Store Appeal

Michael Kors Men’s Accessories – Watches, Sunglasses, Cologne

Store Appeal: Since the 80s, Michael Kors has been one of the premier and iconic American fashion designers. His collections never fail to awe snooty fashion editors while his urban-jet-setter-chic ad campaigns leave tongues wagging at just a glimpse of the good life. In 2002, the company launched a full-scale men’s collection, becoming the preeminent driving force in defining the modern American man.  

Our Vote: The Michael Kors man is easily defined by his simplicity and attention to detail. A Michael Kors men’s accessories collection geared towards everyone from the sportsman to the businessman, complete with watches (the ultimate male status symbol), cologne and sunglasses.

Our Favorites:

1.)  Michael Kors Black Oversized PU Chronograph Watch – $195

 2.)  Michael Kors Acrylic Watch Black & Gold – $225

 3.)  Michael Kors Digital Watch White – $195

 4.)  Michael Kors Men’s Fragrance – $52

 5.)  Michael Kors Updated Aviator Sunglasses – $195

Vera Wang Lifestyle – Jewelry, Home Décor, Accessories, Flowers and more

Vera Wang Lifestyle - Accessories, Shoes, Flowers, Jewelry and more

Store Appeal: In Vera Wang’s effort for total world domination, the luxury wedding dress designer has moved her thriving brand into home décor, fragrances, a moderately-priced fashion line through Kohl’s department stores, shoes, jewelry, even flowers and stationary. Since 1990, Vera Wang has been one of the most well-received and critically acclaimed designers of the generation. Her couture-quality and simple elegance is appealing to audiences of all price points.

Our Vote: Unfortunately www.VeraWang.com is more of a gallery than a store as you cannot make purchases directly from her site. Many of her lifestyle products such as home décor, jewelry and stationary are sold through third-party sites. However, she does own one of the most beautiful designer websites around and her full range of luxury and lifestyle products is a pleasure to behold (and makes you want to save your pennies to buy a piece of her dynasty).

Our Favorites:

1.)    Vera Wang Jeweled Flower Bow Bracelet – $395

2.)    Vera Wang Sequin and Crystal Necklace – $495

3.)    Vera Wang Lavender Label Lisa Ballet Flat – $295 

Nicole Miller – Feminine and Sexy Redefined

Store Appeal: Ask anyone about Nicole Miller and nary a one will say anything negative about her line. The Nicole Miller brand has been synonymous with the modern American fashionista since the early ’90s. She creates the dresses you want to wear in the colors (particularly purples and cool blues – a personal fave), styles and silhouettes that are most flattering. Nicole Miller brand has grown into a celebrity favorite thanks to the ease and unpretentiousness of her ready-to-wear designs. Currently NicoleMiller.com has a sale on its spring/summer line – much of it 50% and up.

Our Vote: What’s greatest about the Nicole Miller online store is the variety among her collection lookbooks. She gives the shopper all of her latest collections from holiday and resort 2010 to current summer, upcoming fall/winter and previous collections too. Also worth noting is her bridal store. For years, Nicole Miller has been a de facto bridesmaid dress destination, specializing in the gowns that women will want to wear after the wedding. But now she’s branched out into bridal dresses as well. With designer styles without the couture price tag, Nicole Miller is a must-have for any modern fashionista.

Our Favorites:

1. Nicole Miller Strapless Dress — starting at $186, her signature sweetheart necklines are romantic and flattering.

2. Nicole Miller Bridesmaid Dress — starting at $255, these are sweet and simple.

3. Nicole Miller Halter Dress — starting at $158, these necklines are sexy but polished.

LAGOS Fine Jewelry

Store Appeal: Philadelphia-based LAGOS Fine Jewellery has been creating unique, one of a kind exquisite jewelry since the 1970s. LAGOS is a jewelry collection rich in personality, bold colors, and luxe precious metals. Smokey Quartz, White Topaz and Citrine are just a few of the rare gemstones LAGOS uses, and the brand prides itself upon inspirational pieces.

Our Vote: LAGOS has many design collections for a wide range of tastes. From the Torque collection which features gemstones caps on open-ended bracelets, to the Passion collection which features the previously mentioned exotic gemstones, or rich collections like Diamonds and Caviar which includes earrings, necklaces and bracelets with intricate designed highlighted by diamond weaving.

Our Favorites:

 1.)    LAGOS Caviar Heart Locket – $285

2.)    LAGOS Pink Sapphire Heart Bracelet – $250

3.)    LAGOS Sterling Silver Caviar Hoop Earrings – $195

Intermix – Fun, Designer Style

Store Appeal: Intermix is the designer boutique for designers and high-end brands that most stores don’t carry. Always au currant with the latest styles, if you’re a label lover or want to be the first in your group to wear the latest/yet-to-be-seen trends, Intermix is your place.

Our Vote: If you’ve never been to an Intermix store, you’re missing out. Although they’re not in every city, the Intermix store can be somewhat of an anomaly, as it is a boutique with the designer labels and looks most high-end department stores don’t even carry.  However, with discounts and free shipping for qualifying orders, it’s easy to fall in love with Intermix.

Our Favorites:

1.)    Splendid Long Sleeve Stripe Throw – $165

2.)    Guiseppe Zanotti for Balmain Zipper Crisscross Suede Sandals – $995

3.)    Parker Bustier Swing Dress – $218

4.)    Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Stone Cuff – $125

Roberto Coin Jewelry – The Initial Collection

Store Appeal: Italian jewelry maker Roberto Coin has been making treasured pieces since the 1970s in Vicenza, Italy.  Vicenza happens to be known as the city of gold.  Today, Roberto Coin jewelry ranks among the top ten jewelry companies in the United States.  Note the company’s signature use of ruby gemstones, also known as the gem of passion.

