Shop Talk

Trend Watch: White on White

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:13:00 -0700

Not everyone is (wo)man enough to brave summer’s stain fearing color trend: white on white. The power commanding color combo showed up on runways for Proenza Schouler, Balmain, Valentino, and Pucci in sleek and modern iterations.

Ready to give it a go? Ditch the red wine for white, and view our inspiration pieces in this week’s trend watch roundup.

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H&M Scores Isabel Marant

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:15:00 -0700

H&M continues its steady stream of fabulous designer collaborations with cool icon, Isabel Marant. The Parisian designer known for her effortless style, urban attitude and a rock ‘n’ roll spirit will deliver her signature aesthetic to 250 stores worldwide (and online shopping) on November 14th, 2013. The collection will feature clothing and accessories for women and teenagers, as well as Marant’s first-ever collection for men.

“I am flattered by this collaboration. H&M works with the best designers, and this invitation is an exciting honor. I aim at creating something real – something women want to wear in their everyday lives – with a certain carefree style. I think this is very Parisian: You dress up, but don’t pay too much attention to it, and you still look sexy. The collection is infused with this kind of easiness and attitude. Everything can be combined following one’s own instincts, and my take on fashion is all about personality.”

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Chanel's 1932 Diamonds

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:22:00 -0700

Chanel and the diamond - Inside CHANEL from CHANEL on Vimeo.

Anyone with a cursory knowledge of fashion knows that Coco Chanel was an innovator. But, what many a style buff may not know is how Chanel also changed the jewelry world in 1932.

With her one and only fine jewelry collection, Bijoux de Diamants, she turned the norm upside down by creating pieces that did away with traditional clasps and settings using a series of new shapes displayed untraditionally on wax mannequins. This exquisite video from Inside Chanel tells the tale in the most gorgeous history lesson we’ve had in awhile.

40 Favorite Summer Shoes

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:36:00 -0700

With June-ary nearing its end, the true start of summer will be here in mere moments. And that means cute shoes. Specifically, cute open-toe shoes. Take a tour of our 40 favorite summer shoes on the cheap from big box DSW.com.

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Ladies Day Out

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:08:00 -0700

Image: Courtesy Ladies Day Out

Looking for something to do with your best gal pals? Next weekend’s Ladies Day Out promises to have something for everyone. Taking place from June 21-23 at the Oregon Convention Center the event has 150 Northwest businesses within a 30,000 sq. ft event space.

Throughout the weekend producers will raffle off thousands of dollars worth of fabulous prizes to benefit their worthy nonprofit partner Girls Inc. of NW Oregon whose mission it is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Attendees have the chance to indulge in fine wines, craft beers and culinary creations, or kick off their shoes and enjoy a specialty cocktail in our fully furnished Ladies Lounge. On the main stage see fashion shows and tips from pros or simply enjoy aisle after aisle of premier shopping in one easy locale.

Event manager, Thalia Cabrera spells out the schedule of events:

Image: Courtesy Ladies Day Out

Oregon Convention Center

At our much anticipated VIP Reception/Show Floor Sneak Peek on Friday, June 21 (8:00pm-10:00pm) fashionable and fun ladies 21 and up will delight in delectable hors d’oeuvres, delicious area wines and microbrews while enjoying live musical performances by Aaron Meyer and John Ross Music. SWAG Bags filled with product samples, gift certificates, and giveaways from Camp Dakota, Yelp.com, Rose City Vein Center, Kind Snacks, Acorn Chiropractic, Ellington, Island Mana Wines, Fresh Faces Rx, Celebrity Spa and Tan, Clear Financial Partners, and others, will be gifted to each attendee, and exclusive discounts will be offered by more than 80 locally renowned designers, salons, artists, and specialty retailers. Our Ladies Lounge presented by Mercedes-Benz of Portland will host Complimentary Let it Ride and Blackjack Casino Tables from U-Betcha Entertainment. We will cap this fantastic evening of food, fun, and fabulous local shopping with a Champagne Raffle/Diamond Giveaway presented by Ben Bridge Jewelers and one lucky lady will walk away with a diamond pendant valued at more than $1600!

Image: Courtesy Ladies Day Out

The fun (and fundraising) continues Saturday and Sunday June 22 and 23 (10am-6pm, both dates) when we open the event to all ages! Complimentary SWAG Bags will be gifted to the first 200 attendees through the door each day; our Ladies Lounge will be serving signature Peach Mojitos and appetizers to beat the heat. $5.00 Raffle Entries will provide chances to win valuable raffle prizes, including our Queen For A Day Shopping and Spa package valued at more than $1200! Workshops will be in full swing with sessions presented by expert panelists, and our main stage is sure to please with a dazzling array of fitness, dance, and fashion demonstrations. Attendees will want to get an early seat for our Featured Fashion Shows presented by the Ultra-Fab Mag-Big and Union Rose featuring looks by eight of Portland’s hottest designers (2pm Saturday and Sunday) with additional shows presented by O’Pearl Brands, Moontess and Betty Jean Couture (12:30pm Saturday and Sunday). Q+A session with local celebrities Kami Gray and Eden Dawn to follow (editor’s note: I did not call myself a celebrity, but I like that she did). Mommy + Me Fashion Show (4pm Saturday) and Girls Inc. Fashion Show (4pm Sunday) will feature looks by Sister Fresh and Rain Baby Gear.

