The Only Way to Travel.

LeBron does it. Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn do it. And I’m doing it every day I’m here….Biking. In Miami of course. Not only is it great exercise, but it’s fast, cheap, and no extra equipment is required. I’m recommending to myself this as my method of travel in the future. And before the fall [...]

A Mini/Miami-Break in Shopping Austerity.

I’m in love with DSW–The Designer Shoe Warehouse. Though I don’t always find something I want, today I hit it perfectly. Heading to Miami next week for a short, but much needed vacation, I find myself one shoe short of being fully equipped. In addition to my flip-flops and sexy heels, I’m in desperate need [...]

Creating your dream space in SD.

When I’m not working or hanging out with my son or friends, my secret obsession is Pinterest–you can check out my “Dream Home” or “Shop Local SD” boards if you’d like. Lately, I’ve been consumed with figuring out my living space; both the existing and the future. So, on a lovely sunny SD day I [...]

Pooch-proof Yourself with Peplum

Many of you may already be quite familiar with this not-so-new trend of the peplum design. I too own a couple of of peplum style dresses from H&M, but had no idea how much I loved the style until post-surgery, when I needed coverage only a peplum could handle. According to Wikipedia- Peplum is a [...]

2013 Zagat Guide arrives in SD–the ultimate in local shopping.

It was about 5 years ago today that I launched this site..originally titled “Shmy Way or the Highway”.  Since then the site and I have grown and changed so much. I’ve become a paid journo–I’ve fallen quite a lot, but day by day I work to build something I can be proud of try to [...]

Finding NY’s looks in SD

I found myself in love with NY designer Mara Hoffman…all the clothes looked beautiful and still comfortable–very California for an East Coaster. I’d look for these pieces in San Diego at Capricorn Boutique in Bird Rock or Ensemble Boutique in Oceanside. Tadashi Shoji brought lace like nobody’s business–when I’m looking for dresses like this, I [...]

I’m happy to report on a locally designed swimwear line for women like myself—curvy and somewhat modest, but still wanting a look that’s sexy and fun. The Dos Cara ladies—designers Aida Soria and Syncletica Maestas. I met the two SD born and bred Latinas when I was covering San Diego Fashion Week for the San [...]

Heading to Fashion Week…

As I head out next week, leaving sunny SoCal for wintery New York for Fashion Week, I share with you the number one question that comes up when I tell people where I’m going….What are you going to wear???? Well, as confirmed by style guru Hillary Kerr, of the site Who What Wear, when I [...]

“Broke but Bougie”–a fun event at Francesca’s Fashion Valley.

The new blog and webseries, Broke but Bougie recently launched,  and to celebrate they’re hosting a progressive makeover party at Francesca’s in the Fashion Valley Mall. All San Diego  women are invited to come and experience the “website come to life”, as Broke but Bougie helps  women everywhere feel fresh, fine, and fabulous– without breaking the bank. [...]

Not Local–But worth buying online. My stand against guns.

Mayor of Newark, New Jersey Cory Booker and The Caliber Collection–officially launched in November of last year, and has already generated $20,000 to support the city’s gun buyback program. The collection is a line of steel and brass bracelets and cuffs created from firearms and bullet casings seized by the Newark Police Department. Each gun or [...]

Tackling Hemlines–2013

I dutifully watched the fashion of the all the Hollywood celebs at the People’s Choice Awards this year. I was kinda’ impressed by (generally speaking) how little flesh the women chose to flaunt. I like the new lower hemlines and fancy dresses that seem to stand out on their own. And I love that women [...]

2012—A stellar year! 2013 even better!

Here’s a few pics of the hottest looks for Spring 2013.

Thanks Santa Baby—

Continuing on with the grand experiment—Austerity till June 2013…Other’s buying gifts for you doesn’t count!

Shop small–Shop Local Saturday!

Please steer clear of Walmart on Black Friday–Real stylistas aren’t scabs and don’t cross picket lines… Shop small; Shop local Saturday! Enjoy 20% off all locally made pieces at Vocabulary Boutique in Little Italy. But many of my most favorite stores will be participating in Shop Local Saturday–so please remember the little guys and girls…Big [...]

Neiman Marcus presents–Resort

With my shopping austerity still going strong, today’s Neiman Marcus presentation of “Resort Season Trends” felt a bit like a woman on a diet at a holiday buffet. But price tags kept my indulgences at bay, and I felt quite content to admire from a distance. My favorites today were allllll the very girly dresses [...]

