Shopping
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...
Shopping Malls Close: What Will Open in their Place?
May/22/2009 08:32 AM
As shopping malls across the country feel the economic crunch in sales, and shops close down like dominoes falling one after another, malls are becoming hollow empty shells of a past culture that is coming to an end. [See WSJ Recession Turns Malls Into Ghost Towns, Friday, May 22, 2009] Dinosaurs of their times, these oversized massive structures no longer fit the needs or desires of today’s youth or consumers that once drove their success.
Like it or not, the era of excess is over as even the wealthiest cut back and second guess expenditures, and we are all about to face a reality check like never before.
Reality Check No. 1:
We may have to actually drive more than a few miles to get to a shopping mall or store. Public transport may become desirable. Community may resurface. Neighbors may once again need to share home grown produce and cups of sugar...maybe even learn each other’s names.
Read More...
Like it or not, the era of excess is over as even the wealthiest cut back and second guess expenditures, and we are all about to face a reality check like never before.
Reality Check No. 1:
We may have to actually drive more than a few miles to get to a shopping mall or store. Public transport may become desirable. Community may resurface. Neighbors may once again need to share home grown produce and cups of sugar...maybe even learn each other’s names.
Read More...
Best Friends
March/02/2009 02:19 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
You know I love my coffee, it gets me through the day. The steaming hot cup of sanity navigates me as I attend to the Monday morning marketing, laundry, car wash, pet store and dry cleaners. It gives me clarity and makes me whole. Java is my best friend and without it I am lost.
But today, in a tragic turn of events my BFF was squandered. I added a splash of soy milk, replaced the lid and walked away from the coffee bar only to realize far too late that the reason I was not tasting any of my beloved beverage is because I was pouring it down the right side of my body. No, it was not coming out of the plastic hole on top of the lid for my perched lips to sip because the lid was ajar and the coffee was instead pouring through the crack between the top of the cup and the bottom of the lid. 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
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...
Simple Needs
February/19/2008 05:18 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Careful...winter is almost over and spring is around the corner. Before you know it will be time to emerge from the gloomy weather chipper with cheer. Will you be ready? Mental health check; are you meeting your own simple needs?
I’m not referring to the new Louis Vuitton Bellevue PM bag that is on your shopping list either... Although it is fabulous!
Simple needs are those pesky little things that don’t seem like a priority when we have so many other things to accomplish, schedules to keep and demands to meet. Read More...
Did You Get the Hash Browns?
February/05/2008 03:49 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
It’s seven a.m. My day started two hours ago. (Self-imposed; no need for violins.) But any minute now, my adorable husband will return home from the gym, open the refrigerator and ask me, “Did you get the hash browns yet?” I will have to reply, “No.”
Yes, it is true; we have been out of them for over a week. But I have not been to the Hash Brown Market in over a week. (Fever, flu, strep throat- but really, no excuses please!) His sad face will make me feel guilty as if I don’t do anything else during the day and I really have no valid reason for not providing him with his beloved hash browns.
But this is really just the tip of the iceberg. My shortcomings fall so much greater than this.
Here is a list of other things I have not yet done: Read More...
Last Day of the Month
January/31/2008 02:45 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Calling all coupons! Just a few shopping hours left before your valuable coupons expire...from December, that is!
I just love the boutique clothing stores that issue ten percent of your spending coupons for use the following month. Not aware of this practice? Okay, for those of you who have been living on Mars, here’s an example. Let’s say in December you purchased a few gifts, a pair of jeans for yourself, (well who can resist a little “gift to moi” during the holidays?) and your total came to $500. The store would have issued you a $50 coupon for use in the following month of January. Brilliant isn’t it? M.frederic will even call you to remind you that you have the money to spend! Read More...
