styled.seattle

Seattle Shopper blog

2008-04-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that Styled.Seattle blog will, for the most part, be moving over to a new home at the Seattle PI. Starting next week, I will write the Seattle Shopper blog, featuring shopping tips, fashion advice, and spotlights on my favorite stores. Because there are only so many hours in the day, the new blog will get most of my attention (I have grand plans to update it almost daily). However, I will continue to post outfit ideas here on a weekly basis. Please add Seattle Shopper to your feeds, and wish me luck!

Thanks,
Darcy

urban jungle

2008-03-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm ALWAYS weary of thematic trends. Nautical, for example, generally feels very costumey to me (probably because I'm not a boat person, so I feel like a poser).

I admit, I was hesitant to explore the whole Safari thing. On the surface it seems harmless enough: a little khaki never hurt anyone, and I DO adore leopard print (who doesn't?)...still, I questioned, "will I look chic? or will I look like Indiana Jones' crazy sister?"

I didn't become a true convert until I had to adapt a Safari look for a recent episode of NWA. I had more than a little help from my lovely friends at Marios; we built a sophisticated look around the sleekest, splurge-worthy Dolce & Gabbana leopard print jacket ever. The result was gorgeous and slightly edgy. So perfect.

Now I'm sold, and I urge everyone to explore Safari. Here are some tips to help you venture safely:
Tip 1: only one animal per outfit. Think of it this way: if a leopard encountered a zebra in the wild, the result would be pretty gruesome and ugly. That translates to fashion!
Tip 2: Pair your bold pieces with sleek basics. For NWA, we paired the Dolce coat with classic black pants, simple black heels and a crisp white shirt.
Tip 3: Don't forget to add color! A pop of bright turquoise or red (think shoes, jewelry or bags) will make your outfit come alive.

I created some looks here to get you started: Safari for casual weekend, professional work attire, and glam cocktail! Enjoy!

biker chic

2008-03-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

I found the fiercest leather jacket in the world.

I've been envisioning this exact jacket for about a year and a half: cropped black biker jacket, with a side zip and a wide collar. Yummy leather. Chic as opposed to punk (because, really, who am I kidding trying to look punk?).

I was prepared to shell out a pretty penny, if and when this mythical jacket appeared in my life. I've been dutifully combing the inventory at Mario's, Barney's and Nordstrom (as well as my favorite consignment stores and vintage hot spots), and I had all but given up hope until I found it last month! My dream jacket! Hanging on a wall at Nordstrom TBD. The fit was perfect, and the price was even better ($298. For leather!).

I've been proudly sporting this jacket around town. I even wore it on NWA (even though it was about 87 degrees in the studio that day). And, I'm not kidding, every time I wear it, at least 2 people come up to me and say, "I've been looking for a jacket like that for years! Where did you get it?"

I'll tell you: you can get it at Nordstrom.com. And--GUESS WHAT--it's even on sale now for $177.90. Rock on.

how to tie a neck scarf

2008-03-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

Long scarves are my favorite Spring Transition fashion accessories. They add interest, color, and texture to almost every outfit. And even the cheap ones look great. I love a light, gauzy scarf worn with a structured blazer or a drapey sweater. And who can resist the perfect contrast of a delicate scarf over an edgier piece, like a fierce leather jacket? Divine.

Thanks to some great deals at Old Navy, Urban Outfitters and J.Crew, my scarf collection grew substantially this weekend, and I can't wait to find more creative ways to integrate pattern and bright colors into my closet.

If you've been avoiding scarves because you simply don't know how to wear them, fear not! There's no single "right way" to tie a scarf, but there is one simple technique that always works. Lloyd Boston recently showed Oprah: click here to watch.

MAR10 spells MARIO'S

2008-02-26T17:04:00.000-08:00

Mario's helps you save the world, one Manolo at a time.

"MAR10 spells MARIO'S," a 10 day shopping event to benefit The Coyote Central Foundation in Seattle, kicks off this Saturday.

