Shopping

Covet Boutique

Posted on by Brandy Saldana

It’s been over 2 months since the Grand Opening event at Covet Boutique and it is about time I share a post on the festivities and details of the shop.
There are now 3 Covet Boutiques in San Francisco, with their latest one opening in September on 548 Irving St. The boutique, owned by Frolick jewelry designer, Adrienne Wiley, features her great taste with her carfeully curated collection of beautiful clothes, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and scarves. I was swept away by the jewelry and ended up buying two rings. I was going to buy a necklace but when I went back for it it was gone! (I later discovered my boyfriend had bought me the necklace so that he could give it to me on my birthday which happened a few days after this event!)

The opening was celebrated with bubbly and champagne with fabulous people like the ladies of Monogram! The cupcakes were just as yummy as they look!

I received a little goodie bag for attending the event and was stoked to find a scented candle that the shop also sells as well as gorgeous postcards from various destinations in the city. Covet is the place to go for a unique piece in your wardrobe, gift, or to visit with your girlfriends. Can’t get to the city? No problem! Covet Boutique is online and it has been dangerous for me as I’ve been checking out all of the merchandise that has been coming in and what’s been going on sale. 
Check out some of my pins  in my Want in My Closet board featuring some items from their website. Enjoy browsing their highly-addicting merchandise!
Brandy| TWITTER | FACEBOOK | BLOGLOVIN |  INSTAGRAM |CHICTOPIA |

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JustFab! with Stilettos and Cocktails

Posted on by Brandy Saldana

I attended a meetup two weekends ago for Fashion Bloggers in the Bay Area. The event was sponsored by JustFab! and was held at Sen’s Restaurant at Embarcadero Center. I’ve been part of this Meetup group for awhile going to various events in the city, but this was the first Meetup where we were all focused on really sitting down and meeting each other. It was a great experience being able to meet like-minded people and drink cocktails while talking about our latest fashion obsession and Fashion Blogger Problems. 

I met so many amazing women at the event such as Layla. She introduced me to the Fashion App My Runway. Below, Heidi introduced us to her company My Muse Box which is a subscription based beauty box where a portion of its sales give back to the community.

In the above picture, I mingled with Alyssa Moreno Voila Marie Fashionation, Esther of Esther-Lee, Chasma from Thrifted Bliss, and Alyssa Kane from Stylematic.  

I struck a pose with my girl Esther above and below I am posing with Lalah of The Diva Doll Guide and Alyssa.

We all were very passionate about shoes, which made me feel like I was in heaven! The event was made even sweeter because it introduced me to JustFab! I feel like I have been living under a rock, especially since this site sells shoes, but this was my first formal introduction to the site. I like heels, but on a day-to-day basis I prefer flats, wedges, and kitten heels. I can’t rock really high, platform heels because of my fear of heights/ because I am clumsy and would fall in towering heels. I was really excited to hear that JustFab! isn’t limited just to sky-high heels, they have bags, jewelry, and clothing waiting to be bought at ridiculously fabulous prices. It would be hard not to find something you like on their site. That’s because you take a style quiz and suggestions of what you might like are made for you!  

It took me awhile to decide because of all of the amazing items they had, but I finally settled on ordering the Prestige Satchel. I expect for it to arrive on Thursday. Such a long wait, but so worth it! I see myself wearing this bag with everything! It looks roomy enough for all the things I carry to work. I can’t wait to share an outfit post with this bag. 

A big thank you to JustFab! for sponsoring the event, to Jia of Catwalk Chic for setting up the Meetup and to all of the Fab bloggers who attended and made the night super fun!
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER | 
Photos taken by Lucy Glover. All Rights Reserved.

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My Runway

Posted on by Brandy Saldana

On Saturday I attended a Meetup with other Bay Area Fashion Bloggers in San Francisco. We wore stilettos and drank amazing cocktails at the Sen’s Restaurant in the Embarcadero Center.
One of the perks of attending these types of events, and living near the Silicon Valley, is learning about new ways Fashion and Technology merge with new websites and apps. At this Meetup I met the Sr. Product Marketing Manager of SAP Layla Sabourian and was introduced to SAP’s app called My Runway.
My Page: 

My Runway is a new, free social shopping app that allows fashion lovers to follow the brands they love and get personalized updates on what’s new, what is trending, and what is on sale. It’s like your best friend working at your favorite store and giving you a heads up when the jeans you tried on and loved will be on sale next week or letting you know some new stuff came in that you’ll absolutely love!
I’ve had a couple of days playing with the app and I’ve found it to be a good way to keep a wishlist of brands you covet. I am following stores like Chanel, Chloe, Burberry and Celine and while I am not in the financial situation to shop “What’s New?” for these brands, I like being able to see what is trending in stores and know what to keep an eye out for when I go shopping.
View by Brands:

View by Product:

Add items to your wishlist and see what is on sale:

All the Deals in One Place (my favorite part of the app!):

One of the features that is really cool about the app is the social experience it brings with online shopping. I grew up in a mall, and that was the place to go with friends when you wanted their opinion before spending your allowance money on anything. My Runway allows for you to add friends and comment on items they’ve added to their wishlist. It brings back the good ol’ days of shopping with your girlfriends, except now you can shop at more stores in less time.
I have not tried out all the features of the app yet, but I look forward to becoming more familiar with it. There are points awarded and a gift box you can shake to win a prize and I have yet to earn enough points or learned how to earn points in order to win. I am used to apps providing a short tutorial in order to introduce you to it, and while the concept of the app seems simple, I would like to know more about the box and how adding friends, aside from your close ones, can help with your personal shopping experience.
Aside from being introduced to the new app, our group was also invited to attend a workshop this Thursday titled “What are the secret ingredients to a Successful Fashion App?” The panel will include America’s Next Top Model, Naima Mora, Paul Friedland, senior director of marketing at Levi Strauss & Co, Stephanie Rahlfs, the owner of Stiletto Jungles Enterprises and Gong, Vice President of Product & Head of My Runway, at the software company SAP. This event sounds fun and if you are in SF and can attend, here are the details:
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013 from 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Location: The Art University of California, San Francisco10 UN Building, 1130 Market Street, San Francisco, 94192 CA
RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/First-Thursday-Silicon-Valley/events/124096522/
You’ll have to register within the Meetup group to attend, so make sure to do that and RSVP to attend. Not in the Bay Area or have a prior commitment  No problem! You can still join in on the action by participating in the Twitter Contest they’ll be hosting that night. To participate, send a Tweet to @MyRunwayapp answering the question “What Do You Want to See in a Fashion App?” and include the #SAPContest hashtag. At the end of the contest, Layla Sabourian and the panelists will select the best tweet based upon originality of the idea, buzz, and ease of implementation in a fashion app! More information can be found here. The winner will receive a Tory Burch bag or a signed copy of Naima Mora’s book “Model Behavior.” Don’t miss out on winning any of these awesome goodies.
Good luck with the contest and hopefully I’ll see you at the Panel Discussion this Thursday!
Also, let me know if you have used My Runaway and what your thoughts are of the app?
Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER | 

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Couture Sqd: Inside my Box

Posted on by Brandy Saldana

Outfit 1 here | Outfit 2 here | Outfit 3 here | Outfit 4 here
My last post concluded the outfit series from my rental box c/o Couture Sqd. 
I returned all my items on Friday and surprisingly I was not too sad after I left my package at the post office. Usually I am trying to give items another chance to prove that hey belongs in my wardrobe, but I was able to let go of these items pretty easily. I guess it must be because when I go shopping, I buy what I love and that makes the relationship with my clothes deep and complicated.
Having the items picked out for me, even if I did indicate my preferences, was like being set up on a blind date. Sure, your friend knows your type and wants what is best for you, but its not the same as discovering and falling in love with someone, or an piece of clothing, on your own. With all that being said, magic does/can happen on a blind date. 
I would say that the two tops from the Mixed Print option were not exactly my cup of tea, but I was able to create some amazing outfits because it forced me to think outside of the box – no pun intended. I really liked the two dresses from the Work Ready option. The orange and black color block dress had just enough class for work and an equal part of sass for a night out. It was also a dress that helped me venture into the world of exotic skins with its faux python skin belt. I tend to avoid this trend, but it looked great in this small amount. The little white Tahari dress was the crowning jewel of the box. Not just because it is by a classic designer, but also because of the shape and fit. It made me feel like a million bucks and would have made a great addition to my wardrobe. Unfortunately I don’t have the available closet space and I wasn’t completely in love with it.
Overall, my experience with Couture Sqd’s service was great. It was easy to sign-up and pick out the types of clothes I wanted to try out. The return process was really simple to because they provide the return shipping label and take care of the dry-cleaning. Along with my box came the price break down of each item. It would indicate if you were the first to be wearing an item and how much an item would cost at its discount price. So in the end, all you have to do is enjoy what comes your way and keep something if it really spoke to you. It’s a great way to experiment with trendy items and with no monthly subscription fee. You pay by the box, so rejoice fellow fashionistas – there is a way to always wear something different without breaking the bank!
I hope you enjoyed my outfit posts featuring items from Couture Sqd and my personal opinion of their service. If you order a box let me know! I’d love to see what’s inside your box and/or how you style the items. And of course, if you fall in love with something.
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER | 

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Rue Atelier Personal Shopping Trip

Posted on by Brandy Saldana

On Monday I experienced a personal shopping trip at Rue Atelier that I won through Boutique Stroll’s Instagram. Rue Atelier is located on 2981 College Ave in Berkeley and I was very excited to have won a shopping trip in a local boutique in the East Bay.

