ahh…i have such fond memories of my LBO (life before oscar).  there would be several invitations to swanky parties and my biggest concern was: what will i wear???  i’d experience the joy of shopping for the perfect dress (followed and/or preceded by the amazing shoes and the fabulous jewels). 

those shopping needs are merely on hold…as i’m sure there will be a time when the holiday party won’t involve plates of cookies and a gaggle of adorable toddlers (which is it’s own brand of fun, don’t get me wrong!).

the thing that makes me sorta sad is that i can’t justify the purchase of a dress from the new Hollywood Collection from Melanie Renee.  oh so yummy!  the silks, the colors!  the feeling that you’ve walked onto the set of Mad Men.  my goodness, this is good!

check out thesexy (but elegant) Estelle dress (retails for only $160! how ’bout that?)

(the model even bears a vague resemblance to Betty Draper, no?)

and the Tilly blouse is your own personal variety show:  belt it, wear it loose, tuck it into a hot new pencil skirt.  and of course, wear it year round because it’s a fabulous white shirt (that retails for a friendly $85).

Seriously, there is a lot to love in this tiny collection from Tanya and Melanie.  And i am so happy that this line is from San Luis Obispo  – where i went to college and had the most fun.  Contact the gals today to get your last minute holiday orders in!  let’s support our indie gals making their dreams come true (and giving us such glam style).

hello everyone!

in the spirit of the original intention of “labor day” (or as it should be called “no labor day”) – i am happily taking a tiny computer vacation.  well, mostly.  i will allow for a little online scrabble if need be.

i wanted to wish all the small businesses a lucrative and thriving weekend of robust sales!  and for the shoppers (i think that’s ALL of us) – please support your local businesses and boutiques this weekend if you happen to be doing any “back to school” shopping.

have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

i discovered designer Carolina’s line back when it was Wild Blue Indigo.  i was attracted to her collection because she was always doing something a little unexpected – a little surprise in a sea of sameness.  that still holds true under her new name, Carrie Saxl (this is her cool new name, now that’s she is married).  with darling cut-outs and interesting materials – including a splash of leather – her line is sweet without sacrificing sophistication.

the collection is reasonably priced – and therefore sells very well.  her mixed metals satisfy both gold and silver wearers – and there’s always a splash of color to pop in your case.

some of my favorite pieces from her fall collection include the Arboretum silhouettes (especially the moth – it’s adorable and i love the 3D effect) w/s $42

I’m also a fan of the shadow pendants, which include dyed leather to fill the negative space behind hand-cut patterns.  w/s $40

Need something a little more sexy?  Loving the Shooting Star earrings.  hello rockstar!  w/s $44 (there’s a great necklace with the same name too)

Overall, she creates with modern lines, a heavy dose of organic shapes, and an eye for great design.  a great gal to work with – and her line is easy to sell.  you can’t go wrong!!  Contact Carolina for more info and to place an order.

ps:  here’s a sneak peek of a new collection still in the works.  They include cast pieces (silver and 14K gold) inspired by Rex Ray and Andy Goldsworthy (awesome names, by the by).

i’m sorta addicted to certain websites that have giveaways.  i especially like The Bright Side Project.  not only do they have a nice attitude (and writing style) – but their giveaways are top notch and a great resource for discovering new talent.

Anyway – when i provided my comment on today’s totally awesome giveaway (metallic leather bound thesaurus – hello!), it occurred to me that not enough brick & morter stores are doing the giveaway thing.

And as i walked through Target today – i got so excited about all the back to school supplies (ah, nostalgia)  – and thought that would be a great idea for a giveaway!  you could have a little drawing  (maybe you get an entry for every $X you spend) and the winning prize could be a collection of gorgeous “school supplies” which match the theme/look of your store.  yes – you’d have to buy them – but you can expense them as marketing or office supplies!  and they’re not that expensive.  the thing is:  creating a little buzz and excitment.  people love to win prizes!!  don’t you enter the Trader Joe’s BYOB sweepstakes everytime?  i do. 

of course, there is always the option of giving away something you sell in your shop too.  and that’s a grand idea as well.  whether it’s a sweet pair of earrings, a greeting card, or a full blown Fall Wardrobe Shopping Spree….it’s a good, easy-to-implement idea.

what do you think?  had any success with a giveaway before?