Tag Archives: madewell

travel in style: san francisco

As you might have noticed from all of my nostalgic exclamations on Twitter and Facebook recently, I packed up my most stylish duds, a slew of accessories, and spent last week in the city where I really did leave my heart: San Francisco! Five glorious days eating absolutely everything I wanted to eat, seeing (nearly) everyone I wanted to see, and buying (not even close to) everything I wanted to buy. I am full, I am happy, and I am exhausted!

{The view from my room at the Huntington Hotel. I couldn’t stop staring!}

While I was thinking about what to share with you about the trip, it occurred to me I’ve never even given you a list of my must-see destinations in San Francisco. Shame on me! And so, forthwith, a completely incomplete Top Ten list of some of my favorite things in what is quite possibly my favorite city in the States (there’s no competing with Paris).

{Clockwise, from top: Old Fashioned cupcakes at Miette, a much-enjoyed cappucino
at Emporio Rulli, and a peek at Dish, my new favorite SF boutique.}

1. Shop in Union Square. I know, there’s nothing exactly novel about Neiman Marcus, Saks, Barneys(!), Zara or Madewell, but when you live in a city without access to any of them, I can assure you that the site of that particular square block of real estate is intensely satisfying. While you’re there…

2. Treat yourself to a crab louie salad at the Rotunda restaurant in Neiman Marcus (really just an excuse to have them serve you piping hot popovers with strawberry butter). And, though it’s tempting to splurge on an order of their famous chocolate-chip cookies, skip it and instead…

3. Have a cappuccino and a sfogliatella at Emporio Rulli, right in the heart of Union Square, for the best people-watching ever.

4. Gorge at the Ferry Building. Or, more specifically, have an Old Fashioned cupcake and a pistachio macaron at Miette, brave the line (or try the secret window around the corner) for a(nother) cappuccino at Blue Bottle, then grab a pack of S’mores Bites from Recchiuti, and a pot of olive oil lip balm from McEvoy Ranch to take home. Sit on a bench outside, watch the ferries go by, and take in a postcard-perfect view of the oft-overlooked Bay Bridge. Speaking of gorging…

5. Gary Danko. Lobster risotto and a cheese cart…what else do you need to hear?

6. Fillmore Street. Any time you see Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jonathan Adler and a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on the same block, go there. Follow up with some great window-shopping (or thrifting, if that’s your thing), a stop at Heidi Says Shoes, and a leisurely browse at Browser Books.

7. Hayes Valley. This ‘hood has grown by leaps and bounds since I last visited, and it might just be my new favorite shopping spot. Besides Miette’s Confiserie (best candy shop ever!), there’s serious fashion to be had. The vintage selection at Ver Unica and Reliquary is unprecedented – even I couldn’t resist (as evidenced by that fly leopard coat that followed me home). Then there’s Dish, which is so much my perfect boutique that I could have closed my eyes, pointed to literally anything, and bought it without looking, knowing I’d love it forever. Nida (why don’t these stores have e-commerce?!) is pretty wonderful too, if only for their selection of Isabel Marant and Athe by Vanessa Bruno.

8. Eat in North Beach (aka “Little Italy”). Preferably at Sodini’s, my personal favorite for old-school Italian charm. But wherever you dine, finish at Mara’s for a cannoli.

9. Palace of the Legion of Honor. Nothing whatsoever to do with food or shopping (are you shocked?), but still one of my favorite places ever. It’s all peace, calm and beauty, as far as the eye can see…with a stunning clifftop view of the bay and that big red bridge.

10. Stay at the Huntington Hotel, and spend a day at the Nob Hill Spa. But more on that awesomeness tomorrow…

I’d love to know what you’d add to the list!

6 Comments

Share 'travel in style: san francisco' on Facebook

Share 'travel in style: san francisco' on Google+

Share 'travel in style: san francisco' on Pinterest

Share 'travel in style: san francisco' on Twitter

Share 'travel in style: san francisco' on Email

friday finds

Happy Friday, friends! As usual, there’s no rhyme or reason to this week’s list, though I am noticing an abundance of ultra-bright color. It must be summertime.

