BrandHabit

The Great Cowboy Boot Debacle of '09

Currently I work on a college campus with a diverse student body (almost 4,000 of the 20,000 students are international students).  Diverse bodies generate diverse styles and I loathe not taking the opportunity to judge, I mean silently observe, all fashion statements.

I could take this time to discuss the lackluster interview garb I’ve seen at On Campus Recruiting events, but lately the fashion oddity trumping bland power suits is the cowboy boots epidemic.  And I’m not sure how I feel about it.

A few weeks ago I walked along the main strip of Ivy League brick cutting through campus, my eyes wandering from very cute undergraduates (cougar-in-training?  It’s surprising how mature those boys look. . .) to the disgraceful amount of clog-wearing-intellects galumphing through campus (and we’re not talking about Chanel clogs, we’re talking about dowdy clogs).  Then my eyes caught glimps of a pair of pointed toes, not stilettos, no.  Not a pair of sleek flats.  It was a pair of black cowboy boots.

In Philadelphia?  Was this young collegiate trying to imbue the Urban Cowboy into the lives of Ivy Leauge co-eds?

I craned my neck, following her until I could no longer see her trotting along.  I thought about her decision to wear those boots until I reached my destinations, and then like the other audacious looks I see on campus I soon forgot about them.  About a week later a fashionable friend publically wondered on Facebook if she should purchase a pair of cowboy boots during her upcoming trip to Dallas.  I immediately chimed in, saying no; cowboy boots in Philadelphia would be kitschy.  The other reactions she received, which were aplenty, were mixed.  Most told her to go for the bold.

Last week in NYC’s Penn Station I saw a woman in black cowboy boots hurtling herself and her luggage towards a moving train.  She had on dark wash bootcut jeans, rolled about four inches to show a fashionably tattered hem, and a long black t-shirt that advantageously fit her every curve.  The outfit was effortless and completely befitting for her scramble to the train.  The cowboy boots she wore were not the emphasis of her outfit, the simplicity of her ensemble shined brighter than the kitsch. 

After seeing the woman in Penn Station I took my friend aside and confessed that after much debate she can pull these boots off, by puttin’ em on.  She, like the train chaser, has a breezy and classy approach to dressing that will tame the corny label that many of us apply to such a costume-y item of footwear.  It is possible for a woman to make a stylish statement without looking like Daisy Duke or Jessica Simpson. . .or Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.

So, after considerable debate I have decided to make public my support for integrating cowboy boots into one’s wardrobe.  However, there are stipulations accompanying my appreciation.  Like neon or animal prints, these boots pack a punch and should not be the main focus.  They need to be tempered down to avoid making a theme.  Here are some things to consider before putting on cowboy boots:

1)      Avoid listening to any music from the southern region as it may cloud your judgment when getting dressed.

2)      Definitely restrain yourself from pulling out your favorite license plate sized belt buckle.

3)      Stay away from plaid button down shirts, gingham, pigtails, and any denim that has a hint of the ol’ west. I should not have to tell you to leave the bandana tied around Fido’s neck. 

4)      If you feel like a cowboy when you have them on, immediately remove the boots and take a cold shower.  You have been tainted and will need to wait approximately one year before attempting the cowboy boot look again.

I’m glad that I was able to publically flesh out this cowboy boot debacle for myself.  Hopefully from this we’ve all come away better purveyors of footwear.  If I ever decide to invest in cowboy boots (there are so many things higher on my list; pink booties and cropped flat boots) they will be black, worn with black leggings and a loose sweater dress or structured jacket.  But for now I will ride off into the sunset in my cropped flat boots and skinny jeans.

Four Starr Boutique Bellingham, WA

I’m moving into Center City Philadelphia in the coming weeks. There are so many great things about Philadelphia, one of them being Stephen Starr, a genius restaurateur. He boasts over ten restaurants in Philadelphia and a handful of others in the tri-state area. He’s kind of a big deal.                  

 

But he’s not the only shining Starr whetting my appetite currently. Danielle Starr, no relation to the man who introduced me to cheesesteak egg rolls and wasabi mashed potatoes, has a boutique on the other side of the country that shines just as brightly as the restaurateur’s culinary centers. Four Starr Boutique is the 2 year old boutique located in the burgeoning style center of Bellingham,Washington.

