On a trip to Media, I stopped at adorable Sorella Boutique and the store was just busting with new spring goods. While combing through the racks, I stumbled upon what instantly became a summer wardrobe staple.
These jeans from Level 99 not only have an easy I’m-not-trying-too-hard summer vibe with their perfect shade of blue and wide leg, but they are made of the lightest denim known to man, so I can stay cool. And at $108, they are priced right for a seasonal look. All the sudden, my skinnies are looking too hot (and not in a good way).
Whenever I am in West Chester I have to stop at Malena’s, a Best Of Philly 2006 Vintage winner and all around kick-ass store. Sweet Malena always has brand name, excellent condition vintage clothing, shoes and accessories constantly coming through her doors.
The problem is, I don’t often find myself in West Chester, which is why I had to share the good news that she now has an amazing online version of her store. On the site you’ll get a preview of what’s new to the store with detailed condition and history descriptions (this week: A Schiaparelli silk scarf in the original box and a Lilly Pulitzer skirt, shown, both for $48) to just scope out or buy, the opportunity to get in on her ecommerce with a sellers site of your own, and updates on events and sales.
It’s sorta like having her great eye as your personal shopper, in your computer. malenasboutique.com.
My husband and I heading to Miami for our one-year anniversary next week. I’m supposed to be figuring out rides, meals and hotels, but I really only care about what I’m going to pack. I pulled out my honeymoon dresses from last year and they seem so boring and, sigh, fit my long-gone post-wedding weight. While doing reconnaissance on said hotels and meals, I discovered how great Miami’s shopping scene is.
So, I’ve decided to forgo trying to pick up cute dresses in snow-laden Philly and make shopping my first activity of the trip. (Well, spray tan first, shopping next.) I was psyched to see that there is an Intermix not too far from my hotel. This NYC-based store seems to be spreading its wings (yes, I’ve already asked for a Center City location in my bedtime prayers) and is carries a department store quantity of stuff. My first purchases:
Wilbur: Delicious brand of oversize chocolate chips. Wilbur: Favorite pig from Charlotte’s Web. Wilbur: Secret, weekends-only vintage boutique.
Downstairs in South Street’s ever-creaky Antiquarian antiques mall is a cozy, brand-new boutique owned by floral designer, spa manager, clothing collector and generally debonair guy Daniel Wilbur. Daniel’s cleaned out closets — his own, and those of many best-dressed Philadelphians — and come up with a stash of men’s and women’s duds that range from ironic to iconic.
Go back to the 80s with a black satin jacket by Z. Cavaricci. Get your punk-cute on with a stretchy mini by Anna Sui. Grab a very “That Girl” red cotton cape in time for Valentine’s Day shenanigans. Pull on a pair of mint-condition, wine-colored boots. Score brass buttons, striped ties, needlepoint art, extra-disco dangling earrings, and any number of frocks, coats, blouses and skirts that mercifully lack those super tiny waists so typical of pretty pieces from the 40s through 60s.
Unfortunately for you, however, that perfectly tight-topped, kick pleat-edged, royal blue, Marilyn-meets-Jackie O wool skirt ($40) from dearly departed socialite dresser Nan Duskin is no longer available. I snagged that baby last Saturday.
Wilbur, at The Antiquarian’s Delight, 615 S. 6th Street. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. All winter merch is currently 20 percent off.
When I hear the word ‘basement,’ I think of a dark, dank space with cinderblock walls and chilly cement floors. When I hear the word ‘basement’ used in conjunction with the word ‘sale,’ however, I think of racks of crave-worthy clothes, shelves of impossibly gorgeous heels, my Visa card swiping through the credit card machine at lightning-fast speed.
And when I hear the words ‘basement sale’ paired with ‘Joan Shepp,’ I think of … well, heaven. Only instead of clouds, there are hangers — lots and lots of hangers filled with delicious duds by the likes of Marni, Rick Owens, Charles Chang Lima, Dries van Noten, Junya Watanabe, Balenciaga. And instead of angels there are Chloe platforms, Sissi Rossi bags, Chan Luu baubles.
Stop in the Walnut Street boutique for a ticket now to score up to 50 percent off of top designers’ creations next week (from January 30th through February 3rd). The impeccably edited selection mean you’ll be stylishly fashion-forward, the sale means you can justify your purchases, and the store hours (open until 8 on Wednesdays!) mean you don’t have to cram your shopping into your lunch hour.
Joan Shepp, 1616 Walnut Street, 215-735-2666, joanshepp.com.
I am always cold. This is not an exaggeration. My mother swears there’s “something wrong” with me, and if I am ever feeling rather warm, it’s a safe indication that everyone else around me is about to expire from heatstroke. It’s just always been like this.
So imagine my happiness when yesterday, while trolling for lunch on Walnut Street, I found that City Sports is having a huge winter sale — including 20 to 40 percent off oodles of The North Face!
I was too overwhelmed with fleece-induced relief to actually pick something out, so I’m headed back today — and I think I’ve mainly got my eye on the Denali jacket (and a few vests, and thermal shirts, and … yeah, lots of stuff). It’s got fleece, it’s got nylon, it’s got pockets, cinching and lightweight breathability, and best of all, it’ll keep me toasty, comfy and bundled while I’m … sitting on my couch. (Please. I need something even more high-tech for outdoor winter sports — but I’ve got till President’s Day Weekend to figure that out.)
