Patriotic fashion for the 4th of July weekend

The 4th of July weekend is fast approaching and Fashionistas throughout the country are putting together their patriotic outfits for BBQ’s, county fair’s, parade watching and fireworks viewing. One of the common themes with every 4th of July activity is that the weather is warm, the colors are red, white and blue and there will be walking involved.

Dressing for the weather is the easiest part of assembling a patriotic ensemble for the 4th of July. In general, shorts, tee-shirts and tank tops are in order. Sometimes including all three key colors can be a challenge, so many fashion-savvy patriots may opt for blue and white ensembles or all red looks. Regardless of the color mix, the biggest challenge is finding footwear that is not only patriotic but comfortable enough for standing, walking and keeping dirt off a perfect pedicure.

If attending a county fair, such as the Marin County Fair, the one thing to remember is that there is not going to be very much pavement. The ground is dirt and there may be some hay strewn about. This means those sparkling red Christian Louboutin’s will not be appropriate footwear for riding on the Ferris wheel, petting a few goats and eating funnel cakes. In order to enjoy the fair, Fashionistas everywhere will need closed toe shoes that are, <<gasp>> flat!

Yes, flat shoes with closed toes work best at the country fair, despite the fact that they can never be as fabulous as those new suede Prada pumps sitting on your bedroom floor. In order to stay comfortable and have a fabulous time, tennis shoes such as canvas Converse shoes, which can be found at Target or Tom’s shoes work really well for messy feet situations and a lot of standing and walking.

Whatever your plans are for this fabulous holiday weekend, have fun, stay safe and of course, be fabulous!


Pre-Fall shopping list: what to buy now

The pre-fall collections are already on store shelves and small amounts of fall collections are also landing in shops. This means summer items are being pushed towards the sale rack and fall is gracing store windows and featured areas; luring shoppers into buying for the new season. As we begin our fall shopping, the spring/summer collections that are being marked down should not be ignored; they could contain a key piece for fall.

The trends from spring/summer which are staying around for fall include platform pumps, open toe shoes, open toe booties, wedge shoes, flowing Boho-Chic blouses, rocker-chic studs and the color red. These are items that can be found on sale; especially the shoes. In addition to shoes, burgundy or red satchel-style handbags are all the rage for fall 2011. Every shade of red imaginable is hot for fall, so any red items on the sale racks that will keep you warm enough, minus the tank tops and shorts, are perfect transition items for heading into the fall season.

(In the collage below there is a Kooba satchel which is currently on sale at Zappos; and the style is hot off the runway for fall, fabulous!)

What are our top five items for fall? Open toe black platform pumps, a burgundy satchel, one fabulous pea coat, lapis jewelry and an amazing flowing blouse. Happy shopping and stay fabulous 

fall shopping by bayareafashionista featuring a purple leather tote

Kal Rieman is coming to the Bay Area!

Kal Rieman, a hot new designer from New York, is sending her first shipment to the West Coast; and it will be here in the Bay Area! The lucky store is Iniam located in Oakland, California and they will have Kal Rieman’s fall collection on store shelves this September.

Kal Rieman’s collection has been getting noticed and celebrities such as Edie Falco are flocking to her designs for appearances. The new fall collection is filled with menswear inspiration, pops of red or blue and fresh silhouettes. Fashionistas here in Bay Area, as well as around the world will be excited when her collection hits store shelves.

Iniam is located at 5902 College Avenue in Oakland, California. To learn more about Iniam, please visit iniam.com.

To view Kal Rieman’s current collection, please visit kalrieman.com.

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