Because I own my own business, I work all the time – Saturday afternoons, Sunday nights, even Tuesdays at 2am if I want to. And – it is summer and summer is about taking a break. And no one is a machine - we all need some balance. So – I’ve taken a few lovely breaks recently - in the Hamptons and Sonoma, California and I want to share a few lovely finds from both coasts.
Any savvy New York shopper knows that Southampton is one of the premiere shopping destinations in the east. There are countless stores in the Hamptons, but Anya’s Women’s Boutique truly made an impact on me. They have a lot of this summer’s usual suspects – cotton tank dresses, ballet flats, Havaianas flip flops, as well as some unexpected items. My favorite unique thing in the store is these little tank tops for babies with inspirational quotes like, “I Will Make a Difference” and “I Love My Life.” I actually collect t-shirts with inspiring quotes and now we have an option for children. What a great gift for someone who just had a baby – and for our future. Go to www.missblink.com to see the complete line for kids. Anya’s also has a beautiful layout, attentive staff and some fantastic belts and jewelry. It is located at 28 Jobs Lane in Southampton, 631-283-1018 (no website).
Now – on the other side of the country it was time to escape the city (San Francisco this time) and I am very much a luxury hotel kind of gal – Hilton, Hyatt, or better and I am happy. I don’t camp or do anything at all rustic. However – I love sun and beautiful settings of all kinds – and I love the wine country. It was a last minute getaway and challenging to find accommodations but an eleventh hour tip from a friend turned out to be fantastic. Relais du Soleil is a guest ranch (yes a ranch!) in what feels like the middle of nowhere but is actually 5 minutes away from downtown in the breathtaking Sonoma Valley. It is truly the best of both worlds. Our host, Tim Korn, rolled out the red carpet, greeting us with a glass of his homemade wine, gave us our itinerary for the day (I highly suggest the Benziger winery tour and tasting: www.benziger.com), and then spoiled us with appetizers in the afternoon (with more wine of course) and a three course gourmet breakfast the next morning. We also had a three room cottage with everything we could have wanted, including a complete kitchen. The Relais is peaceful, sunny and very private – definitely off the beaten path. Prices at the Relais are also quite competitive in the mostly outrageously pricey wine country. Go to www.relaisdusoleil.com for more information and to make a reservation.
Okay – I have to go do some more work and get ready for my next fabulous break. Enjoy the summer – wherever you are.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Inspiration - only $19.98
Despite my heavy-handed, judgmental tone in my first blog entry, I actually am quite a delight to be around – and I truly do want to change the world. At times though I get discouraged and question if I can really make a difference with my own little life. But then I snap myself out of it and remember that… if I didn’t believe one person could have an effect on the world, I would have a crappy desk job that I hate and watch the Food Channel every night. I do what I do out of a commitment to make a difference - even if I only reach one person a week. I have a website and a blog and I speak to organizations in order to make people think and empower them.
I just heard about something that further renewed my faith in this mission. Sarah Jessica Parker has designed a new clothing line. Now – being a huge fan of Sex and the City (people actually say I am a lot like Carrie Bradshaw) and knowing about SJP’s (and Carrie’s) much hyped love affair with Manolo Blahnik, I expected her collection to be couture beyond couture. It isn’t. The line, called Bitten, is designed for sizes 0-22 (most go to 12) and contains nothing over $19.98. Unbelievable. One of the tag lines is “Fashion is not a Luxury; it is a Right.” Also - Bitten is available exclusively at one retailer (Steve & Barry’s) who does no advertising. Check out: www.bittensjp.com.
This is great for a lot of reasons. SJP never has to work another day in her life and could easily forget about the “little people” in the world who work long hours for little money and cannot afford $200 designer jeans. But she hasn’t. In fact, she has created Bitten specifically for people like them. Also – this line solves a problem for many people whose weight fluctuates and cannot buy a designer wardrobe for every size they move through.
Bitten is a perfect example of a simple concept that has the potential to do a lot of good. I see it in my work all the time. People feeling good because of one great shirt or necklace… it can literally alter their lives. So, this is what keeps me going. The idea that we can all have an impact, even in small ways – and all these small ways combined together will make a huge difference.
I’m inspired – how about you?
I just heard about something that further renewed my faith in this mission. Sarah Jessica Parker has designed a new clothing line. Now – being a huge fan of Sex and the City (people actually say I am a lot like Carrie Bradshaw) and knowing about SJP’s (and Carrie’s) much hyped love affair with Manolo Blahnik, I expected her collection to be couture beyond couture. It isn’t. The line, called Bitten, is designed for sizes 0-22 (most go to 12) and contains nothing over $19.98. Unbelievable. One of the tag lines is “Fashion is not a Luxury; it is a Right.” Also - Bitten is available exclusively at one retailer (Steve & Barry’s) who does no advertising. Check out: www.bittensjp.com.