Here's the scoop (all proceeds from these activities benefit the charity):

Beginning this Saturday, March 1, everyone who spends $200 or more receives 10% back in the form of a Mario's gift card, valid only on March 10.
Also on March 10, customers will get to spin the Mario's prize roulette wheel to win merchandise from Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani Collezioni and more. Every spin is a win, and Mario's is giving away over $50,000 in prizes.
Customers will receive a special "Mar 10 spells Mario's" t-shirt when they make a donation to the Coyote Central Foundation, a cool org. that provides mentorship and "creative learning opportunities" to junior high-schoolers.

So, when you buy that pair of shoes that cost more than a month's rent, you can self-soothe by repeating this line to yourself: "it's for the children, it's for the children."

top of the food chain

2008-02-22T17:17:00.000-08:00

In the harsh world of retail, shoppers can be divided into two categories: Gatherers and Hunters.

Gatherers are perfectly satisfied grazing through the racks of new Spring merchandise, wracking up hefty credit card bills as they methodically hand-pick their favorite pieces, sparing no expense for quality (and quantity!) from their favorite designers.

Hunters, on the other hand, take a more merciless, cutthroat approach.

Forget Survival of the Fittest; more like Survival of the Hippest.

I am a Hunter. A cold, calculating Hunter who pillages* bargain bins, clearance racks, and outlet malls. With fierce resolve, I attack my Spring shopping with one simple, yet unyielding principle: I want all the current trends, and I refuse to pay full price for anything.

*ok, so I'm a hunter and a pirate, apparently. You get the idea.

Granted, upholding this principle is not easy. It takes patience and more than a little practice to sniff out the sales. But trust me, once you get your first taste of a delicious deal, it's hard to turn back.

And now, with a little help from ClayValet, I can finally conquer a new realm: online shopping.

I recently took my meaty list of Spring must-haves and threw it to a new pack of wolves, the ClayValet shoppers. The catch? everything MUST be under $100. Here's what they came up with (NOTE: most of these finds were so good, we featured them on Northwest Afternoon):

1. crisp white women's dress shirt that never has to be ironed

2. thin belt in a bright color

3. fun, funky flats with a little sparkle

4. dark denim trousers

5. turquoise necklace

Bottom line: if you're looking for a fierce deal this season, try ClayValet. Because, if you're not a born Hunter--or even if you are!--it never hurts to enlist someone else to make your kill for you. You can still take all the credit.

I think Darwin would be proud.

that's rich

2008-02-08T17:06:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me well*, knows that my love of bath & beauty products is surpassed only by my love of chocolate.

So, you can imagine how delighted I was yesterday when Northwest Afternoon took me to the Northgate Gene Juarez (which, incidentally is where I get my hair done every 4 weeks) for a special Valentine's Day gift idea segment featuring their new chocolate-themed treatments and services.

I highly recommend the Massage de Chocolate and the Triple Chocolate Pedicure. Apparently, topically-applied chocolate has amazing heath benefits: antioxidant-rich chocolate helps protect skin from free radicals, exfoliates to increase moisture and smoothness, and works to decrease redness from dry, flaky skin. Chocolate's aroma is also said to decrease stress.

As if I needed multiple reasons to get on board with this idea! Please, you had me at "chocolate."

Also hopping on the cocoa treatment bandwagon: my favorite pedi-parlor Julep, near U-Village. I'm booking my Ultimate Chocolate Experience Pedicure this weekend, and I encourage everyone to treat themselves (and their friends) to a little sweet pampering this Valentine's Day.

*And no one knows me better than my best friend KIM LODDEKE, who wanted to see her name printed in this blog. Happy Valentine's Day, Kim!

closet cleaning 101

2008-02-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

What is it about February? It seems like we're all getting the itch to clean out our closets and purge our tired old clothes (presumably to make room for new, more fabulous items to excite us out of our winter blahs). It must be some sort of delayed New Year's resolve kicking in...

