SFBayStyle

Eat Shop Guides

Summer travel season is upon us and I seem to add a new guide book to my collection every summer. I have my fair share of Frommers, Fodors, and Lonely Planet books that I love. I even own own the Rick Steve's Europe DVD series. ( That was a wonderful gift from KQED!)

One thing that I try to do when traveling is to shop and eat where the locals do. I support locally owned businesses at home, so why not do the same abroad? Thanks to the eat.shop series, I can do just that.

The series, which now includes thirteen major cities worldwide, features locally owned businesses selected by the writers. The guides are beautifully designed, and make a great gift. If you want to discover cool boutiques, and restaurants wherever you may roam, this is just the book for you - whether you live here or are just visiting.

Happy Birthday Miss B

 

On a recent trip to New York City, I discovered Bloomingdale's is celebrating Barbie's big 5-0 in a very big way. On the third floor posing inside square display cases, Barbie can be found reliving her (and our) youthful memories, from retro swimsuit Barbie to modern trendy Barbie all decked out in Juicy Couture. Happy Birthday, you doll!

Lululemon Opens at Santana Row

Have you ever wished you could give your favorite designer feedback?  Well, now you can with your athletic wear.  Now that lululemon has opened its Santana Row store this past weekend, I am sure many women will be inspired to give their input.  Design Feedback forms are available in all of the stores.  Lululemon takes this feedback seriously.  Many of their products have been designed based on the feedback and suggestions of their clients. 

The morning I stopped by, Misha Patel of Club One was teaching a Cardio Dance class.  By the afternoon, the mood had changed.  A live DJ played tunes as patrons shopped and had refreshments.  Meena Shams, the Assistant manager graciously gave us a tour. Meena: Our founder, Chip Wilson, had a passion for technical athletic fabrics.  Many of our designs are made of a fabric called Luon.  This fabric wicks moisture away from the skin.  Our clothing is designed to last and retain their color.  Just make sure you do not wash with garments that have Velcro or zippers.  Personally, I let mine air dry.

What to Wear for Summer in San Francisco

By now, anyone who has traveled to San Francisco in the summer months has heard the quote by Mark Twain along the lines of how it can be colder than winter in some places. That's true some of the time, but there are also days that are fabulously beautiful and perfect where the view of the Bay is so clear, the air warm and inviting, where tourists need to buy t-shirts instead of the sweatshirts that usually make a bundle at Fisherman's Wharf. And this week, San Francisco is welcoming some fabulous women for the BlogHer conference taking place at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square, so in honor of and as tips for these gals, SFBayStyle has developed a "What to Wear" list for our visitors...

Number 1: layers. If nothing else remains from this list, remember layers. Perhaps it should be repeated one more time. LAYERS. Layers are the key to Northern California living. One jacket or sweater is fine, but two or three are better. Pamela recommends cashmere sweaters.

Number 2: great shoes. Stylish is fun, but at the end of the day if you're trudging at a 60 degree angle up a hill chasing an overflowing Cable Car, you want a pair that's comfortable and functional. I've done it in pumps and it nearly killed me. Trendy open-toe spikes or whatever floats your boat is great for wining, dining, and partying, but for walking and conference going, go for whatever shoes you know won't let you down.

Repetto

I spent the last two weeks traveling around Europe. Shopping is more challenging as the dollar is weak, but shopaholic that I am, I pounded the Paris streets in search of the perfect souvenir. I usually pick up a pair of driving shoes, but was disappointed that Gigi, on Rue Tronchet, no longer carries the Elisabeth Stuart driving shoe. (I was still able to find a cute pair of ballet flats.)

As I strolled up the Rue De L'Opera back to my favorite little hotel in Paris, I saw a commotion down the Rue De Paix. There were cars double parked, the side walk was roped off and there was a long line. I assumed that there was a sale, or a celebrity in town. Much to my surprise, the line was to enter the Repetto store. There was no sale. I inquired about the line, and was informed that Repetto is so popular, that fashionistas in Paris line up to get in.