Ladies, gals, and femme fatales all interested in the fun can snag VIP Reception Tickets, $35 and Regular Show Tickets, $15/advance online at http://www.ladiesdayout.net/event.html and at all TicketsWest locations.

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The Birth of Bluer Denim

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:15:00 -0700

Agave Denim founder Jeff Shafer isn’t happy about what’s happened to the manufacturing world in the US. After decades in the business, he’s seen the decline of quality, the decline of jobs at home, and prices rise. A go-getting self-made denim guru, the Portland-based entrepreneur is doing his darndest to start a revolution in the denim world with the birth of Bluer denim.

A company that evokes such a strong reaction in their ethical and practical principles it reached its full Kickstarter goal amount in less than a week. But with 20 days left to go, there is still an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this national line with hometown roots. Read on for all the reasons to fall in love from the founder himself.

WELCOME TO THE BLUER DENIM PROJECT

BLUER DENIM is a transparently sourced American premium denim brand. We will build and distribute world-class, 100% Made-in-the-USA jeans and denim products exclusively online, at previously impossible prices. BLUER aspires to become a global leader in ethical business practices that include providing recycled and re-purposed denim to people in need, as well as strict corporate responsibility and a reduced environmental impact.

Denim is our world, our life, and our passion. We’re obsessed with it. Designed in our studio in Portland, Oregon, our jeans feature cotton grown in Georgia, Cone White Oak denim milled in North Carolina, and YKK buttons, rivets and zippers forged in Kentucky. The jeans are cut, sewn, washed and hand-finished in Los Angeles using eco-friendly ozone laundry processes. BLUER products are beautifully tailored and finished to the highest possible standards, right here in the U.S.

Our jeans start at a retail price of only $95. BLUER’s web-only pricing is approximately 50% lower than comparable products sold through the traditional wholesale/retail model—and often these products are made overseas, using lesser quality materials and trims. Other brands may claim to be premium denim, but BLUER really is genuinely premium denim, in every sense of the word.

In designing our jeans and other denim pieces, no expense or detail was spared. We chose America's oldest and most historic denim manufacturer, Cone Mills, with 120 years of experience making the finest American denim at their White Oak plant in Greensboro, North Carolina. BLUER leather patches are vegetable dyed English bridle leather handcrafted by our friends at Tanner Goods here in Portland. Every pair of jeans and every jacket has a unique serial number sewn into the garment that allows us to identify when the product was sold, enabling us to honor our one year warranty. Our belt loops are tucked and our back pockets are fully lined. These are just a few of the many premium details featured on our products.

Because of our position on transparency, here is what you cannot see… All our metal for buttons, burrs, rivets and zippers is forged in the USA by YKK and are certified nickel free. Our pocketing is woven in the USA by Cotswold Industries using only cotton grown in the USA. Our thread is made in the USA by Coats. Our jeans are cut and sewn in Los Angeles. Our jeans washed in Los Angeles using state of the art eco-friendly ozone technology. All packaging is made with recycled paper and printed with non-toxic inks.

HOME TRY-ON: SHIP THREE PAIRS FREE

Many people find the task of trying on jeans in stores to be arduous and even annoying. When our new site is complete, our customers will be able to try on up to three pairs of jeans in their own home – with their shoes, their shirts; with their girlfriend, boyfriend or best friend...you get the idea. And they can do it all on their own schedules, without the pressure of a fitting-room environment and a salesperson on commission.

Here’s how it works: Simply select up to three pairs of jeans to try, and add them to the “Home Try On” cart. BLUER will ship right to your front door, and you’ll have enough time to either ship them back or purchase and keep them – you’ll only pay for what you keep, and not a penny if you keep none. There are absolutely no up-front fees, and no shipping costs. This is a world-first for the denim industry. We also offer a straight purchase option if you already know what you want.

BUY ONE - GIVE ONE: RESPONSIBILITY & SUSTAINABILITY

BLUER is introducing a new humanitarian and sustainable solution designed to get unwanted jeans out of your closets, and into the hands of those in need. For every pair of jeans you purchase, Bluer will buy back your used pair for $5, sanitize them, and deliver them to someone who really needs them. This is extremely important to us and we think (and hope) it’s just as important to you. Our Buy One - Give One jean re-purposing program will begin with the launch of our web site.

