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November 6, 2009

W Hotels The Store – Not Just for Tourists!

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Even if you aren’t a guest of the hotel, W Hotels The Store is definitely a shopping destination worthy of a trip! We recently went to an event for W Hotels the Store, and discovered that the shop features a mixture of (mostly) reasonably priced gifts, clothing, jewelry, fashion accessories, handbags, shoes, beauty products, home supplies, and other unique items. It’s a complete 180 from the traditional hotel gift shop; many of the trendy products are unique and limited edition.

Some of our favorite gift giving ideas? The Rubiks Pepper Mill ($17), a pepper mill in the shape of a Rubiks Cube; high-end, aesthetically pleasing office supplies by Neo-Utility (each individual item priced at $39); and a leather bangle by House of Harlow ($95).

In addition, the store recently launched “Global Glam,” a limited edition designer collection inspired by five of the W’s new hotel locations: South Beach, Hong Kong, Santiago, downtown NYC, and Istanbul.

The hotel hopes that this new feature will begin and continue to “align the brand with the world of fashion in an authentic and innovative way.” And I can’t see the idea failing, especially when you consider some of the designers who have already collaborated on the Global Glam collections: Foley + Corinna, Lauren Merkin, Rachel Leigh, Wink, and Susan Daniels are just some of the big names who have created pieces exclusive to W Hotels The Store.

Currently, 16 W hotels feature W Hotels The Store, including: multiple Chicago and New York locations, Dallas, San Diego, Mexico City, Atlanta, Hong Kong, South Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. Many items available for in-store purchase can also be found online.

-Sarah Nason

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September 24, 2009

Live Green, Dress Sustainably

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Ilove shopping, but I just can’t help but feel a tad guilty every time I invest in another mother-earth-will-cry-when-I-wear-this kinda number.

I know that the clothing industry contributes to global warming, air and water pollution, and tons of waste, but I really can’t bring myself to be Goodwill’s number one customer.  Don’t get me wrong, thrift and consignment shopping is awesome, especially in economic times such as these, but once in a while I want something new of my own.

So what’s a girl to do?  Find cute, eco-conscious clothes that don’t make you look like you’re wearing a sack of potatoes.  And that’s exactly what I have done.  All of these have been cuteness certified by yours truly, so feel free to go ahead and splurge!

Plato’s Closet:  This is one of my personal faves.  It’s a consignment shop, but this place is anything but shabby.  They have tons of designer jeans for super cheap – plus they’re pre-broken in.  I also sell a lot of my clothes here because you get money up front instead of having to wait the 10 years for your senior prom dress to finally sell.  Cute clothes, money in your pocket, and green shopping – what more could you ask for?  Check out the Plato’s Closet website for locations in your area!

Good Society Denim: Now to move on to the new stuff.  The best thing about Good Society denim is that their clothes look like high quality designer jeans with all the benefits of an organic label.  They only use 100% fair trade organic denim, making all of their products entirely sustainable.  The top of my wish list is their Straight Cut Denim in Raw, which, at the semi-meager price of $93 (hey, it’s cheap compared to the $210 True Religions everyone is wearing), is soon to become a reality.

Stewart and Brown: Established in 2002, Stewart and Brown is one of the top non-granola-y green brands out there.  They have a cute, Urban Outfitters-esque style featuring clothes only made from 100% organic cotton grown from non-genetically modified seeds and other sustainable fabrics.  Plus, they donate 1% of their profit to various charities to keep giving back.  Pick up one of their cute dresses and then bask in your eco-conscious glory.

Beyond Skin:  100% of Beyond Skin’s shoes are vegan and made from entirely earth-friendly materials such as polyurethane leather and polyester satins.  And like Stewart and Brown, Beyond Skin donates a percentage of their profits to environmental and social projects.  I personally recommend the Cherub pumps in black hemp (you can’t even tell it’s not leather).  All products are shipped from England, so it’s not the most eco-conscious thing for us Americans, but it’s definitely better than the fugly pleather alternatives.