Bellingham may be an unfamiliar city to many, but it’s with the emergence of luxurious boutiques like Four Starr, this Seattle suburb is slowly making a name for itself. Just like Starr’s boutique.

 

Noticing the difficulty of finding premium denim, quality designer labels and fun cosmetics in the area Danielle Starr decided to do something about it. Starr has added red carpet glamor to Bellingham without Hollywood pretense.

 

One of my favorite lines Starr carries is Dianne Brill. Diamonds in your ears and pearls in your make up! The fresh water pearls used in her make up contain minerals, calcium and amino acids. The foundation is subtle and never looks caked on and smells heavenly! 

Besides a fabulous beauty bar reminiscent of the help-yourself store model of Sephora Starr has a bevy of jean selections. Kasil Jeans, like the Lolas, in a bootcut and fog wash, would look dreamy with a plum colored top and some fabulous heeled booties.

 

If you’ve never heard of Kasil Jeans, you definitely need to check them out. But I’d be surprised if you have never heard of Esprit de Corps. The hard to find favorite of yesteryear is here to stay, as evident at Four Starr Boutique. 

 

And if your hiding your neck with that fabulous turtleneck dress by Esprit makes you feel like you’re covering up, why don’t you try a little Lip Fusion. It’ll add shine to your lips and plump, plump, plump em up. 

When you're in Philadelphia, be sure to check out Stephen Starr, but when you're in Bellingham be sure to reach for the stars at Four Starr Boutique which will satisfy your cravings without adding any calories. 

Last Waltz Seattle, WA

If you haven’t been to Seattle lately you might be wondering where the boxing studio on 18^th avenue went.  My apologies if you are a Mo Cuishle in training a la Swank, but eclectic fashion has recently given the old venue a one two punch of style. 

Last Waltz’s owner Cybele Phillips has taken whimsy to edgy heights in her boutique filled with vintage jewelry and clothing, housewares, and apparel by independent artists and also designers dedicated to sustainability.  The well edited collection of items Last Waltz carries is thanks to Phillips who proclaims she “can look at something- a room, a painting, and outfit- and tell you right away whether it’s working or not.” 

And clearly her knowledge of aesthetics and fashion is working.  She carries high quality labels like Humanoid and Suzabelle, the maker of this fabulous Krona dress  . 

Her sustainable lines include the very young but very talented Emily Katz and Prarie Underground.  Whether sustainable, organic or fantastical like this Zeto-Clothing gown   the stock at Last Waltz is a place you want to hustle on over to. 

Adorn Portland, OR

Gwen Stefani is one of my fashion idols.  To me, she always looks polished and sophisticated with a funky twist.  When she launched her L.A.M.B line it was reflective of her runway and tour style, except it was made for the real woman, a woman who isn’t married to a sexy international rock star, but has the potential to be. 

Not only has she built an empire on rock n’ roll infused clothing, there’s a perfume, handbags and my newest “must have”. . .a watch.  Along with a great pair of denim, the perfect little black dress, and a crisp white button down, I feel every woman’s wardrobe should be equipped with a watch.  The L.A.M.B Pharoah watch is my current sought after item to adorn my usually accessory-less wrist.

And while adornments aren’t usually my thing,  Adorn, the recently opened boutique in Portland, carries fun and interesting pieces, like L.A.M.B, and also local designers too, like All Kindza Krazy and Cyclical Design, making me want to accessorize myself like a Christmas tree.   

Besides fun accessories, like “big menswear watches for women. The kind that look like you won them in a poker tournament in Reno” (described to me by Claire Smith, the boutique’s buyer), Adorn also carries apparel.  Obey makes great hoodies and tee-shirts that are perfect for fall weather .  The brand also makes fabulous canvas bags to bring to the farmer’s market or the library.   

If you need more sweatshirt lovin’ Devotion Takes a Trip makes hoodies devoted to your favorite bands, like The Beatles or The Doors.  And if you’re in need for a little bling they make some great crystal encrusted skulls on a necklace of pearls . 

