This Site has Moved

Please visit my new blog at to http://sweetarchivia.blogspot.com

Filed under: Uncategorized

Blogger Site

After getting exasperated with the lack of customizaton I can actually do on WordPress.com, I’ve decided to open up a Blogger site here: http://sweetarchivia.blogspot.com/

I have yet to decide whether to shut this site down or try to move posts to Blogger, simul-publish on both sites at once thanks to the possibilities of LiveWriter…in any case would love any feedback/thoughts via the comments on this.

Filed under: Random

Athleta: Newest Addition to Gap Family

Gap (mama of Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Piperlime) has just opened up a new sub-brand: Athleta (http://athleta.gap.com/). It seems like Athleta is basically a female sports gear brand designed to compete with the likes of Champion and Lululemon Athletica. Personally, I would like to see a store-version, but so far it seems to be online-only.

My Athleta pick: The Damask yoga mat from Gaiam for $22.

Filed under: Fashion , athletics, sports

Virgins, Saints, and Angels

Virgins, Saints and Angels (VSA for short) is a niche brand of jewelry designed by Cheryl Finnegan and handmade by Mexican craftsmen. I am currently coveting the intricate cuffs: 

VSA Antigua Cuff – Silver Plate

Really gorgeous silver work. This looks almost more like lace than metal.

VSA Archangel Cuff – Gold Vermeil

Love the dangling crown in the middle of this baroque-style cuff. Would be a fantastic accessory for a night out.

Filed under: Fashion

Twitterstyle

Decided it’s time to join Twitter! Find me here to get updates: http://twitter.com/sweetarchivia

Have also facelifted this blog so it’s easier to navigate. Tweets, recent posts, blogroll etc are all now on the right rather than stuck at the bottom of the page.

Filed under: Random

Sephora 15% Discount

Bad economy = deflation = big sales for girls who shop *grin.*

Sephora (which we all know only tends to offer a 20% discount during it’s 1 annual Friends and Family event) is offering a 1 week 15% discount both in-store and online. Click here to get a printable version.

Filed under: Shopping Tip

Anthropologie Pants

After much ranting about the lack of petite pants for those in the 5ft 1 in 0-2P set, I have now found that a few of Anthropologie’s regular pants tend to run on the small side, enough to flatter petites!

 

Andover Pants – Paperboy by G1

These are soft-brushed cotton (feels like a dream!) and the pink is such a pretty color..will require hemming if you’re petite though. Fortunately the back doesn’t gap the way many low-rise jeans do. Nor do you get the baggy granny butt look.

 Rittenhouse Pants – Cartonnier

Hah! Ankle-length pants short enough that I don’t even need to hem! These come in a 26″L and rise a bit higher in the back with a cute little v-shaped notch in the back.

Filed under: Fashion , Anthropologie, pants

Shopping Review: Westfield San Francisco

After a rather exhaustive trip through Westfield Centre in San Francisco, I definitely have a “best of” list to share:

Best Dressing Rooms: Martin + Osa, Level 2 Store 249. Had the most amazing hidden dressing rooms at the back of the store. We’re talking gorgeous dark wood panelling from floor to ceiling walls that had these gigantic floor to ceiling doors that open. Inside you get this entire lighted column. I could probably spend a couple hours sitting in that room. Also, store has amazing cashmere, but tends to run long in its sizing so if you’re a tall girl, head over there!

Best Place to Eat: Nordstrom Cafe Bistro. Great food with many plates under $20. If you ask for a window seat you can sit overlooking the city with amazing views. Service is very attentive and friendly. I like how they give you a chocolate mint stick after the meal. Much better than scrounging up food in the Food Court (down in the basement).

Best Place to Lounge: There are nice seats under the fantastic 1908 Steel and Glass Dome. Also a Borders (Level 4, Store 455) is nearby if you want to get some quick bites.

Most Fun Store Decor: Ruehl, Level 2 Store 251. It’s all set up like walking into a home that has a series of dark living rooms with spotlights on the clothing. Fun to explore and check out the sale room in the back. 

Most Overrated: Bloomingdales. I was shocked that store employees were rather inattentive and snobby. I even happened upon an employee who was chatting it up on his cell phone!

Person to Avoid: If some dude hawks Goji berry tea to you from a booth near Nordstroms, run the other way. If you accept it, he’ll proceed to try to sell you highly expensive Goji scrub, cream and peels that he claims are worth $65 retail. Fortunately I managed to run off anyways without buying. I realized despite my hands feeling amazing at the counter, after a few hours they were bone dry again. Not worth it!

Filed under: Shopping Review

Scrub a dub dub

It’s no secret manufacturer’s like to unneccessarily put “Dry Clean” on practically everything they make, even items that can do just as well wet cleaned at home. However, nobody likes second guessing what they ought to be doing with that perfect outfit. 

Personally my general perception of dry-cleaning is not only is it expensive, sometimes it doesn’t even clean the garment! Literally once I brought a suit home and it looked pressed, but didn’t smell fresh at all. I ended up hand laundering in cold water and realizd that was much more effective and have been bucking dry cleaning ever since. Not to mention having my stuff thrown in with goodness-knows who else’s dirty laundry isn’t terribly appealing.

Thankfully the Laundress has just put up an comprehensive guide to cleaning, drying, ironing and even storing your precious garments. All well-organized by fabric type and in a printer-friendly version. Tack this one up next to your washing machine, girls!

Because spending less on dry cleaning means more clothes in your closet!

Filed under: Fashion, Home

Vintage Fashion

Lately, I’ve been getting into vintage after discovering that:

1) Vintage sizing tends to run small (i.e. clothes tend to run small, watches tend to fit smaller wrists, etc).

2) Great quality vintage can have. Heck, if it hasn’t broken down in 20+ years, it may just have a good chance of lasting for another 20. That said, unless you are very talented at repair/upcycle work, broken down, torn vintage just isn’t pretty. Be picky.

3) Amazingly unique designs you cannot find today in a mall.

Some recommends:

Vintage Fashion Guild – great online website with a huge database of vintage designers and examples of vintage labels. Cuz fakes aren’t cool.

Shopping for Vintage by Funmi Odulate- Gorgeously illustrated, easy to read book on vintage designers. Has an exhaustive, international lists of places to buy vintage. Literally.

Etsy Vintage – Really great, reasonable prices for vintage goods. Unlike that overpriced antique shop with musty smells.

Check these out:

Vintage Marcasite Brooch in Sterling

Art Nouveau Carved Elephant Ivory Bangle (pre-ban)

Filed under: Shopping Tip , ivory, reading, resources, sterling, vintage