Deals, Flatter Your Figure

The first thing you might notice on the ShopBarbara site is the "$5 Shipping" banner at the top. Yay! If you live in the United States, it's $5. DON'T COMPLAIN, EUROPEANS, or we'll pelt you at an exchange rate of 1.6.

We ordered a couple items and they came fast! So, that's a good start.

Let's talk about what they're selling: Flattering casual wear, dresses, bras and panties, and accessories.

Continue reading ShopBarbara, because she's cheap

eBay WTF of the Day: Stylish lampshades, UR DOIN IT RONG

| Posted Aug 1st 2008 10:32AM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Stores, Accessories, eBay WTF of the Day

Okay. We all know that some of the mannequins on which we've seen hats displayed on eBay are kinda scary. Remember this one? It totally gave us nightmares.

Well, eBay seller Staceylynn61 has found a solution: Put the hats on lampshades.

We first discovered this when looking at the pictured Cleopatra hat. Steps of realization:

Continue reading eBay WTF of the Day: Stylish lampshades, UR DOIN IT RONG

Rick Owens flagship opens in NYC

| Posted Jul 29th 2008 3:02PM by Michael Cohen
Filed under: On location, Stores, High-end threads, Designers

One of the country's preeminent, fashion boutiques, Atelier New York, is known for a strict color palette of blacks, grays, charcoals, and other, sophisticated urban tones. And the designer lineup is truly second to none: Ann Demeulemeester, Undercover by Jun Takahashi, Label Under Construction, Number (Nine), Carpe Diem and others.

Now, in collaboration with Atelier New York, one of the store's most popular and acclaimed designers, Rick Owens, has his own flagship boutique at 250 Hudson Street. Owens designed the space, which includes a few chairs and benches of his own design (for sale through Galerie Philippe Jousse) plus a towering, 6-way mirror and unique, fog installation (he calls it a "fog aquarium").

Continue reading Rick Owens flagship opens in NYC

Would you pay $400 for this? Hundreds of people tried to at the Christian Louboutin Sample Sale!

| Posted Jul 17th 2008 10:02AM by Zandile Blay
Filed under: On location, Stores, Steals and Deals

[If fashion is war, then consider Zandile Blay your embedded reporter. From fashion shows to stylish parties, she's there to cover it all -- from London to New York and everywhere in between. Read all about it from your favorite fashionista.]

Class, work, doctors appointments - none of these could ever get me out of bed early, but the Christian Louboutin sample sale did. I, and three friends, got ready by 7 a.m in the morning to head to mid-town Manhattan where the invitation only sale took place. Believe it or not -- we weren't the first ones there. By 10 a.m the line wrapped around the block.

Gallery: Christian Louboutin Sample Sale

Continue reading Would you pay $400 for this? Hundreds of people tried to at the Christian Louboutin Sample Sale!

Dusa of Skaparinn, Interview Part I of 2

| Posted Jul 12th 2008 7:02PM by Michael Cohen
Filed under: Stores, High-end threads, Designers, Interviews, Why Aren't You Wearing This?

What does "indie designer" mean to you? If it´s similar to indie pop or rock, it definitely covers a large field.

What is the biggest challenge Skaparinn faces? Every new collection is a challenge, so right now it´s working on s/s '09 and keeping the Skaparinn boutique full of new clothes.

What do you see for Skaparinn in 5 years time? Excitement and more colours.

Tell us about the woman you design for. She´s a woman who likes to wrap herself in sensuous clothes and read good books when she´s not out on a glamorous adventure.

When did you first want to become a fashion designer? I guess at 15, when I started making my own clothes.

What advice would you give to an aspiring designer? To follow his or her dreams no matter what. Climb every mountain!

