Shop for Yourself cont'd
Gaiam - Information, products and services that could be categorized as 'green'; sustainability, environmental economies are behind the approach to the products. Categories include air quality, allergy, bath, bedding, cleaning, clothing, home improvement, health, home decor, kitchen, laundry, lighting, pest control, solar, water filters and Seventh Generation.
Key West ® Tropical Cruisewear and Resortwear Fashions - We've been to this shop and you couldn't wish for more comfortable, colorful and roomy fashions. The sizes are forgiving, the material classic Key West and the variations of styles generous. Wrap skorts and capris are plentiful as well as a selection of men's outfits. The only problem with the site is the difficulty in making a choice between all that is available.
See Kiitosmarimekko
Kitty Girl Vintage - Fun to see what now is considered vintage and what you may be overlooking in your own closet and drawers. Instead of letting a granddaughter add items to her dress-up drawer, you could consider picking up some spare dollars. At present, Kitty has the late glamorous Suzy Parker on her home page. The 'Bamboo Room' includes swimwear, play clothes, resort wear, vintage Hawaiian clothing/sarong dresses in its stock while the rest of the site is self-explanatory with sections for 1910-1930s, 1940's-1970's, outerwear, suits and separates, purses and accessories, shoes, celluloid, Bakelite jewelry and lingerie.
La Loop - I've been wearing 'leashes' for years to locate my sunglasses, to the point that a birthday gift from my middle daughter was a leash she found in the Southwest with western jewelry touches. The La Loop approach will be my next step as they're a little more dressy than my last step-up, a tortoise shell version. This uses silver and gold vermeil chains, crystal, pearl or semiprecious stone chains...all very attractive and practical.
Magellan's - Concentrating on travel supplies and clothing for men and women, the company specializes in those items big (lots of luggage selections) and small (all-in-one tools and a hand powered generator to recharge your cell phone) that you can find invaluable while on a trip. We've used the nylon and mess bags to separate items in a visible way, all the better to pluck them out without having to go through the whole bag, especially the ones for shirts, sweaters and blouses.
Nordstrom - Known for its customer service, the site is easy to navigate and is well-organized. Included is information regarding yearly sales dates: extremely helpful especially to someone who has primarily shopped sales for a family with three daughters; one rather surprising category is a bibliography of books featuring Nordstrom as well as details on returning goods.
Paradise City Festivals Exhibitor Links - This is a series of craft shows run by artists Linda and Geoffrey Post in Massachusetts and at a new location this year in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We're particularly fond of a number of artists who exhibit each year at this gathering.
Patagonia - Clothing for a variety of activities with a focus on function, durability and innovation. I still have tights purchased in the '70s from Patagonia, and we've ordered babies' overalls which are wonderfully colorful, light and strong--satisfying products for active adults and children.
Powells - The Portland, Oregon used and new book seller considered the country's largest bookstore with more than 1.5 million books accessible. To reduce the risk of multiple calls on a single title, the site is updated every night. If two people order the same copy before Powell's has had a chance to remove the title from the database the customer whose order was placed first receives the book.
RealGoods Online - An environmentally-friendly corporation who presents a collection of products centering on reduced power consumption, cleaner water and air combined with text that is informative and safety-related.
Luisa Cevese Reidizioni - A collection of totes, traveling bags, wallets, aprons, flat cushions, place and floor mats, all made with an innovative material which combines textile scraps with plastic. Colorful, stylish, practical and a marvelous way to use leftover materials.
Saks Fifth Avenue - For over twenty-five years I shopped the New York City store for myself, three daughters, a grandchild and a husband, just down the block from my place of work. Invariably, the service was excellent, the selection wide and the sales spectacular. This site reflects that quality and it's easy to navigate. The items are photographed with more than adequate lighting so you can actually see the items with ease, something that is lacking on many other sites. The price range is from the reasonable to the extremely expensive.
SallyJones - A collection of scarves and accessories by a very talented graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. "Sally uses a process similar to Japanese process of stencil and paste-resist dyeing. First, the silk cloth is suspended with harite stretcher bars, made taut with shinshi sticks, and then hand painted either with solid or multi-color dyes. Next, after drying the fabric is steamed, washed, and pinned to a padded table for printing. Patterns are then screen-printed in sections down the length of the cloth."
The site doesn't have a shopping basket but you can contact the Oneonta, NY based workshop.
16 Hands Gallery - A gallery we've visited in Ann Arbor, MI that has a variety of items for gifts, home and family. Currently, there's a display of jeweler Karen Krieger's Garden Gate series. Other categories include furniture and lighting featuring the lamps of Jana Ungone; kitchen objects including the Tin Woodsman pewter measuring cups and spoons; benches, bells, arches, plant pylons and other decorative objects for the garden; wall art and mirrors.
The Selo/Shevel Gallery - A gallery that carries many American craft items in categories that cover the shopping spectrum: glass, cermaics, jewelry, imports, woodcraft, Judaica, metaworks and textiles. From a string Swedish door harp with inlaid mixed woods to Randall Darwell scarves, a Loredana frog and lily pad silk bag and peacock feather luncheon plates, the selections are excellent and the prices appropriate for the skill and level of these objects.