Super-Fashion Flies to the Met

In our house, superheroes are a daily inspiration. At the Met on May 7, they become the catalyst to an empowering and daring world of fashion. The exhibit "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy," will thematically connect the iconic ensembles and powers of particular superheroes and how the ideology behind each one has been expressed through modern fashion.

The exhibition will also use the entirety of the collection, which includes movie costumes, avant-garde haute couture, and high performance sportswear, to serve as a metaphor for the theatrical underpinnings of the fashion world, and the bold effect fashion and costume can have on the human psyche as well as its ability to transform and re-shape the body. Strap on your jet-pack and your spike heels and get to NYC this summer for what looks to be a fantastic exhibit, not to mention one that might just please every member of the family, big and small.

"Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" runs May 7, 2008 through September 1, 2008 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

Postcards From Pamela

Do you recall the days of receiving post cards from your family and friends when they traveled? Thanks to e-mail, the excitement of postcards seems to have worn off on my children. Now they wait for an e-mail or blog post for updates on my travels. I still enjoy receiving a post card in the mail, so feel free to send me one. Here is my modern day postcard:

I left the warm and sunny Bay Area on Sunday. Being a California native, (me and the poppy flower!) I am challenged by the Spring weather here in rainy London. Luckily I packed my trusty pink plaid rain coat and cap. The best purchase I ever made at Gap (though I am feeling like it is time to invest in a Burberry.) So one point for the raincoat, and a demerit for the ballet flats. I am afraid that for trudging through puddles, ballet flats were not the best option. I clearly should have packed my orange rain boots. (I urge anyone going to London to bring rain shoes, jackets and lots of scarves.)

Kid By Phillip Lim

If I lived in New York City, I would be heading to the ninth floor of Barneys today. Phillip Lim, one of my favorite designers, is introducing a line for the cookies and juice set. My fashionista daughter could be adorned in Lim's latest designs. (I'll bet Angelina Jolie is heading there to get some dresses for hers.) The prices are a tad steep for children's clothes, but Barneys is offering free ground shipping on all orders over three hundred dollars, so all Bay Area tots can show off the latest runway styles too!

New Banana Republic Flagship Store Opens... in London

For Anglophiles like me, this is interesting. Women's Wear Daily reports that Banana Republic this week opened their first store in the U.K. Some of my favorite every day clothes come from Banana Republic (owned by San Francisco-based Gap), but some are from my two British favorite chains, Hobb's and Next.

Swedish based H&M entered the market a few years back, and now they're in business here, so it's clear there's still room in the market for more mid-priced, stylish every day ready-to-wear clothes. It will be interesting to see if Banana Republic takes off overseas as Gap has.

Next time you're in London, head to Oxford Circus and 224 Regent Street to view the new UK flagship store.

Terexov Fall 2008

Long, flowing locks, fabulous fabrics and svelte fit seem to be prevalent themes for Fall 2008. I couldn't believe my eyes - being there in person really does inspire - watching the smouldering designs for fall paraded down the runway in a sea of color. After Monday afternoon's gorgeous dresses, skirts, jackets, trousers and tops mixed with strap-on berets, booties and thick tights by Tracy Reese, I migrated to evening where Terexov (by 29 year-old Russian, Alexander Terekhov) showed his upcoming collection.

I'm sure every show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was fabulous, and I know not everyone likes all of them, but to me it's all beautiful - maybe I wouldn't wear one item or another myself, but I can picture others who would. Terexov's clothes I could see myself in nearly all of them, given the right circumstances. Warm knits, luscious leathers and curvy cuts enticed Monday night's guests at the show. Warm winter comfort and glamour may not usually fall in the same sentence, but Terexov's clothes looked to be both soft and sexy, wearable and maneuverable, practical and precious.

Following are the photos I was able to obtain from the second row.

Bijoux and Baubles Parisian Style

Written by Guest Contributor Karina Jensen of Mondo-Chic

Paris is touting fashion jewelry as the must have accessory and ultimate accent for your style wardrobe in 2008! Featuring emerging and established international designers, Eclat de Mode opened its doors to more than 400 exhibitors and 11,000 visitors in late January to celebrate the latest trends and concepts in fashion jewelry and accessories.

