Bloomie's Friends & Fam

Bloomingdale's
Friends and Family Weekend
is coming.......

Take advantage of Bloomingdale's Friends and Family discount May 3, 2007 to May 6, 2007. 20% off mostly everything! Update your summer wardrobe and bring home the LARGE brown bag. ;)

The JBrand Short

They're shorts but not short shorts. My days of asscheek baring shorts are numbered as I bury my true religion daisies in the drawer of old. J Brand is my favorite denim of late. They're your no frills jean, your classic denim with no labels and fancy stitching, they're your "just simple."

Pair with an oversized top, maybe one that just hints that you have shorts underneath or comes just shy of the cuff. On your feet -- a pair of pink canvas Christian Louboutin espadrilles? Yum.

These cuff shorts come in white, black, and indigo. J Brand, $141. Available on ShopBop.

A cute number

Rolled up to the W Hotel this weekend to check out the Diane vonFurstenberg sale. Purposely gave myself ample time in the morning to get ready – 1) to avoid the crowd and 2) to avoid a few hundred dollar charge on my credit card statement next month. At 1pm, they had completely cleaned out one room of DVF. Down to only 1, there were about 10 racks left to pick from – most of it being your classic wrap dresses of various prints and colors.

Two things immediately caught my eye, and apparently everyone else’s too. I engaged in a quick push and shove to find my size (jk) and victory! – a lone size X just waiting to be tried on. It now hangs, my very first DVF piece, happily in my closet. Next step? To find a hot date to take me on a hot date. ;)

It’s in the same family as the ivory dress pictured below but in tube style with ruching up top and a black sash under the bust. It’s the epitome of girly pleasure and cuteness.

Cash or credit card?

Brought to you by Today’s Issue of Daily Candy The 4 highlighted are my picks!

What: Society for Rational Dress
Why: Past collections and one-of-a-kind or limited edition pieces are priced up to 70 percent off.
When: Apr. 21. Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 255 S. Santa Fe Ave., near E. Third St., ste. 100, Downtown (213-613-0757).

What: Daftbird
Why: Perfectly faded T-shirts, tanks, and hoodies, were $60-$120, now $20.
When: Apr. 21. Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 329 N. Wetherly Dr., b/t Gregory Way & Olympic Blvd., ste. 208, Beverly Hills (310-858-1807).

What: Michelle Mason
Why: Jackets, were $450, now $165; dresses, were $350, now $120; tops, were $195, now $80.
When: Apr. 21 & 22. Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 2444 E. Eighth St., near S. Santa Fe Ave., Downtown (213-621-9270).

What: Joie
Why: Summer dresses, tops, cargoes, and more up to 85 percent off.
When: Apr. 20 & 21. Fri., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Where: 2323 E. 52nd St., b/t S. Alameda St. & S. Santa Fe Ave., Vernon (323-277-3900).

What: Polkadots & Moonbeams
Why: Get 75 percent off brands like Ya-Ya, Ella Moss, Nu, and more.
When: Apr. 19-22, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 8381 W. Third St., b/t Orlando Ave. & Kings Rd. (323-655-3880).

What: Rock & Shop for MS
Why: Drink, network, bid on photographs of rock legends, drool over the fashion show, and donate to a great cause.
When: Apr. 25. Wed., 6 p.m.-midnight.
Where: Skybar, at the Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Blvd., at Queens Rd., West Hollywood. Tickets online at msfriends.org.

What: Multidesigner Sample Sale
Why: Clothing, accessories, and jewelry from Tart, Isharya, and others up to 60 percent off. Admission is $10 with R.S.V.P.
When: Apr. 26. Thurs., 5-9 p.m.
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., at Pico Blvd., Santa Monica.

What: Studio Workshops by Therien
Why: Remarkable furniture at 50 percent off.
When: Apr. 26-28. Thurs.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 653 N. La Cienega Blvd., near Melrose Pl., West Hollywood (310-657-4615).

What: 2 B Free
Why: Comfy vests, tanks, tees, thermals, long hoodies, and such for men, women, and kids, all up to 50 percent off.
When: Apr. 28 & 29. Sat. & Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Castaway Studios, 8899 Beverly Blvd., b/t Robertson Blvd. & Doheny Dr., West Hollywood (310-980-3184).

What: PJ London
Why: New and gently worn clothing from top-notch designers, including YSL, Chanel, Gucci, and Marc Jacobs, at 50 percent off.
When: Apr. 26-29. Thurs.-Sat., 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Where: 11661 San Vicente Blvd., near Barrington Ave., Brentwood (310-826-4649).

quicktip: OIL begone

It happens in slow motion. Like when you're eating a salad and that cherry tomato drenched in delicious oil and herbs flicks off your fork and lands on your thigh, just right after traveling down the bottom of your shirt. And the result? A masterpiece of drizzle and splat. I worry about looking sloppy, a bit. But the anxiety of stain removal is worse. And I worry about that more. It usually happens to a shirt you bought the other day. First time wearing it, loving it, looking hot in it -- then disaster strikes and you're looking up to the clouds asking why? Alright alright - a little drama queen never hurt anyone.

My aunt is a genius. She has a fix for everything. I was moping around about a shirt I so clumsily ruined with my curry chicken and she came to the rescue. She said, "rub baby powder into the stain and throw it in the wash."

To my surprise, it worked. Since then, baby powder has been the miracle oil stain remover. The powder soaks up the oil and the wash is the final step so you don't go walking around like you were in a bakery kitchen.

If you have no baby powder, hairspray works too - although, i've always looked to the powder first. Good luck....and try it with confidence - I promise it will save you many a shirt.

Mike & Chris - Summer '07

Lo and Behold, the Frankie Micro Jacket – part of the summer ’07 Mike & Chris collection. My eyes were plastered to it once I saw it on Luv Charlie.

