SFBayStyle

Lloyd's Shoes Carmel - Worth The Drive

Carmel is one of my favorite weekend destinations not only for the beaches/attractions but for the top rate shopping. Some of the shops include a Coach outlet, clothing stores  and my all time favorite Lloyd's Shoes. Lloyd's Shoes has an eclectic selection of designer shoes and a sales staff that knows how to help you find just what you are looking for. A month ago, I went in with some friends and found the perfect summer sandal from Bolo, the brown Minuet. The sandal has a nice wedge heel, are made of soft leather and most of all are comfortable enough to wear all day. I tested them out by wearing them while walking all over Carmel that day - and they still felt comfortable. While I purchased the brown wedge, I may just have to purchase the Sharise in Black or the Margot in silver to have different colors/styles.

Bolo shoes are carried at other stores in the SF/Bay Area, but why not head to Carmel for some sun and shopping?

Platinum Tour Guides For San Francisco and Napa Valley

I had the pleasure of participating in a moms weekend away at Napa, where one of the events was a limo ride to local stores by David of Eclectic Tour Napa Valley. At first, I wondered why we need a limo in Napa. But after half a day, I was completely sold. First of all, it was relaxing not to have to drive or park. Next, David took us to places we had never been before in Napa (including the Vintner's Collective that has an amazing collection of wines from boutique wineries). Because he had an 'in" at  Vintner's Collective, we received a private tasting for all the gals in my party. The limo and tour combination really added to our weekend away.

Next, when I wanted to entertain some of out of town guests, I asked David for a recommendation for a similar service in San Francisco. He promptly replied with a recommendation for a service called Platinum Concierge.  Sean, of Platinum Concierge, gave me ideas of locations to visit in San Francisco that I would have never thought of, even though I had lived in San Francisco. Both Sean of Platinum Concierge and David of Eclectic Tour were very professional, friendly, had a great understanding of where to go in their respective locations and eager to help in any way.

Latest Crush - Nanette Lepore Aqua Sea Side Jacket

I was setting up details for the Silicon Valley Moms Blog makeover winner to choose clothes from the generous donation made by the Calla Boutique in Menlo Park, when I wondered upon a jacket that made me stop in my tracks. The Sea Side jacket, from the Spring 2008 Nanette Lepore collection, is peacoat length with classic lines and a cotton knit material that is makes it versatile. The collar is notched, pockets are inverted-pleat front  and the back has half belt to make it even more figure flattering.

I had been looking for a jacket that I could wear to technology conferences with a pair of jeans or dress it up for business consulting. This jacket can go either way, and along with bone, white, black and navy color options - it also comes in aqua (my favorite color).

So while my mission was to help another with a fashion makeover, I ended up with a mini-makeover for my own wardrobe.

Badgley Mischka Platinum Label Carried At Local Neiman Marcus Stores

In 1998 when I was looking for my wedding dress, I dreamed of finding a Badgley Mischka dress. I visited all the major bridal stores in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time and could not find their wedding dresses. I knew their dresses were carried somewhere, but I was busy working and planning the wedding so I settled on another dress... But I determined to someday own a Badgley Mischka dress.

I was at Neiman Marcus Palo Alto store this week to take advantage of their winter sales and happened to find a perfect cocktail dress in my size and the dark color I was looking for (brown). Then I saw, gasp, the dress was from the Badgley Mischka Platinum Label . I remembered seeing Teri Hatcher appearing in their fall marketing campaign. Zimbio discussed the line of handbags coming out in Spring 2008 but captured the meaning behind the Platinum Label:

Romi Boutique San Francisco Annual Sale

Romi is one of my favorite boutiques. The clothes are fashion forward and I always seem to find that "something special and unique" while shopping there. It was Romi that first introduced me to Nanette Lepore, which is now one of my favorite designers. Last spring I had just seen the Nanette Lepore Knit Coat with three quarter bell sleeves in the New York Times fashion section when I also happened to see it at Romi. I snatched it up, and luckily so because the jackets quickly sold out afterwards. They carry many fashionable brands along with accessories.

Romi has boutiques in San Francisco and Palo Alto. The San Francisco Annual sales run to the end of December.

After Christmas Sales & Shopping Strategies

The week between Christmas and New Years hosts the best shopping sales of the season. As the start of the after-Christmas sales nears, it is a good idea to begin planning shopping strategies. The first step is to decide which shopping district you want to shop at (or maybe which one is first). Then choose which stores in the area you want to shop at, prioritizing your favorites as the first stop. Last is to decide what stores will be the best fit for what you are looking for.  Do you want to shop the big department stores to cover multiple areas or have a chance to go to the local shopping areas to visit the fabulous boutiques? Or it you want to cover as many stores as possible, the Union Square Shopping District in San Francisco may do the trick.