Cleaning out your closet is a very time-consuming process that requires complete concentration and total honesty with yourself. But, if you do it right, you'll feel like a weight has been lifted from your life.

To help you all as you weed-whack your way through your closets, I wanted to share my go-to closet cleaning playlist. It's guaranteed to take the edge off. Enjoy!

1. No One (Remix)-Alicia Keys

2. It's Alright-Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions

3. Hit Me With Your Best Shot-Pat Benetar

4. I'm Coming Out-Diana Ross

5. Float On- Modest Mouse

6. Dreams Can Come True-Gabrielle

7. Suddenly I See- KT Tunstall

8. Misery Business-Paramore

9. The Good Life-Kanye West ft. T-Pain

10. Put Your Records On-Corrine Bailey Rae

11. You Get What You Give- New Radicals

12. You're Free (to do what you want to do)-Ultra Nate

13. Finally-Ce Ce Peniston

bag lady

2008-01-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

Let's not mince words: I absolutely love the L.A.M.B Oxford Doctor Bag.

In my dreams, I'm prancing through a meadow, holding this bag while woodland creatures serenade me to the tune of "this shit is Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S."

I've been searching high and low for a sample in Seattle, with no luck.

BUT, tonight I stumbled across an ideal replacement at Banana Republic, the Sutton straw laptop tote. Similar construction and style, with 2 added bonuses: 1) it is perfectly sized and padded for my MacBook and 2) it costs a fraction of what the L.A.M.B. bag costs.

Sold. (Sorry, Gwen)

ClayValet blog introduces 'My Shopper'

2008-01-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

ClayValet launched our blog last week. I'm proud to be the main contributer on the My Shopper page, offering online shopping and lifestyle tips. Look for great finds from the ClayValet shoppers, including eco-friendly product recommendations. Check it out here, and let me know what you think!

best deals: Alderwood Mall

2007-12-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

I spent some time today at Alderwood Mall soaking up the post-holiday super sales and practicing self-restraint. It's easy to get totally confused and disoriented when you're surrounded by clearance signs. Everything seems "worth it" when it's 90% off.

Here's the golden sale rule: Look at the ORIGINAL price, and ask yourself if you would be willing to pay the full amount. If the answer is NO, then leave it.

Ready to practice? Here are my top 5 sale destinations at Alderwood:

1. ROMY. I think the entire store is on sale. Ignore everything but the romantic blouses (starting at $12.99) and the dresses ($39.99).

2. The Limited. All my favorite suits from this Fall are now priced to move. I was seriously eyeing a gorgeous winter white suit (under $75 for the jacket AND slacks).

3. Papyrus. All the holiday cards and gift items are 50% off. Selection is still good.

4. Banana Republic. 40% off dresses, sweaters, and COATS! I love the emerald green wool coat-- very Peter Pan chic--and the satin trench will be brilliant on New Years Eve.

5. Forever 21. No sale, per se. But I never miss an opportunity to dig at Forever 21. If you understand that 80% of everything in there is unwearable and cheap-looking, while another 10% is totally unnecessary (a faux fur cape isn't exactly a wardrobe staple. Leave it.), then you can focus your search. Make sure to try EVERYTHING on, because the sizing is not predictable and the return policy is iron-clad.

etiquette: exchanging a gift

2007-12-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

This is a very touchy subject: What to do when someone you love gives you a gift that begs exchanging. We're not talking full return, as in "I'd rather have store credit or nothing than this disaster." But rather, a simple trade.

This is a hard one.

My lovely boyfriend surprised me this holiday by traveling hours by plane, showing up at my doorstep dressed in a suit (and he's not a suit-wearing kind of guy, so the very act of wearing the suit through the airport and on the plane was a gift in itself). He was carrying a dozen pink roses, and he somehow--in a single motion--handed me the flowers AND scooped me up into his arms...

Then he whipped out the Tiffany's box.

(No, Mom. Not a ring-sized box).

