Fashion
Rock Star Kids
March/28/2010 10:14 AM
Glam Kids
The Rock Star Style of Today's Youth
By Nicole Hanratty
Kids today--including my own--live the life of little rock stars. Recession or economic downturn aside, today's kids have more style and glam than their predecessors from previous generations. From the schoolyard to the mall, kids--especially girls--are rocking some serious fashion.
Glam kids today have closets that are filled with popular hip clothes nothing short of runway ready. And this is true whether parents are shopping at Bloomingdales or Target. Everywhere I go, I see kids dressed like their rock star idols: Kristen Stewart, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Justin Beiber, Zac Efron, Jesse McCartney and Taylor Lautner.
Children's clothing is constructed now to look adult-like and trendy along with their accessories. Rock star style sunglasses, necklaces, bracelets, bags and shoes--all very Hollywood--are available in tween or teen stores such as Justice, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Claires, H&M, as well as department stores ranging from Nordstrom to Kohl's. They are designed identically to high-end offerings on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The knockoff syndrome has gone size blind. One style fits all. Read More...
New Decade, New Style
January/12/2010 11:07 AM
New Decade, New Style
By Nicole Hanratty
Ring in 2010 with these hot new “Skarlettes” (reversible capes with a scarf attached) from Zuriz Dezinz. Handmade and in many cases, one-of-a-kind originals, these gorgeous wraps will warm you or your daughter in style this chilly January winter. You’ll have to drive into the suburbs (or call and beg a store to ship one off to you) to get your hands on one of these gorgeous capes, but it will be well worth your efforts. As one storeowner put it, “The only other place you will find these, is in Italy.”
Hipster Kid
2903 Agoura Road
Westlake Village, Ca
(805) 494-0900
http://www.shophipsterkid.com
Glen Kids
2944 Beverly Glen Circle
Los Angeles, Ca
(310) 474-9966
Pas de Deux
5853 Kanan Road Agoura Hills, CA
(818) 707-1425
Ballet Arts
31308 Via Colinas Suite 101
Westlake Village, Ca
(805) 495-7940
Price Range: $65.00 to $200.00 (Depending on size and style)
Children and adult sizes are available.
For more information email: zurizdezinz@aol.com
Meet The Designer
for herself, made from cardboard and fabric scraps. Living through hard times and wearing clothes donated to charities left on the front door step of her home, Shawna rifled through the bags for things that would fit her and pulled out a dress that she slipped into for church one Sunday morning. While at church, a girl recognized the dress Shawna was wearing as one that she had donated to the “needy.” The girl—too young herself to realize that Shawna’s family was in that category--called Shawna out on it and embarrassed her. Shawna vowed never to let that happen again. She taught herself to sew and began altering the donated clothing in her closet to such an extent that no one would ever recognize what she wore again. Read More...
The Perfect Outfit
January/07/2009 12:32 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Every morning I step into my closet with the all-important calendar in hand. With bitter reluctance, I surrender my pajamas to the laundry room and begin the search for the impossible: The Perfect Outfit. Clothes may make the man but they also define the day.
Each event filled 24-hour period of my life falls into a different category and without question requires a corresponding outfit. For instance:
Type A Days: These require a perky coordinated ensemble with a signature piece of flair, (i.e. hat, scarf or necklace) which screams, “High Achiever.” Something that allows me to hurdle backpacks, fight traffic, power through the stack on top of my desk, meet multiple appointments and still gets me to lunch on time! Read More...
Bag Quest 2008
April/07/2008 07:56 PM
Bag Quest 2008by Nicole Hanratty
Whose Got the It Bag Now? The Bag Ladies, that’s who!
The Los Angeles Kings season finale seemed the perfect place for a group debut of the new Spring 2008 “It” bags. Yes, that’s me pictured above on the left with the impossible to obtain cement colored mesh fisherman style Giorgio Armani handbag that is more fabulous that you can believe! In the middle is gorgeous Stacey Uberstine with the absolutely perfect red colored Marina GM from the Monogram Mini Lin Croisette line by Louis Vuitton. To the far right is the stunning Richel Roggin with the to-die-for bronze colored Mahina by Louis Vuitton and hiding inside is the must-have matching wallet. These girls know how to shop for handbags and that makes them tops in my pocketbook!
There is no denying it, I choose my friends based on the purses they carry and the lengths they are willing to go through to obtain them. These two moms certainly make the cut and I’m sure you can see why… I’m not at liberty to divulge all the details of their Bag Quests, but I can tell you that a flight over a large body of water was involved!
Obtaining the “It” bag for spring is my recently discovered obsession. My personal purse motto is, “If you’re not stalking it, you’re not trying hard enough!” I’m on my best behavior all winter long earning Wonderful Wife points to justify every ounce of effort and expense that must be garnered into getting the beloved bag.
The Bag Quest begins in January. I start scouring the planet for the hot handbag that will be the envy of every fashionista I pass on the street. I am certifiably wild about it! I search every magazine, advertisement and catalog to spot what I hope will be the Bag of the Year. The Bag I can’t live without, the one I will track down and purchase at any price. The one people will stop me to ogle. The one cheap knock-offs will try to imitate.
When I finally spot it, I employ a top-secret operational plan of attack, which I cannot reveal for obvious competitive reasons. Warning: Do not try this at home. I have special training and contacts in the CIA.
When the call finally comes in that the purse is in the bag, I’ll stop at nothing to get it! Last year I left a birthday party early to wait at home to sign for the much-anticipated delivery. This year I called in a favor from my ex-husband (yes, Ex) and asked him to send his courier to pick it up for me. Every resource is called upon to get that handbag safely home to momma…
Who else is carrying my limited edition Armani “It” bag this year? Word on the street is it’s just a select lucky few along with some of our celebrity friends.
And when my husband asks me “How much did it cost?” I answer him honestly. “I really don’t know… When you find the bag of your dreams, price is irrelevant!” Then I see the look of disappointment in his face. Oops, I did it again. “I promise dear, next year I’ll ask how much before it is delivered.”
Au revoir for now…n
Copyright 2008 Nicole Hanratty
Footloose
March/17/2008 07:13 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
If only I were the barefoot type. My husband would be so thrilled! Unfortunately for him, I’m all about shoes.
You can’t keep me from buying them, (although my adoring husband sure does try) and you will rarely, if ever, see me barefoot. Even at home, I pad around in shoes or slippers. This Diva can’t stand the feeling of a cold floor on her feet or any particle that might be found in the crevices of her path. Call me a princess but shoes are never far from my soles! Read More...
Bikini Season Has Begun
March/09/2008 06:58 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
FYI! Bikini Days 2008 have begun! And, from now ‘til October, there’s no other outfit I’d rather wear! I’ll be shopping for one cute suit for every day of the week and two for Saturdays, (one for the sand and one for late night hot tubbing!)
I know not everyone gets to spend their Sundays lunching by the Pacific Ocean, feeling the hot sun, refreshing breeze and sand between their toes, but I did today. Lucky me! There’s no place finer than Malibu’s own Paradise Cove to spend a beautiful perfect spring day. The overly crowded beach is a great reminder that summer is just around the corner. Are you ready? Read More...