For those interested in San Francisco after Christmas sales, I found the SFGate, SFLuxe, and Yahoo Local as helpful shopping resources.  SF Luxe recently posted shopping tips including a website called Indagare. SFGate has a shopping page that lists the main centers such as the San Francisco Shopping Centre and Embarcadero Center. Shopping areas such as Union Square and Fillmore (where Romi boutique is having their annual sale) were also listed. 

Zara Trenchcoat: Fall/Winter Style at a Great Price

I went shopping with my buddies, Pamela and Sarah in Union Square last month. They suggested we stop off at Zara. We went to the store on Post Street. If you are looking for jackets, The Fall/Winter 2007/2008 collection has a great selection at reasonable prices. The first jacket I tried on was a black wool jacket with a fitted waist and a patent style belt (adorable). Because I was already wearing my favorite black trench, I decided to look for another jacket in a different color. I found a great one in brown. Zara gets my recommendation for affordable style.

Carry Your Cell Phone and Business Cards in Style

Many women in the SF Bay Area need items that are flexible to go between work and play. Being a work-at-home mom means that I needed a small bag that I could fit into my briefcase or wear around my wrist while chasing after kids that could hold my smart phone, wallet, some personal items and a business card holder. I was not surprised to find the answer with one of my favorite designers, Coach. Their "pouch" bag style is small enough to fit in larger bags but light enough to carry over your wrist. 

The matching business card holder is a great way to carry your business cards in style. Best yet, the pouch holds all my personal items along with my BlackBerry Curve. This is a great holiday gift for that moblie woman in your life.

It's Cold In The Bay Area, Time To Break Out The Boots

It may be sunny California, but the San Francisco Bay Area weather gets cold in the winter. When it rains hard, it is time for rain boots. For the rest of the winter, my favorite boot style is trouser length with a zipper side and rubber bottom for traction. The zipper makes them easy to put on and the rubber soles comfortable to wear.

My trouser boots from last year were stylish, but not leather - so they did not make it through the winter. I decided it was time to go on a hunt some new boots. While at Nordstrom, I found a brand called Aquatalia that is waterproof, rubber anti-slip soles and a stylish pointy toe. Great to find boots that can be worn out, without brining an extra pair of rain boots just in case. Any other suggestions?

Stockings and Stilettos - Appel and Frank Holiday Shopping Event

Last night, I attended the Appel and Frank 2007 holiday shopping event, "Stockings and Stilettos." The event was a great opportunity for one stop shopping at a location that brought together 70 emerging designers, most of whom are from the Bay Area.

Everything from jewelry, fashionable women's wear, lifestyle products, chocolates, accessories, handbags and wearable art was shown. Along with the  trendy and eclectic  products, there were complimentary beauty treatments, cocktails, and entertainment creating an upbeat experience. I decided I was going to make their next event an official gals' night out by bringing friends with me.

Interview With Nick Verreos of Project Runway & Nikolaki Design

On Tuesday, Beth and I had the delight of talking with Nick Verreos, co-designer of Nikolaki Design and Project Runway star. Nick spent the latter part of his childhood in the Bay Area and graduated from Mills High School. The three of us chatted about fashion, San Francisco Bay Area style, Project Runway, Nick's blog, wearable trends for winter and spring as well as fashion tips for moms (for the SVMoms crowd).

Live Shoe Blogging Donald Pliner Shoes

I am in Chicago speaking at an event where I am my feet most of the day.

I wanted a pair of shoes to match my grey pinstripe suit. I thought blue would be nice but all of the shoes I tried on did not seem "all day" comfortable.

Then I found a pair of Donald J Pliner Lupe pumps in grey that fit all of my needs. They are stylish with a mesh upper, leather lining and pointy toe. Yet the shoes have this amazing flexible rubber sole.

I started my day at 7am and it is now 4:30 and they are still comfortable. Yeah, I found a great stylish but comfortable work shoe.

Local Vietnamese Resturaunt Finds

When my husband and I get a free night out for dinner, we usually lean towards Vietnamese. In Palo Alto, our favorite is Tamarine Restaurant on University Avenue. 

Tonight we tried a place we have not been before, Xanh Restaurant on Castro Street in Mountain View. Every dish was filled with fresh ingredients and had a nice presentation. The Executive Chef Thuy Pham was born in Vietnam and immigrated to America with her husband and four children. Her love of food led her to  The California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. We enjoyed every dish served, so we will be coming back for more.

The Layering Essential: Winter Vests

Throughout most of the seasons in California, the weather is not cold but does get chilly. I have found that vests are the perfect layering piece for winter. Many local department stores (like Nordstrom) has winter vests, including Banana Republic's puffer jacket. Winter vests can be put over workout suits while heading to the gym or dressed up with jeans and a long sleeve shirt.

My favorite vest is my Salomon 540 Quilted Ski Jacket. It has a fitted cut, sits just below the waist and is very warm. I purchased my jacket at REI, which is the go to place for outdoor gear and has stores all over the Bay Area. They also carry eco-friendly clothing lines.