And when your devotion towards bands and skull wane then channel your dedication into checking out Adorn, a brand new boutique with great accessories you’ll definitely adore.  

Eco Citizen San Francisco, CA

After a couple of years on the west coast I packed my bags and moved back to the east coast. It was a last minute decision and I can’t quite remember what spurred the move. I have no regrets about returning home. Still, despite being near family and having both Philadelphia andNew York Cit in close proximity, there are so many things about the Bay Area I miss. And it hasn’t even been a full week since my return home!

Like a typical Jerseyteen I spent much time driving from one mall to the other. The Bay Area doesn’t really breed teased hair mall walkers, instead there are boutiques nestled between organic bakeries and vegan cafes. There are three cars in my driveway and they’re all SUVs. No Priuses and hardly an effort to car pool, though like many east coast families living in a fairly metropolitan area we all work 12 hour days and hardly have time to shop for organic food, let alone drop someone off and pick them up in an effort to save gas.

It’s a frazzled lifestyle I have been absent from for two years. I had to separate the trash the other day because no one around here received the memo about cardboard being recyclable. It’s quite unnerving to return to an area I’m so familiar with yet feel so disconnected from.

The Green movement has taken the west coast by storm, while it seems the north east corridor I call home, a notoriously fast paced arena, is slow to keep up with the Joneses.

Joslin Arsdale is one of those Joneses. Arsd ale has an impressive resume traversing different facets of fashion and art, her most recent post before opening Eco Citizen was as a Gallery Director in New   Mexicowhere she promoted emerging photographers. Arsdale left her position in order to start creating a boutique inSan Francisco, an area that is known for its dedication to maintaining a green lifestyle.

In October of 2007 Arsdale opened a shop of clothes hung on bamboo hangers and folded onto bamboo tables. The merchandise hanging and folded is not only fair-trade and sweatshop free but mostly organic. In an SF Chronicle interview Arsdale mused, "It's thinking about the real cost of things - how much was that person who made that jacket paid, and how did it get here?"

Let’s be real though. . .anyone can open an eco-friendly boutique. The proof has to be in that vegan pudding, right? It sure is! Though the success of the boutique is based largely on its social and environmental consciousness, the crux of the business is the fashion.

Designers like  Kelly B use 100% organic cotton, meaning no pesticides or other toxic chemicals. Kelly B also uses other organic and natural fibers like bamboo .

Del Forte Denim is another fabulous eco-conscious label. Their denim is luxurious and sleek .  Their company “interprets luxury as a combination of distinctive design and ethical production” which is why they use only organic fibers.

One of the coolest and most innovative designs Eco-Citizen carries is Noon Solar Bags.  Besides using natural dyes on their bags made of materials that can be buried in the backyard and deteriorate without harming the environment, there are solar panels built into the bags. Keep your bag in a window while you’re not using it and the panels will collect enough light to charge your iPod or cell phone! If you’re ready to dispose of the bag in your garden just take out the panels and recycle or reuse them. WOW!

If you’re weary of going green because you fear you’ll turn into one of those tree dwelling hippies from Berkeley, believe me, an east coaster, someone close to the epi-center of fashion, Eco Citizen will change your mind about what means to go green.

Hubba Hubba Chicago, IL

I’m headed to Chicago in October, my birthday month.
Why would I want to spend an entire month in blusterly Chicago when I could spend it in sunny California?
Hubba Hubba boutique offters 20% off of all purchases during your birthday month. 
Everyone will say:
But how will you get there?
Hitchhike.
And if you make it there and are not gruesomely murdered by the man/woman/child who picked you up on the side of the road, where are you going to stay for an entire month?
I know someone and hopefully he still remembers me from freshman year of college.  If not, I’ll be the best dressed in a local shelter. 
Lindsay, you think you’re so smart, but what about food?
I’m sure I can afford lemons, cayenne pepper and a teapot which will allow me to begin some sort of “healthy” detox diet.

Please, deals at a boutique like Hubba Hubba are silly to miss.  Since 1988 Hubba Hubba has offered Chicago designer lines at affordable prices along with unique jewelry and accessories.  Sounds like every other boutique advertising for some business?  Just walk by Hubba Hubba ‘s window display and try not to walk in.  You will see affordable designer lines accessorized with fabulous costume jewelry, but in ways you never imagined.  They like their fashion kind of like James Bond likes his martinis- shaken, not stirred.

