Inside Scoop: Life In The Fun Lane

My precious Victoria, the always fabulous trendsetter, shared a site with me today that I've fallen in love with.  It's called Life In The Fun Lane.  It showcases the projects of Holly, one of the best flea market and bargain shoppers I've ever come across.  She transforms ordinary rooms into casually elegant spaces with her refined taste level, creativity and resourcefulness.  I love the site because she explains sources and prices of unique finds, archives images of her projects, shares before and after photos and passes along many words of wisdom.  Below are a few before & after photos.

Explore her blog at: www.inthefunlane.com

Explore her store WhiteBerry Reinvented at: www.whiteberryreinvented.com

*Warning: make sure you have a few hours to become completely immersed in these sites. 

 

 

 

For The Guys: Fun Finds

Stylish items for guys.  Harder to come by than those for the ladies, but they're out there!  Whether it be a piece for the interior, wardrobe or maybe an item for work or play... with just a bit more effort into the search you really can find cool things.  Below are some of my favorite dude items I've found recently. 

Sport Shower Curtain

Vintage-style varsity accoutrements embellish this fun, distinctive shower curtain in a soft, unbleached poly cotton/canvas.  Water and mold-resistant.  Great for the sophisticated gentleman, unique graphic art buff or vintage sports lover.

Available at www.izolashower.com

Helpful hint... Izola is having a sale on some products at OneKingsLane until 12/6 at 11am.  Click here to visit: www.onekingslane.com

Slim University Coat

This popular JCrew coat recently got a more modern fit, updating its fit to be a slimmer, longer look.  With a great ultrasoft wool exterior and quilt lining, this can be found at www.jcrew.com

Leather Clairevivier iPad Case

Made of 100% naturally dyed italian leather, this iPad case will snuggly and stylishly protect your iPad from the elements and the dangers of light travel.

Grab yours at www.theory.com 

Delusion Hurricane Knitted Sweater

Draped layered neck with a textured finish and relaxed fit, this sweater offers a unique silhouette that almost has the appearance of a scarf.  Such a great edgy, modern menswear piece. 

Find online at www.asos.com

The Best Undershirt In The World

2(x)ist has a line of products made with soy fibers.  This material is extremely breathable and is softer than cashmere.  I can't begin to tell you how awesome these are.  It comes in grey or black, but sadly not yet offered in white.  

More info at www.2xist.com

Holiday Gift Ideas

I can't believe how quickly the holidays have arrived.  To kickstart the shopping season, I wanted to share a few items that could make excellent gifts for yourself or your loved ones.  

For The Wall...

Art is always a great gift, especially when the proceeds go to a great cause.  Pictured below is one of many beautiful paintings by local artist Martha Case Nemer named It's Pear-fect.  This 16x20 oil for $275 makes a lovely addition to any wall.  Sold exclusively at The Cotton Mill during the holidays, 100% of the sale goes directly to The Melvin Case Christmas For Kids Foundation which has supplied over 10,000 toys and stuffed animals to needy children in the Nashville and Upper Cumberland areas of Tennessee through United Way, Upper Cumberland Region, Renewal House, Green Hills Rotary, Martha O'Bryan Center and McNeilly Center for Children. 

 The Cotton Mill   |   4009 Hillsboro Pike   |   Nashville, TN 37215   |   (615) 298-2188

For The Doll...

How many of you have a long list of girlfriends, cousins, sisters or coworkers to shop for, yet have no clue what to buy as a fun little item or where to start looking?  There is always a need for gifts in the $10-$30 range and you'd be surprised how many great online sites make it easy to find unique, high quality items at a great value.  My fabulous friend Linda introduced me to Neiman Marcus' online outlet site www.lastcall.com  Check that out for great discounts on designer items.  Tons of options at each click.  

Another great site is www.GILT.com  I LOVE this site.  Free to join, after a quick registration you receive a daily list of the sales they offer. From super high end to cute and affordable, you can find something at a great value that you love every single day.  I can always find great pieces for the women in my life without breaking the bank. Take for example the ring pictured below.  By designer Kendra Scott, this would normally sell for around $75 or $100 but on Gilt it's only $35.  Cute, right?  

Register and start the fun: Click Here To Join GILT!

For The Tall...

At 6 foot 3, I know how hard it is to shop for tall guys.  You can't imagine my frustration each time I fall in love with a shirt on the hanger, only to discover that the proportions are completely wrong for me.  I'm comfortable with the idea of alterations, as I have many of my things tailored to fit, but this can really only be done if the length is ok.  Usually if the length is good, that means that I've had to up the size so many times that the shoulder seams are down to my elbows.  It can be very frustrating.  That is why I am thrilled beyond belief when I find things that fit perfectly off the rack, but usually that means it's off either a Dolce & Gabbana or Marc Jacobs rack.  The most amazing sales specialist at Saks in New York introduced me to the shirt pictured below.  It's a soft, long, slim-fitting Marc Jacobs oxford with contrasting buttons. Could I ask for anything more?  I think not.  If you have a man in your life who needs a great shirt or any killer Marc Jacobs piece, call up Jesse at Saks and order one (or tons) asap. 

Jesse Whiting   |   Saks Fifth Avenue   |   611 5th Avenue   |   New York, NY   |   212.940.2082

For the Belles of the Ball...

It's no secret that my favorite and the best fragrance line I've ever discovered is CREED.  As CREED celebrates its 250th year in 2010, it is opening its archives to reveal historically significant letters, client orders and royal warrants from two and a half centuries of service.  Napoleon III granted CREED a royal warrant in 1855.  For Napoleon III, CREED made the fragrance Cuir de Russie, which means “Russian leather.”  While CREED Cuir de Russie is no longer available in the U.S., the fragrance Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie, made for the wife of Napoleon III, is offered today.  I'll bet you can think of quite a few ladies in your life who would enjoy this special product. 

And to complete the royal treatment this season, as always, they offer complimentary gift wrapping with every purchase at www.creedboutique.com.

Q&A: Favorite Discount Websites To Shop?

A reader asks, "What are your favorite discount websites to shop?" This is easy.  My favorites are listed below. 

www.yoox.com is my favorite for many reasons.  Deep, deep discounts are on every page.  If you have a favorite designer brand, it is likely on this site.  Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Diesel, Tom Ford, Prada and many more use yoox to clean out their inventory.  It's a great way also of finding really unique pieces you may not see in the stores because they sell some clothing originally only meant for the markets overseas.  

www.asos.com is a great site that has a wide variety of clothing at all different price points.  I've found great bracelets, vests and pants on here as well as bags and scarves.  They always have a huge sale section filled with fun finds.

www.lulus.com is a fun place for girls to find great dresses and tops that are cute and cheap.  This is not the place to find high quality or well constructed pieces to last, but if you're looking for something different for a one-time use, this can be a good source.