BrandHabit

Wearing Jeans with Boots: To tuck or not to tuck?

Tucked-in Jeans are THE biggest fashion phenomenon in New York this season. Everyone is sporting the look there—narrow stovepipes tucked into boots with bulky sweaters and an abundance of oversized accessories. Thankfully, in San Francisco the look is not so prevalent… but I’ve been resistant to the idea of tucking even my narrowest jeans into a pair of boots for the following reason:

I did this whole 80’s look back in the 80’s and still laugh at photographs of myself from back then. I know if I succumb to tucked-in jeans and long cowl neck sweaters I’ll probably look at pictures of myself one day and think, “What a sucker, I did it again and looked like a fool!”

But the truth is, if you are as attuned to fashion as I am, you simply end up feeling fuddy-duddy if you don’t adapt to at least some of the latest trends.

And even I have to admit, when executed correctly, it can be a great look. A girlfriend of mine was wearing a silver cowl-necked long sweater with leggings the other night and she looked divine!

So I finally got over my traumatic memories of the 80’s and succumbed. I was with Peggy the other day and I needed to find a new bikini for my upcoming trip to the Caribbean. Peggy, by the way, is BrandHabit’s Production Coordinator, i.e., she is the Glue that holds the BrandHabit operation together! Getting dressed again after trying on a stunning, must-buy Calvin Klein bikini, Peggy insisted that I tuck my jeans into my boots.

“Gack! I can’t do that Peg!”
“Just do it Carla, you look like a dork if you DON’T.”

Okay, so it’s not too bad.

Then, last night, I went all the way. I was getting ready for my family’s Christmas gathering, and I knew Peggy (she is also my step brother’s girlfriend) and my oh-so hip 21-year old sister, Jessica would be there. So I put on a new cashmere Laurie B long black sweater with blouson sleeves, a new wide belt, and tucked my jeans into my boots.

Of course, all dolled up, feeling chic and ready to go, I walked out of my bedroom to find my husband who promptly said, “You look like a Pirate.”
“But it’s THE LOOK!” I replied.
“Yeah, that’s what you always say. You still look like a pirate”.

My 7-year old daughter also said, “Mommy, you look weird”.

Taking one last look in the mirror I thought, “Okay, embarrassing photo memories, here I come,” But I knew Peggy and Jess would appreciate my effort and think, hey, this fashion CEO is FINALLY catching on.

BrandHabit in The Wall Street Journal!

Search Engines Help Shoppers To Buy Locally

By JAMES COVERT
Wall Street Journal
December 21, 2006; Page B1

"It's been especially hard to collect information about designer clothes. In January, a site called BrandHabit.com plans to launch such a service. The hitch: It will focus on small designers and boutiques that are willing to participate because they need the exposure."

Mascara that lasts all day… Really, ALL DAY!

I just knew we’d end up talking about beauty products on our site… it was only a matter of time, right?

So, I have another problem: make-up doesn’t stay on my face.

I mean it. My skin sucks up eye shadow within about an hour after I put it on… the rest just falls off under my eyes and I look like a raccoon. I thought it was because I was buying cheap products. So, I took an inventory of Tami’s (BH Customer Relations Manager) beauty products and stocked up on all of the same expensive stuff (we have similar enough coloring). Then we did an experiment: Wake up before the trade show in New York, apply make-up (for natural beauty of course!)
3 hours later… Tami is as fresh as she was in the morning… Me: In horrible need of make-up remover for the raccoon eyes and a full re-apply. It’s really an awful thing.

Tami and I dress up to go out for some faboo dinner in New York, it’s 9 PM at Butter (NY hotspot).. I’m thinking I look hot. But hours later I go to the bathroom and I am horrified by the tired looking tramp I see in the mirror… so without the time or energy to re-apply, I remove what is under my eyes and resign myself to a true natural look. It’s either that or re-apply entirely and come out of the bathroom at midnight looking like I am going to the Opera.

