Edition by Banana Republic

I went to wine country with my girls last week. There's a ton to blog about but the first blog-worthy subject is Edition by Banana Republic. It was our last day in Santa Rosa, and we had a full day before heading to the airport. So how do 10 women decide to spend their day...Shopping! First we went to the outlet malls in Petaluma Village which was particularly fruitful given our low expectations, then headed to downtown SF. One of my friends pointed me to Edition, Banana Republic's only accessories store. 40% of the items are only available at the store.
When asked why he launched the store, the president of Banana Republic noted, "There’s a lot of high-end jewelry that’s not really accessible. There was a big opportunity in the market to fill that white space and offer accessible and affordable accessory." I couldn't agree more Mr. President. I still thought the prices were a tad high (the best things hoovered in the $80-$100+ price range) but I loved the concept. The pieces were just edgy enough to be shop-worthy. If you are ever in SF, check it out!!

You're Such a Stud!

Enough of the negativity...here's something I do love, studded stuff!!!
Cop some for the summer:)

These clutches are at Aldo for $40!


Or how about this leather stud cuff from nine west.


There are tons of studded shoes out there, many of which are cute, but check out these from rock and republic. I found this pair on endless but Gilt also sells R&R shoes from time to time. The point is not necessarily these shoes but if you want studded shoes with a twist, go for a studded back or heel!

As a final note, I've seen studs with suede, satin and jean. Beware: these versions can look cheap, especially the later two, so stick with leather just to be safe:)

Online Steals and Deals

Here are some of my favorite sites for finding great jewelry!
My absolute favorite: Gilt. Not a member? Go ahead and click on the link! The discounts on really quality discounts are unbelievably, too good to be true deep, making the most trendy designers accessible to the everyday person.

Rookie of the Year: eight1six. This site was started by two soon to be HBS alums (so you know it's legit), and I can't wait until it launches (sometime in April or May)! These ladies bring you designer jewelry before it hits high end department stores and specialty retailers without the retail markup (see necklace to the left). I think it will be a big hit. Sign up now and be one of the first to be "in on the secret!"

The Jury's Still Out: Rue la la. I'm pseudo impressed...the selection hasn't blown me out of the water yet but these $99 shoes are pretty sweet for a night out. Can't hurt to join right?

The thinking woman's e-commerce: oohilove. Think Sotheby's meets Ebay. This is an auction house recently launched by some Stanford grads, and the amount of over-thinking that went into this site is apparent. Warning: It's complicated. You buy bid packs, you pay money to bid but you might not win, but maybe you can redeem the bids somehow, and if you can't bid you can hire a bid assistant...huh?? I've taken 2 HBS courses on negotiations and I'm still confused...so many moving parts. But if you can figure it out, you might get some $250 Chanel earrings for $0.50 or a Louis Vuitton $447 wallet for $11.10. Understanding the system might be my summer project.

Mother's day finds: My friend Venus shot this over to me (check out her blog too!). If you're interested in jewelry for your mother's day gift, check out viv & ingrid. Enter promo code vimom25 for a 25% off discount through May 10!

1, 2, 3, 4....I Declare Designer Sunglass War

The sun is starting to come out on a consistent basis, and I'm excited to blog about summer accessories! Today, I launch an epic battle against designer sunglasses. I am hard pressed to find a pair that are truly splurge-worthy. DON'T DO IT.

A) I always lose or break my sunglasses. The more expensive they are the more I break them.
B) Some days I want to be a rockstar, sometimes I feel like a socialite, sometimes I feel like pilot, sometimes I want to re-live the 50's--and gosh darnet I should have a pair of sunglasses for all of those moods.
C) Outrageous sunglasses are fun! And for every pair of designer glasses out there, I can find one I like more for less. Some of the best pairs of aviator glasses reside in your local gas station. When I buy expensive sunglasses, I end up buying pretty basic ones, because I feel like I have to wear them every day to justify how much I'm spending, but then I'm bored with myself and my accessories. Everyone loses.

I remember in 2005, I bought my first legit pair of Paul Smith superstar glasses, and I was crushed when they broke for no good reason. Then I got some Chanel aviators...the lens fell out:(

I got these from Urban Outfitters. I'm often asked, "Who's sunglasses are those?!?!" Well Ms. Inquisitive Stranger, they're from the random designer of no one in particular. And yes, they do look pretty legit. I lost them in Thailand and I was pretty bummed...so when I got back to the States I went right back to the store and bought another pair (because they were only $10!!). I also suggest Filene's Basement or Marshall's for some great sunglass finds as well.

If I had to splurge on one designer, maybe it would be Ray-Bans. But if I do I promise to get fun ones, like these!!!

There are an array of very fun colors and styles and they retail at ~$135 so you can experiment without feeling too bad about it.
So join with me in ditching the designer duds this summer!

Summertime Trend: White Bling!

What is a must have for the summertime? A white dress coupled with some bedazzled white jewelry! That invitation to Diddy's Hampton White Party is probably in the mail as we speak and you need to be prepared.

Here are some ideas: A White Bedazzled bracelet or ring would be tons of fun for a party or a day on the town. Check this "Dazzle Cuff" out from Gilt's Miriam Salat Jewelry Sale. A little pricey for me (even after the 60%+ discount) but I'm sure you'll be able to find a pretty sweet knock off at Claire's or Aldo in about 5 weeks. Speaking of awesome, cheap finds, check out this "pave" ring from forever 21. $5.80. That's what I'm talking about. If this thing doesn't catch your eye from across the room, I don't know what will.




Another summer must have: A JEWELED WHITE WATCH. Make it happen. Below is an example of my idea of an ideal white summer watch . BUT if you're on a budget, try this one from Arden B. for $29, or head to Aldo Shoes and snab this $35 flexi watch. 5x the flexibility and 1/9th of the price:)

Home Accessories Anyone?

In my opinion, there are very few shopping trips that are more entertaining than searching for home decor. You can save on the basics, and use one little accent pillow to take a room from a B to an A- in a heartbeat. My favorite finds are vases, pillows, and mirrors. I'm moving to Chicago this summer and cannot wait to redecorate!

I would be remiss if I did not highlight my absolute favorite home decor store: Z Gallerie. Why do I love Z Gallerie? Only because my favorite pillows live there! ALL OF MY BEDS have featured an accent pillow from Z. Their home decor is simultaneously subtle, sparkly, classy, unique, and fun! Their website does not do the store justice, but check it out to get a taste and see if there's one near you! I never leave empty handed.