The hubs and I have some fun travel plans over the next few months, and I can tell you there’s nothing I’d rather be toting my travel gear in more than this bold blue weekender bag. I love the bright hue, the tribal vibe and the leather trim, and I have a feeling it’d be light as a feather.

It’s still a little early to be thinking fall trends, but this ladylike silk blouse from Madewell will be just the thing with those below-the-knee skirts this fall.

After spotting this beautiful street style image from Atlantic-Pacific…

…I can’t stop thinking about adding a chic pair of bright pants to my denim-centric wardrobe. While I’m normally terrified by the idea of a capri, these candy-colored versions from J.Crew look more like an ankle-grazing length than a mid-calf affair, rendering them infinitely more stylish. Now, to pick a color!

And, now that I think about it, that emerald blouse would look pretty amazing with any of these – especially the blue. Be bold, friends!

While I was never a big fan of Gretchen Jones while she was on Project Runway, I have to admit that her new line of jewelry for Piperlime is good. A lot of the pieces miss the mark by *that* much (a spiked earring that would be so much more amazing if the post weren’t dead center, and a long necklace that would be strikingly perfect if the pendant pieces were a bit further down the chain), but there are some styles I’m seriously contemplating. But…no returns allowed on these pieces, so I’m proceeding with caution.

I almost never swoon over baby/kiddie goods (I’m pretty sure I’m missing a gene), but these prints from Heather Ross are a little too perfect. They’re called “Cranky Princesses” – hysterical! Now I just need some little girls to buy them for…

And now, I’m off to spend a fun, relaxing weekend with my BFF, who’s coming to town. I can’t wait! Hope you have something equally fun in store.

7 Comments

friday finds

it’s that time, dear readers…happy friday! of course, the promise of those two blissful weekend days is a bit offset this week by losing an hour to the monster that is daylight savings time. but it also means spring is on the horizon, and i’m more than ready! and now…friday finds:

now that i’ve unleashed the beast, it seems there’s no end to my spring bag coveting streak (um, i just typed the word “spreak”: apparently, my brain’s hybrid of spree/streak. shall we start a trend? perhaps not.). this cute little crossbody from asos popped up on my worldwide wanders this week, and i’ve had the window open on my browser ever since. seems like a good stand-in for the kate spade crossbody, especially at 1/4 the price. bags under $100 don’t even count in the budget, right?

it’s not often i see something that makes me want to call a “do-over” on my completely lovely and wonderful wedding day. but oh, if only jessie randall had been designing these beautiful bridal shoes back then…

i’m starting to feel like it’s all stripes, all the time, everywhere i turn. but i also can’t deny that they’re everywhere because they’re just that good. this top from madewell caught my eye this week, mostly because it’s a bit of a change from the traditional breton stripe, but no less versatile (and less scary for those of you that still fear the horizontal stripe). plus, they’re offering free shipping with no minimum through sunday (code is SHOPAWAY)…and we know that’s always a powerful shopping incentive for me.

in case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, and haven’t seen all of those other bloggers waxing poetic about the fabulousness that is forestbound, allow me. i’m not sure i’m a recycled-canvas-tote kind of girl, but i can tell you the newest pieces in their shop (they always sell out lightning fast) have me really wanting to try.

and, speaking of etsy, i went on a little vintage housewares search spree this week, and am suddenly obsessed with these beautiful dansk enamelware pots. this one’s a little banged up, but that bright orange is just so cheery!

i hope you enjoyed this week’s exceptionally random list, friends. have a fabulous weekend! i’m off to seattle for a couple of days to visit a dear friend and hear the amazing dr. angelou speak again (i’m like a groupie, i know). hope you have something equally lovely planned!