Silverprince - This is a combined site of four jewelry firms: Silverprince, Akteo, Boccia and TenNo. TeNo has an original approach to its jewelry: it's made of stainless steel ( free of nickel) combined with diamonds, 18 ct. gold, ceramic inlays or rubber. Boccia, on the other hand, is jewelry made from titanium, mainly watches, in different styles. Their earrings are sleek and extremely good looking. The Atkeo thematic watch site does warn about shortages of their stock from France but they're good-looking enough to warrant an email checking availability. Silverprince is actually a misnomer; they also manufacture jewelry in gold.
Smartworks.com - English fiber artist Sonja Mackintosh attended the Rhode Island School of Design for a B.A. in textiles. Her company, smARTWORKS produces beautifully constructed scarves and hats. Knitting machines and a range of hand crochet techniques are used on fabrics ranging from lightweight lacy cotton, silk, or rayon pieces to textured marino wool or cashmere felted constructions. We met Sonja at a Westport, Ct craft fair and had trouble keeping the purchase to two scarves... a wreath and small boa.
KateSpade - A familiar name that began with a line of handbags, this designer has now branched out to accessories and furnishings for the home. Bed linen sets, vases, bath, tabletop, you name it. She has also included the sunglass field with some fun designs, stationery (pads for the Dear Babysitter), a beauty line and, of course, shoes. The Jack Spade line includes men's accessories as well.
Spiegel Catalog Online - The well-known retailer has expanded beyond catalogs to online. Admirable quality and eclectic selections. Covers the gamut of retailing wishes and demands.
Studio-Z - Letterheads, business cards, stationery, wedding and other types of occasion invitations, most with a 30s cast to the styling that reminds one of a Peter Wimpolish/Miss Marple era. You can also specify handmade paper, if you wish, or even have logo designed.
Style.com - Yes, I know the items are expensive but there are times when you want to see what the competition is...that is, the competition for your dollar. If you don't want to pay these prices, at least know you what the originals look like when you go for the less expensive version. Searchable by designer name, category and trend. This is the site we've mentioned before for it's gossipy forums so if you're not in the mood to buy, you can dish instead!
StyleIsland - We found this England-based site by looking for Cressida Bell's accessories and items for the home which we had seen at the Charleston Trust Shop. Products for the garden (I'm particularly fond of the Carrier Company's classic Norfolk smock, long apron and waterproof jerkin myself). We were taken by Bell's lampshades (the lamps themselves would need modification for US' voltage requirements) as well as her scarves, cushions and shawls. Alice Asquith's lounge and sportswear appear comfortable as well as colorfully stylish.
Swarovski - Probably one of the most recognized names in jewelry (Bohemia, 1892, part of the Austro-Hungarian empire), whether it's their own brand or as a component of someone else's creations, be it jewelry, home accessories, ornaments, 'silver crystal theme groups' or sewn to clothing. What I like is that the sparkle can be so reasonable! I clipped an ad months ago that featured Swarovski bracelets for $28. I can't locate them on the site but I bet they still make them.
Swim-n-Sport.com - Shopping online for that most difficult of all items, the bathing suit, becomes possible at this site. Take a look at the one piece selection with a variety of body types modeling suits and you'll see what we mean (there is a separate section on plus sizes). This site is geared towards women, in spite of menu options that appear equal for men and a kid's range only available at their stores. Bricks and mortar stores are in 11 states and a magazine of sorts is at the site. Wraps and coverups are available (we favor pareos or sarongs that are much more versatile than structured pieces). Accessories are adequate though the shoe selection could have been more generous.
Tinsel Trading - "A long time ago on the small island known as Manhattan there was a man who was attracted to shiny and bright, gold and silver threads,who grew up to own the most extraordinary inventory from all over the world, having never traveled outside the USA" Read this site's About Us section for the rest of the firm's biography.
Tinsel Trading's sampling (a Webalog) of vintage trims including appliqués and ornaments, cords, flowers and leaves, fringes, metallic thread, contemporary passementerie, ribbons, stamping and sequins, This is the kind of appealing site that the Web is made for...no traveling, good images, and items that, in some cases, you don't need but can't resist. My weakness is the faux flowers that remind me of my aunt's millinery shop. Ordering online isn't an option as yet.
Tip Top Shoes - An ad tipped us (sorry about the pun) to this site and we ordered a pair of Icon shoes. The store/site carries brands well know for comfort. They may not all be sexy and encourage your neighborhood fetishist to ogle, but comfort is better. Mephisto, Birkenstock, Aero, Paul Green, Naot, Haflinger, Dansko, Arcopedico ... brands well known and some new to your ears.
Valerie Mitchell - Simple but beautifully wrought jewelry using 18k gold, silver, copper and cement. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings re made through either production work or as one-of-a-kind pieces. The pedants and brooches are organic in look and based on flora and fauna forms (seed pods, leaves, flowers).
Vintage Vixen - Vintage Clothing site with a full inventory, well - organized by sizes and categories, with comprehensive detail as to the condition of the item and a section detailing fashion history through the decades. There's even an internal search engine. If you love vintage clothing, this site is a treat. Prices seem in a reasonable range and obviously, the owners are fully acquainted with their stock.
Vintageous - We haven't listed a vintage clothing site for a while but this one seems well worth the addition. The categories include: Formal & Cocktail Dresses, Dresses & Suits, Skirts, Pants & Shorts, Sweaters & Blouses, Outerwear, Lingerie. I must admit that every time I see vintage clothing I mourn for all those outfits I gave away that are probably now inventory for some vintage source. And where else would I read about Orlon? Sweaters covered in rhinestones and faux pearls, a 'Swinging Gingham 1950's Bombshell Dress,' a Suzy Perette dress .... sigh.