Upon entering the boutique, Armando and I were met with the lovely shop owner Barbara Dryden long with her adorable Frenchie, Gracie. Barbara was an amazing host: she had a bottle of Chardonnay and a box with two gourmet chocolate cupcakes purchased from Elmwood’s Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop a few doors down. I thought it was so fitting to have cupcakes and shopping combined in one afternoon. Two of my favorite things in one afternoon!
Cupcakes and chardonnay aside,  I could tell this Boutique fit my style. The store felt like a walk-in closet, decorated with pretty artwork, a cute rug, and a nice love seat occupied by Armando during the trip. The clothing was contemporary with brands like Nanette Lepore, Trina Turk, Milly, and Paige filling the racks. What is most special about the boutique is that all of the items selected by Barbara to be sold in the store are made in the US.  

Barbara is also a big supporter of local brands such as Quiet Clothing, and has recently rented out her upstairs floor to be a pop-up shop for Belle, curated by Polly Simmons. Next week there should be more items filling the second floor of the shop so I encourage any of you in the East Bay to check it out.

Now this post would not be complete I didn’t share photos of items I tried on or if I shared any of the items I bought. When I entered the boutique my eyes immediately sighted the pink, orange, and tan patterned dress by Trina Turk. I just had to try it on! That was a big mistake because I decided it had to come home with me. 

I thought I was done but then my eyes spotted a royal blue dress on the mannequin, which I also proceeded to trying on. I was stuck deciding between the two, but then I decided to just take both. One is perfect for a day at the office, and the other is perfect for date night. I had 30% off as part of my personal shopping trip prize package, so I treated myself to the 2 dresses and also bought a butterfly print scarf for my mom as another birthday gift for her. 

I had a blast shopping with Barbara and appreciated how we both felt similar about supporting local brands and designers. It is really easy to feel like some clothes are so expensive when compared to items from Forever 21 and H&M, but at the end of the day it feels good to support local, budding designers and designers still making their clothes in the US. It was nice to also be introduced to Rue Atelier, and I know I’ll be back to browse the scarf collection and the dresses Barbara selects to display in her store. I cannot wait to share outfit photos of the dresses I purchased in upcoming posts, so stay tuned.
A big thank you to Barbara for taking the time to talk and shop with me as well as Boutique Stroll for putting up this contest and selecting me! And as always, thank you to Armando for coming along with me on this shopping adventure and taking photos.
 If you are interested in shopping at this boutique, but live too far away and can’t make it to Berkeley, fear not! Just check out Rue Atelier on Boutique Stroll. You can have access to the best boutiques in the bay area right at your fingertips! Just be prepared to see a bunch of things you want from there. 
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER | 

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Bonobos and Le Tote Fit and Sip Shopping Party

Posted on by Brandy Saldana

On Thursday I attended a happy hour event in SF hosted by LE TOTE and Bonobos. I sipped champagne and mingled, while browsing the clothes and jewelry available in LE TOTE’s summer collection.   

Laptops were set up so guests could sign up and for LE TOTE after browsing the clothing available  in their service. I loved the items I saw at their pop up shop and signed up to try their service. I’ll be getting 3 garments and 2 accessories delivered to me to try out. If I love an item I can buy it, but I can always send things back when I am done to receive my next tote. The items I get are based on my style profile and items I specifically like on their website. Here is a sneak peek at their summer collection:

LE TOTE runs for $49 a month, which is not too bad of a deal after seeing all the gorgeous clothes and accessories. We had a discount available at the party for 20% off, so I ended up paying only $42. I am very excited for my first tote to arrive!
I normally don’t share anything regarding men’s fashion, but I thought I should share the dapper clothing provided by Bonobos. What is surprising about the store is that it doesn’t sell any of the clothing there. It is an online store that has physical locations for men to try on their clothing and have it delivered to them after ordering it. (Unfortunately Armando was working during this event so he couldn’t join me to try on the clothing from Bonobos.)  

And last but not least, there needs to be a shout out for the lovely flowers supplied by BloomThat at the event.

Aren’t the blooms lovely? Their flower delivery service is a great alternative than other delivery services in SF because they source local florists/flowers and deliver in the city in under 90 minutes. This is the second event I’ve seen their work at, and I definitely recommend them!
This concludes my Thursday night in SF! Hope you liked the photos and let me know if you’ve tried any other clothing rental services before. I am excited to be trying out LE TOTE after seeing and feeling their items and sharing them on my blog! Be prepared for an overload of outfit posts and a cupcake post later this week. 
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER | 

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