5 Comments

friday finds: a hint of spring

happy friday, everyone! i don’t know how things are looking where you are, but it’s been a whirlwind week of weather here in portland. we went from blizzards yesterday to clear blue (and sunny!) skies this morning. and so, i’m holding on to the hope that winter was just getting one last blast out of its cranky system, and praying for warmer days ahead.

speaking of spring, we can finally start looking forward to a higher waist, and a wider leg on our denim this spring. can i get an amen?! this pair of jeans popped up in my shop it to me alert (if you’re not trying it, you really should) this morning, and they’re definitely worth pointing out. now, i don’t pick favorites when it comes to my denim…it would be like choosing a favorite child shoe. but i can say with confidence that these paige hidden hills in twilight are the most comfortable jeans i own. that’s not true of all of the hidden hills jeans (i have a few) – just this particular wash. it’s due entirely to the fabric blend, which contains almost 20% spandex. in other words, they’re essentially yoga pants you get to wear out on the town. and now they’re on sale at piperlime for $119. i’m seriously considering a back-up pair.

i’m still not totally on board with madewell…i’m annoyed that a brand that’s supposed to be a younger, cheaper version of j.crew is every bit as pricey, and i’ve had mixed luck with their pieces thus far. but i am swooning so severely over their fernwood dress, i’m either going to lose consciousness or gain credit card debt. one look at it, and i can hardly wait for spring.

as a rule, i tend to be skeptical of most clothing/accessories you can buy at macy’s (oh, the snobbery!). but i spotted this rachel roy necklace in my worldwide wandering this week, and i’m a fan. it’s a nice middle ground between last season’s gargantuan statement necklaces and the itty bitty pendants you’ll be seeing everywhere for spring, which makes it the perfect piece to buck the trend without going overboard.

and, speaking of jewelry, i can’t head off for the weekend without showing you christine mighion’s new weekend collection. i love all of her designs, so it’s no surprise that i love this collection too. it feels so casual, comfortable and clean – just like a perfect weekend. and there are styles under $100, which is seriously remarkable from a fine jewelry designer.

have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

friday finds

i have to say, i love these ‘friday finds’ posts…they really do turn out as random as my week typically seems.

these beautiful new chocolate bars from vosges chocolate showed up on my doorstep this week (i love my job!), and wow. a belt notch later, i can tell you they’re positively amazing. vosges makes some of my favorite chocolates – they do an amazing job of creating seriously unique, unbelievably delicious flavors. the pink peppercorns in the white chocolate/lemon zest bar might have been a tad strong, but utterly unlike anything i’ve tried. and there’s nothing at all wrong with blood orange caramel! count me in. next on my list to try is their new bacon chocolate chip pancake mix…yum!

i ran into this skirt from the tucker for target collection during a target outing this week, and dear readers, it is utterly fantastic in person! i am now scouring my local targets to find my size, as it’s totally sold out online (reviewers have said it runs small, so beware). this gold and navy brocade looks so, so much more luxe in person than it gets credit for being online. it reminds me of something j.crew or kate spade would have produced, but the $39 pricetag is no lie. wear it now with a drapey silk top and navy belted blazer, or a sleek cream cardi…and just try to imagine the holiday potential here!

speaking of j.crew, i was actively coveting one of the chunky bracelets from their fenton/fallon collaboration, but it sold out before i could justify the expense. lucky for me their sister brand, madewell, has come up with a style i might even love more…and at half the price! at $58, i’m having a very hard time finding the willpower to stop myself.

and last but not least, couldn’t resist sharing the friends & family action going on at hayden+harnett. now through october 15, take 20% off any online order (including sale items, and pieces from other designers!) with code FALL10FRIENDS. i checked with their designer, toni hacker, before i shared, and she assured me that she thinks of all you shoppingsmycardio readers as dear friends of hayden+harnett, so spend away! i’d splurge on these tomtom pyramid stud earrings ($80) and the mystery scarf ($160), but i haven’t even gotten to the bags yet…

have a great weekend, everyone!

