DECEMBER. Only a light dusting of snow between today and the surprise snowstorm of October 29. We lost a couple of trees, many branches, and were out of electricity for 5 days. Worse, we didn't get our phone service back until the following Sunday (no Internet!), but we survived with our camp stove, old percolator, and lots of wood for our fireplace insert. I'm sure that many people in the area, including myself, don't want to live that pioneer life. (I haven't gone to bed that early since I was 8 years old.) So. Looking forward to the new year, 2012, and hoping the rest of the winter brings only snow that looks pretty, with no challenges.
The holiday season is upon us, and we hope you are ready with some pretty, sparkly things to wear to parties and at the dinner table. Your Traveling Fashionistas, elen and tuka, are done with shows for this year and are taking some much-needed time to be with family and friends. We love to bake cookies, decorate, entertain, and shop. We particularly love the after-Christmas sales, though this year we are planning to hit the stores on December 23 and hope to find some major markdowns on decor, exotic foods, and whatever else strikes our fancy. This is our favorite kind of treasure hunting.
We are looking forward to the January shows in New York and Philadelphia. First up is the Philadelphia Gift Show, which has more general merchandise than accessories, but often has the odd bit or two that fits in with our Fashionista collection. The Accessories Show at the Javits Center in NYC is next; that is one of our major purchasing shows. We will be looking for pretty, decorative jackets, as well as other useful and attractive pieces of clothing. Finally, the International Gift show at the end of the month is big, big, big. They say it's 7 miles if you walk all of it, and we do the majority of those miles. This show covers all sorts of merchandise from china to linens, to shoes and purses, jewelry, childrens' toys, and much more. We always find something for us there among the unique offerings in the fair trade and international areas. As always, we buy with an eye to what will help you stretch your wardrobe inexpensively and give you good value both in quality and appearance. We like unique pieces that add a certain something without being too outrageous.
Our first scheduled show this year is the first weekend in March (see schedule below), but don't forget, if you want to see any of our merchandise in a private showing, just email us to set up an appointment. We also can create a fun fashion party for you and your friends, featuring wardrobe advice and how to accessorize. We will be adding the latest merchandise to our slide show as we get it in. Meanwhile, this link will show you what we currently have in stock. Click here
Updated fashion news from our industry newsletter
•Pantone Reveals 2012 Color of the Year: Tangerine Tango, “a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward: a magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.&rdquo
About the Pantone Color of the Year
The color of the year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.
• Drawstring Bags This spring, handbags are getting a facelift, but no need to go under the knife, this nip-tuck comes in the version of a tried-and-true closure: the drawstring. Keep an eye out for this season’s bucket style.
• Floppy Hats Nothing combines fashion and function better than the floppy hat. Seen in a variety of materials and brim sizes, this silhouette not only protects from those harmful rays, it adds instant glamour and even camouflages.
• Burnished metals. These distressed metals seen throughout jewelry and hardware may lack shine and luster, but they stand out on their own, often creating an old vintage feel in Spring’s newest designs.
• Polka Dots Polka dots are popping up all over accessories. This fun and flirty graphic print is seen in many variations–from itty bitty to oversized.
• Floral Motifs and Prints Spring has sprung, literally, as an array of floral prints and motifs pop up all over accessories. Not just your garden variety floral, these blooms range from delicate and feminine to bold and bright.
Tuka update . Tuka's busy decorating her home for the holiday season, both inside and outside, and creating a warm space for friends and family. She's also keeping busy with one of her favorite charitable projects collecting clothing and toilet items for the homeless teenagers in the Allentown schools. Recently she and friends wrapped over 200 holiday gifts to be distributed to the kids during a holiday party. She and her husband still continue their travels across the state for the Pennsylvania Historical Commission lecturing on our local (Pennsylvania) Native American heritage, and now include the role of Native Americans in the Civil War. Tuka's children's book, When the Shadbush Blooms continues to be used for multicultural children's programs and ESL classes. Click here to read more on Shadbush. Tuka's Web site As always, Tuka is available and happy to give fashion consultations on stretching your clothing dollar.