The Eclat de Mode Salon presented fashion jewelry and accessories with a refined, sophisticated, and elegant style for spring/summer 2008. Colors shaped the spirit of the season with a rainbow of bright and sparkly hues for high impact, in addition to black and white contrasts for high drama. There were six main themes that carried the new trends for spring/summer:

• Celestial Light
• Nocturnal Breakout
• Tropical Forest
• South Seas
• Poetic Garden
• Wind of the East

New York Fashion Week Report

The electricity surrounding Mercedes Benz Fashion Week subtly emanates through the tents as show attendees hurry up and wait in line for the next designer's new wearables - in this case, Fall 2008 and a lot of comfortable, beautiful designs. Fashion Week - on & off the runway - is quite a scene. It's a combination of loads of press, fashion friends, buyers, stylists, designers and models. Some go to be seen, but most go to see what's next for the upcoming season.

Being tall has its perks. By signing up at the last minute for Fashion Week, I was lucky to get seats for a few shows and standing room for a few more. Standing meant perching behind everyone else in my 4" spike heels (they are comfortable, I swear) and waiting in a long queue until the show began. Behind 8 rows of seats in the Promenade tent, I scooted into the middle behind the crowd. In the Salon, the five rows fill up quickly - I was lucky enough to get a second row seat for one of the shows Sunday and the view - particularly close-up of the fabrics - was fabulous.

A Fashion Explosion from Paris

Written by Guest Contributor Karina Jensen of Mondo-Chic

Prêt-à-porter Paris opened its doors in late January to celebrate an international fashion week filled with music, art, and culture. Living up to its reputation as “the city of creation”, Paris showered the fashion world with an explosion of new trends for 2008.

Showcasing ready-to-wear and accessories from established and emerging designers, Prêt-a-Porter provides a style playground for fashionistas from every part of the world. With 1550 designer labels represented, Pret-a-Porter calls itself the avant-garde source for consumer tastes and market trends. From special exhibits to fashion shows, the salon features plenty of fashion discoveries and treasures. The UK was the country of choice this year as British designers and collections were featured on the runways and in the expo hall. Most regions and countries were represented in several categories and destinations that covered key style concepts for fashion, accessories, and services.

SFBayStyle Covering Fashion Week From New York & Paris

This week, I'll be covering some of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York for SFBayStyle with a look at fall 2008 collections. So far the shows I'm planning to attend include the Academy of Art University, Tracy Reese, Terexov, Peter Som, Betsey Johnson, Iodice and Monique Lhuillier (these shows Saturday through Tuesday).

I wish I could stay all week and cover everything - I already was sad to miss this morning's opening ceremonies with Candace Bushnell, Brooke Shields and other cast members from the new show, Lipstick Jungle (premiering on Feb. 7, see my previous post about that).

Also, we're lucky to have Karina Jensen of Mondo-Chic reporting about Paris Fashion Week throughout the week as well. She just got back and will be submitting her reports on what she saw at the various shows. Bon appetit!

Great Maternity and Baby Style at Golden Globes Boom Boom Room

I'm writing this from LA where I'm attending the Boom Boom Room celebrity gifting event for actors and other celebrities as a preliminary event before what would have been the Golden Globe Awards. I've been live-blogging the event for the Silicon Valley Moms Blog from the Graco suite. (For non-moms, Graco makes fabulous baby products.) We saw and met several wonderful actors yesterday and more photos are all over the SVMoms Blog.

The event showcases some great products from companies geared toward moms, babies and young children. In addition to Graco, Mattel, Crayola, Gymboree, Robeez, Thermos, Mustella, and many many more. And talking with the actors about the products they love has been a lot of fun. I just met Elisabeth Rohm, actor from "Big Shots" and formerly of "Law and Order". She was in this soft, flattering black dress she said her mom sent her, but she also noted that she loves A Pea in A Pod for maternity clothing. Graco is sharing a booth with Chic Papoose, these beautiful slings to carry newborns and Elisabeth found a great floral black and white print papoose.