1 Comment

a retail kind of weekend

a few little pretties that followed me home this weekend…

i finally picked a new epice scarf to add to my fall wardrobe. yes, an investment, to be sure, but i wear these daily when the weather’s cold, and get more compliments on them than maybe anything else i own. this one (it’s hard to tell in the photo) is a beautiful geometric swirl pattern of black, eggplant and olive green…totally unexpected and totally gorgeous. covet, my favorite portland boutique, has finally gone online, and they have exactly one of these beauties left.

my old LAmade grey and white striped cardigan has finally breathed its last breath, i’m afraid, and it needed to be retired in style. i’ve put in an order for this version from madewell…i’m hoping desperately that it’s the first thing i order from them which won’t underwhelm me. it has sold out online, but i got them to locate one and ship it to me (bonus: free shipping on store-located items!).

i tried my very best to make this a happy threesome by adding a set of wind chimes from pigeon toe ceramics when i headed over to their open studio on friday, but alas, there were none to be had. they very sweetly offered to special order them, but i was in an instant gratification state of mind. i do, however, have to confess that this miniature sugar and creamer set is maybe the cutest thing i’ve ever laid eyes on.

i also managed to finally polish off a couple of books that have been lurking on my “nearly done” reading pile…but more on those later.

how did you spend your weekend?

1 Comment

Share 'a retail kind of weekend' on Facebook

Share 'a retail kind of weekend' on Google+

Share 'a retail kind of weekend' on Pinterest

Share 'a retail kind of weekend' on Twitter

Share 'a retail kind of weekend' on Email

friday finds: my summer closet

this week’s finds are as random as they come, but they’re all things i’ve fallen hard for in the last few days. fortunately, there’s only one budget-busting splurge in the mix, and i’ve included a pretty serious steal to make up for it!

at first, i wasn’t enthralled with the fenton/fallon collection for j.crew…once again, i’m just not cool enough. but the more i see of this bracelet (it’s been circling blogland something fierce this week), the more i want it. i love the idea of pairing it with a grey burnout tank, the perfect cutoff shorts, and flip flops…a single decadent accent to the ultimate lazy summer outfit.

i spent the week debating exactly how many things i had to have from madewell’s new site. their striped espadrilles didn’t make the cut…straw shoes fade and die so quickly, i couldn’t bear to spend $50. fortunately, anne at city sage and the stylish ladies at blue moss both noticed these chic stand-ins from target – for $16, thank you very much. i snapped them up instantly.

(incidentally, speaking of cheap summer shoes, i’m digging these retro huraches too…and at $15, i may even be able to justify reliving that trend.)

of course, for every steal, there must be a contrasting splurge, or my superficial little shopping world would just implode. smythe’s linen military jacket would blow my entire summer wardrobe budget at $650, but i also think i’d wear it just about every day, and well into fall, as this military trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

sigh. heartbreakingly perfect, isn’t it?

with that, happy weekend everyone!

1 Comment

Share 'friday finds: my summer closet' on Facebook

Share 'friday finds: my summer closet' on Google+

Share 'friday finds: my summer closet' on Pinterest

Share 'friday finds: my summer closet' on Twitter

Share 'friday finds: my summer closet' on Email

this just in: madewell (finally!) goes online

meet madewell: j.crew’s hipper, more relaxed little sister store. that sound you just heard? oh, that was my credit cards, screaming for mercy…

on my must-have list: switchyard blazer in slate, $110; rail straight cutoffs, $65 (and, yeah, probably that striped sweatshirt too, for $58); and a great big pile of these artisan tees, $29.50. and maybe this cardigan. and ooh, this sheer pink vest would be perfect for warm-weather layering.

and a few other pieces that are off my list for purely technical reasons: these bensimon sneakers are divine in person, but run a full size small (and therefore are unattainable for me); and this absolutely perfect mini crossbody bag, which is making me wish i hadn’t already gotten one this year.

hmm. in light of my extremely overloaded shopping bag, now might be a good time to mention how much i love new advertisers (hint, hint). so, if you know a small biz or a designer who could use some adoration from all of you devoted SMC readers, send them on over!

3 Comments