While I was stuck home during the wildfires earlier this week (my job closed for three days), I had a little too much quality time with shopping via the internet. Thanks to the California Style blog, I discovered the Harmony Lane website. Harmony Lane is a Beverly Hills boutique popular with celebrities, particularly t.v. stars. But don't let that stop you. The stuff they have is on par pricewise with other hot-with-celebs L.A. boutiques like Kitson, Lisa Kline, Intuition, etc. but there are actually some nice, reasonably-priced items as well. I ordered a long-sleeved tee and really did not expect to get it for another few days, particularly with all of the fires and freeway closures in SoCal.
I ordered the item on Tuesday and I got it yesterday from FedEx! I couldn't believe it. FedEx is awesome. They must've taken a boat or something.
And inside with my order was a personally-addressed, handwritten card from Jess at Harmony Lane thanking me for my business. I'm not Jessica Alba and I didn't order $2000 worth of stuff, but they still went through the trouble. You rarely see that kind of service these days. Nice going, Harmony Lane.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Svoboda Fall 2007
I first found out about a SoCal line aimed at plus sizes called Svoboda last year after reading online raves about its line of premium denim. At the time, Svoboda was the only line making designer-quality denim and sophisticated tops for a market that sorely needed them. I now own 4 pairs of Svobodas and I love 'em to death. They are among the best-fitting jeans I own. And the great thing is Svoboda now offers sizes 10-24, meaning all tweeners can get their hands on a pair and feel the love. Next spring, Svoboda will offer sizes 8-24.
Anyway, here are some of the highlights of this fall's offerings:
Beth Button Down Trouser Jean $148
Cece Sailor Trouser Jean $148
Eddy Corduroy Pants $128...I ordered a pair of this in gray.
The new tops haven't been posted yet, but they will be soon.
Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus have carried Svoboda in the stores or online, but you can also order directly from http://www.svobodastyle.com. And if you use the code SKORCHENHOT, you'll get 15% off your order!
Anyway, here are some of the highlights of this fall's offerings:
Beth Button Down Trouser Jean $148
Cece Sailor Trouser Jean $148
Eddy Corduroy Pants $128...I ordered a pair of this in gray.
The new tops haven't been posted yet, but they will be soon.
Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus have carried Svoboda in the stores or online, but you can also order directly from http://www.svobodastyle.com. And if you use the code SKORCHENHOT, you'll get 15% off your order!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Paige Premium Denim (Monarch) On Sale...But In Stores Only
I found out via the Curvy Chick message board that one of the three styles of sorta-plus Paige Premium Denim jeans, the Monarch, is on sale at Nordstrom. It's this style below:
The original post on Curvy Chick came from someone in Chicago who saw the jeans on sale at the Michigan Avenue store for $99. This is down from the original $209. There are however three catches:
1. The sale is only at the stores (Encore department). The jeans are still $209 online. However, the poster on Curvy Chick said she actually talked to online customer service and it will honor the store price.
2. The sale only applies to the Monarch style. The Mandeville Canyon (plain pockets) and the Las Palmas (light embroidery) styles are still full-fare.
3. The sale price varies. At my local Nordstrom, the sale price was $117.90. That's almost a 20 dollar difference.
I tried on the Monarch style and the fit on this is exactly the same as the Mandeville Canyon. In other words, if you're a misses size or if you're a plus with thin legs, it's your lucky day.
Update 10/30/07: The sale on the Monarchs extends to Nordstrom.com as well. Supposedly it's on sale because the zipper is too short, but I compared it with the Mandeville Canyon and the zippers are the same length. However, the label inside the Monarch misidentified the jeans as the Mandeville Canyon. This might be the reason for the sale. And I was able to get refunded the difference between the sale price at my local Nordstrom and the sale price at another Nordstrom in Chicago.
I decided to go ahead and buy the jeans and try to see if I can get the difference between this price and the one at the Chicago store refunded from Nordstrom. I'll keep you posted.
The original post on Curvy Chick came from someone in Chicago who saw the jeans on sale at the Michigan Avenue store for $99. This is down from the original $209. There are however three catches:
1. The sale is only at the stores (Encore department). The jeans are still $209 online. However, the poster on Curvy Chick said she actually talked to online customer service and it will honor the store price.
2. The sale only applies to the Monarch style. The Mandeville Canyon (plain pockets) and the Las Palmas (light embroidery) styles are still full-fare.
3. The sale price varies. At my local Nordstrom, the sale price was $117.90. That's almost a 20 dollar difference.
I tried on the Monarch style and the fit on this is exactly the same as the Mandeville Canyon. In other words, if you're a misses size or if you're a plus with thin legs, it's your lucky day.
