BrandHabit Latest News!

Designer: Kooba

Mon Dec 22 07:49:48 -0800 2008

Kooba : The Kooba story isn’t so much about Kooba as it is about women. Women, who every day search for ways to express their personal style. That’s exactly what the team behind Kooba was doing in 1998 when they found themselves shopping in a sea of sameness that was the luxury market. Armed only with passion, they set about creating a small collection of bags for themselves and their friends. Avid vintage shoppers, the team focused on the things that spoke to them: attention to detail, original styles and distinctive textures. Where the individual – not the accessory – made the statement. Today Kooba’s products are sought after by fashion-forward customers for their modern approach, relaxed attitude and timeless design sensibility. The brand has developed a loyal following among luxury shoppers, celebrities, editors, stylists and trendsetters alike, most recently including Blake Lively, Audrina Partridge, Katherine Heigl, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jessica Alba and Rihanna . Kooba is sold in premier contemporary and luxury locations both domestically and internationally. Major retailers include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Barneys, Bloomingdale’s and Scoop.

Designer: Nicole Rae Styer

Mon Jan 05 14:09:19 -0800 2009

Nicole Rae Styer : My every day life!.

Designer: Chaiken

Tue Jan 06 09:45:31 -0800 2009

Chaiken : Making women feel good about themselves.

Boutique: Sugar Shack

Mon Jan 05 14:54:45 -0800 2009

Sugar Shack : we have a very relaxing environment with a kids corner and a comfy "sitting area" for your shopping pal. Our staff is helpful, friendly and knowledgable on the latest styles and trends..

Boutique: HUZZA

Mon Jan 05 15:03:35 -0800 2009

HUZZA

Boutique: Mode Marche

Mon Jan 05 15:17:44 -0800 2009

Mode Marche : Mode Marche's doors have been open since 2002 in Old Town Novato. Our towns downtown has gone through a major makeover and many new businesses have joined the street of Grant Avenue. Our clothing has that stylish yet comfortable and casual women in mind. We have customers of all ages that enjoy our clothes and competitive prices.

Product: isABelt Jr.

isABelt

isABelt Jr. is a line of belts,similiar in design to isABelt, but more of a decorative/fashion accessory for children, tweens, teen & young adults.

Product: GOLDEN EARTH CRYSTAL CATCHER

Ali Precious

An eye-catching 14kt. gold-filled crystal pendant that sparkles in the colors of our sacred earth, promoting a clean environment. Blue sodalite gemstone with green swarovski crystals wrapped on an outer gold circle.*As seen on Chicago Fashion Designers SUMMER TOP TEN LIST

Product: Entropy Coat

Farahbella

FW 2008 Collection

Editorial: Women in Business, 2005

Rete — Thu Dec 18 14:29:07 -0800 2008

Designer Denim for Guys and Gals

Editorial: Women in Business, 2008

Rete — Thu Dec 18 14:22:59 -0800 2008

Rete - Rete Footnote Thinking Out of the Box and Keeping On Our Toes

Editorial: Movie: Featured on Rumer Willis!

Laura James Jewelry — Tue Dec 16 16:28:51 -0800 2008

To be worn on Rumer Willis in her upcoming flick, Sorority Row.

Member Blog: pagal

Thu Dec 11 17:08:30 -0800 2008

Neon, I absolutely hate neon!!! It's so obnoxious. Personally, I'm partial to the feminine/hardcore mix: frilly dresses mixed with a motorcycle jacket and slouchy black boots.

Member Blog: FashionLuvr

Thu Dec 11 16:38:59 -0800 2008

I'm sick of people wearing slobby or "grunge-y" clothes, and I'm sick of those shiny black leggings made of some plastic type of material; I get it, it's "rocker", I just don't like it. My wardrobe always goes in the same direction: nicer, better, and timeless.

Member Blog: NWilliams770

Thu Dec 11 12:41:22 -0800 2008

I have to agree. There's nothing worse to me than seeing someone (whether it be a man or woman) wearing clothes that are not flattering to their bodies at all. If you got it, flaunt it is my view on the matter. It pains be to see a woman walking down the street with a gorgeous body covered-up with a dress that looks like a potato sack.

Blog Entry: Check out our New Blog

carla — Thu Jul 31 05:21:05 -0700 2008

Some of you may have noticed that we have a new blog format. When you click on “blog” at the top of the page, you will see a chronological display of all of our featured posts, by all of our featured editors. If you want to read my posts, click on “CEO Blog” under “categories” on the right hand side of the page. Also check out our hysterical editor, “Boutique Peek” who highlights some of the best boutiques in the country. Finally, we have a new writer who focuses specifically on great fashion websites. This is under “Links we love”. There are more categories to come! Stay tuned!

