Monthly Archives: November 2008

Sales This Week: Online, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Posted on November 29, 2008 | Leave a comment

Sales this week 11/24-11/30:

ONLINE:

botanistjpeg*Botanist eco-friendly benches and nesting tables raise funds and awareness for charitable organizations worldwide.
Save 20% – Order online by Dec 1st
Enter code: BOTDEC1
www.orange22.com

• Net-a-Porter.com’s holiday sale features fall fashions from Chloé, Fendi, Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, and more up to 50 percent off. Ongoing.

LOS ANGELES:

11/24/08-11/31/08

11/17-11/30

Traffic

The famous high end boutique, TRAFFIC, is having their winter sale at their Beverly Center and Sunset Plaza locations. Find labels like, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Kooba Bags, See by Chloe, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Philosophy, 3.1, Alexander Wang, Rozae Nichols, Mike & Chris, Ella Moss, Issa London, Paige Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Anlo, and many more all at up to 60% off. (Beverly Center)
Mon-Fri 10am-9pm
Sat 10am-8pm
Sun 11am-6pm
Location: 8620 Sunset Blvd
(Sunset Plaza)
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 657-5469

8500 Beverly Blvd.
(Beverly Center)
6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 659-3438

ORANGE COUNTY

None this week!

SAN FRANCISCO

ONGOING

San FranciscoBurke Williams (Through 1/01/09)
The Weekday Vacation Club is a luxurious, beneficial, daily escape any Monday – Thursday.

For only $79 you receive your choice of one Pure Relaxation Massage or Spa Style Facial ($105 value/$120 value in San Francisco & Danville) followed by a full year enjoying 20% discounts off all full-price treatments and products.

Contact: Terry Shofron
TerryS@burkewilliamsspa.com
1.8666.239.6635 ext. 2740

Also, receive a 10% discount using the promo code: GenArtTS Simply go to http://www.burkewilliamsspa.com and go to purchase gift card and enter your promotional code. This will offer will be good until the end of the year.

11/17/2008-12/15/2008

Doe – Prairie Underground, Woo, & She-Bible

Doe SF has just recieved a massive shipment of eco-friendly merchandise! New arrivals include hoodies, blouses, tunics, and dresses from names like Prairie Underground, Woo, & She-Bible. Also, find recent additions to housewares like frames from Umbra.

Shop local and support cute girls!

Mon-Sat 12pm-7pm
Sun 12pm-6pm
629a Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 558-8588
Cash / Charge

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Bad Swedish Fashion From The 70s

Posted on November 26, 2008 | 2 Comments

These Swedish dance bands crystallize everything that’s wrong with 70s fashion.

(Pics courtesy of Yemii. Commentary courtesy of Stylechica).

Please don't let puffed sleeves for men come back in fashion.

Please don't let puffed sleeves for men come back in fashion. Please.

swedish-dance-bands-007

Bedspreads also make interesting shirts.

swedish-dance-bands-002

Military chic? Not so much.

This is probably not what Alexander McQueen had in mind.

This is probably not what Alexander McQueen had in mind.

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Just A Simple Question…Is Brody Jenner a T-shirt?

Posted on November 24, 2008 | Leave a comment
"Polo" or "Nautica" would work just as well.

"Polo" or "Nautica" would work just as well here.

Does anyone else find this disturbing?

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Safi Perfume Review

Posted on November 21, 2008 | Leave a comment

safiWhen you’re trying out a perfume and you hear “Mmmm you smell good,” that’s a good sign. But when some one goes on to say, “Yum. Vanilla,” it’s not so good, because you are wearing Safi, and it doesn’t have drop of vanilla in it!

Safi is a marvelous perfume though. It starts out pretty and sweet with note of lychee, followed by the florals fresia and neroli. Later, the vetiver lingers.

I would describe the perfume as a little bit department store, a little bit overgrown tropical garden. It’s actually quite a simple scent, but very effective.

NyakioKamocheThe creator, Nyakio Kamoche, uses her Kenyan roots as an inspiration for her perfumes. Safi means clean and fresh in Swahili. The brand is available at www.safifragrance.com, www.luckyscent.com or www.apothia.com.