Update 10/30/07: The sale on the Monarchs extends to Nordstrom.com as well. Supposedly it's on sale because the zipper is too short, but I compared it with the Mandeville Canyon and the zippers are the same length. However, the label inside the Monarch misidentified the jeans as the Mandeville Canyon. This might be the reason for the sale. And I was able to get refunded the difference between the sale price at my local Nordstrom and the sale price at another Nordstrom in Chicago.
I decided to go ahead and buy the jeans and try to see if I can get the difference between this price and the one at the Chicago store refunded from Nordstrom. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, October 8, 2007
The weekly haul
Here are the interesting things I've picked up recently:
Bloomingdale's had some great stuff on sale over the weekend. I managed to find:
*Socks for as little as $3.50, plus 40% off
*Betsey Johnson Intimates boy cut undies on sale for $15, plus 40% off
*AK Anne Klein shirt dress for $32
Over at Sephora I picked up some eyeshadow, a nice base from Bare Escentuals and a shadow in "Barefoot Contessa" from Stila. I also got to watch the staff keep an eye on a couple of suspected shoplifters.
Remember the Salt Works jeans I mentioned a while ago? I spotted them on sale for $58 at Nordstrom.
Today I was sprung out of work early due to the holiday. I went to Anthropologie and managed to actually find a size 12 dress on sale for $39.95. It's navy with green and purple embroidery. Very nice!
Bloomingdale's had some great stuff on sale over the weekend. I managed to find:
*Socks for as little as $3.50, plus 40% off
*Betsey Johnson Intimates boy cut undies on sale for $15, plus 40% off
*AK Anne Klein shirt dress for $32
Over at Sephora I picked up some eyeshadow, a nice base from Bare Escentuals and a shadow in "Barefoot Contessa" from Stila. I also got to watch the staff keep an eye on a couple of suspected shoplifters.
Remember the Salt Works jeans I mentioned a while ago? I spotted them on sale for $58 at Nordstrom.
Today I was sprung out of work early due to the holiday. I went to Anthropologie and managed to actually find a size 12 dress on sale for $39.95. It's navy with green and purple embroidery. Very nice!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Where can we go?
Just now, I was looking at Lucky magazine's redesigned website(http://www.luckymag.com) and I noticed there's a street fashion section where you can "be inspired...by wildly cool girls" in Brooklyn, NYC.
Wildly cool girls? How very "Sassy" magazine circa 1990.
Anyway, the women pictured all appear to be under 25, and thin. Now if you happen to fall into both of those categories, great. But most of us out there do not. So where are we supposed to find inspiration?
Being at the upper end of straight sizing means there's no website or message board that suits you 100%. Or even 85%. I do go to a plus size board or two, but you're there with size 24 women who have different issues than you do. And they're not always positive places to be for a lot of emotional and social reasons. I also go to a lot of mainstream boards and sites and well, I don't feel like I fit in those sites either. Sure you can get great info on accessories, trends, sales, and the stuff I can fit into. They certainly have their value. But you also feel a little left out. On some sites, there's a prevalent attitude that anything and everything is solely for the young and thin. When they're dominated by 22-year-olds, it's easy to think that way.
(Note: This does not mean I advocate dressing like a teenager when you are not one anymore.)
The closest thing I've found to a site that addresses the real-life consumer, and not necessarily just the young and/or slight, is Budget Fashionista. It would be nice if there were more!
Wildly cool girls? How very "Sassy" magazine circa 1990.
Anyway, the women pictured all appear to be under 25, and thin. Now if you happen to fall into both of those categories, great. But most of us out there do not. So where are we supposed to find inspiration?
Being at the upper end of straight sizing means there's no website or message board that suits you 100%. Or even 85%. I do go to a plus size board or two, but you're there with size 24 women who have different issues than you do. And they're not always positive places to be for a lot of emotional and social reasons. I also go to a lot of mainstream boards and sites and well, I don't feel like I fit in those sites either. Sure you can get great info on accessories, trends, sales, and the stuff I can fit into. They certainly have their value. But you also feel a little left out. On some sites, there's a prevalent attitude that anything and everything is solely for the young and thin. When they're dominated by 22-year-olds, it's easy to think that way.
(Note: This does not mean I advocate dressing like a teenager when you are not one anymore.)
The closest thing I've found to a site that addresses the real-life consumer, and not necessarily just the young and/or slight, is Budget Fashionista. It would be nice if there were more!
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