Our Vote: The Roberto Coin Initial Collection and the Roberto Coin Tiny Treasures Collection are very popular as they have mass appeal, yet maintain the simplistic beauty of the brand.  Delicate use of diamonds, white gold and splashes of color through gemstones make each piece from this collection a mainstay in any woman’s jewelry box. The Roberto Coin jewelry line has a sense of humor, though maintains enough seriousness to make the wearer of these pieces a focal point for any occasion.

Our Favorites

1.    Roberto Coin Initial Thoughts – $460

2.    Roberto Coin Diamond Initial Necklace – $1,020

3.    Roberto Coin Skull and Crossbones – $1,000

Oscar de la Renta Fashion Jewelry

Store Appeal: While most know world-renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta for his stunning evening gowns and red carpet couture, the House of de la Renta prides itself on offering a full line of luxury designer accouterments such as Oscar de la Renta fashion jewelry, shoes and handbags. Since breaking onto the global fashion scene in the 1950s, Oscar de la Renta has been making the fashions that appeal to and look stunning on all women. Pair an Oscar de la Renta bib necklace with a simple cardigan, and you instantly have a million dollar look.

Our Vote: The Oscar de la Renta site is quite easy to navigate. The products are displayed on a filmstrip and when you click on a specific item, a sidebar opens up right next to it, which is great because doesn’t everyone hate a pop-up window?

Our Favorites:

1. Oscar de la Renta Red Enamel Bib Necklace – $890
2. Oscar de la Renta Textured Gold Cuff – $375
3. Oscar de la Renta Interlocking Ring Earrings – $160 

Stila Makeup

Store Appeal:  Stila cosmetics blends quality products with an approachable touch. Unlike some other cosmetics lines that only cater to the “other half,” Stila takes pride in being inclusive, affordable and modern. Stila products are as innovative as the company itself which is headed by Lynn Tilton, president of the ironically named Patriarch Partners. Items like one-stop make-up to smoky eye kits are very popular from young tweens all the way up to uber-celebs like Angelina Jolie.

Our Vote: I mentioned the company’s innovation – and yet that word doesn’t seem strong enough to describe its many features that engage the shopper and make for a fantastically fun cosmetic shopping experience. Ever bought make up and you get home and you’re not really sure how to apply it? Or wondered about cool new ways to play with your make up? Enter BeautyTube – the video tutorial hot spot on stilacosmetics.com that features three channels –  entertainment, education and empowerment - to show customers how to make the most of their beauty purchases. And speaking of purchases, while some stores have “rewards cards” that don’t really offer rewards at all, Stila values its customers by offering a Stila rewards program for every level of spending. At $100, enjoy free shipping for the entire calendar year, at $250 get $50 in Stila bucks plus free shipping, and at $500 get $100 in Stila bucks plus free shipping – now that’s a reward worthy of any budget!

Our Favorites:

1. Stila Primecolor – $22

2. Stila Eye Shadow Trio – $20

3. Stila Sheer Color – $34

Bliss Skincare

Store Appeal: Every once in a while, you come across a brand or a business that is absolutely ga-ga about what they do and always makes sure their customers are happy with their products. Bliss Skincare is one of those. From their quality skincare products to their “Customer Serbliss” they are self-proclaimed as fun and unpretentious.  The body products have appealing fragrances like lemon+sage and vanilla+bergamont.  Bliss even has an entire product section devoted to cellulite (heaven!).

Our Vote: The online store is as fun as the company philosophy. It’s a treat to surf the pages of their hundreds, if not thousands of products.  And while that many products can at first appear overwhelming, there are detailed descriptions, customer reviews and bundle packages galore to ensure that the shopper makes the right choice for themselves. With prices that hardly any spa can beat, the only danger of shopping this store is how quickly your shopping cart may tip over!

Our Favorites:

1.  Bliss FatGirlSlim – $60

2. Bliss Lemon Sage Body Butter – $28 and up

3. Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash – $9 (travel size), $22

Be&D Handbags, Shoes and Accessories

Store Appeal: Very rarely does an American designer craft handbags that could pass for the Old World glory that is seen in Chanel and Balenciaga – with the exception of Marc Jacobs.  But many American handbag designers have a very streamlined, modern interpretation, which is not a fault, but they find it hard to recreate what’s already been so successful in Europe for over a century.  American designer handbag line Be&D does a brilliant job of melding the two for modern twist on an old favorite, though this is not by accident.  Be&D, which was founded in 2004 by Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain, is now helmed solely by Dumain, who grew up with an affection for antique luggage and in college studied international business, Spanish and art. The handbags, shoes and other leather goods are modern and sexy, but carry elegant and flattering lines. Just what every woman wants.  My personal favorite is the Be&D Kan Kan Tote.

Our Vote: While the online store is easily navigable, the photos are only one-dimensional and can be a bit lackluster, particularly when trying to demonstrate the detail of the fabrics, materials and hardware used on the products. Nonetheless, the shopper still gets a decent idea of what the product might feel and look like in hand, and fortunately, the dimensions and vivid descriptions of the materials used in each product are listed.

Our Favorites:

1.    Be&D Kan Kan Tote - $1,390

2.    Be&D Rizzo Shoes – $458

3.    Be&D Dallas Tote - $895