Top Notes: Lychee, Pineapple, Black Currant

Middle Notes: Stargazer Lily, Freesia, Neroli

Base Notes: Muhuhu Wood, Bamboo, Papyrus, Vetiver

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November Gift With Purchase: Painterly Lady Trina Turk Gives Clinique Some Color

Posted on November 20, 2008 | Leave a comment
Colorful and Chic

Colorful and Chic

Fashion designer Trina Turk is known first and foremost in my mind for her kaleidoscopic colors and prints. Hues like pinkish buff, heliotrope, Wedgewood blue, and desert khaki are thrown together with Palm Beach aplomb.

This November Turk lends her sensibility to Clinique to create the brand’s first ever celebrity-designed Gift With Purchase. It’s filled with colorful and rather potent goodies. Valued at $60, you can get one of these bags with any purchase of $25 or more.

Inside the silver and white tiger print pouch, try out the Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift (moisturizer), Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo featuring ginger and lilac colors, Soft Pressed Powder Blush in a rose color, Lash Doubling Mascara, Long Last Lipstick in beach coral, and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15.

The hits from this kit are definitely the mascara–I was told “it’s distracting”–and the Zero Gravity Repairwear, which uses a retinol/peptide complex to increase the rate of skin turnover and collagen production.

The miss would probably be the Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser. It seems to work properly, but smells moldy.

Available at Nordstrom stores nationwide and Nordstrom.com until November 22.

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Sales This Week: Online, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco

Posted on November 18, 2008 | 3 Comments

Sales this week 11/17-11/24:

ONLINE:

• Kenzo fragrances, skincare, and bodycare products are 20 percent off during their friends and family Online sale. Shop at kenzousa.com with the code 08FAMILY. Through 11/24.

• Christian Lacroix tops start at $250 and pants start at $190 during Editor’s Closet’s Online sale. If you’re not a member, click here. Plus, use the coupon code “NYMAGCL” and receive a $50 credit. Through 11/19.

botanistjpeg*Botanist eco-friendly benches and nesting tables raise funds and awareness for charitable organizations worldwide.
Save 20% – Order online by Dec 1st
Enter code: BOTDEC1
www.orange22.com

LOS ANGELES:

11/20/08-11/21/08

samplesales

11/17-11/30

Traffic

The famous high end boutique, TRAFFIC, is having their winter sale at their Beverly Center and Sunset Plaza locations. Find labels like, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Kooba Bags, See by Chloe, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Philosophy, 3.1, Alexander Wang, Rozae Nichols, Mike & Chris, Ella Moss, Issa London, Paige Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Anlo, and many more all at up to 60% off. (Beverly Center)
Mon-Fri 10am-9pm
Sat 10am-8pm
Sun 11am-6pm
Location: 8620 Sunset Blvd
(Sunset Plaza)
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 657-5469

8500 Beverly Blvd.
(Beverly Center)
6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 659-3438

11/22

Laurie Frank’s Holiday Bazaar

Laurie Frank, of the gallery Frank Pictures at the Bergamot complex in Santa Monica, will host her first Holiday Bazaar on Saturday November 22 from 1:30 to 6:30.

The vendors include:

I Profumi di Firenze – 16th century fragrances handmade with all-natural ingredients from Florence, Italy

Om Living Home and Clothing from India

Nathalie Seaver Jewelry Delicate and timeless cocktail rings, earrings and necklaces

PricillaWoolworth.com An eco General Store from the scion of the family that created the concept

Room 222 Stylists and designers best kept secret for tightly edited vintage clothing and accessories

Tysa Designs Quintessential California chic meant to be dressed up or down

Frank Pictures Gallery
Bergamot Station GALLERY A-5
2525 Michigan Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Gallery phone: 310-828-0211
www.frankpicturesgallery.com

ORANGE COUNTY

11/22-11/23

TWS-Citizens Of Humanity Sample Sale

For two days only, shop the first ever Citizens of Humanity Sample Sale in Orange County. Find more than 15,000 items for both gals and guys. Save up to 80% off on denims, tops, jackets, maternity jeans, and more. All sizes on first quality excess inventories, samples, and, irregulars. Community dressing room available.