Please visit the Silicon Valley Moms Blog for more about the event and attendees.

Envirosax Saves The Day

I own too many tote bags. I have a trunk full of the re-usable Trader Joes's and Whole Foods Bags. I buy every tote bag I see. I can claim that I am really trying to be eco-friendly, or that I am a tote bag addict. Maybe a little of both. I refuse to use the boring canvas bags that my husband brings back from conferences. With the many choices of re-usable bags, I no longer have to use those.

However, the sad truth is that I often forget to bring my bags to the store with me. Then I found a solution. I was at SFMOMA with my family last week, and saw the compact, very cool Envirosax bag. Of course, I just had to buy one. I placed it in my purse, and forgot that I even had it...until yesterday. We are in Hawaii and I forgot to pack a beach bag. I was all set to have to buy something from the over priced hotel gift shop, when I found my Envirosax bag. I unrolled it, and I had a hip, cool, usable beach tote. Envirosax saved the day!

Eco & Fashionable Water Bottles (No, Really! Check These Out)

Thanks to Nadine at Heart of Green, I've just learned about a very cool way to be eco friendly - SIGG water bottles. Swiss made, these bottles have interchangeable lids and nearly 150 different designs.

My favorites? Sigg Circles Orange (I have a thing for orange), Sigg Hello Kitty, and Sigg Astronaut. SIGG makes bottles, flasks, thermal bottles, and additional accessories like bottle cleaners. (Let's face it - half the reason people stay away from reusable bottles is that they can be difficult to clean, so this helps.)

Julep Nail Parlor in Seattle - Eco, Refreshing & Fun

Suzanne Rugh of Seattle magazine calls Julep "the thinking woman's nail salon" in their latest issue featuring "133 best shops". I suppose that's one way of looking at it. I thought it was cool, refreshing, relaxing and fun as well as stimulating. In Seattle last week, I looked up Jeanne Riley who is now COO of Julep, founded recently by Jane Park, a fellow mom and ex Starbucks exec. Jeanne, a tech whiz trained at Andersen Consulting, met Jane through a moms' group.

Along with Jeanne and 2 other friends of mine, I had a pedicure two Fridays ago while watching the end of "Sixteen Candles" (John Cusack was cute even when playing a geek). It was 80's day, one of their rotating Friday themes. Mommy Mondays are every week, as are "Sex and the City" or Girls' Night Out Thursdays (they typically show either "Sex and the City" and/or "Grey's Anatomy" on their flat screens those nights), and Tuesdays they give 10% of their revenue to non-profits, like The Nature Conservancy, as voted on by customers.

Julep uses only eco-friendly, organic nail polishes, custom creams and chairs of their own design in their first location across from University Village in Seattle. They also offer waxing services. The "Junior Julep" is for children who need basic manicures or pedicures and I'll admit the "Ultimate Chocolate Experience" caught my eye as well. (I'll have to try that one next time.) Julep also books the space for special events.

Free of the toxic fumes, elevator music, and dilapidated magazines typically found in nail parlors, Julep provided a wonderful afternoon retreat. This would also be a great place to bring your metrosexual beaus, ladies. I could see my husband trying his first pedicure at Julep. I can't wait until they open one in the Bay Area.

Shopping Tip

No matter what city I am in, I want to check out the local boutiques. ( Of course I go to the museums too.)I always ask my fashionista friends for a list of their favorite places. I have also had great luck using the Lucky Magazine city guides. I just printed out the list for shops in Boston.I am heading out to Newbury St., and will let you know what treasures I find.

H&M Chicago

While in Chicago last week for BlogHer, I scored on a brief shopping spree with a great floral blouse and some jewelry for my daughter at H&M. Had I been able to spend more time in the store, I probably would have done some major damage. H&M Chicago seemed somehow to host a bigger, broader selection of items than the one store I've visited in the US in San Francisco, but one of my shopping buddies, Beth B, said the NYC store is still more impressive. Road trip?!