Okay so here is the good news. Just last week I discovered a new mascara that stays on ALL DAY!!!!!!!!! For Real! It’s shocking to me, actually, but it’s true! It’s Physicians Formula, ExercEyes® Mascara 2-in-1 Lash-Building and Magnifying. I grabbed it because it has 2 parts to it: The color and a SEALER coat! (And it was on sale). I swear, it’s crazy… now every time I go to the bathroom and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I am so overjoyed! (Gosh, it’s the little things in life, isn’t it?) Okay, so when I blink, it feels a tiny bit sticky... but not so much that it’s annoying... and when I first went to remove my make-up before I went to bed I was a bit afraid that the mascara wouldn’t come off….. my eyelashes felt akin to hard twigs… Hey, Twig, Schmig, at least I don’t have Raccoon Eyes! Now, if I could only find other make-up (natural looking, of course) that stays on all day… I’d love to know about it!

Physicians Formula, ExercEyes® Mascara 2-in-1 Lash-Building and Magnifying

Oh and by the way... it’s easy to find: Longs, Walgreens, Target... and it’s about 7 bucks.
Hello? What could be better? Throw your smudging, flakey stuff away! My mascara has been on for 12 hours today… what about yours?

The Best, Most Yummiest Sweater Coat of the Season!

So, here is my fashion problem: I have a fair amount of clothes in my closet (there is NEVER enough….right?) but each season I only wear about 3 or 4 outfits (or items) that I love, over and over and over again. It’s really pathetic. I get to the point of calling things my “everyday” dress… or my “everyday” jeans…

This summer, I went to about 3 or 4 trade shows with BrandHabit’s Customer Relations Manager, Tami. We would call each other the night before flying out of town and say to each other (as all girls do): “What are you packing to wear?” Sadly, it got to the point where I would say, “Oh you know: my 2 everyday dresses… the brown one and the Notice one.. and the other clothes you see me wear every time we travel together!”

It’s a sad thing. Don’t you wish your closet was filled every season with everything that was new, hot, and looked perfect on you? Something to aspire to.

Okay, so my point was this: My Everyday Sweater Coat is this Ya-Ya one I bought at
Her in San Francisco. Great store! I bought it in black and it looks fantastic with evening clothes as well as jeans. Trouble is, I wear it around the house, with sweats… I wear it to DEATH! It needs to be de-pilled and dry cleaned but I can’t give it up for a day to 2 to do it.

Here is the down side of my “wearing habits”… by the time a full year passes.. I am so OVER my “everyday” items from the season before… I think I’ll love this sweater coat for years to come. Oh, for you Bay Area BrandHabit groupies: I saw the sweater in Grey at Brown Eyed Girl in Corte Madera last night too. It costs close to $400. Not cheap.. but if I calculate the price per wear, I have it down to about $1.00!

HOT Jewelry

The easiest way to feel like you have a new outfit on is new, gorgeous jewelry. These days, costume jewelry is hot and inexpensive. Since I was a jewelry designer for 10 years, there was about 15-20 years where I didn’t buy any new jewelry. If I wanted something, I would make it.

When jewelry got really really tiny in the mid 90’s, I boycotted the business.. which in my case meant, I got out of the business and stopped designing professionally. I couldn’t STAND designing the proverbial “Y” necklace and one little tiny bead hanging on the end of a wire for an earring. Plus, ANYONE and EVERYONE became a jewelry designer… I have to admit that it kind of bugged me that people stringing beads together called themselves jewelry designers.

Okay, so here is my point: Jewelry has been back for a few years and I have been in HEAVEN! Now that I have access to see so many talented designers at the trade shows, I am in total support of those whose craft stands above the masses in unique design and individuality. There are a few that I have fallen in love with this season and I am sure there will be more!

Presh Jewelry: Nicole, the designer of Presh happens to be a local girl here in Northern California. But that’s not the reason I love her things. When I first saw a Presh necklace, I was with my daughter at her swimming lessons and I nearly tackled another mother wearing “Presh” at the poolside. When I saw Presh’s full collection at the shows, I became a true groupie. I purchased this gorgeous tear drop pendant (pictured here) which is a piece of art into itself. Each pendant holds a part of a piece of cloth that is stitched with silver thread (so there are no 2 alike) and the fabric sits behind a window of glass. I have been stopped so many times from people commenting on my necklace. It’s really a “statement” piece and I wear it with everything!

