Fashion for a Cause

Angela's

Fashionistas take cover… Fashion month is finally over, phew!  The Spring 2012 runway shows were in full swing in September, from New York to London, to Milan, and finally, to Paris. Many fashionistas, bloggers, buyers, and journalists alike are relieved to have a little respite in their calendars. For me, traveling fulfills my sense of adventure and wanderlust.  I am happy to report that there is nothing better for me than traveling to Paris to hunt for my favorite designers. Watching the shows via live feeds from Europe allows me to live vicariously through my twitter friends and European-based magazines as if I was right there. Shopping, in an unfamiliar place derives a sense of “I found it  first”. . . I know that fabulous labels that I spot have a web address. As the Fashion Hunter, I love finding the latest, greatest, coolest, newest, hottest designers around and sharing my secret with others.  I derive immense pleasure from this. Yeah, call me crazy.

Now that all the fashion hoopla is over, and you want to be “in the know”, it is best to  #1. Study numerous blogs ( like mine of course!) #2. Read websites. #3. Shop LOCALLY. That’s really where you can get your inside scoop. I happen to live in New York City’s backyard, so I have many incredible choices as to where to shop. In fact,  it is almost impossible to know what shop has what designer at given times. I shop for clients so I am constantly bopping all over town to see what the different buyers bought for their boutiques and larger department retail shops. I really believe that if you get to know your local shops, you will not be disappointed.  The other stores that I happen to love and frequent in the Westchester vicinity are Pamela Robins, and Z Life.  October is a great month to shop as there are events going on, such as trunk shows and benefits for different charities.  I like shopping for a cause because for all the purchases made,  a percentage of the evening’s proceeds go to a charity of sorts.  Tonight, one of  my favorite local shops, Angela’s in Rye, is hosting this Breast Cancer shopping event.  (See below.)

Angela Guitard, owners of Angela’s,  decided the local high end market was missing a boutique in our area. Good for her. Her shop offers chic casual clothes which “target women from thirty-five to fifty and their daughters,” she says, “but we’re a little edgy.”  The carefully edited selection of sophisticated labels including Alexis Bittar, Bibhu, Giambattista Valli, Temperley, Beyond Vintage, Zac Posen, Rag and Bone, and Chris Benz.  I shop there for my clients for those fabulous pieces. Why? The selection is wide-range and the merchandise rotates so quickly I barely have a chance to say “Please, hold that size zero.”

Why shop for a cause? Why not just donate the money directly? Because ultimately, shopping is fun, and its best to have fun while you are doing good to help others. Can’t make it tonight? Don’t sweat it. Shop Local. No passport required.  Think Pink. And, like Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home.”

Ruby slippers in Wizard of OZ