3.26.2009

The end of the beginning--the Mike & Chris "Going Out of Business" sale

This is it...or is it?

Mike & Chris had been holding several sample sales in rapid succession, and I missed all of them. The one scheduled for this Saturday has been billed as the "Going Out of Business" sale. That was a little surprising, given a recent interview I read recently of the Mike half of the duo about upcoming collections. On one hand, the rock-bottom pricing sounds like a BK liquidation to me; on the other hand, there are new designs coming out. Huh?

According to Daily Candy, the liquidation sale is for the original business entity that launched the Mike & Chris label. Since the trademark was licensed to a manufacturer, and the founding designers are still designing, it's not quite the end of the line for the clothing line. That, I'm sure, is good news for many fans of stylish and comfy hoodies.

In any event, the sale will be held this Saturday from Noon to 6 p.m. at 2900 Rowena Avenue in Silver Lake, between Hyperion and W. Silver Lake Blvd. I won't be able to take advantage of this one either (drats!) because I'll be in the Baltimore/DC area this weekend. Luckily, a friend of mine kindly volunteered to be on the lookout for something that would work for me. For those of you who couldn't afford the Real McCoy before, this sale is one you don't want to miss.

3.22.2009

Business Travel: Home(wood) Suite Home

One thing I dislike about travel is having to eat out. Trying out new restaurants may seem fun at first, but after a few meals, I'm sick of the grease, even from the "healthier" options. Worst of all, eating out is just plain expensive. In the past, I have cut down on breakfast costs by a) eating the free breakfasts at hotels, or b) stocking up on bagel, buns, and granola bars where the free breakfast is not available. However, without a refrigerator, the other meals are hard to manage. There is usually a microwave in the vending areas, but what good is that if there isn't a spot to keep food fresh?

In the past, I have enjoyed my stays at the Hampton Inn, which is pretty comfortable and provides great breakfast and snack options. I remember that when I checked in, there were fresh baked cookies at the check-in desk. That was pretty nice. The Marriott Courtyard hotel is another good option as far as being big, new, comfortable, and quiet, but there is no free breakfast. This week, I heard learned of another good option: an attorney indicated that the Homewood Suites is actually a pretty good option for the same price as other hotels, and it has even more amenities. The one that was "reviewed" was fairly new and quiet, came with meals that people could order off a menu (which came at no additional costs...wow), and had a kitchenette in the room. That is definitely an option I'll consider for my future business trips.

Anyone have experiences with the Homewood Suites? What are your favorite hotels for travel, business and otherwise? Any special perks? Do tell.

3.20.2009

Happy First Day of Spring!

Ah, the first day of Spring. Being a city girl, such a day would have been like any other, since I wouldn't have been able to see the signs of change. I just knew that the weather would be nice, so I wanted to wear something more suitable for the Spring/Summer season. A new seersucker striped top that I picked up recently from the BCBG outlet seems to do the trick--light and carefree, but dresses up well:


Since I was in a rural area today, I was actually able to see the rolling green hills and miles upon miles of blooming poppies. The flowers are not in full bloom yet, but the fields are already pretty. Imagine what it would be like when the fields are filled with orange blossoms.


[Ray Bans, BCBG top and skirt, L'Autre Chose navy patent leather flats. Worn with Issac Mizrahi for Target cardigan for work.]

3.18.2009

Weekday/Weekend: The Funky Dress

I am incorrigibly attracted to stripes. I just can't help it--stripes are so simple, but they add pizzazz and they're just so easy to wear. When I went to a local boutique last weekend, I was drawn to yet another striped piece on the half-off racks--a dress with black, gray, and hot pink stripes. Stripes again?!? At least the stripes are vertical!

This dress is obviously fun and very comfortable to wear. What I really love about it is the potential to rework it for work. The batwing sleeves and drapey collar, not to mention the hot pink stripes, would contrast very well with conservative pieces, while the black and gray stripes keep the wildness factor a bit more tamped down. I think the dress would look funky yet professional with a cardigan or a blazer, but if it needs to be toned down more, a well-fitting pencil skirt will do the trick.

Here's how I wore it on the weekend:


[Miu Miu silver framed sunglasses, 'T ain't dress, Michael Kors leather hoodie, Target tights and bag, vintage boots]

Here's how I wore it for a deposition. I had to look professional, but since I have been working in a relatively remote area and the drive is very long, I wanted to wear something fun and not too constricting. That's why I decided to pair the dress with a charcoal gray blazer, a black skirt, and black pumps.


[Ray Bans, 'T ain't dress, BCBG blazer, secondhand skirt (from clothing swap), Payless pumps]

3.07.2009

Saving Cinderella

The brain needed a break, so I obliged. I decided to do something a bit creative and a bit irreverent.

What little girl doesn't want a pair of Cinderella's magical glass slippers? I was fascinated by the eponymous fairy tale as a wee lass, long before I had any remote interest in fashion. The sense of wonder surrounding Cinderella's shoes lingers, though I have adopted a rather darkly comedic view of the erstwhile heroine now:

[Outfit details: Lee Angel necklace, J. Crew gold lame shirt, Target tank top, Mike & Chris coat, Earnest Sewn jeans, Maison Martin Margiela Ligne 22 lucite wedges.]

Let there be no controversy--this Cinderella needs no saving...from a 3.5-foot deep pool.

Random as it may seem, the pictorial tale does have rational origins. I'm just a big fan of lucite, and my interest in them has now expanded beyond vintage beads. I have been strangely attracted to colorful heels of shoes made of lucite; the unexpected transparency and glow of color just makes an ordinary pair of shoes much more interesting. So you can imagine my glee when I came across those shoes in Loehmann's last night.

It seems like the Loehmann's in Beverly Hills bought up the leftover stocks from the nearby Barney's. In addition to Barney's own shoe line, there was much footwear I recognized from last season's Barney's Warehouse Sale on the Loehmann's shelves. I walked down each aisle in search of hidden gems. While many people were cooing over the Jimmy Choos and the Pradas, which I had no interest in, I went after the avant garde. I found my Holy Grail--a pair of F/W 2007 Maison Martin Margiela lucite heel t-strap sandals, which I had seen online for at least twice as much just a couple of days before. The coolness factor is slathered all over the shoes--the fit, the rounded cutout shapes created by the straps, and of course, the awesome lucite heels that conjure the illusion of walking on air. Best of all, I know that they will endure long after midnight.

And now back to toiling in the mundane life...

3.04.2009

Busy Little Bee

There probably won't be a post for a while. I'm absent, but not entirely gone. It's just that I am really, really busy at the moment. In the meantime, take care, and may the economy take a turn back to the bright side.