norma kamali for walmart

I just received a pile of clothes that I spontaneously ordered from the Norma Kamali collection at Walmart after reading reports from other fashion bloggers like Julia at Fashion Pulse Daily that this re-occurring capsule collection is worthy of the designer's name. I ordered every item that looked interesting that they had in my size on Walmart.com (or what I think is my size...sizing at Walmart is something I have yet to experience), which added up to a pleasing grand total of only $118 including the 97 cents shipping and handling per item.

So I will sift through my loot and report back about the fabric quality, sizing, and integrity of design. At first glance I have to say the clothes seem pretty impressive for the $15 - $24 price tags...

meet doozer

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post. I was planning on taking a little time off to get organized about pursuing other interests in my life (started studying for ARE exams, set up a watercolor studio on my dining room table, and am now on a training schedule for the SF Half Marathon) but I didn't realize I had let so many weeks slip away...

Today I am sharing something completely unrelated to fashion...my puppy Doozer! Named for the miniature green construction workers and architects on my favorite childhood TV show Fraggle Rock, this little fluff ball is the greatest companion in the world.

And now you can vote for her in 7X7's Search for the Cutest Pet in SF!

She is number 106 and you can vote here. Isn't she ridiculous??

So that wasn't related to fashion, but I wanted to share, maybe get some votes, and get started with the blogging again....

eugenia kim and cynthia vincent for target

{Image: Target}

Designer collaborations featuring Eugenia Kim for hats and Cynthia Vincent for shoes are releasing today at Targets everywhere. Bloggers have been talking about these collections for weeks because of the New York Pop-Up stores and the few Targets who happened to have early releases...but today's the real day when most Targets should start carrying the collections.

Although not a big wearer of hats myself, after writing daily about hats for Splendicity for the last year I developed a love for Eugenia Kim and her stylish designer hats. Hats can easily go either super cheesy or super glamorous so I was excited to discover a go-to hat designer who has reliably classy designs. Eugenia Kim hats are sold at high-end department stores for $300-$400 each, so it's pretty cool that her new Target collection has fedoras and engineer caps for less than $20.
Cynthia Vincent's collection of gladiator wedges, colorful flats, and strappy sandals are also popping up in Targets today. These designer collaborations sometimes sell out super fast and sometimes stay around until the sale racks, so you'll just have to check a Target near you or Target.com to see how these collections fair.

I'm headed to the Atherton Target in a couple hours and I guarantee there won't be a big rush...not too many fashion-obsessed in the Peninsula...

{Images: Target}

designer $1 sale slash network crash

I am beyond curious about how this Outnet.com $1 sale will fair. The idea is simply mind-boggling...how could an online store that only sells designer clothing sell everything on their site for only $1? So far the only catch is that each person can only buy 1 item. Could this really be the only catch? I feel like I'm on Project Runway waiting for Heidi Klum to come out and tell me that there is "just one more thing"...

It looks like the RSVP list is already closed, so for all of you (including me) who have already signed up, I will see you at the craziness that is the Outnet.com shopping cart where we will all race to purchase whatever we can find within the few seconds when the site has not crashed and there are still items available. Somehow I predict that even if I sign on right away, everything will be gone.

I am so very very curious....

fashion stake: investing in young designers

{fashion stake}

I am very curious and excited about this new idea because it fits in so well with fashion blogging and the idea about instant connections between designers and the we-want-more-fashion-now public. Fashion Stake isn't open yet, but I'll keep you updated when it is...

New website allows anyone to invest $50 in young labels (NYMag)

"Fashion Stake": Crowd sourcing for the fashion business (HuffPo)

pendleton blankets for all

It seems that those brightly colored thick wool Pendleton blankets that kept me warm through those cold and rainy seasons while I was growing up in Portland, Oregon will now be popping up in college dorm rooms around the world.

Pendleton for Urban Outfitters brings you Navajo print towels and blankets

{pendleton saddle blanket}

I never would have guessed that the distinctively patterned blankets would be such a hit outside of Oregon, but after the success of the Opening Ceremony collaboration last year Pendleton has now paired with Urban Outfitters to create a lower-priced line of products that includes blankets, wallets, and bath towels. I imagine that the blankets are slightly thinner than the originals, but now that I live in California I like the idea of a summer-weight Pendleton blanket.

I can definitely imagine throwing one of these on my couch for movie watching...

You can find out more about Pendleton Woolen Mills online.

{pendleton glacier national park blanket}

Related articles...

• pendleton meets opening ceremony
  

how to wear a wrap sweater

A recent episode of Kell on Earth reminded me that I've been wanting to post about versatile wrap sweaters for many months. The DKNY 12 Ways to Wear a Cozy video is beautiful and makes me want 12 different colored cozies, but it didn't actually teach me how to tie a wrap sweater like I was hoping it would...

As shopping budgets continue to decrease, the attraction of versatile clothing has significantly increased. I love clothing that incorporates convertibility into its design, with sleeves that zip off, insides and outsides that can be reversed, pant legs with buttons and loops that allow them to be shortened, and scarves that become belts or hair wraps. Everyday a new convertible clothing item pops up with 1000 ways to wear just one piece...

When I was visiting Portland a few months ago, I found a cute little boutique on NW 23rd St called Sloan Boutique. While picking through the racks of affordably priced printed cotton dresses, fashionable wool jackets, and jersey knit tops, I picked out a long shawl collar open front drapey cotton cardigan that I immediately tried on. I have been very drawn to the long drapey cardies for the last couple years because they are the perfect layer to throw over jeans, leggings, or dresses and the extra-long length of this style was something I didn't already have in my closet...

As soon as I slipped the calf-length cardigan over my shoulders, one of the friendly Sloane saleswomen offered her expertise and began to wrap and tie me in the cardigan in an assortment of different styles. I thought I was fully aware of the versatility of the "drapey cardigan" since it has been a strong wardrobe staple for me for the past two years, but I soon found out that I was missing out on tons of amazing concoctions!

While I am fully aware of the convertibility aspect of some clothing in my wardrobe, I have to admit that this long drapey cardigan has been the first piece that I actually wear frequently in multiple different ways. It's really quite fun to try all of the different variations!
DKNY Cashmere silk long sleeve cozy

So for all of you who don't have the luxury of being skillfully wrapped and tied by a drapey cardigan professional, Sloane Boutique has been kind enough to offer a collection of online how-to-videos that make it easy for everyone to tie, twist, knot, and wrap their drapey sweater in a million different ways. I actually counted 10 variations in just the first demo!

Here they are for you to try:
Sloan sweater wrap demo
Sloan sweater wrap demo part II
Sloan sweater wrap demo part III

I have the extra long variation of the sweater in dark hunter green and my favorite way to wear it is in the cowl neck style with a waist belt over the top. Sloan unfortunately does not have an online store, but you could try visiting their website to contact them if you are interested in ordering the specific wrap from the video (It is much more affordable than the Donna Karan original).

DKNY Cozy jersey wrap cardigan

Donna Karan's classic cozy was the absolute first of the long open drape-front cardigans that we now see everywhere, so if you want the original you can look for one of her gorgeous cashmere or jersey wrap cardigans available at DKNY.com. I hope to have many plush Donna Karan cozies in my own closet someday...pretty AND comfy !!