Rain, Rain Don't Go Away

The San Francisco bay area has been wet lately, Friday there was even some mild flooding. My favorite part of the rain is bringing out my rain boots, a passion I have not grown out of.  Today, I received numerous comments on my Target Zahara Polka Dot Rain boots. I bought them last season, but I found them again at the stores just recently. My version of the boot has a pink side gusset buckle closure. And with three boys, I enjoy bringing some pink into the mix.

Elizabeth Edwards and My Nanette Lepore Jacket

I had the honor of meeting up with Elizabeth Edwards a few weeks ago along with my blogmates over at the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. We had met her before, and both times I noticed how she took the time to shake everyone's hand. She has an amazing way of making us all feel completely engaged with her articulate discussion of the issues and at the same time comfortable enough to feel as though we are having coffee with friends.

This time she not only shook my hand, but she also complimented my jacket. Which is funny because I did spend some time trying to decide on the appropriate outfit to wear to meet a presidential candidate's wife. Elizabeth Edwards always has an elegant style and chooses jewel tone colors like teal.  I decided to wear one of my favorite jackets, the Nanette Lepore Bell Sleeve Knit Coat from last year's collection.

This made me curious to look at the Nanette Lepore jackets available for Fall 2007 and saw that "bubble sleeves" are the new "bell" sleeve along with the classic styles. I found this Brushstroke Brocade Jacket, and thought of Elizabeth Edwards because of the fabulous teal color and because it has a sort of First Lady style. I have found interesting Nanette Lepore collections locally at Romi Boutique in Palo Alto (where I purchased my Bell Sleeve Knit Coat), Nordstrom and Calla in Menlo Park.

2007 Emmys - Satin, Sparkles and Flowing Dresses

The 2007 Emmy Awards were shown last Monday night. I found pictures of the dresses worn by the stars on InStyle, E! Online, People and FabSugar. All the fashions sites were calling the overall style "Old Hollywood Glamour" . The trends were long satin dresses, high slits, flared "mermaid" dresses, earings as key accents, knee length dresses with sparkle and colors like black, white, grey and vibrant colors.

Katherine Heigl was wearing a glamorous white long dress with a flared skirt, Ali Larter and Kate Walsh had red satin gowns and Sandra Oh had a graceful black gown with a white accent. Eva Longoria and Michelle Pfeiffer looked beautiful in their knee length sexy dresses with extra sparkle. I am especially proud of local Bay Area mom Michelle Pfeiffer who always looks amazing.

Other moms on the red carpet were (twins mom) Marcia Cross, with a soft shimmering white dress, Debra Messing with a white and black gown, Jamie Pressley in a black beaded gown, Teri Hatcher with a pale pink gown with a beaded bodice and Mary-Louise Parker in a form fitting red satin dress.

Four beautiful gowns that utilized figure flattering secrets were the ruching on America Ferrera's electric blue and Queen Latifah's crimson gown, the tiers on Kyra Sedgwick's black gown  and the empire waist on Rashida Jone's gown with a feathered hem.

My favorite overall dress was the yellow satin Donna Karan worn by Minnie Driver. The color is beautiful and the waistline material wrap is figure flattering.

Photo Credits: InStyle - Jeff Vespa/WireImage

What were your favorites?

Club Monaco Black Shirt Dress, A Must Have

One of my favorite guilty pleasures is to read celebrity magazines. I especially like to look at what they wear. Katherine Heigl, from Grey's Anatomy, was shown in the September 17, 2007 US Magazine wearing this black shirt dress by Club Monaco.  She had silver shoes and a red Valentino tote for accessories. This dress has a crisp collar and capped sleeves. Shirt dresses are trendy but I find most do not fit my figure well. But this dress has a belt to highlight the waist and a figure flattering a-line skirt.

Club Monaco has an affordable but trendy selection of women's and men's clothes. The Bay Area stores are located in San Francisco and Santa Clara.

Shoe Sale Alert: In Her Shoes, Palo Alto

I was on my way to get my favortie chocolate yogurt fix at  the Fraiche shop , when I saw a sign for $20 shoes at the store "In Her Shoes" located at 644 Emerson Street, Palo Alto. I took a look at the table and the shoes were adorable. I hesitated at first because these type of sales usually only have a few shoes displayed when you actually go into the store. But "In Her Shoes" had a room (yes, a room) in the back filled with shoes either for $20 or 75% off. Their amazing regular selection of shoes is also worth taking a look at. And even better, all profits above operating costs go to the Global Fund For Women.

I walked out with 5 pairs of top quality shoes for $100. And then went to get my yogurt. It was an amazing ending to a busy day with my kids. I will just call it shoe sale shopping therapy.

A Hot Trench For Fall - By Nanette Lepore

I have a fashion crush on anything Nanette Lepore, and especially her jackets. They compliment my mom figure (and any figure) with a feminine but structured look. The fall line has a Belted Trench that can go casual or dressy. The coat has a nice sheen, notched collar, belted waist and long sleeves with banded cuffs. I spotted the coat at Calla in Menlo Park. The coat comes in black and grey.