Did you know that the Smithsonian Museum actually procures and collects memorabilia from various historical Presidents and First Ladies?  And, perhaps not surprising, the volume of such material associated with Obama is above-and-beyond the normal amount!  Rubinstein, the museum’s chair of the division of politics and reform said, “we’re paying more attention to and collecting more items created by individuals that tend to be personal expressions of their affinity with the new president and their own expressions of this historic event.”

The inaugural dresses worn by the First Ladies are among the many items captured by the Smithsonian.  Michelle Obama is no question a new fashion icon.  But, it goes beyond the First Lady!  Presidential-inspired apparel is the rage:

To start, here’s a cocktail dress made from Obama yard signs! (source: WSJ)

The Wall Street Journal elaborated on the ‘Trashion Trend’ highlighting a woman who has created a Men’s coat completely out of Obama campaign fliers.  Took 200+ hours to sew it!

Everyday retailers are also getting in on the action, including Chico’s:  As the WSJ shared: “The women’s apparel chain will start selling a $24 “Hope and Change” necklace at 13 Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia stores, starting (this past) Sunday. The two-tiered necklace features gold- and silver-plated charms etched with the words “Hope” and “Change.” Chico’s is stocking just 400 of the necklaces.”

And, from Barack barrettes to earrings, Shecky’s had a great spread of all types of Obama related apparel and accessories (see the full item descriptions and links to purchase here):

Are you sporting any Presidentially-inspired items?  Tell us here!

I got the feeling Coach was trying to attract a new market when it came out with its photoprint totes. They’re a little unexpected, and they’re edgier than Coach’s other collections.

Now that Coach is coming out with loads of ultra-girly accessories, I feel like the brand is just trying things out and seeing what sticks. Two things of note:

1.  I don’t remember them offering so many accessories in the past in the first place. I’m guessing part of it has to do with the economy – keychains and cellphone lanyards are less expensive than bags and shoes.

2.  The accessories look eerily Juicy-esque.

Coach:

Juicy:

Time will tell if Coach likes its new look or if it gives itself another makeover.

It’s absolutely freezing in much of the country right now.  And although here in San Francisco, it’s an amazingly beautiful and sunny day and we don’t need to wear gloves/mittens, I have sympathy and empathy toward those who need this extra coverage as they brave the cold.

But all too often, gloves make things challenging!  Check out these solutions that make life a little easier when you’re all woolied up:

Challenge: Holding hands.

Solution: Smittens!

These are from Restoration Hardware, and in true Shop It To Me style, are even on SALE right now — only $25!  What a great gift.

Challenge:  Text messaging or making phone calls.

Solution: The text-friendly glove!

Here are a few varieties – the first which was made known to us from Trendsetter Flypaper, and the second is available at dotsgloves.com starting at only $10/pair!  They are specifically designed to not scratch a touchscreen of an iphone/etc.  Very cool.

Hope these great finds bring you ease and comfort in the chilly months ahead!

Last week I met someone at a party who was wearing glasses that complemented his face perfectly. He told me they had clear lenses, no prescription. He had perfect vision but wore them as a fashion accessory.

No doubt a great pair of glasses can make some people look more trendy and sophisticated. However, naysayers find clear lenses a strange development, especially since people who need glasses often find them annoying to wear, unflattering, and expensive.

But for those who wear glasses purely for fashion, frames can be quite affordable. They are fairly common now since the “geeky glasses” phenomenon hit the runway back in Fall 2008, and because glasses are an accessory of choice for a lot of celebs these days.

Looking for a pair of prescription-less glasses of your own? Teen stores like Claire’s have been selling clear glasses for years, but they’re also available at a lot of stores aimed at adults. Urban Outfitters has a great selection, as does Bleu Dame. Many eyeglass stores carry them too. Just let the sales clerk know you’re looking for clear plastic or glass lenses and most can make you a pair with no prescription. They’re an easy way to update your look, and inexpensive as long as you don’t actually need them to correct your vision.

It’s only the beginning of January and I’m already itching to wear spring prints again. Luckily there are a few brands and retailers I can always count on to offer great graphics and florals all year round.