This is great for a lot of reasons. SJP never has to work another day in her life and could easily forget about the “little people” in the world who work long hours for little money and cannot afford $200 designer jeans. But she hasn’t. In fact, she has created Bitten specifically for people like them. Also – this line solves a problem for many people whose weight fluctuates and cannot buy a designer wardrobe for every size they move through.
Bitten is a perfect example of a simple concept that has the potential to do a lot of good. I see it in my work all the time. People feeling good because of one great shirt or necklace… it can literally alter their lives. So, this is what keeps me going. The idea that we can all have an impact, even in small ways – and all these small ways combined together will make a huge difference.
I’m inspired – how about you?
Sunday, May 27, 2007
I Bitch Because I Love...
OK – it is time for me to break my silence and come out of the closet (pun firmly intended). I have been bitching to my friends and colleagues for months and now it is time to share my thoughts with the world. I am sick of people walking around looking like slobs in public. There – I have said it. Why is it that people will follow stringent rules of dress at jobs that they hate and then walk around looking like crap during the time when they can be/do/have whatever they want? Is it a rebellion of sorts? Or is it utter apathy? I have been traveling on planes like crazy these past 6 months and I have noticed that most air travelers look more like they are going to a slumber party than to the Caribbean. I have had enough of the sweatpants that are 2 sizes too big and the scrunchies (wince!) pulling back as much wet hair as they could grab with one hand severely. Yes ladies I am talking to you… No one wants to see this! Take the time to do your hair, put on a little makeup and at least wear some nice jeans or cotton pants. They are comfortable and the material breathes at high altitudes. Pair this with a sweater or cute t-shirt and you’re good to go. I promise you’ll have a better time.
If you know me, you know that although I am generally modern about life and relationships, I am a traditionalist about fashion. I yearn for the days of Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, when women wore dresses and hats and men wore suits (even when they weren’t required to) and took off their hats as a sign of respect. People dressed for every occasion: dinner, the theatre, the opera, travel, etc. I think I got this appreciation of the past from my mother, who to this day does not leave her house without lipstick on. I realize people need to be comfortable, especially in cities like New York where we walk everywhere. However, there are ways to have both comfort and style. I see it everyday on the subway. And it does not require and should not ever include Crocs. Here’s my other bold statement: Unless you are under the age of 10 or you actually wear them to do gardening, Crocs are not cute, attractive or in any way, shape or form a fashion statement. End of conversation. I have had countless conversations with people who agree with me about this and finally just found a website (thanks to my colleague Sarah's husband Jeff) that speaks to this bane of my existence. Check out: http://www.ihatecrocs.com/.
Here’s the deal: dressing well is actually quite simple. However, so many people have no clue. I guess I should be grateful for this because herein lies the need for image consultants. Conversely though, being fashionable comes easy to some people, especially in Europe. (A gross generalization, I know, but there is significant evidence to support this). For numerous examples of finding the inherent style in the everyday (mostly in Europe), check out: http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/. But I don't live in Europe - yet...
Welcome to my blog. See you soon.
If you know me, you know that although I am generally modern about life and relationships, I am a traditionalist about fashion. I yearn for the days of Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, when women wore dresses and hats and men wore suits (even when they weren’t required to) and took off their hats as a sign of respect. People dressed for every occasion: dinner, the theatre, the opera, travel, etc. I think I got this appreciation of the past from my mother, who to this day does not leave her house without lipstick on. I realize people need to be comfortable, especially in cities like New York where we walk everywhere. However, there are ways to have both comfort and style. I see it everyday on the subway. And it does not require and should not ever include Crocs. Here’s my other bold statement: Unless you are under the age of 10 or you actually wear them to do gardening, Crocs are not cute, attractive or in any way, shape or form a fashion statement. End of conversation. I have had countless conversations with people who agree with me about this and finally just found a website (thanks to my colleague Sarah's husband Jeff) that speaks to this bane of my existence. Check out: http://www.ihatecrocs.com/.
Here’s the deal: dressing well is actually quite simple. However, so many people have no clue. I guess I should be grateful for this because herein lies the need for image consultants. Conversely though, being fashionable comes easy to some people, especially in Europe. (A gross generalization, I know, but there is significant evidence to support this). For numerous examples of finding the inherent style in the everyday (mostly in Europe), check out: http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/. But I don't live in Europe - yet...
Welcome to my blog. See you soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)