Anyway, (fair warning: the ending of this story is kinda anti-climactic) he gave me the signature heart-toggle bracelet--beautiful!; but, after much thought, I decided that another, similar bracelet is more my style. So I even-exchanged, and we all lived happily ever after.

The moral of the story is this: if someone gives you a special (read: expensive) gift, with the intention that you will wear/use it often, then I believe you should honor their intention, with honesty and sincere gratitude.

Thank you, darling. I love you, and I love the bracelet.

Hunt for the perfect New Year's Eve dress

2007-12-27T23:38:00.000-08:00

I think New Year's Eve is amateur night for party people (kind of like Valentine's Day is amateur night for lovers). But I never pass up an opportunity to wear fancy, sparkly clothes on a Tuesday, so I'm currently hunting for the perfect outfit for my New Year's soiree.

Here's my search criteria: must be sparkly, but not sequined. I did sequins last year, it's very 2007. If it's short (and I am envisioning short), it must have sleeves and a modest neckline. Let's be clear: New Year's is a holiday to look hot, but not slutty. Slutty is for Halloween.

So I employed the help of ClayValet shoppers and received this recommendation. I don't actually consider Sean John "designer", but the dress is not bad.

Naturally, I hit the day-after-Christmas sales and was delighted to find every cocktail dress at Banana Republic is on sale. This 20's-inspired beaded flapper number is delicate and vintage looking; however, I don't recommend it for blondes, and--unless you're going to a Gatsby-themed party--I strongly encourage anyone who rocks this look to wear a modern shoe and minimal accessories.

I'm planning to dig through the Designer racks at Nordstrom Rack tomorrow (and check every tag for the elusive red 75% off sticker), so I'll keep you posted.

in and out in '08: Part 2

2007-12-21T15:59:00.000-08:00

I like to start the New Year by cleaning out my closet and purging all the items (ahem, leggings) I've been wearing to death. Out with the old! In with the IN!

I recently did a segment on NWA called "In and Out in '08": and here is a list of everything I officially declare OUT (let's have a moment of silence for each): Ponchos. Uggs. Giant sunglasses. Chunky Necklaces. Leggings. Colored Jeans. Ankle booties. Denim minis.

Rest in peace :)

gift idea: professional guy friend

2007-12-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

Guys are hard to shop for. They don't require many accessories, save for neckties; and no one really gets excited over a necktie. Guys like gadgets, but most gadgets are pricey. Guys like sports, but most sporting equipment is awkward to wrap. Stumped? Here's your answer:

My best friend Cameron found this amazing golf ball personalizer at Restoration Hardware. We love this gift, because it's unique, personal, and only costs $20. Your professional guy friend will be a rock star on the links next year, and he'll think of you every time someone compliments his balls.

in and out in '08: Part 1

2007-12-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

Here's the question I get asked constantly: "How do I know if what I'm wearing is outdated?" Because some people would rather be naked in public than wear an outdated trend, everyone wants to know which clothing items to keep in regular wardrobe rotation and which to pack away.

My general rule is this: if something is available in stores RIGHT NOW, it's probably "In." If you are wearing an outfit that you could literally go out tomorrow and buy again (or at least, something like it), then you can probably rest easy.

Now, predicting trends is a little harder. You can keep tabs on all the celebs (involving WAY too much information about their dating lives and trips to rehab), study your InStyle cover to cover, and spend LOTS of time/money shopping. You also have to be willing to proudly sport the "hits" and the "misses."

You can drive yourself crazy trying to stay one step ahead of Mischa Barton, or you can forget about "in" vs. "out" and only buy clothes that fit you well, look good and make you feel hot. Something that fit you well and looked good last month will probably still fit you well and look good in 6 moths. You'll find that if you have a closet full of clothes that make you feel good, you won't care as much about staying ahead of the trends. And that kind of confidence never goes out of style!

