BrandHabit Latest News!

Designer: Michael Stars

Wed Jan 07 12:36:14 -0800 2009

Michael Stars : “Michael Stars is the 20-year old T-shirt Company many credit with giving birth to the trend for fitted T’s.” -Michael Cohen Recognizing the haute couture potential of the humble t-shirt, Michael Stars has been a continual pioneer in “casual style” since its founding in 1986. The Los Angeles based, family-run company remains a leader in the women’s contemporary market, distinguished by its contoured fit, exuberant colors and comfortable fabrics. In 1976 South African Michael Cohen emigrated to Los Angeles from his native Cape Town to work for a British shirt company. A decade later he met an artist selling hand-painted t-shirts, which spurred his imagination to do garment-dyed, multicolored screen-printed tees. He began by creating “large boxy men’s t-shirts with tribal art” before moving into an unplumbed niche in 1992: women’s fashion tees. Capturing a distinct West Coast feel, the brand is also inspired by the Greek island of Mykonos, a favorite and long-time destination of the company’s eponymous founder. In the beginning, the company was modestly ran out of a garage by three family members, all of whom remain with the company today. Cohen, his brother Stuart Cohen, and Suzanne Lerner, owner of the Lerner et Cie showroom, who has repped the line from the beginning and later married the entrepreneur. Simon Cohen, his son and the company’s president, joined the business in 1994. The company has grown from three to over 175 employees, and has concurrently seen its distribution grow from the local Southern California market to all 50 states. Offering more than 200 styles in over 30 colors per season, the Michael Stars collection of tees includes a variety of tanks, crews, v-necks, henleys and turtlenecks. Available in fabrics like shine, supima cotton, supima modal, and supima thermal.

Designer: Weston Wear

Wed Jan 07 12:40:55 -0800 2009

Weston Wear : I suppose it all started on my moms old Singer Portable. I sewed everything including my sandals on that machine. My sister Paula helped me sew my first creation and before you could say "Haute Couture", I had a lovely "Courreges" like dress, a red and white wool houndstooth number, with a matching fitted "helmet hat", and strap under the chin. I was only 8 years old, yet the die was cast. I also studied ballet from age 5, and participated in the Nutcracker every year for about 14 years. Now one could say that that these luscious costumes from the ballet made an imprint on my mind, most importantly that in those days none of them stretched! I will never forget, when I was in college getting my masters degree in Dance at Stanford, discovering the brand new fabric Cotton /LYCRA. It was a miracle fabric. You could look good, and feel good as well. We lived in our dance clothes, and with the elastic woven into the fabric, the clothes moved and stretched with the body, without losing its shape. This meant that we could wear our dance clothes out in the world, (without sewing in a zipper). With the Cotton/LYCRA® business serving as a foundation in the 80's, I have since been continuing to work with stretch fabrications, both domestic and from Europe. Firmly believing in the "Stylish yet Comfortable" motto, my current focus is on collecting prints from Europe and printing upon nylon mesh fabric. This creates a "second skin" aspect to the Weston Wear look. Each season we offer a group of new prints that are available in certain styles, creating a multitude of possible combinations of solid and print mix. In addition, we offer stretch woven bottom weight fabrics as well as various sweater knits with a different twist. Not surprisingly, following twenty years of dedication, Weston Wear's recognition has grown with the business. My designs appear regularly on TV and Film. Weston Wear can also be found in better Department and specialty stores throughout the United States, Canada and Japan.

Designer: Gara Danielle

Wed Jan 07 13:00:44 -0800 2009

Gara Danielle : Just appreciating fashion in general, shopping flea markets, antique shows, and traveling.

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.

Boutique: Hubba Hubba

Wed Jan 07 12:40:55 -0800 2009

Hubba Hubba : Diverse merchandise, tons to chose from, relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

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.