A Zara Saga - Adventures in Price Tagging

After an interesting scenario at Zara at the Topanga mall (located outside of Los Angeles) today, I felt compelled to share this story. Especially in light of Zara's Betty-inspired t-shirt, I want to highlight some more of their unfavorable practices and policies. So enough about Zara stealing from fashion bloggers, here's what happened to me... As I browsed, I picked up a few items to try on.

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

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

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

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

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

American Apparel's Rummage Sale Coming to Santa Barbara

For more info, a map of the parking, and to request clothing, see their Facebook pageFree admissionCash, 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, 2010Time: 5pm-10pmPlace: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium1855 Main St. (Pico Blvd. & Colorado Ave.)General Admission Tickets*: $10 in AdvanceShecky’s Goodie Bag + General Admission Tickets*: $25 in Advance$35 at the Door*Tickets may not be

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

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

Biking Over Blogging

This morning I put my hair in a braid, donned my most stylish neon jacket (a collarless 3/4-sleeve windbreaker from F21), and went for a bike ride along a new route - scenic PCH. Luckily, no snakes were spotted on this ride, although I nearly rode over a tiny lizard who refused to dart out of the way. Although my hands are numb from the bumpy road and my legs feel like putty, I'm going to

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

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.