In regard to your f/w '08 collection, which elements of '30 or '40s style did you intentionally leave behind in order to update the sensibility for today? It´s not easy to explain because it´s always the feeling rather than something you can really pigeonhole.

continue reading for Part 2 and a lookbook gallery

CB2 is who?

| Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:04PM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Haute Home, Stores, Accessories, Steals and Deals

Sale! CB2.com has some gorgeous dinnerware on sale, such as the green chrysanthemum plates you see at right. $2.95-$4.95 apiece, people!

CB2 has a lot of chic, reasonably-priced stuff. Some of it's just on the cool edge of crazy. Look at this vase. Who would think that CB2 is actually Crate and Barrel?

Continue reading CB2 is who?

Teen sex ad not endorsed by JC Penney

| Posted Jun 24th 2008 3:03PM by Jonathon Morgan
Filed under: Stores, Style in the media

Continue reading Teen sex ad not endorsed by JC Penney

Park Slope store plans to go mobile

| Posted Jun 20th 2008 12:10PM by Michael Cohen
Filed under: On location, Stores, Under the Radar

Thursdays in Park Slope, Brooklyn:

Over the summer, Ai Ai Gasa (translates from Japanese as ""two loves under one umbrella") is running weekly events and sales on local designers like Feral Childe, Box 185 and Sumie Tachibana. From 7 to 9pm, stop by for drinks, food items and discounts.

Then the store goes mobile for two months across the US with a SVO mini bus, bringing their house brand of recycled umbrella clothing and jewelry, silk-screened tees and art, plus choice pieces from local designers.

Check the store's website for August/September dates to be announced. Some cities definitely on the tour: Richmond, Madison, Missoula, Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Memphis and New Orleans.

Ai Ai Gasa, 274 5th Avenue, between 1st and Garfield (through June 28th).

Get paid for your heartache: ExBoyfriendJewelry.com

| Posted Jun 9th 2008 4:01PM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Stores, Accessories, Jewelry, Men, Steals and Deals

You know that beautiful necklace your ex-boyfriend gave you that sits in the back of your jewelry box because it just makes you think of how you broke his heart and wonder if you're a bad person?

Sell it!

Continue reading Get paid for your heartache: ExBoyfriendJewelry.com

Those customer satisfaction surveys at Banana Republic

| Posted May 30th 2008 12:44AM by Cat Lincoln
Filed under: Stores, Casual wear, Dresses and Skirts

Perhaps you've received one after making a purchase at Banana Republic. That extra receipt with a url and the promise of 20% off your next purchase for answering a few questions about your visit to the store. Gap does them, too, as part of the same corporate monster.

The survey takes a good five to ten minutes, and you have to actually think about the service you received. But you get a discount code good for one full price item which must be used within three months.

Too bad it doesn't come with an alarm, or glowing red light to remind you to a) bring it with you when you go shopping or b) pull it out of your wallet where it's been folded for two months and 28 days. After all, the discount is only worthwhile if you use it!

Do you answer store satisfaction surveys?

Always, that discount comes in handy!Sometimes, if it was a really good or bad experience.Never, it's a waste of my time.Vote

Giveaway reminder!

| Posted May 28th 2008 8:30AM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Stores, Accessories, Designers, Contests & Giveaways

Reminder! Only three more days to get in your comments for the Orelia giveaway!

They are Retro Princess-perfect and classy addition to any outfit. Click here or you'll miss out on your chance for free bling, and visit oreliaboutique.com to check out their terrific line!

Retro Princess dress and swimsuit heaven: Unique-Vintage.com

| Posted May 27th 2008 3:02PM by Annie Scott
Filed under: Stores, Accessories, Casual wear, Vintage wear, Swimwear, Designers, Dresses and Skirts, Tops, Steals and Deals

Whether you've got prom or a wedding to attend, find yourself something gorgeous in the reasonable $100-$200 range on Unique-Vintage.com. We love their vintage-inspired looks in bold colors and flattering cuts. Read on for our top five picks!

Continue reading Retro Princess dress and swimsuit heaven: Unique-Vintage.com