New Summer Neutrals

I decided to switch up my pedicure from a bubble gum pink to a new nail color that I received. The nail polish is a slightly shimmery taupe hue called Belly Dance from Shades by Barielle. It's from the disco-inspired High Steppin' collection, and I love that it contains no formaldehyde, toluene, or dibutyl-phthalate. The color is light enough to work with my summer shoes and the neutral mocha color goes with just about everything. It's a great alternative to Chanel's trendy Particuliere. For those who are wondering about the comfort factor of the boots, yes, they are comfortable for a few hours, but I wouldn't walk in them all day. I think they're wearable due to the thick cone heel, the breathable canvas/leather fabrication, and the adjustable laces.

Wearing: Forever 21 leggings ,Topshop "Armour" boots, and Belly Dance from Shades by Barielle nail color.

Treat Your Feet Well

I just finished reading a book that I received called Bad Shoes & the Women Who Love Them by Leora Tanenbaum. It's an informative, eye-opening, and entertaining look at the history of heels, why women wear them, and how they can damage and deform our feet. Being an admirer of high heels, the book is a strong reminder for me that high heels (over 1.5 inches) should only be worn for limited periods of time and not for everyday use or for prolonged walking or standing. I often hear women who are older than me tell me that they can't wear heels like they used to when they were younger. It's not worth the pain and damage. Tanenbaum's book (and my doctor's advice to wear sneakers most of the time) have both convinced me to limit my high heel-wearing to short periods of time such as nights out when I will be wearing them for about three hours. What really caught my attention is when the author draws parallels to the practice of Chinese foot binding and wearing high heels. By wearing them, we are trying to make our feet appear more beautiful, when in fact, doing this causes conditions such as bunions, corns, and hammertoes, among other things. So by trying to make our feet appear more beautiful in heels, we are actually deforming our feet and making them less attractive in order to adhere to social and societal norms. The lesson here is to treat your feet well by wearing comfortable, flat shoes that fit properly. In the long run, it's worth it.

Bohemian Touches

The onset of summer often precipitates the wearing of relaxed bohemian-inspired attire. Something about warm weather makes such carefree pieces seem more appealing. We stow away our winter tights, scarves, and jackets in exchange for lighter, skin-baring styles and fun accessories. Think along the lines of: printed head scarves, braided belts, stacked bangles, printed sundresses, crochet details, embellished sandals, floppy hats, beaded handbags and maxi dresses. My latest batch of store windows has inspired me to dig up my maxi dresses, beaded necklaces, feather earrings, and gladiators in an effort to achieve that perfectly lighthearted summer style.

Refinery 29 is Coming to L.A.

May is shaping up to be a great month for shopping events and sales in the L.A. area. I came across this event in my inbox:

The Refinery29 East/West Tag Sale – open to the public.

SALE DATES: Friday May 21st and Saturday May 22nd 10AM-10PM, and Sunday May 23rd 10AM-9PM

LOCATION: Space 15Twenty: 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028


To kick off Refinery29’s L.A. launch, the Refinery29 team has created the first ever Refinery29 East/West Tag Sale. The sale event will offer a modern twist on old-school estate and yard sales and will feature a highly curated selection of steeply discounted merchandise from a mix of L.A. and New York's top emerging and established designers (Helmut Lang, Rogan, Band of Outsiders, Vena Cava, and more), bi-coastal vintage purveyors What Goes Around Comes Around, a curated lineup of NYC and Los Angeles's coolest boutiques, and the first ever mini pop-up from famed NYC charity and vintage clothing chain Housing Works. This will be an unbelievable shopping weekend to launch and celebrate the arrival of Refinery29 to the local L.A. market.

11 Style Ideas for Summer 2010

Strawberry Fields Forever

I spent a few hours at the annual Strawberry Festival in Oxnard this weekend. With everything from strawberry popcorn and strawberry wine to strawberry pizza and nachos, there's so much food at the festival that it's a good idea to go on an empty stomach. Having almost recovered from oral surgery last week, I went in knowing that I'd lost a few pounds (from eating only fruit smoothies and soft foods for six days) and could indulge without guilt. I began with the sweet stuff - strawberry pizza consisting of soft bread, cream cheese, strawberries, and whipped cream. Then I sampled a strawberry smoothie, and later, for lunch, I opted for saltier fare - carne asada tacos and garlic fries. Next year, I'm going to try the strawberry shortcake, the strawberry popcorn, and perhaps the strawberry kebab. Yum.

American Apparel's Rummage Sale Coming to Santa Barbara

For more info, a map of the parking, and to request clothing, see their Facebook page

Free admission

Cash, credit, and debit accepted

It's All In The Details

In this installment of store window photos, I want to focus on interesting details. Whether it's crochet detail, gem embellishment, a beaded neckline, or chains, a little something extra can go a long way towards making something special. Below are six of my favorite tops with eye-catching details.

Shopping at Shecky's Girls Night Out

I came across this event in my inbox and wanted to share with my readers in the Los Angeles area:

Shecky’s Girls Night Out L.A.
Date: Wed.-Thur., May 19th-20th, 2010
Time: 5pm-10pm
Place: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main St. (Pico Blvd. & Colorado Ave.)

General Admission Tickets*: $10 in Advance
Shecky’s Goodie Bag + General Admission Tickets*: $25 in Advance
$35 at the Door

*Tickets may not be redeemed for cash. Must be 21 or older to attend. Proper ID will be required at the door. Contents and value of individual goodie bags vary. Ticket valid for one time use only.

Elevated Footwear

Some women dream about handbags, others buy copious amounts of makeup, and still others love jewelry. For me, it's always been (and always will be) about the shoes. Not only do shoes form the base of any outfit, they anchor you to the ground, and can instantly change both your height and your posture. Being a longtime fan of wedges and platforms because of their comfort and stability, I've recently come across three of-the-moment styles that I'm finding hard to resist.

images from asos.com, lorisshoes.com, & stevemadden.com

Mini Trend Report: Summer 2010 Denim & Footwear

Denim is a wardrobe staple. Practically everyone has it in their closet. This season, it's taking on an Americana theme, especially when paired with fringed accessories, Little House on the Prairie-inspired calico prints, and clogs. The best news is that denim is not just for jeans. At the retail level, denim is showing up in many incarnations, on everything from hats and handbags to strapless dress, flirty skirts, and worn-in chambray tops.

Despite what some fashion journalists are writing, summer 2010 footwear is all about the high heel. (Anyone else find kitten heels impossible to walk in?) Whether they take the form of aggressive five inch wedges, four inch platform pumps, or intricately strappy stilettoes, heels are here and they're ruling the stores. Of particular note are cut-out styles, lace-up details, and embellishments in the form of studs, jewels, beads, and buckles.

Love Culture to Open in Santa Barbara

While checking my blog statistics yesterday, I noticed that people were finding my site via Google searches for "Love Culture Santa Barbara." Since I was unaware of any Santa Barbara Love Culture store location, I decided to research it myself - first online, then in person. On Love Culture's site, it lists an April 23, 2010 opening date at La Cumbre Plaza. On La Cumbre's site, Love Culture is listed as "under construction." A visit to La Cumbre today revealed that the store is indeed under construction, and the bad news for shoppers and fans of the fast fashion retailer is that it looks nowhere near ready to open. The good news for those of you looking for a retail job in the Santa Barbara area is that they appear to be hiring.

Style Sample News

I'm excited to announce that the May/June issue of Style Sample magazine is now available. This issue is particularly special to me, as I contributed a feature on how to write professional blog reviews. Click here to check it out.