Blog Entry: My Photo Shoot

carla — Sat Jul 12 08:50:25 -0700 2008

I did a Photo Shoot this week with a professional photographer. I’ve only done about 5 of these in my life. Once when I was 5, when I was 16 and getting into acting, when I was 20, when I was married, and when I was pregnant. This time, it was for business. When I arrived at Kathleen Harrison’s studio I had done my hair and make-up and I was armed with a bunch of outfits (all black and white-classic). I had geared myself up to boldly say: “I want you to make me look like a super-model who is being shot for a lifestyle magazine” Hell, if I am going to be shy about what I want, I won’t get it. Right? Kathleen shows me a few black and white photos of professionals. “No. No, no, no. I don’t want the corporate headshot stuff. It’s not me. I want these shots to be fun and flirty and casual and not too posed. This is fashion. I tried to fit into the corporate image and it just doesn’t work. I have to be me” Kathleen is probably thinking to herself, “Oh boy. I have a live one on my hands.” Realize that I make all of these demands with a big smile on my face while I am running around, digging though bags of clothes and accessories. I am a FUN, demanding bitch. We start the shoot on a white backdrop. I pretend I am a model moving to new poses between clicks. Kathleen encourages me for a while but I soon run out of moves to make. We take a quick look at a few shots on her camera and I my heart sinks. Where are my eyelids? My hair looks frizzy. Ugh, my mouth looks so tight when I try not to smile. Gosh. I am really not the person I think I am when I look in the mirror. Oh well. I look pretty good, FOR MY AGE. What a friggen show stopper that is, isn’t it? FOR MY AGE. What the hell happened to my eyelids? They are hidden beneath the upper brow. God, this is a reality check. So, we take a million more shots. I am having fun with some of them… it’s getting better. Clearly, I have no training in this because when Kathleen tells me to kick my leg up, I turn my ankle in a way that makes me look like I have a fat calf and no foot. We go outside where I can ham it up in natural light. I am embarrassed by the cars, bikes and people going by thinking, “Who does she think SHE is? A Super Model? NOT!” God forbid , I run into someone I know. A young man (boy of 20 something) walks by and then turns around to ask what we are up to. It’s perfect timing because we are having a hard time getting the reflector to stay still. He offers to help. Oh god, now I have an audience. Funny thing is, NOW I am really having fun. There is something about a young man standing there appreciating you that makes you feel… fun and flirty and sexy. These are the best shots of the day. I look at a few and recognize me for who I think I look like. Phew! Kathleen is brilliant. Here is her site http://www.kathleenharrison.com And here are a few shots.

Blog Entry: Mountain Biking with Patty

carla — Fri Jun 27 07:57:50 -0700 2008

Every time I go out mountain biking with my friend Patty she pushes me beyond my comfort zone. Last Saturday was the first time in a loooong time that I even went out on my bike with someone else. I like to exercise at my own pace; neither waiting for someone slower than I am or anxiously trying to catch up with someone who is stronger than me. Patty and I were at the peak of my normal mountain biking loop and I already felt like I wanted to puke. While it was only 8’oclock in the morning, the weather has been in the 100’s lately and I was probably dehydrated. “Okay, ready to circle back down?” I said “No, we have another climb,” Patty answered. “We need to climb White’s Hill and then hook up on the B-17 near Tamarancho” (we’re so damn cool, aren’t we?) “Shit Patty… I’m scared. (She laughed) Okay.. Let’s go!” Patty takes me to a peak of a mountain where I can then see all of Marin. It’s a spectacular day with funny puffy clouds and it’s clear as a bell. I wish I brought my camera. These shots could be amazing! We start heading down on the crest of a mountain with the trail falling away on both sides. I feel like I am on a carnival ride because like an infinity pool, the trail is so steep, I can’t see it over the edge. Even with my ass totally hanging off the back to combat the bike from pitch poling, my rear tire is skidding out. I know I should let off the breaks to prevent skidding but the trail is so steep my fear inspired iron grip won’t loosen. If I lose control I’ll fall off either side of the mountain and probably won’t stop. We get to the bottom of this mountain and I am silent.. almost in tears and pretty pissed at Patty. I suddenly remember this primitive feeling from when my father used to put me in situations where I was terrified and had no choice but to push through. He would take me to the top of KT 22 (a black diamond ski run) at Squaw Valley when I was just a kid. I’d cry and skid down the mountain, hating him for putting me through such terror. From an early age, my father never pushed me in team sports but he was an outdoorsman and he would take me backpacking in the Sierras. When I was 14, we went backpacking with a group of 11 friends; some of the kids were my age. My father and I split off for a few days on “solo cross country” trip. “Okay, let’s go off the trail here” My Dad said. I was filled with fear and dread right away. “Where are we going Dad?” “I don’t know.. Let’s just check it out and see where we end up!” I hate this shit. We first climb a mountain made of shale. We take one step forward and slide two steps back. God Dammit. We finally make it to the peak (we are above tree line: 13,000 feet), look down the other side and discover that the only way down is a slope of ice. I start to cry. “How are we going to get down this mountain Dad???” We can’t walk down. We decide to take off our backpacks and throw them ahead of ourselves so we can literally slide down the ice mountain. Needless to say, we survived. I have some good stories to tell but this feeling of being out of control and someone putting me in a scary situation causes me great anxiety. Patty and I aren’t done with our ride. Next she takes me on my first single track trail. It’s a beautiful trail that winds through a forest of oaks and redwoods but she instructs me not to look down. “Just keep your eyes on the trail in front of you.” The trail is about 12 inches wide and again, the mountain falls away steeply on one side. If I fall, I won’t stop. Nothing is more Zen than single track riding. You can’t think about anything else. A tree root or rock juts out of the trail, you get your tires stuck and you are a goner. If I don’t finesse my way under and around a low hanging branch or trunk I’ll be sure to dislocate my shoulder or snap my neck. Another mountain biker comes up behind us, expertly maneuvers between Patty and I on the 6 inches of trail we leave him and while he says, “You guys good? Need anything?” he skirts off into the woods. “All the cute guys are on B-17” Patty says. I look like shit when I am mountain biking.. My head is tall from my helmet. My legs feel like sausages in my shorts and that lovely Pad they put in your shorts to “protect” your underlings.. well, it is not a flattering site. Plus, I am dirty, sweaty and smelly. What would a gal like me say to a cute guy riding by on B-17? “Yeah, I do need something… I’m scared!” Patty is in hysterics. In the end, when we meet up with a trail I am familiar with, I let go of my terror and anger. I don’t need to be afraid of situations like this. If Patty can do it, I can do it. And you know what? I might just go do it again.