Our Customer of the Week Akiva looking AMAZING red Marchesa Notte.

Well, my friends, life just got a bit easier in the paying for parking world in Oakland.  It’s 2012 and you can now do all  this with a simple App!  That’s right,  download a free app on your phone and paying for parking is now a breeze.

You will now notice the lime green signs attached to all the parking pay stations that instruct you how this is done.  Register your car (and any others you want) and credit card at http://us.parkmobile.com/, or call 1-877-727-5718. You can also just download the green parkmobile app and register on it.   If you are tall enough, there is also a QR on the sign you can access.  No shortage of ways to succeed at this, for sure.

Now when you come to visit us, or any other fine establishment in Oakland you click on your app, note which zone you are in, select how much time you want and you’re done. It really is that easy.  No more running out to your car in the middle of an appointment or lunch to buy more time.  You can do it all from your phone.

I don’t know about you, but this has really made my day.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I just discovered there is a 35 cent transaction fee).

A change in season always seems to bring about new fashion trends so why should this season be any different?  What I like about one of the trends, color blocking, is that you can put it together from things you already own.  Color blocking isn’t exactly new, but it is making a real statement now.  It  means just what it sounds like, putting together two or more (don’t do more than three) bold colors in your outfit.  It is your time to shine and be as creative as you’d like.  If you’ve always wanted to put that pink top  with that red sweater, go for it.  If you don’t want to mix and match your clothes, how about accessories?  Spruce up that neutral outfit with bold shoes and purse and/or a scarf.  Dare you make your eye shadow contrast with your top?  The possibilities are endless.  Try putting together 1 bold, 1 neon and 1 neutral.  The color wheel on top can be used as a guide.  Colors opposite one another tend to compliment each other; choose colors next to each other for a bit more of a harmonious look.  Another little trick is to draw a triangle between colors and chances are two of the three colors you touch will work well together. Keep the colors solid and use your imagination!  Wear the trend, don’t let it wear you.

Another trend is mixing prints and plaids.  Once again you can use items already in your closet to pull this off and it allows you to look at your wardrobe in a whole new light.  There are so many rules out there for mixing and matching that they practically cancel  each other out, making for “anything goes!”  Here are a few rules  beginners ought to stick with.  Try and keep the base color in both prints in the same family.  By the way, animal prints can act as a neutral and if one of your patterns is in a more neutral color the other can be more  bold.  Don’t mix similar type patterns, for example trying to mix polka dots with polka dots may put your more in the sad clown category.  The smaller the pattern the easier it is to mix, but do try and vary the scale to add interest.  What I like about this trend is the varied possibilities of mixing black and whites, two colors I seem to have in ample supply.

One more way to keep your look current – nail polish.  Those dark winter colors should be giving way to a lighter look.  Although a classic red never seems to go out of  style, with all the bold colors and neons out there, try balancing with a quieter nail.  If you’re tired of the basic french manicure, try a reverse french.  There are a number of beige, honey, milky whites out there to choose from and a light pink seems to go with  a lot too.

Let us know which trends and colors work best for you.

Welcome  to Spring.  This means that summer is not far away!!

From the Italian design company Acquacalda we introduce: Pic Nic Pants – part jeans, part drop crotch/genie pant designed to spread out when seated.

Seriously.

I’m not joking.

Acquacalda’s website describes the vision behind the pants:  “Pic Nic pants take advantage of the usual cross-legged position to become a comfortable surface useful for the consumption of a meal outdoors. Laterally pants have an orientable pocket for drinks.”

Yes, a pair of pants with a built in place mat.

Wow.

My least favorite type of underwear is available in multiple styles, colors and fabrics.  Maybe my dislike came from the first one my mother ever purchased for me:  Littlest Angel, “Grows as you Grow.”  Sound unattractive?  It was, and there began my dislike of an undergarment that really does make clothes look and fit better.  I’m talking about … the bra.

Strapless, push-up, halter, racer-back, backless, full-figured, training and of course even maternity bras are all out there just waiting for the right outfit.  Got a thin t-shirt?  There is a seamless bra just waiting for you.  One shoulder dresses benefit from the convertible type and athletic women know there are a myriad of sports bras on the market.

But alas there are some of us out there who are still a bit challenged (trust us we see ALOT of bad bras) so here are a couple of suggestions:

1.   Fit is key.  Did you know 70% of women are possibly wearing the wrong size bra?  That is a huge number!  If you’ve been wearing the same bra longer than you can remember, it is time to be refit. If it rises in the back?  Could be too big.  If you have a lot of bulges and a uni-boob in front? Too small.  If the hooks in back are down to one and the underwire’s popping out – RUN to the mall:  It’s time to buy a new bra!

There are multiple websites and videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4pdBzIWH6c  with instructions on how to measure yourself for the correct fit but any good lingerie department or store can do it for you and if it’s been awhile going to a store is probably a good idea.  A few measurements in the right places can make all the difference between perky and southbound.

2.  No bra for you?  Adhesive  bras for the strapless and/or backless dress are available and they do work for some, but not necessarily the most secure feeling in the world.  Some well constructed camisoles are a possibility as well.

3.  Bras-R-Us:  I suspect something a little more practical, but still nice looking is more up your alley.  So there are several options:

• You can buy one bra called a convertible (pictured at the top) that works well with many tops by simply re-hooking the straps in different positions.
• A demi-cup, whether purchased with extra padding to give you more “lift” or not,  can be very flattering and work with a variety of low styled tops.
• If a minimizer, (which does exactly what it says minimizes larger chests) is what you are looking for, once again there are many manufacturers offering differing price points.  Personally I’m a fan of Wacoal (Thanks Oprah!)

Gisele Bundchen modeled one that was worth 15 million dollars!  It was made up of over 1300 precious jewels.   That and Tom Brady too!

You name the body part and  there is an undergarment to lift it, smooth it, hide it, reduce it or otherwise alter its original form.  Arm- shapers, waist nippers, body briefs and even special maternity attire is available from  every lingerie maker out there.  Maternity?  Really?  Shouldn’t that be the one time women get a pass on this restrictive wear?  Guess not.

Seriously though,  there isn’t one among us whose clothes don’t look better with proper underwear.  The phrase, “A house is as good as its foundation,” applies to fashion as well.  These aren’t your mother’s girdles anymore.  Although they may perform similar tricks the construction and comfort are totally different.         

For as many different types of undergarments there are, there are even more manufacturers. Bethenny Frankel, entrepreneur, former Real Housewife of New York and maker of all things slimming and healthy has a line of ”smoothers and shapers”, not surprisingly called Skinnygirl  .  Dr. Rey, a media saavy Beverly Hills plastic surgeon , specializing in breast augmentations also has a complete line.  The one that has become synonomous with slimming,  especially after Oprah gave them a mention is Spanx.  Sara Blakely, now a self-made billionaires ( with a “b”) came up with the idea after putting on control top panty hose and cutting the feet off.  Why didn’t I think of that?

“I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”

-Yves Saint Laurent

Hey Everyone!   Irina (DRESS’s Faaabbbbbuuullllouuuss CCA Intern) needs our help!  Her work has been entered as part of ArtLA’s “Student Artist of the Year” competition and she needs your votes!  It’s super easy, you don’t have to register to vote just click ArtLa and vote for Irina’s amazing piece called “Demoiselle”.

Thanks!!!!