To RSVP go to www.thewarehousesale.com

San Francisco

11/22/2008

FabFashionista – BCBG & Ellas Moss Sample Sale

Shop over 2,000 dresses, tops, hoodies, bags, and more from your favorite designers such as BCBG, Ella Moss, and Splendid. Find all sizes 0-12, in most styles, including fabulous cocktail dresses. Get some retail therapy for one day only and receive up to 70% off everything!

At Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street
Fort Mason Center
Building A (Golden Gate Room)
San Francisco, CA 94123

Bloomingdale’s – Holiday 2008 Fragrance Fair 11/21-11/22

Don’t miss this fragrance event at Bloomingdale’s, where you sniff and sample to your heart’s content. Expect giveaways, bottle engraving, expert advice, and lots and lots of powerful scents! Spend $100 or more in fragrance and you’ll score a Bloomingdale’s umbrella as a gift (while supplies last).
By appointment
845 Market Street
Bloomingdale’s
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 856-5759

LA and SF

From Kalla: Brit designer Karen Millen at 8500 Beverly Blvd in LA and 845 Market in San Francisco is also on sale! Various items up to 70% off, plus 25% off all full price coats and knitwear for the next week.

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New Fashion Mentors at the Otis College of Art and Design

Posted on November 18, 2008 | Leave a comment

sternbergotis1Junior and senior students at the Otis College of Art and Design get advice and mentorship this year from Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders, Mark Badgley and James Mischka
of Badgley Mischka, Monique Lhuillier, Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin,
Liliana Casabal for Morgane Le Fay, and Max Azria for BCBG Max Azria.  The
Junior class will work under the direction of Todd Oldham, Patricia Marquis
for Cosabella, David Meister, swimwear designer Rod Beattie for La Blanca,
and top designers at Anthropologie (with Cotton Inc.), Ed Hardy Swimwear, and Hurley.

The students receive a design direction from their mentors. For example, designers from Ed Hardy Swimwear gave 15 members of the Otis Fashion junior class the following design direction:

For Spring/Summer 2009/2010, take inspiration from the Golden Age of comic books and design a “biomorphic” swimwear line – for men and women– that is both edgy and  glamorous.  Think Superheroes.  Consider the musculature of the body.  And integrate and manipulate Ed Hardy’s signature “tattoo art” into a sensation of motion and movement.

As they create their chosen ensemble, the students will get feedback from the faculty at the college and also from their mentor. You can see the students’ designs at Otis’ end of the year gala in late April or early May!

Otis College of Art and Design

sternbergotis2

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Lyric Rain by Strange Invisible Perfumes

Posted on November 14, 2008 | Leave a comment
Lyricrain

Lyric Rain by Strange Invisible Perfumes

Before I give my review, an important disclaimer: I’ve got a small problem with patchouli. Frankly, the scent gives me a headache and reminds me of my high school years when I made vintage shopping trips to the Haight-Ashbury district with my mother. She hates the scent so much that if we went to a store that smelled of the herb, she would wait outside. I also got into trouble when I bought a few patchouli incense sticks and burned them in my bedroom…ah, the teenage years.

I do think that patchouli in small quantities can be a lovely complement to any scent. Jubilation 25 by Amouage mixes rose and patchouli to produce one of the most exotic scents on the market. If I had $265 to burn I would buy a bottle of J25 any day.

Lyric Rain, $185, by Strange Invisible Perfumes, smells overwhelmingly of patchouli. If that’s your bag, come on down. Other notes are jasmine, pink pepper, blue lotus, and lavender. As the drydown progresses, the scent evolves into something much more suble and floral. Lavender, one of my favorite notes, is extremely subtle in this perfume.

Buy it here if you dare!