The lightweight fleece material is perfect for a cool summer night when you’re walking on the pier or alongside the ocean.

I love the button & buckle detail combo.

Reminder!

Rachel Pally Warehouse sale is happening this weekend, starting tomorrow!

For more information:
Rachel Pally Warehouse Sale

Tons of pre-spring stuff to feast on!

BBD & DVF bring you...

Presented by Billion Dollar Babes

Exclusive Diane von Furstenberg Sale – ONE DAY ONLY

When:
Saturday, April 21, 2007, 8am -7pm

Where:
W Los Angeles
Westwood 930
Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024

8am entry
BDB Platinum Members only (sign up HERE)

9am entry
BDB Gold Members only (sign up HERE)

10am entry
General Entry (sign up HERE)

CLICK HERE FOR W LOS ANGELES EXCLUSIVES

Map

RSVP ESSENTIAL: CLICK HERE

RSVPs close for this event on Friday April 20th at 7pm.
For questions, call us at (323) 933-8850 x111.

Cash and major credit cards accepted. PLEASE NOTE: Photo ID is required for all credit card payments.

Forever mine

My neighbor at work is a fashionista. We talk fashion. We love fashion. Fashion on a dime? Perfect. Why? Because really, it's about how you wear it and the attitude behind it that can make it look expensive. No one has to know except you & the shirt & maybe those select few who think like you do.

So she walked in and said, guess where? Looks like Marc. Nope. It's shhh....forever 21.

Amazing.

Don't wear it as if it only cost you $20 bucks. Wear as if it were couture. A lesson learned from my neighbor, my fashionista, and my inspiration.

I'll certainly drink to that. ;)

Donna Dress, $30.00/Lexi Tunic, $24.80

Shoegasm

Damn Barneys for sending me catalogs of beautiful shoes. Once I saw Christian Louboutin on the cover, I couldn’t help myself. I practically drooled with desire at each flip, lusting over pages of Balenciaga, Marni, Chloe, and Lavin. Strangely erotic, I know.

Immediately went from catalog to www.barneys.com to get more.

the WEDGE
yves saint laurent/patent wedge slingback/$630
christian louboutin/slingback wedge/$650

the SILVER SANDAL
barneys new york coop/leather twist sandal/$350
lanvin/metallic flat sandal/$425

the PUMP
miu miu/patent leather pump/$395
christian louboutin/platform slingback/$640

Getting High

At the moment, I feel the same way about high-waist jeans as I did skinny jeans the first time they were reintroduced. It took me about 3 tiers of skinny jeans to get to the cigarette style I know and love today – yes, the ones that are practically painted to my skin and take about 10 minutes to pull past my ankles. Sigh, the things we do for fashion.

Like skinny jeans, it takes a certain body type to pull off the high-waisted style. They look phenomenal on Kate Moss, but of course, she’s a twig. The mental transition from low risers to high risers is going to take some time. I mean, I haven’t had pants reach near my belly button in years! I have to try it on, wear it around, and see how I feel in it – then maybe reach a point where I’ll like it. Not all trends are for everyone – if it doesn’t work for me, no biggie. They’ll always be another fad to indulge in. Jbrand (left) began with skinnies, then came out with the wide-legs, and is now into the high-waist denim. Jbrand - being one of my more favorite denim designers. Available on Shop Bop.

yay or nay?

Flat knee-high boots by Delman. Available at Neiman Marcus. On sale for $225 (leather)/ $198 (suede). Girlfriends bombarded me with IMs of "should I get, what color should I get?" I fancy flat but oh-so-tall boots. I suggested Brown at first. But, Black leather is hot too.

Help me so maybe I can help them?

Big Rings

One day, I’ll get my 3 carat ring. I must be dreaming! One day, maybe in my next life. In the meantime, I can still rock the bling and wave my hands with pride, even if it’s just a $6 H&M sparkler weighing down my fingers. Though I love my David Yurman onyx cocktail ring, the one dressed with glittering diamonds, oh yes, that one. ;) -- it carries with it some bittersweet emotions. I wear it sparingly -- plus I’d be devastated if I left it in the girl’s room absentmindedly. And I would do something like that.

So, I’d much prefer the less than $20 costume accessories; at the moment, rings to be specific – though it would be silly of me to refuse the real thing. I’m talking big jewels and rocks encased by metal or flower petals carrying over your ring and pointer finger – and maybe even funky plastics in polka-dot and leapord. All of abstract shapes and colors, of course. Doesn't a luscious strawberry with gold seeds sound delicious?

Where to find? I scouted some at H&M. Intermix has some but pricey. Kenneth Jay Lane, of course, does not cease to disappoint. All the ones pictured above, Rachel Leigh, Lee Angel, Kenneth Jay Lane, and SuRevolution are all around $80.

Rock me. ;)

Kitson Warehouse Sale

First Ever Kitson Warehouse Sale!

50-80% off designer shoes, tees, bags, denim, and more

Starting Wednesday, April 4th to Saturday, April 7th.

142 N. Robertson Blvd (next to Kitson Men)

on 12th Street

You have 5th avenue and then you have 12th street. It started with Cynthia Vincent's era of sequin decorated pieces. Remember the sequined jacket? It definitely enjoyed its time as being one of the most coveted pieces of clothing of its time. Since then, her collections have always had my attention. Her Spring 2007 line is no different with her dresses perfectly encapsulating the feelings of spring - light, airy, sexy to the eye, and soft to the touch -- the color palette so neutral and unintimadating.


Slipdress (bottom right) featured in the April 2007 issue of Lucky Magazine.

Cynthia Vincent shoes have also made significant strides as of late, with her footwear editorially featured in Lucky, Elle, LA Times, and Apparel News in the past month.