Archive for December, 2007

Yummy mummies…they are those fabulously chic moms (or moms-to-be) who not only care about giving the best to their babies, but also take pride in looking sophisticated themselves. (Think Becky Bloomwood.) We bet you have at least one in your life – so gift them with something that will keep her and baby in style:

ONE. We all know that moms have a million things to carry around – from bottles to toys – but also want to look fashion-conscious. The Olivia Nylon Bag by Gryson ($765) is an edgy, gorgeous bag that will hold everything she needs for everyday. Piped in contrasting Italian leather, the inside of the Olivia Nylon Bag features adjustable shoulder straps, double top handles, silver hardware, suede interior and plenty of pockets She will look impeccable chic, yet practical…just like a yummy mummy should. Bonus: Use code “cardio” to get 20% off through Active Endeavors.

TWO. Hot mamas must have the most fashionable storybooks – and naturally, one written by the Kym Canter, the creative director of J. Mendel, would qualify. Masquerading as children’s fiction, Star Von Bunny: A Model Tale is the sassy, smart and stylish tale of a white stuffed bunny who aims to more than a bed ornament – and instead, is determined to be a “model/actress/whatever.” Now that she’s made it to the top, she’s sharing her secrets with you. Look for cameos from famous celebs including Carine Roitfield, Gemma Ward and Jonathan Antin – just to name a few. We’re kind of obsessed with the adorable SVB and her vogue adventures. To purchase for $19.95, visit amazon.com. (more…)

I have something rather shameful to confess: I don’t take very good care of my shoes. It’s sad, really, but I just carelessly toss them around and I don’t even have a bag to carry them in when I travel or go to work. Lately I’ve just been trudging around the Chicago snow in my boots, so I shove my pumps directly into my LV Speedy bag without a second thought.

You must be cringing at this point, but not to worry. I’ve finally found an easy–and stylish–solution! Shubi is a line of super cute shoe bags that you can use to tote your shoes when you travel, whether you’re going to another country or going to work or the gym. You can finally say goodbye to using unsightly plastic bags or ruining your bag’s lining. Shubis are made of cotton, fully lined, and machine washable. They close with a grosgrain ribbon and come in a variety of gorgeous prints.

A 1-piece Shubi is $29 and a 2-piece, for those who don’t like their shoes to touch, is $38. Take a step towards taking better care of your shoes and check out all the cute Shubi prints at shubilove.com.

For the ultimate fashionista, the key to finding the perfect present is to find an item that is unique, luxurious and trendsetting. We found a handful of gifts that will be worthy of the stylish lady in your life:

ONE. Treat a lucky friend (or yourself!) to a piece of handbag candy, specifically the Rachael bag ($650) by LA-based designer, Onna Ehrlich. This roomy bag is her twist on the hobo. Featuring two hand-stitched straps (one is removable), “the main compartment folds over to reveal a zipper closure with an elegant zipper tassel.” The leather is so buttery soft that you will crave to touch it all day long. On her shoulder, this divine bag will instantly transform a simple outfit, like a cashmere tee and jeans, into a fabulous outfit! Bonus: You’ll be staying ahead of the trend, since Cameron Diaz will be carrying this in her upcoming film called What Happens in Vegas; get it before it’s sold out this spring. (One of our editors already owns it and is obsessed.)

TWO. For the fashion diva who really does have everything (or if not a single one of our fabulous ideas is right for your fashion-forward friend), we love the idea of booking her some time with a personal shopping consultant. If she’s in the San Francisco area, you can book her some in-person time with our very own ShoppingsMyCardio for as little as $100. She’ll let your friend in on some of the amazing hidden shopping gems in the city by the bay — all custom tailored to her tastes (trust us, it’s a tour well worth taking!). Outside the Bay Area, ShoppingsMyCardio can still help with wardrobe revamps, specific style conundrums or just take advantage of her knack for shopping off the beaten path by having her find that perfect gift for your most impossible-to-buy-for friend. To enlist her skills or to pick up a gift certificate, drop a line to shoppingsmycardio@gmail.com. (more…)

Long-term obsessions are actually quite rare, but the jewelry by Katharine Sise has remained close to our hearts since we discovered her gorgeous line. This week, she’s generously giving away one of her brand new designs (it’s not even available in stores yet!) to ONE incredibly lucky reader. Valued at $195, the Meghan necklace is comprised of two delicate interwoven gold circles, all hung on a 14K gold-filled chain. Now, wouldn’t that look just lovely around your neck? We think so! Well, you might be lucky enough to be wearing in a couple weeks…just by following the instructions below!

TO ENTER:

• Simply make any comment on this post
• Make sure to include your name & email
• Anonymous posts will not be counted since we won’t be able to identify you
• One entry per person
• Must have a U.S. shipping address
• The winners will be chosen at random
• You have until Friday, December 21 at midnight (PST) to enter
• Come back on Saturday, December 22 to find out if you’re the winner!