EFFICIENCY CREATES VALUE

By not paying for traditional and costly wholesale/retail-industry staples like product samples, trade conventions, commissions, both wholesale & retail mark-ups and other supply chain costs, Bluer is funneling those savings straight to our customers.

This also enables us to offer you an unprecedented one-year warranty against product failure. Should you experience any problem with your jeans, simply send us a photo of the jean's serial number and a photo of the problem and we will either repair or replace them for free.

A PASSION PROJECT

Bluer is not just a new denim label—it’s a passion project for us. We are hoping to transform the way people buy jeans forever. Our team has decades of experience in the global denim industry at the highest level, with brands like Levi’s, BC Ethic, Diesel, Agave, Rock & Republic, Rag & Bone and Citizens of Humanity. We're leveraging this experience, along with our combined backgrounds in design, manufacturing, technology, branding and marketing, to change the game. Our vision is to do so by adding convenience, value, social responsibility, personalization, exploration, and entertainment to the premium denim buying process.

With the funds from this Kickstarter campaign, we will not only be fulfilling our first production run of limited edition jeans, jackets, shirts, and accessories for our backers, we’ll also be funding a denim industry transformation – creating an unparalleled buying experience.

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How to Organize Your Closet

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:44:00 -0700

Before summer officially arrives, we need to tackle the rest of spring-cleaning. For those of us who refuse to get rid of anything ever (Hey, it’s a good thing I held onto my 90’s Doc Martins, they’re back in style), that means some tips on how to keep it all organized aren’t only welcome, they’re necessary.

This video from Pop Sugar gives some helpful hints (hello battery operated lights) on how to dig in and really make the most of your space without getting overwhelmed, or toppled, by your duds.

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Dracula in Dior

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:05:00 -0700

In today’s “Have You Ever Wondered?” spotlight, we’re giggling over the question, If the Devil Can Wear Prada, Shouldn't Dracula Wear Dior?

The answer appears to be yes, and with the help of Scarlett Stoker's new eBook, Dracula in Dior, (the first ever style guide for vampires, undead obsessives and Twilight and True Blood fans), you can assist the bloodsuckers with their style choices. Stoker says they already have a leg (tooth?) up in the world by having two things we all want–Eternal life and eternal thinness. But the problem is while their books sell millions and their movies and TV shows are hits, but when it comes to style, too many are still dressing like the Count from Sesame Street. )

"It's time for older vampires to abandon the clichés and younger vamps to ditch the hoodies and torn jeans," says Stoker, creator of the funny and vampy blog www.DraculainDior.com. "Vampires need to embrace the runway and start killing in fashion."

"A wise human once said that good clothes open all doors," explains Stoker. "And if you're a vampire, beyond those doors are a lot of necks. The devil wears Prada because it works for him. Shouldn't Dracula and his cohorts do their jobs in Dior? And Marc Jacobs and Gucci and Donna Karan."

The book combines the twin passion of millions - fashion and vampires - and outlines tips for vampires like:

Why they need to ditch those boring capes and corsets and wear designer.
How jewelry is a vampire's best friend for hiding those annoying dinner bloodstains. Just ask Michelle Obama.
Why Martha Stewart should be the role model of every undead housewife.

Dracula in Dior is the ultimate A-Z for fashionistas and the undead, either freshly turned or those approaching their 1000^th birthday. Order an eBook for just $1.99 on Amazon.

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Agave's Huge Warehouse Sale

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:35:00 -0700

Agave Denim, known for its Made in America luxury denim and sportswear for both men and women opens its 24,000 square foot headquarters and distribution warehouse to the public this weekend for their biannual warehouse sale.

Take a worthwhile trip up to Ridgefield on either Friday or Saturday between 9:00am and 5:00pm for screaming deals of 40-80% off men’s and women’s jeans, knits, sweaters and jackets. Sample sized ladies and gents should make the extra effort to show up early to dive into the box of one-of-a-kind prototype samples.

Agave encourages all visitors to take part in their charity “Jeans Exchange”. That means you bring in used, clean jeans for an additional 10% discount on the fancy new ones you’ll buy. The collected jeans go to local non-profit organizations “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” and “The Arc of Clark County”, while the additional space in your closet goes to TBA.

Agave’s Biannual Warehouse Sale
6210 S 11^th St. Ridgefield WA, just off Interstate 5 at exit #14. Telephone: 360-887-5400

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Yo Vintage & Wildfang

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:31:00 -0700

Beginning today, new company Wildfang (specializing in tomboy chic gear) sets up a mini pop up shop within the uber popular Blackbox locale, Yo Vintage. The two new local friend companies cemented their new collaboration by heading to Timothy Lake last week and shooting a lookbook combining pieces from both the WIldfang and Yo inventory.

To kick off the collab, tonight they host a First Thursday bash tonight from 6–9pm. Head down to snag some pieces from the usually-online-only Wildfang collections, or, if you can’t make it, take a peak at the preview images.

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Photos courtesy Yo Vintage