Designer Spotlight: Richard Ruiz

Looking for girly, feminine, fun, flirty frocks and tops? Look no further, Richard Ruiz is the designer for you!!! The San Francisco native studied in New York and Paris at the Parsons School of Design. His designs are highly influenced by Japanese inspired prints that include butterflies, dragons, and kimono sleeves. His collection debuted in Fall 2006 and he has been making waves ever since with celebrity clientele, including Lauren Conrad and Lauryn Hill. Ruiz's designs have been featured in such publications as Women's Wear Daily, Lucky Magazine, and Cosmo Girl. You can find his elegant, but fun designs online at http://www.revolveclothing.com/ or http://www.activeendeavors.com/ Also check out his Fall 2008 collection at http://www.richardruiznyc.com/

He is definitely keeping fashion airy and light!!!!

Live long and Dress Well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shop Smart...C-Mart

Looking for a great deal on clothes, home accessories, jewelry, and furniture???? Check out C-Mart!!!!! This liquidation, discount, warehouse, located in Baltimore and Washington DC(Landover, MD), is stocked with hidden treasures!!!!! My girls and I made an adventure out of it and trekked on over to the Mart and boy did we score!!!!!

I found designer labels like Velvet, Torn, BCBG, and Nieves Lavi!!!!! I even found prized finds from Bloomies, Intermix, and Urban Outfitters!!! But best of all was the Furniture!!! Like Whoa!!!! Check out some of the fab finds, that come from the likes of Muleh and Random Harvest!!!! Pretty awesome!!!! Some things come with minor flaws and missing buttons or knobs or what not, but the prices make up for that! It's definitely worth making a road trip! You name it, they've got it at the Mart! If you still aren't convinced; check out the website for a sneak peek http://www.cmartdiscount.com/

Live Long and Shop SMart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plenty of Tracy Reese!!!!!

The next designer I would like to feature comes from the motor city of Detroit!!!! Tracy Reese is one of my favorite African-American designers who is quickly making her mark in the fashion world. Tracy's designs are fun, flirty, and pieces you are sure to have in your closet and pass down to your loved one! Tracy has an eye for textured fabrics and vintage style! Not only does she offer a high-end, couture signature line, she also has her Plenty line, which continues with the same quality as the Tracy Reese Collection, with a more contemporary and moderate price point! It's definitely worth checking out http://www.tracyreese.com/ and http://www.plentybytracyreese.com/ You can find both collections at Nordstrom, Saks, and Bergdorf Goodman. The Plenty line is also carried in Anthropologie, Cusp, and Barney's Coop. And Ms. Reese recently opened her own boutique in the fashionable meat-packing district of Manhattan. I myself love the Plenty line! But you be the judge! You are sure to be in for a treat!!!!!!!

Live long and Dress Well!!!!!!!!!

Youngstown OH is on the Map!!!

Today I wanted to send a shout out to my extended family in the small town of Youngstown Ohio. Who, what, where, you might ask? Youngstown is a little town outside of Cleveland that I was introduced to one Thanksgiving(thanks bff) and it offers lots of chain eateries and mini shopping plaza's, but there's something else the Y.O. has been keeping secret...Nanette Lepore!!!! Oh yes, this hip, bohemian, designer reigns from none other than the Y.O.!!! Who knew? Nanette Lepore offers a bit of chic, lady-like, vintage couture clothing at sensible pricing. You can find her things in the chicest boutiques and larger, high-end retail outlets, but I just got another great piece of info...Nanette Lepore is coming to Chevy Chase!!! Yes, a boutique of her own will be gracing the DC metropolitan area and I will most definitely be checking it out!!! Stay tuned for more information regarding the grand opening! But, if you want to find out more about the designer go to http://www.nanettelepore.com/nanette_lepore_site/index_new.html

Always keeping you in the loop!!! Next up...Tracy Reese!!!!

Live long and Dress Well!!!!!!!!!!!!!