Click here to see where you can find Presh in your town!

Professional Dressing with a Twist

While I would love to fill my wardrobe with only casual chic clothing, by the very nature of my title (CEO) I have to get “buttoned up” for professional meetings with investors etc. Here is a list of designers that have great, classically cut pants and jackets that are professional and yet very fashionable. Plus they all have darling tops and other pieces that really make a pant suit “pop”.

Click on the links to these designers to view their feature pages on BrandHabit and see where you can get their stuff locally:

Alvin Valley

Robert Rodriguez

Black Halo

Goldenbleu Handbags

Goldenbleu is one of the first designers that “got” what BrandHabit is all about and one of the first that wanted to be featured on our site. Because they were one of the first, I will love and support Goldenbleu forever! However, it helps tremendously that I think the designer Rene is a DOLL, and I love her designs! Rene is a true soul. I sat down with her at one of the shows and we talked about starting businesses. Rene was in her first or second season of her own collection and I can’t describe how lovely and empowering and supportive she was of my new endeavor. We shared in the excitement of launching something.

Goldenbleu’s collection has grown and evolved in the last few seasons and I am so proud of Rene. Plus, she is a San Francisco designer… so, I am especially supportive! Needless to say, I bought 2 Goldenbleu handbags this fall. The first is a yummy banana colored, soft as buttah, fringed tote. Two (yes, 2!) of my girlfriends fell in love with my “Banana Bijoux” and bought the same purse. It was tough to get over the idea of being the only gal carrying this handbag in my circle but once I got over the hump I was happy to share the “buttah love”. People pet this handbag.. It’s that yummy. While I hate to say this, since BrandHabit is about finding designs in local stores, you can probably find it on-sale online. Just do a google search for “Goldenbleu Bijoix”

Now, the other handbag I bought is pictured here. Although I bought it in Chocolate Brown. A true Classic! Again, we are late in the season, so you may be able to find it on-sale online.. but Goldenbleu is doing a very similar bag this spring in brightly colored patent leather for spring and I PROMISE I will tell you where to get it locally! If you can’t find it, drop me a line and I’ll see what I can dig up for you.

A Wrap Dress

At one time, I thought wrap dresses were hideous….

Simply hideous!

I thought they looked like “house coats”.. which is a term that many 20 or 30 year olds may not recognize…I think I once said that I would never wear a wrap dress…I just couldn’t imagine all of that pattern on my body.

Well, never say never.. this year, I caved. I found some gorgeous dresses by NOTICE .. and .. well… I stocked up for the season. I bought 3 dresses and a skirt by NOTICE (one grey dress for work, one red dress for evening, a black and white tiger printed wrap skirt (you know, so I could do a bit of animal print this year.. which I also used to hate) and the exact wrap dress I bought is pictured here…but I have to wear a shell tank under it because otherwise my boobs fall out).

Okay let me say this: Randa of NOTICE knows how to make dresses for woman’s bodies. I just LOVE her dresses! Her fabrics drape and fall easily over the curves.. and they always have a beautiful waist… I wore a summer NOTICE dress this year to DEATH! Plus, Randa is darling! I love her. She is so cool and so real. Oh and by the way, NOTICE dresses are priced reasonably.. I think they run between $200-$250.

Check the Notice Feature Page to find Notice dresses in your city!

BrandHabit featured in Women's Wear Daily!

Latest Search Engines Boost Local Stores

Published: Friday, December 01, 2006

By Cate T. Corcoran

"BrandHabit is working directly with brands and retailers rather than mall operators, particularly contemporary designers and small boutiques. The service is intended to be especially helpful to consumers who might see a hot item in a magazine and want to know where to buy it. BrandHabit will liaison with brands' press relations departments to feature items that have been mentioned in magazines, ceo Carla Morton said. Brands and retailers can also supply BrandHabit with inventory information, which will show up in product searches. Participating companies can go into a password-protected area on the Web site to update their listings. In the future, they will be able to send out e-mail blasts and list events such as sample sales."

Full article (login required): http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/111034