I don’t think Bettye Muller ever made a print I didn’t like. She was a graphic designer early in her career, which may explain why she has such a sharp eye for patterns. It’s in the 50s in San Francisco, but I could probably get away with wearing these peep-toe heels with a pair of warm tights.

Orla Kiely is another brand with great patterns. I see someone with a cute Orla Kiely bag just about every day on the way to work, and I still haven’t gotten tired of them. I like the fresh white and green color combination of this “Small Stem Big Zip Wallet”.

Target has been spot-on with graphic prints recently, and I love this Hayden-Harnett for Target hobo. The bold yellow and leaf pattern vaguely remind me of the Target leaf print cinch bag I missed out on a few seasons ago.

Why have to wait until warmer months to buy cheerful patterns? I’m glad there are some brands that always offer great prints, even in January. They’re a nice way to keep out the winter doldrums.

We’re constantly reading about how virtual and online networks are replacing physical human interactions. But while I visited Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry over the holidays, I saw an exhibit about a company that’s bridging the divide. The company, called CuteCircuit, makes clothing with “wearable technology” – and actually offers a shirt that allows people who aren’t in the same location to give each other a hug.

Here’s how it works — if you and your friends or family wear Hug Shirts, you can hug your own shirt and SMS it to your loved one so they’ll physically feel the embrace. The Hug Shirt takes into account everything from your hug pressure to your skin temperature.  (And it’s even washable!)

The shirt was first introduced in 2004 and was nominated as one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions in 2006 but CuteCircuit still hasn’t announced when it will be available for purchase. Fingers crossed that it will be ready by holiday 2009. I keep moving further and further away from my family and I can’t imagine a gift my mom would love more.

CuteCurcuit is developing a lot of other technology-infused clothing too, including a Skirteleon, a skirt that changes color based on your mood, and an A-Nerve, a sleeve with pleats that change pattern when your cell phone rings. If you’re in the Chicago area, I highly recommend you check out the Museum of Science and Industry’s Fast Forward exhibit, where you can see the Hug Shirt. Also on display is the Galaxy Dress, a wearable LED dress. It takes adding sparkle to your wardrobe to a whole new level.

Back in November, on Vogue.com, I was first made aware of the Giles Deacon for Smythson correspondence cards.  Today (Jan 6), these cards supposedly became publicly available for purchase online!  (Although from the Smythson site, looks like they are still taking pre-orders only…)

I was instantly captivated by the beautiful images and fanciful emotion conveyed.  You’ll want to act quickly and purchase through Smythson.com, as supposedly only 300 limited edition boxes were produced.  At $70 for a box of 10 cards, these are not light on the wallet, but they sure are gorgeous and could make for a unique gift for a fashionista.  Love the brightly colored tissue that lines the envelopes!

These cards hold true to NYMag.com’s description of Giles’ fashion look, “The perfect blend of whimsy and wow.”

Although the initial design of the cards is what caught my attention as much as the associated fame or status, I wanted to share a bit more about this partnership, both Smythson and Giles Deacon, with you:

Smythson of Bond Street is a British luxury stationery and leather goods company, known for their classic “old money” associations, and now embraced by a younger upscale hipster crowd.  Common purchases are wedding invitations, personalized stationery, and bound leather journals.  Smythson is London-based with U.S. stores located in New York and Los Angeles, and their goods are carried in the high-end department stores as well.

Giles Deacon is a renowned British fashion designer and has designed for Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, and alongside the likes of Alexander McQueen, Luella Bartley, and Tom Ford.  He was named “British Fashion Designer of the Year” in 2006, and now has his own fashion label, Giles.  Sources: Wikipedia, NY Mag

His styles are a bit outrageous and full of spunk.  His spring 2009 collection alone included many feathers, bold colors (primarily yellow, black, and white), some graphic patterns, and somewhat of an outerspace/fantastical look.  Here are a few pictures from this most recent collection:

I see some resemblance with the cards…do you?!

We all know the feeling of being trapped by our wardrobes – having a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. But I had a worse problem the other day. I got stuck in a tight dress with no zipper.

It goes without saying – it sucks being stuck in a dress. It goes something like this: You try the dress on. You admire yourself in the mirror. You lift up your arms and try to peel the dress off over your head. It gets stuck halfway through, with your arms up over your head. Panic sets in as you realize the dress is not budging and that you are exposed and stuffed like a sausage.