Some Red Engine jeans and a Michael Stars shirt sounds like it could come from any department store, right?  But have the staff at Hubba Hubba give you a once over and they’ll set you up with some great vintage costume jewelry from La Vie Parisienne and Yellow Box shoes.  Looking for some va-va-voom and a dress that will make men mouth the name of the boutique as you walk by?  Hype and Voom are two lines that will set you apart from the rest.

So when everyone asks you what you want for your birthday, what are you going to say?  That's right, a trip to Chicago so you can shop at Hubba Hubba. 

Sophie Joplin, MO

  by Boutique Peek

                      Misery loves company, but Missouri loves shoes.  That is, Joplin, Missouri loves shoes.
Sophie’s Shoes will only be a year old on July 30th has the “Show Me State” saying “Show Me More!”

Owner Ashley Rush, a 2006 Missouri State University graduate, grew up in the area aware of the lack of fashionable footwear. Post graduation did not consist of backpacking across Europe or applying for graduate school, instead Ms. Rush was flying across the country researching products and creating a business plan. Last July Ms. Rush opened her doors to a community full of women in dire need of fresh fashions for feet.

Adrienne Vittadini, Charles David, and Oh Deer line the shelves of the petite shop. But the list of must have designers doesn’t end there. Think Jessica Simpson is only good for dating hunky men and wearing Daisy Dukes? Think again. Her handbags are affordable and cute! And think Ms. Simpson is the only one who can sing and design affordable fashion pieces? Think again. . .again. Carlos Santana is smooth and sexy enough to croon his way into a women’s heart, but if he lost his voice and his sex appeal I’d still hang with him courtesy of his ability to designer a killer wedge.  Oh the “Evil Ways” you could walk all over a man’s heart in those shoes, you “Black Magic Woman”.

Poetic License, Restricted and Jeffery Campbell (who doesn’t love fuschia flats?!) line the walls. Handbags by Elliot Lucca, Rampage and Miss Mak & Due Fratelli make leaving room in your closet an impossible feat. Fortunately Sophie’s Boutique is currently running a promotion that allows customers to bring gently worn shoes to donate for Soles4Souls, a charity that donates shoes to persons in need. Each pair of shoes donated through Soles4Souls at Sophie’s will garner you 5% off each pair of shoes in the boutique (up to 5 pairs!).

The United States bought Missouri from France in 1803 thanks in part to the Louisiana Purchase. Your purchase at Sophie in Joplin, Missouri shouldn’t exceed $1,803, but if it does, YOU GO GIRL!

Manhattanite.com

I’m a huge fan of Dave Sedaris. In his most recent book of essays he writes about his time living in Japan for three months. He aptly describes the way residents in his new, very foreign, neighborhood dress.
“Are the people wealthy? Middle class? A woman can wear a tattered dress over two pairs of pants, and it looks to me like Comme des Garcons, last season maybe, but still smart and expensive.”
This description applies to my current situation living situation. As a full-blooded east coaster living in the alternate universe known as Berkeley, I am aghast and perplexed by the fashion, or lack of, I am subjected to daily. My friends and I play a game, homeless or hipster. We can never figure out whether the ill fitting clothes and raggedy shoes are the new “it” item. And since it’s so endemic I’m not sure if I’m the one out of style.
So, where do I go when I wake up during the middle of the night in a cold sweat thanks to the fashion duress Berkeley puts me through daily? Manhattanite.com. Immediately I click on JetSetter to see what items I would wear en route to NYC when I have finally reached the last straw of fashion ridiculousness in the East Bay. Passport panties? Well. . .who said fashion had to be practical??
As soon as I sign on to Manhattanite.com I ignore the Shopping Bag total I have let accumulate. $1,000 worth of merchandise I have not yet “checked out”. . .um, I’ waiting for the right time. But instead of letting my grand total deter me from any further web surfing, I usually browse the Look Book to see what is up and coming or what I can buy (or could potentially buy if I had a better credit rating) on pre-sale, before it hits most boutique floors.
Most recently I found a favorite of Nicky Hilton and Hillary Duff; an adorable ruffle keyhole tank by Nu Collective . Won’t find something that adorable between the homeless park I live next to, which, by the way, doesn’t have a pool to wear a cute little Shoshanna bandeau bikini . 
Buuuuut, fall is quickly approaching so bathing suits aren’t the first thing on my list. A cute little vintage inspired bolero by Voom by Jon Han   and patent pumps by Laura Brandon definitely are, however. 
Before I know it, the sun is rising and my eyes are glazed over from staring at fun accessories (for women, babies and even puppies!) and I’m nodding off to sleep, dreaming of a more fashionable Berkeley courtesy of Manhattanite.com.

