style knack

Cheers to Great Style

2009-10-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to post some street style photo's for a while now. After I downed a few drinks last Friday at Cheers St. Helena, I finally got up the nerve to ask a few ladies if I could photograph them for my fashion blog. I got such a great response that I might do this again!

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1) I am wearing a top from Target, a second hand sweater, Nine West shoes & an H & M necklas

2) Katie wears a mostly thrift store outfit.

3) Meghan wears a dress from Target and funky tights.

4) Patty (my mom) wears a cute top and leopard print flats from Target.

5) Karen wears a gorgeous necklas and second hand pants & shoes.

6) Tiara wears second hand dress and boots. Her friend looks pretty sharp too!

I had not intended for there to be a theme among these ladies styles, but it just so happens that all clothes and accessories were either second hand or from Target. It just goes to prove that great style does not need to cost an arm and a leg.

Kohl's Comes to Napa

2009-10-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

After much local anticipation, Kohl's has finally opened up in Napa. The grand opening took place on Sept. 30 in the old Mervyn's building in downtown Napa. After a local reporter (doing his own story on Kohl's) offered to take my picture in front of Kohl's, I got to work giving myself the grand tour.

Walking into the main entrance of the store and looking from left to right you will see the Juniors department, make-up and jewelry, handbags, the Misses department, and about 6 cash wraps (registers). Walking around the store, there are numerous other non-clothing departments to investigate including home appliances, cookware, cards and gift bags, and home decor.

There is a large men's department that includes both casual and dress attire including some good looking suits. There are also large junior and misses departments. The misses department included clothing lines from Vera Wang, Elle and Dana Buchman. I had to restrain myself (I am still unemployed) from purchasing a delicious, blue Vera Wang dress. Huge bummer.

Other departments include a large shoe department, boys and girls departments, a toddler/infant department and small Woman's and Petite departments. I did purchase a very cute shirt/sweater combo in the Petite department for my mothers birthday this month.

All in all I really like this Kohl's store. It is especially nice that it is right down town. Right now there are 40% to 50% discounts in most departments. Did you get your $10 off gift card in the mail? I did and I used it yesterday to buy my mothers gift. I hope you can get there to check it out for yourself.

In the above picture I am wearing a vintage inspired V-neck shirt from Target (yeah for sales!) and dark wash jeans from the Gap.

Bargain Shopping in Walnut Creek

2009-10-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Located only 30 minutes from Napa, Walnut Creek is a shopping mecca. Think you have to drive all the way to San Francisco for great shopping? You do not. Walnut Creek is easy to get to and is more easy-going and quiet than SF. WC has everything from Nordstroms, Tiffany's, and William Sonoma to some of the best second hand shopping in the bay area. I will focus on down town North Main Street for this blog.
There are 3 main bargin stores located just blocks from each other on North Main Street: Main Street Rags, Labels, and My Roommates Closet.

Main Street Rags is a women's consignment store that buys and sells gently used clothing and accessories of current style and season. All of the merchandise is of great quality and sells for about 1/3 of the original price. I saw merchandise of brand names such as Juicy Couture and Theory to every day store brands like Bannana Republic, Macy's INC, and AnnTaylor. All items are well merchandised by size, color and item catagory (just the way I organize my closet). I found way too many dresses, tops, and jackets that I need/want. This is a fantastic second hand store with friendly staff that I frequent (along with Labels and H & M) when I am in Walnut Creek.
Labels is located just accross the street from Main Street Rags. It is a luxury consignment store that buys and sells current style and season designer labels and trend apparel. They offer a 50/50 split consignment for those items that they will accept. Merchandise is organized by designer at the front of the store. Toward the back of the store is a small vintage section and the remaining area is for brand name and trend items. I found a great Bannana Republic dress on a sale rack for just $10! This is a great store if you love designer labels but just don't have the budget for the new stuff. Labels also has a great selection of designer hand bags and other accessories. Helpful staff.
My Roommate's Closet is not a second hand store but is a boutique outlet. Every item in this beautiful store is brand spanking new and at least 50% off. I saw a gorgeous designer dress that was originally $300 for $120. This store is merchandised like a small, city boutique...just gorgeous and very pleasant to navigate. Visit this store (also located in San Francisco) if you need a special event outfit at a discount price.
I hope you can get to Walnut Creek sometime soon. If you need help with your shopping or need to discover what clothing is best for your body type before a shopping trip...contact me and I will make sure that all your future shopping trips are cost and time effective.
Take the North Main Street exit off of highway 680. Proceed to downtown. The best place to park is in the garage next to Nordstrom's or Macy's. Have fun!

I like Christina Aguilera

2009-08-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Neil and I are perusing the downtown Napa car show a few weeks ago. As a style consultant I always notice what people are wearing, whether good or bad. The sad truth is it's usually bad. Now, I usually look at what someone is wearing and say to myself, wow, if only they had on the right size shirt, had a good haircut, realized it's not 1985 anymore, or whatever. But sometimes....there are just no words. This guy in the picture, for example created horrified gasps then disbelief and finally laughter between Neil and I at the, um, shall we say creativeness of his attire. I'll take this opportunity to beg everyone out there to not wear crocs out in public. Now I realize that this might be the least interesting part of this mans ensemble, however crocs are quite often worn in public by many an avid gardener who just cannot seem to change shoes when they go out. I assume these folks are gardeners...after all, crocs were created to be worn in the garden (easy to clean and slip on and off). Anyway, I realize that an items intended purpose often goes off track (I have seen pajama bottoms and a T-shirt worn out and about) so I am telling you, begging you to wear sneakers or flip flops or something besides crocs. You really want to look like a duck? Then by all means, go ahead and wear crocs.

Anyway, back to the subject of this blog. No body would have believed it....crocs, biker shorts, a fanny pack (ugh) and an over sized T-shirt tucked into the skin tight biker shorts (how did he even manage that?) with the words "I like Christina Aguilera" written on the back. Nough said.