reward night

2007-11-29T20:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of taking one of my favorite clients to the Nordstrom Fashion Rewards event at Bellevue Square. True, there is something sublime about test-driving Jimmy Choos while sipping champagne and munching shrimp cocktail, but the atmosphere at these things is anything but relaxed. Hundreds of shoppers flooded the store to enjoy generous reward point bonuses and exclusive Designer clearance deals. There was actually a line at the fitting rooms. Fortunately, we came prepared for the madness and finished all our shopping before the first champagne cork popped. I don't actually promote SUI, shopping under the influence (this includes DayQuil, people. How do you think I ended up with that green and orange poncho?). Always bring a designated cardholder.

cyber monday

2007-11-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday officially marked the start of the online holiday shopping season. In celebration of Cyber Monday, many of my favorite Internet stores offered major discounts and deals like free shipping to get people excited about shopping online.

But if you missed your chance to cash in on the Cyber Monday hoopla, fear not. Online deals are plentiful. Here are some of my favorites:

Apple Store (applestore.com): get free engraving on ipods when you order online through Apple Store. The new, very sleek nano can take up 58 characters. Lucky for me, the inscription "Darcy loves Justin Timberlake 4EVER" is only 35 characters.
Circuit City (circuitcity.com): Cyber Monday 3-day sale continues through Wednesday, Nov 28. Save an EXTRA 10% and the cost of shipping if you order online and have your items shipped to your local Circuit City location. It's a sneaky trick; they're betting when you come in to pick up your purchase you'll probably impulse-buy the new Alicia Keys CD (which is FAB, btw!), and maybe a new 50" plasma.
eLuxury (eluxury.com): offers free shipping on ALL ground orders between now and Christmas. If you can peel yourself away from the amazing Louis Vuitton boutique, check out the "under $100" gift ideas, including--among other things--an adorable Diptyque candle set ($85), an Emilio Pucci moire print cotton scarf ($60) and other steals from Harajuku Lovers (Gwen Stefani's LAMB spinoff), Juicy Couture and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Order by midnight on Dec. 13 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve.

Did anyone catch Northwest Afternoon yesterday? I did a quickie segment: "Hot Holiday Looks Under $200." Ladies, it's not hard to find reasonably priced pretty things: you just have to know where to look! I always start at JC Penney. You can check out the great selection of LBDs at jcpenney.com, but I personally recommend stepping foot into your nearest store to take advantage of the ever-changing daily sales, like "Buy One, Get One for One Cent."

True, by the time a trend hits JC Penney it is on the way O-U-T (hello, sequin mini dresses!). But, heck. If it's only $40, then who cares? Happy (cyber) shopping.

pleased to meet you

2007-11-25T12:13:00.000-08:00

Greetings fellow shoppers,

This is my inaugural post to mark an exciting time of new beginnings in my life. I am proud to share this diary of my experiences with you. But first, let me introduce myself:

I'm a shopper.

I always loved shopping, so when shopping forced its way into my career path I didn't protest. But when people ask, "what do you do?" I don't have any easy answer. I do not have a business card that says Marketing Director/Small Business Owner/Fashion Stylist/TV contributer/Blogger/Shopaholic...but that's the best description I have for my profession.

I started Styled.Seattle, my personal shopping business after I became the resident stylist on KOMO-TVs Northwest Afternoon. Styled.Seattle began as a passion project, and (as passions tend to do) took on a life of it's own. I now devote as much time as possible to this venture, and I'm always accepting new clients.

But I have a day job, too. After 3 years as the Director of Marketing and PR at John Robert Powers Acting/Modeling, I was offered the opportunity (dare I say, of a lifetime) to head up marketing for ClayValet, a free online personal shopping service. If you haven't heard of it yet, you will. The concept of ClayValet is so brilliant, it may put all personal shoppers (including myself) out of business. And you know, I believe in it so much that I don't even care. Much.

ClayValet launched on Black Friday, Nov. 23rd. The biggest shopping day of the year for most people (very fitting, no?). Check it out at clayvalet.com, and let us know what you think!

That's me in a nutshell. I will use this blog to share shopping and styling tips, advice and stories from my professional and personal life. Thanks for reading!

Enjoy!