In light of my recent mishap, I’m going to take a quick break from fashion to discuss function. Why would anyone choose to construct garments without the proper accoutrements? I’m not talking about stylistic choices. For example, stilettos and destroyed jeans aren’t practical, but they can be really cute. What I’m talking about are clothes that are lacking function with no added benefit.

Here’s my Top 5 List of otherwise-nice clothing and accessories spoiled by poor design.

1. Tight dresses with no zipper. Fortunately or unfortunately, I’m not the only one who’s gotten stuck in a dress! Blogger London Southern Belle got stuck once too. So did blogger Sarah McBride. (Check out her hilarious photo.)

1. Button-fly pants. Buttons aren’t a deal-breaker, but they are annoying and time-consuming. Why make us go through all the effort?

2. Pull-on boots. I’ve passed up so many great pairs of boots because they’re pull-on style! More power to you if you can suck it up and get them on and off anyway. But personally – don’t judge – I got stuck in them once too.

3. Short-sleeve turtleneck sweaters. Why make a garment with such an obvious functional flaw? If you need to wear a turtleneck sweater, it’s too cold out to wear short sleeves. And the sleeves make them too chunky to wear under suits or blazers. It’s a lose-lose.

4. Itty bitty jewelry clasps. Unless you’re particularly dexterous, opening and closing regular-sized spring-ring clasps can be tricky anyway. No need to make them so small! No one appreciates a teeny clasp except perhaps a surgeon or a craftsperson or maybe an elph.

A word of caution – you may stress about fitting into your favorite dress, but getting it on is only half the battle.

Glitz and glam, holding a flute of bubbly, wearing some sexy stilettos….New Year’s Eve is here!

An event to break out the sparkles and sass, wear something a bit more daring than most other nights, and feel your absolute best.   Although it’s too late to purchase items online for the big 2009 countdown, when perusing my Salemail today, I came across some styles that conjured up these wonderful New Year’s Eve feelings of glamour, yet lent themselves to use throughout the year.

For instance, sparkle-filled dresses like these can make you feel like it’s New Year’s Eve for any wedding, cocktail party, or other special event:

Shoshanna – Antique Sequin Flower Strapless Dress Reg: $340.00 Now: $170.00 50% off!

Nanette Lepore Women’s “Moonlight” Knit Dress Reg: $260.00 Now: $182.00 30% off!

Carmen Marc Valvo – black nude lace overlay sequined dress Reg: $725.00 Now: $391.50 46% off!

And heels like these — wow oh wow — if you can tolerate the 4+ inches of height, these are perfect for creating an elegant look and turning some heads while you’re at it :)

Dolce Vita Tommy Pump Reg: $119.95 Now: $83.97 30% off!

Giuseppe Zanotti I86092 Pump Reg: $649.95 Now: $357.47 45% off!

And who’s to say New Year’s = Black, Gold, and Silver only?  Here are some colorful purple-hued picks that could be worn not only to add some flair on a night like tonight, but also throughout the year!  For instance, you could even throw on a cardigan and make the first dress work-appropriate, or a blazer over either of the final two tops!

DKNY – V-Neck Dress Reg: $295.00 Now: $70.76 76% off! or xxxx

Nanette Lepore – Touch Me Blouse Reg: $225.00 Now: $53.96 76% off!

Thomas Pink Luxury Collection Purple Ullapool Women’s Top Reg: $300.00 Now: $99.00 67% off!

And, of course, accessories!  Sparkle and shine the whole year, through and through!

Snowflake Rhinestone Earring Reg: $24.00 Now: $16.80 30% off!

Calvin Klein Metallic Small Lux Clutch Reg: $88.00 Now: $61.60 30% off!

Jill Stuart – Beatrice Large Soft Clutch $248.00 Now: $124.00 50% off!

Here’s to looking fabulous through 2009 — happy new year!

As a student, you’re always hearing about new reading recommendations (and requirements)…but when it’s for your field of study, those recommendations become a lot more fun and interesting to delve into!

The Shop It To Me blog was recently included in the list of the “100 Best Blogs for Fashion/Design Majors“.  Check out the whole list here (even if you’re not a fashion student; the list is quite impressive)!