06/27/08

The Shopping Culture

For nearly a year now, I’ve been writing our magazine’s Shop Talk department. I’ve traveled all around the Valley, interviewing the owners of the newest, trendiest boutiques to pop up on Google maps. These stores offer upscale, stylish — and sometimes pricey — merchandise. Their atmospheres are incredibly elegant, but cozy at the same time, providing us with fabulous shopping options (and relief) outside of the hectic department stores at the mall and pretentious shops in SoHo (if you dare venture that far south).

In addition to their similarities in content and appearance, there’s another quality...

06/20/08

If the Shoe Fits...

Like most women, my greatest passions in retail are shoes. My closet is home to shelves and shelves of footwear — heels, flats, boots, sandals, you name it. I could easily go a month without repeating. For me, shoe shopping isn’t really a planned event: most of my footwear purchases are spontaneous. I often find the cutest pair when I’m searching for makeup or something else that’s completely unrelated. I’ll just happen to wander over to the shoe section and there’ll be the prettiest little ballet flat peeking out at me over the display… But because most of my shoe purchases are impulse buys, I’m usually buying for the look, and not...

06/13/08

Ties and Golf Balls, Golf Balls and Ties

With the momentous occasion of Father’s Day occurring this Sunday, and the weather expected to be perfect (low 80s and sunny), hopefully you’ll be outside all day, barbecuing to your heart’s content. Every year since I can remember, that's exactly how I’ve spent the third Sunday in June: lounging outside with a hot dog in one hand, a cold iced-tea in the other, spending quality time with my dad and the other members of my family. While Mother’s Day may be a bit more stressful (finding the perfect gift, the most heartfelt card, and the least-wilted flowers certainly makes for a rather hectic third week in May), Father’s Day seems to be more of a day for relaxing. The weather is always warmer (and more...

06/06/08

Give Your Makeup a Makeover

Yesterday the California State Senate approved the first bill in the country that prohibits the use of lead in lipstick. You’re probably thinking: What do West Coast government policies have to do with Hudson Valley fashion? Well, nothing and everything.

This decision is at the forefront of a serious issue currently facing the cosmetics industry. Unlike your food, which is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), by law, the government cannot authorize...