Hub Scottsdale, AZ

by Boutique Peek

A good friend of mine believes that instead of drafting people to serve in the war on terror, people should be drafted in the war that is retail. If you have ever worked retail then you can empathize with her and me. It’s a mentally and physically grueling job that will leave you with life skills no other job will afford you the opportunity to learn. Think working behind a desk will teach you how to deal with people? Think again. Only on the front lines of the Christmas holiday season will you learn the true nature of people who we retail associates refer to as customers.

Customers do a lot of things that are irksome. They don’t check the hours on the door, they ruin piles of neatly folded shirts, they try to return stained items and they ask a lot of questions. There are a lot of questions that I hear daily, but the one I hear the most and hate more than any other is, “Does this look good?”

Because you are wearing the item you need to decide what that answer is. Wearing clothing is not just about how something hangs on you, but how you feel in it. I’ve seen people wear hideous things with a big smile on their faces. Especially when it comes to ill fitting jeans.

Tom and Amanda Simon and Jennifer Mumford noticed the poor fit phenomenon too, but decided to do something about it instead of cringing. They designed, patented and trademarked a Butt Cam. No more craning your neck to see your hiney or twisting in the mirror to see how your denim fits. Even better, no more bugging the sales associate for her opinion.

Not that Tom, Amanda or Jennifer would mind. The three owners are eager to assist all customers in finding the perfect trends. They are “serious about [their] business but they try not to take [themselves] so serious.” But just because they have modest personalities doesn’t mean they carry subtle styles. Hub carries hard to find lines like Modern Amusement, Mighty Fine (too bad about those Lakers) and G-Star, plus an extensive collection of denim, such as Diesel. 

In addition to the apparel, Hub has great jewelry and accessory lines like Maren & Ruby and Treesje. 

And in addition to the accessories and clothing. . .the Butt Cam, ladies, the Butt Cam.

Lulu Boutique San Mateo, CA

by Boutique Peek

My favorite scene from The Wedding Singer is when Drew Barrymore’s character is auditioning a wedding singer for her upcoming nuptials since Adam Sandler’s character recently retired from the wedding singer profession due to a broken heart. The man viewers see auditioning? An extremely sleazy Jon Lovitz crooning Ladies Night, crudely inappropriate for a wedding audition, but dreadfully appropriate for comedic purposes.

How does Jon Lovitz’s slimy rendition of Ladies Night relate to shopping? Actually, it doesn’t, but whenever I see a Ladies Night advertised Mr. Lovitz’s seedy version of Kool and The Gang’s 1979 jam gets stuck in my head. So when I saw San Mateo’s Lulu Boutique advertising Ladies Night Out every first Wednesday of the month I immediately thought of Jon Lovitz. Fortunately the other aspects of Lulu’s Boutique droned out the crooning of one of the most infamous Saturday Night Live cast members.

New co-owner, Jamie Sears, has no affiliation with the slimy and seedy Mr. Lovitz. Instead she’s taken the helm of a formerly denim focused boutique and turned it into a pleasant mish-mash of vintage and contemporary trends, as well as high-end denim. The former Barney’s New York buyer has her finger on the pulse of fashion.

Up and coming designer Jenny Han and eternally classic DvF and Keoni rest next to FS/NY shoes and Citizen for Humanity Jeans and Humanity Knits. 

Now combine all those designers, plus more, and a glass of wine or a cocktail of your choice on a Wednesday night, and I assure you’ll leave Lulu with a few other things than an old funk hit echoing through your brain!