Happy holidays!
The Daily Obsession Editors

A big thank you to the wonderful Katharine Sise – we adore you!

As a follow up to our earlier How To, I put together a guide for the absolute best notes on which to pen your gratitude. I’ve scoured the web, asked for recommendations from friends and family – and yes, I actually looked at pieces from each stationer before writing this guide up. The result? Too many to fit into just one post! So I broke them up into 2 sections. Below is Part 1, which focuses on more classic choices:

Dauphine Press: If you want vintage elegant and understated modernity, Dauphine Press is my recommendation for you. Founded by graphic designer Trish Kinsella (her impressive client list includes Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Gap, among others), Dauphine Press is “committed to preserving the rich legacy of the printing trade through the resurrection of artisan techniques and heritage craftsmanship that might otherwise be lost in time.” One of my favorites is the aqua “Damask” thank you notes ($18), where the oversized damask print is letterpressed onto 100% cotton paper (medium weight). The “Flourish” notes are equally impressive; the peony red print with the pear green envelope is unexpectedly cool. I also love how the print looks almost handwoven or etched. Visit www.dauphinepress.com for more information. (more…)

For the girl who’s always after the latest and greatest beauty looks, Therapy Systems has put together a couple of amazing gift sets that are perfect for the holidays. I got a chance to check out the Essential Clutch ($210) – a gorgeous woven leather clutch bag that comes packed with a gorgeous loose shimmer powder, a cream gel eyeliner, brushes for both, lipgloss, and their fabulous coffee cherry face serum.

The shimmer powder is fantastic; it gives just the right amount of sparkle, without getting into “glitter” territory. And I have a chronic phobia of eyeliner, but even I loved the gel liner from Therapy Systems. It went on flawlessly, stayed put, and I was able to control the amount that went on much better than conventional liners. If you have a true beauty diva on your list, or just someone that’s been complaining that their look could use an update, this is sure to be a hit!

We must be handbag hungry (and fixated on patent leather, apparently) over here at TDO, as we can’t stop posting about them! Next up on our list is the Emma Clutch by Tucker Paisley. Based in Los Angeles, Tucker Paisley “hails a return to clean lines, rich colors, chic patterns, and exquisite finishing.” Spotted around town in the hands of Hayden Panettiere, this patent leather envelope clutch is the ticket to simple style. The envelope flap has gentle curved edges that slightly jut out from the rest of the bag, which gives it some distinction. The flap is lined with luxurious suede, while the rest of the interior features the company’s signature paisley pattern. You’ll be able to tote this around all year-long, as it’s very versatile and elegant. Available for $215 at tuckerpaisley.com.

Athena was best known as the goddess of war and wisdom, but did you know that she was also a patroness of weaving? Thus, this cuff by Gorjana is aptly named after her. The 2″ wide cuff is braided delicately, but makes a bold statement. It would be easy to add this to any outfit, for just the perfect amount of oomph. But I bet it’s hard not to whip out that credit card and buy it asap (available in 14K gold vermeil or sterling silver at www.gorjana.com). Isn’t it?

Our buddies over at Clinique tipped us off to a fabulous event going on today only at Clinique counters nationwide:Â “Happy Day.” Today only, hit up the Clinique counter near you and get free gift-wrapping (for everything, even non-Clinique gifts), free concierge service to help carry packages to your car, and free lollipops to keep your energy up while you shop! Clinique will also be donating a percentage of sales from Happy Day to Big Brothers Big Sisters, so you can feel even “happier” about your holiday shopping.

Head on over to your friendly neighborhood Clinique counter today, check out their fabulous holiday goods (we love the limited edition travel size perfume at right, which comes with that darling orange denim pouch!), and let them take some of your holiday stress away…now that’s something that would make me happy!

We find ourselves saying this to the men in our life every season: “You are so difficult to shop for!” While putting together this guide, we researched for many hours and ultimately, nixed too many products to name. But it was totally worth it because we finally came up with 6 gifts that your guy will totally love:

ONE. Most boys we know love their toys – and that definitely includes video games. This season, Rock Band, which was just released last month, is the latest craze. Taking Guitar Hero up a notch, this game lets you play lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals to form the ultimate rock band. He and his buddies will have hours of endless fun. For the holidays, we suggesting getting your guy the special edition ($169). It’s sold out on the official website (and quite a few others) already, but don’t worry…we tracked it down for you at Gamestop.

TWO. For the golf aficionado, the following gift will fulfill one of his ultimate fantasies. Send him to the Titleist Performance Institute (various packages available, prices begin at $5,000), which is an experience worthy of Tiger Woods. Titleist will provide him with a complete assessment of his game, which includes everything from expert analysis of their swing technique to a custom club fitting. His dream of joining the PGA tour will be one huge step closer. (more…)