The Strange Invisible Perfumes line started 2000 by L.A. native Alexandra Balahoutis. Her impeccably designed boutique in Venice came later. After living in Prague, Paris and Manhattan, Balahoutis decided to create botanical perfumes that reflect her worldy experiences. If I had to guess her strongest geographic influence, I would go with Prague. Her scents seem to evoke the old world of Franz Kafka, Antonin Devorak and Jaroslav Seifert. Also, there used to be a fantastic botanical store in Prague that was choc full of plant-based beauty products. They had everything: shampoo, skincare, perfume, etc. I can’t remember the name of it or if it still exists. Does anyone know it?

All of Balahoutis’ perfumes are made from the cultivation and distillation of flowers, plants, and resins to create natural oils. She also shuns any synthetic chemicals and argues that only natural essences unlock the olfactory nerve receptors to affect the lymbic system and release chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins. She says that the synthetic aroma molecules (stereo-isomers) cannot be recognized by the brain and adds that some scents are suspected of accumulating in human tissue causing liver damage and cancer. Scary.

Balahoutis also creates custom perfumes. I’ve heard that her signature scents can cost $1,000 dollars.

“Perfume is about association. A beautiful aromatic composition empowers us to access our most delightful notions, ideas, and fantasies, lending thought the physical reinforcement and visceral sensation needed to become experience.” –Alexandra Balahoutis

Stylechica’s free associations from Lyric Rain:

Dvorak’s Humoresque!

kafka

Franz Kafka

metamorphosis

Kafka's writing is beautifully stark.

Metamorphosis by Kafka

jaroslav

Jaroslav, one of my favorite poets.

Jaroslav Seifert

Prague, that’s a sip of wine with flavour,
a hundred times I say her name,
light as a breath and bright as flame,
and sweeter than a lover’s favour.

Yet, may the alarm sirens, please,
take off their helmets, silent, muted.
They haven’t stopped yet, they have hooted,
the sirens of our consciences.

And if I saw her, broken vessel,
glass splinters scattered far around,
and with her doom I had to wrestle,

her dust inside my mouth would sweeten,
she’s like a seal on what’s been written,
and were she levelled to the ground…

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Sales This Weekend

Posted on November 14, 2008 | Leave a comment

Sales this week 11/10-11/16:

ONLINE:

• Get 20 percent off all regular and sale-priced items for men, women, kids, and home during Bloomingdale’s friends and family sales event. Use the promo code FRIENDS to receive the discount at Bloomingdales.com. Through 11/16.

LOS ANGELES:

11/15/08

Broken English


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Jo Malone’s Sweet Lime & Cedar–Citron Chic

Posted on November 13, 2008 | Leave a comment

sweetlimeLately, I’ve noticed lots of piquant notes making a resurgence in the scent world. Apothia‘s Verde candle mixes lime and cilantro in a way that smells like a Southern California kitchen in the summertime; Strange Invisible Perfumes‘ Prima Ballerina melds Egyptian rose, Turkish rose, sage and lime; And Jo Malone‘s new scent, Sweet Lime & Cedar, is the big, bold surprise–tangy like a freshly cut lime, then sultry as the cedar wood digs in deep.

Inspired by Thai cuisine, Jo Malone was also influenced by the art of flower arranging and the lush vegetation of Siam when she created this scent. Jasmine, ylang ylang, coconut, and the vanilla-like tonka bean are blended with nutty pandanus leaf, tamarind, and cardamom.

On a woman this scent is provocative and playful, waking you up with a sharp citrus note then plummeting like a receding wave as you smell the leafy flowers, peppery spices and woods. I liked this scent very much.

On men, the spearmint comes quickly to the surface, followed by a muted floral, then lots of amber.

I recommend the scent for both sexes. Malone’s perfumes are always bold and sparkling, bubbling over with unique notes and pleasantly long lasting. I’ve also heard of people layering this scent with Malone’s Vintage Gardenia. Enjoy.

Buy It here

Top Notes: Kaffir Lime, Blood Orange, Pomelo, Passion Fruit, Pink Pepper, Spearmint

Middle Notes: Clary Sage, Lavender, Coconut, Jasmine, Gardenia, Ylang Ylang, Cardamom, Coriander

Base Notes: Cedarwood, Amber, Tamarind, Pandanus Leaf, Tonka Bean.

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