City Sports, 1608 Walnut St., 215-985-5860, 51 St. Georges Road, Ardmore, 610-649-7497, citysports.com.
I’ve gained 15 lbs (okay, 17) since my wedding. But to be fair, I lost 10 pounds before the wedding, so to get back to where I started, I need to drop seven newlywed pounds. Speaking of newlyweds, being married and lounging around with a new husband is way more fun than going to the gym. To say that I am less than motivated would be a huge understatement.
Thank god for my new friend Lucy. She’s the latest of chain stores to invade our area (with a location at the Promenade in Marlton and Suburban Square) that sells attractive, coordinated, affordable and comfy workout clothes. Yoga, Pilates, tennis and cardio stuff that is cute enough to get me (and my husband) to the gym. But Lucy doesn’t stop there. She promotes an all around active lifestyle — whether that be running errands or traveling — so pick up some of the layer-perfect, wear everyday items too like like cargo pants and sleek half-zip pullovers.
The outlet of that trusty SF-based purveyor of khakis, jeans, tees and cozy-but-comfy weekend sweaters (saving graces for we who are allergic to wool) has quietly and quickly (in about one week) moved to the 1900 block of Chestnut. If you avoided the old Chestnut St. location because it felt a bit, um, cramped, you’ll relish the new spot’s warehouse-high ceilings and well-organized open space as you snap up deals like a gray super-soft cotton sweater (only four days until Saturday!) for $24.49.
Just about the cutest package to land on my desk lately came from Elkins Park-based ABCD Tees, the creator of a new line of adorable (and, dare we say, educational) tees emblazoned with letters of the alphabet, and complementary illustrations: the “Aa” tee features an alligator; “Bb” has a beetle; “Cc,” a crab; and so on.
So cute are these youth-sized small, medium, and extra-small tees that one colleague already swiped it off my desk — not for a pint-sized niece or nephew, though; simply for herself. Abcdtees.com.
Smaller than a scarf, more stylish than a turtleneck, Romy Scheroder’s amazing handknit neck warmers are being snatched up by fashion folk faster than you can say, “organic alpaca with a vintage clasp.” Romy knits — crochets? — each one so it slips easily over your big head, and adds a little buckle-type thingamabob so you can cinch it closely to your carotid.
Being completely susceptible to all manner of local trends, I scored mine Wednesday night during a lil’ party at Bus Stop Boutique (and tacked on a pair of stupendous United Nude black ankle boots with Chevron stitching for good measure). I told Romy that I was buying it for a gift. I lied.
Neckwarmers: $68 at Bus Stop Boutique, 750 S. 4th Street, 215-627-2357.
On a trip to Media, I stopped at adorable Sorella Boutique and the store was just busting with new spring goods. While combing through the racks, I stumbled upon what instantly became a summer wardrobe staple. 
Whenever I am in West Chester I have to stop at 
My husband and I heading to Miami for our one-year anniversary next week. I’m supposed to be figuring out rides, meals and hotels, but I really only care about what I’m going to pack. I pulled out my honeymoon dresses from last year and they seem so boring and, sigh, fit my long-gone post-wedding weight. While doing reconnaissance on said hotels and meals, I discovered how great Miami’s shopping scene is. 
Wilbur: Delicious brand of oversize chocolate chips. Wilbur: Favorite pig from Charlotte’s Web. Wilbur: Secret, weekends-only vintage boutique. 
When I hear the word ‘basement,’ I think of a dark, dank space with cinderblock walls and chilly cement floors. When I hear the word ‘basement’ used in conjunction with the word ‘sale,’ however, I think of racks of crave-worthy clothes, shelves of impossibly gorgeous heels, my Visa card swiping through the credit card machine at lightning-fast speed.
I am always cold. This is not an exaggeration. My mother swears there’s “something wrong” with me, and if I am ever feeling rather warm, it’s a safe indication that everyone else around me is about to expire from heatstroke. It’s just always been like this. 
I’ve gained 15 lbs (okay, 17) since my wedding. But to be fair, I lost 10 pounds before the wedding, so to get back to where I started, I need to drop seven newlywed pounds. Speaking of newlyweds, being married and lounging around with a new husband is way more fun than going to the gym. To say that I am less than motivated would be a huge understatement. 
The outlet of that trusty SF-based purveyor of khakis, jeans, tees and cozy-but-comfy weekend sweaters (saving graces for we who are allergic to wool) has quietly and quickly (in about one week) moved to the 1900 block of Chestnut. If you avoided the old Chestnut St. location because it felt a bit, um, cramped, you’ll relish the new spot’s warehouse-high ceilings and well-organized open space as you snap up deals like a gray super-soft cotton sweater (only four days until Saturday!) for $24.49.
Just about the cutest package to land on my desk lately came from Elkins Park-based ABCD Tees, the creator of a new line of adorable (and, dare we say, educational) tees emblazoned with letters of the alphabet, and complementary illustrations: the “Aa” tee features an alligator; “Bb” has a beetle; “Cc,” a crab; and so on. 
Smaller than a scarf, more stylish than a turtleneck, Romy Scheroder’s amazing handknit neck warmers are being snatched up by fashion folk faster than you can say, “organic alpaca with a vintage clasp.” Romy knits — crochets? — each one so it slips easily over your big head, and adds a little buckle-type thingamabob so you can cinch it closely to your carotid.