A Fun San Diego Event

Signature Chefs & Master Mixologists Auction Tickets are still available for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs and Master Mixologists, A Night at the Speakeasy, tomorrow night, Thursday, November 8, 2012, chaired by Michele Arthur and Yolanda Selene Walther-Meade. Tickets cost $250 and tables are $2,500. For information, call Amber Lingle at (858) 300-6402. The event starts promptly [...]

Shopping austerity continues…

Saving for a trip—not sure where–maybe Cuba. A few options were I to go on a mad shopping spree. Young SoCal designer Veronica Scott and her Vee line–sold at Cecelia Boutique in Mission Hills-928 Fort Stockton Drive #115  San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 692-3802  

Don’t ‘Limit’ yourself–my shopping austerity need not be yours–Limited is back!

Over a decade ago the Limited clothing store closed its doors in Fashion Valley. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t miss it. Not long ago, the store discontinued its relationship with Limited Inc–including stores like Limited 2, Victoria Secret, and Express to name a few. Tomorrow, the newly re-branded and independent store will [...]

Traveling vs. Shopping–Wearing what’s there.

So, I’ve decided to travel versus shop for a while. I’m testing myself to see how long I’m able to go WITHOUT shopping. Don’t we all have enough? What if we begin to really dig deep into our closets to really wear what’s there? Admittedly, living in SoCal helps to easily transition clothing from season to [...]

Fashionably Stumped!

Tonight I’ll attend Sunset Soiree–a wonderful event to raise money for Feeding America San Diego. It’s at the Beach and Tennis Club in La Jolla–Sheryl Crow is performing and Larry King is the moderator. I’ve been plagued all week trying to figure out what to wear. For those of you not aware of the drawbacks [...]

I know, I know, I’m late to the party–The Kiehl’s party.

Last week, Kiehl’s opened another store. This one is located in the Westfield UTC mall in La Jolla, right next door to my other new favorite store–Apple. I went to support my wonderful friend Heidi Hagemen, and her publicity firm H2 Public Relations…a damn good person whom I’ve gotten to know and love. Anyway, back [...]

Why I love shopping in San Diego

Abbott-Kinney is a small stretch of three blocks in Venice Beach–the “Westside” of LA. I don’t know the entire history of the area, but it was originally founded by tobacco millionaire Abbott Kinney and called Ocean Park in 1905. In 1911, the name was changed to Venice, and in 1925 it became part of LA. [...]

All my faves from Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013.

I saw quite a few shows and wrote about a few more. I met some gracious designers and some haughty ones, and was welcomed with open arms by a couple who I’d written about in past seasons–all-in-all my trips to NY for Fashion Week have gotten better and better. I’ve learned to navigate the ticket [...]

Dressing For Fashion Week New York–what to wear, what to wear…

This is the fourth year I’ve attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, and every time I go, what to wear looms large on my mind. New York is a tough city to navigate. If you’re lucky enough to have a town car transport you from show to show, uptown to downtown, then maybe your [...]

James Grant Clothing–Hipster Chic Comes to La Jolla

RTW | VINTAGE | JEWELRY All products made and/or sourced in the USA. Located at 7527 La Jolla Blvd. Open 12-7 Monday through Saturday Price points $30-tees-$375 for rare vintage pieces. This Americana-styled boutique offers lines like Jesidiah, Penny Stock Tradmark, Mink Pink, Freshjive, Rising Sun, and handmade denim from Pasadena priced from $300-$500. The [...]

3 SD Boutiques That Won Our Hearts This Week.

Vocabulary Boutique: This is still one of my very favorites. Owner Cecelia Church has a keen eye, evidenced by her most recent acquisition of the lower priced  line by Tracy Reese–Plenty. Located in Little Italy, and perfect for women who need pieces for work and play, this store keeps merch re-freshed constantly, and I was [...]

Boomerang

For the homeowner: Boomerang 2475 Kettner Blvd. 619-239-2040 Since 1985 Boomerang has been a benchmark of vintage modern design in San Diego. Located in Little Italy’s design district, the store offers three floors of carefully and personally chosen top quality classic modern furnishings, lighting and accessories. Most pieces are vintage from local estates and some [...]

