Happy Friday, friends! This weekend, I’m helping my future sis-in-law shop for a wedding dress. Ah, memories! But the real killer is how to dress myself…honestly, I’m so sick of this Indian summer, I can hardly stand it. I miss my sweaters!
Here’s what I’ll be up to: Read on
Lately, I’ve been really feeling the weight of having “too much” in my life. (Yes, I realize this is one of those “first world” problems. Bear with me.) Despite the fact that my closet is bursting at the seams, I never like my options when I get dressed in the morning these days, and despite the fact that my bank account demands a respite, I can’t pry my eyes from the daily deluge of sample sales and Shopbop markdowns, of always looking for something new to add to my already-overflowing closet, of never being quite perfectly happy with what I already have.
Don’t worry, I’m not going all cold-turkey bonkers on you. But I do think there’s some value in maybe culling the noise a bit. Some value in not worrying so much about the “next big thing”, and just buying what feels exactly right, what you genuinely love and can’t wait to wear, not just own. And so, I’ve started making a real effort, friends, to look for…well, if not “perfection”, then at least simplicity, timelessness and either elegance or utility in what I buy. Read on
Portland and San Francisco friends (well, Austin and Seattle too), brace yourselves: you are about to love me. (Wait. You didn’t already?) Not that the rest of you should tune out…this brainstorm is sure to sweep the nation.
Am I right that the most annoying, let-down quality of online shopping is delayed gratification? You spend two hours a few minutes scrolling through Shopbop, buy a couple of things, and then you have to wait three whole days (first-world problems, I know) for that beautiful brown box to grace your doorstep. And if you went with Nordstrom or one of my other standbys, it’ll be even longer. (Don’t even get me started on how long it takes Banana Republic to deliver a box. Are they using carrier pigeons?)
Plus, in your heart, online shopping wasn’t even what you wanted. What you wanted was to pop out to a few boutiques in town – shopping local is always nice, of course, and you get to take your goodies home right then. But…ugh. Parking, conspicuously leaving work (and returning with shopping bags), all that driving around…and, of course, there’s the let-down when you’re on a spending spree and you walk out of a store empty-handed. (Damn it, I cam here to spend!)
But, can you see the clouds parting? Can you see that sunbeam shooting down? It’s Boutiika – a new site that just launched in Portland, and is already a hit in San Francisco. Read on
Happy Friday, friends! It’s been a busy week at SMC HQ…want to see what I’ve been up to?
Earlier this week, I got a note that Urban Waxx, my favorite waxing spot in Portland, is hosting a 24-hour Waxx-a-Thon this Saturday, 10/6, starting at 9 am. Yep, you can get your bikini line tidied up at 2 am, friends! Details are over here, but the jist is this: appointments are good, but walk-ins are welcome, and all of the proceeds go to two excellent charities – one for nature, and one for the LGBT community. There will also be food, booze and donuts! If you’re in town, I hope you’ll stop by and groom in the name of charity.
My poor nails haven’t seen the inside of a mani/pedi shop in…well, in so long I’m not willing to admit it. That all ends today. I just got my samples of OPI’s new Germany collection, and will be beelining to my friendly neighborhood salon to try them out this afternoon. Can’t even tell you how excited I am about these colors…I’m going for “My Very First Knockwurst” or “Don’t Pretzel My Buttons” for my fingers, and for the toes, it’s got to be “Suzi & the 7 Düsseldorfs”.
Crimson Mim, a sweet little shop in Palo Alto, just launched its e-commerce site, which is big news. They have a tightly-edited collection of just about every name I know and love, including Rachel Comey, Philip Lim, Velvet and Loeffler Randall. I’m in love already. Now, where did I put that AmEx?
Oh! And speaking of great stores, before I forget, there are a couple of fantastic sales to be had this weekend. Take 30% off the fall collection at Diane von Furstenburg with code FALL30. Also, it’s Friends & Family time at Tory Burch, which means that code TBFRIENDS gets you 25% off sitewide. Go forth and shop!
Last but not least, it’s time for my weekly Pinterest pick. I keep going back to this crazy versatile Jerome Dreyfuss bag I spotted at Saks a while back, and pinning images of it in various colors and states. I am pretty much hypnotized by the fact that these two photos are the same bag (albeit in different colors, obvi). Can’t get over it, and kind of think I have to have it.
Have a wonderful weekend…I’ll be here slaving away on that massive project I keep mentioning. Wish me luck, and have a relaxing weekend on my behalf, won’t you?
There’s a new girl in town, and she’s something special. Created by the former head buyer at Shopbop, A Man And A Woman is Erin Crandall’s latest creation – a heavily curated boutique packed with standout pieces from Crandall’s favorite designers.
L’Agence layered dress, $410 / Chris Benz sweater, $644
(Can we talk about how in love I am with that Chris Benz sweater for a moment?)
Crandall has done a brilliant job of selecting a few classic workhorse staples, but balancing them with loads of special, splurge-worthy buys I haven’t seen anywhere else. And, unlike her last gig, less is more – every piece feels like it was hand-selected for a very cool, effortlessly stylish girl. The end result is hip and fashion-forward, but totally approachable. Instead of drowning in options, Crandall only offers a few – but they’re all exactly right.
Brochu Walker sweater, $395 / L’Agence dress, $412
For the most part, they’re splurges – no question. But there are plenty of accessible buys in the mix – Current/Elliott denim, L’Agence cocktail dresses and the like, all of which rank in that dangerous “expensive, but do-able” range. If you’re a person that likes to buy one or two perfect pieces and wear them all season, this is the spot for you.
Patmos cardigan, $595 / L’Agence shift, $297
Oh, and same-day delivery if you live in Manhattan (you NYC girls have all the fun). Happy browsing!