Dolcetti Boutique

The trendy girls: Dolcetti Boutique 635 Fifth Avenue 619.237.4413   Located in the center of the Gaslamp on 5th Ave, this store offers both tourists and locals a peak at SD flavor. With mostly casual tops and bottoms, and a huge selection of dresses, it’s difficult not to find something fun to buy and add [...]

Credible Thread

The style guy: Credible Thread 740 Market Street Cool and classic men’s clothing.  Owner Justin Chen is no dummy. He understands that men don’t normally look to re-invent the wheel when they shop. He offers them style, comfort, and quality with established clothing lines at affordable prices. Chen also owns the restaurant next door, J [...]

Psyched for Peplums

I’ve found my new perfect style. For years I’ve looked at peplums and thought they were silly looking. Another added frill at the waist?  Seemed like over-kill to me. How wrong I was. Turns out, it’s the perfect dress for that mid-waist pooch–not that I have one lol—this dress style is oh so flattering! I [...]

Passione Boutique–a little piece of Italy in San Diego.

I’m a shopper who likes to buy a dress with the confidence of knowing that no one else will have it on when I step out. This is on of the little spots I drop into on occasion.  I like and trust owner Rita Diste and believe her when she teaches me how to style [...]

A store you must frequent to find the goods—Pink Lagoon

I’ve got a few friends who doubt the star power of this boutique with 2 locations–one in La Jolla and one in Solana Beach. Maybe it’s because I know this smart owner or the very saavy sales associates, but for my taste, this store is on the cutting edge of SoCal fashion.

A new store has “bloomed” in SD. Located in the East Village. Bloom San Diego boutique.

At BLOOM SAN DIEGO fashion is our passion. We enjoy helping you find the perfect outfit or accessory, and we believe shopping should be fun! So whether you’re looking for something trendy or a fashionable accessory, come visit us at BLOOM SAN DIEGO. We’ve got all your fashion needs covered.  

Corey Lynn Calter–at Capricorn Boutique

Stopped in at Capricorn Boutique recently, and using the money I’d gotten from selling clothes at Buffalo Exchange, I  bought this amazing dress (on sale) by my favorite designer Corey Lynn Calter. Calter developed her unique aesthetic while involved in subcultures as divergent as the New York punk scene to the San Francisco opera. Her [...]

From Duds 2 Design

In the last few months, my work has dramatically shifted from writing about fashion to covering almost everything. I’ve been spending endless hours working in my apartment, sitting at my desk, and doing interviews by phone. Talking with people from art collector Ella Fontanals-Cisneros in Havana, Cuba, to  Rocio Romero in St.Paul, Missouri, to wine [...]

My Mother’s Fashion in 1977.

My mother was never a fashion plate. She just didn’t care all that much about how she looked. She was confident she was attractive and didn’t believe in wasting too much time focusing on her looks. Seeing this photo though, it makes me think how stylish she actually was. I lost my mom in 2006, [...]

What Mom Wants on Mother’s Day & Where to get it in SD.

A few ideas for Mom…but the best advice I can give for any Mom who receives any gift, is to just say “thank you”–and keep on moving. The thought of the gift is what counts the most.  

Zara–the store SD and I both need the most!

This fall will usher in the opening of one of my favorite stores–Zara in Fashion Valley. When I travel to LA, it’s one of my first stops. I discovered the store when I was in Spain almost 10 years ago, and since I recently ordered something online, and fell in love with the charming packaging [...]

Chill Out w/ Chillers in PB & New Boutique alert: Graffiti Beach POP-UP Store in South Park.

One of my fave boutiques is adding one of my fave designers–Ella Moss. Chillers Showroom: 4667 Cass Street PB 92109 Graffiti Beach: 2220 Fern St. SD 92104 The concept of the ‘Graffiti Beach POP-UP Store’ is to allow artists and designers to sell their merchandise to the public in several different markets at low-cost and low-risk.

A new boutique called M4 aka (metaphore). Located in Vista no less…Check it Out.

About: Situated in a quaint area of old vista village, Metaphor Boutique offers a unique collection of apparel, cards, and exceptional gifts. Life is an adventure, make metaphor a destination. Best of all it was curated and merchandised by two of San Diego’s best designers–Jeffrey Parish & Jennafer Grace. Soft grand opening is this Saturday April [...]