Fashion Slow Lane!

I run because I can.  Not because I love it or because it makes you lose weight.  Eight years ago I was in the hospital on and off for one month due to an acute ruptured appendix/peritonitis (infection of your entire gut- some people die from it). Following the hospitalizations,  I suffered from moderate to severe knee pain for 2 years.  I was not able to run or even walk a mall without pain.  (I had suffered from a rare side effect of flouroquinilone antibiotics-severe tendinitis)  So now, I am thankful that I can run pain free.  I am slow and steady. Today I ran 2.2 miles, yesterday I put in 2.5 miles.   Its nothing major, but its awesome..considering I used to run 5 miles a day and then for several years I could not run at all. Recently I went to the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and bought some new Nike running shoes.  They are the ugliest things I have ever seen, but they were the only colors left in my size in that particular type of running shoe so they became mine. Run bec

Hotel Chandler, New York City, New York I have been to New York City at least 25 times in the past decade.  I usually stay at least a week for fashion week.   I have stayed over 10 times at the same hotel.  Why the same hotel?   When you find the hotel you like, there is no reason to change.  The hotel I started staying at in 2001 is Hotel Chandler.  I think it had a different name back then, but it has the same feel today as it did over a decade ago. It is a small boutique style hotel.  It is where I stayed a few weeks after 9/11 happened.  I was young and just starting out in the fashion industry.    As a single female traveling alone in a big new city it was a perfect match for me.   I had tried the tourist trap hotels around Times Square.  (actually by boss at the time put me up there.)  I did not feel safe and the rooms were disgusting, you know cigarette butt burns in the bedspreads and nasty stains on the carpet.   It is important to feel comfortable and safe in your s

There is a lot of blogs and articles in the fashion industry talking about Made in USA.  We all know that if you buy Made in USA you have to pay more for the clothing, shoes and handbags.   A lot of people that shop at discount stores like WalMart and Target complain when they go into a boutique and a pair of jeans are $250, but if you look at the label they are often Made in the USA. As a shopper I totally support Made in USA.  Last week I bought a pair of Rag & Bone jeans at Nordstrom.  The price tag was high, about $245.00 plus tax for a pair of jeans.  But I  love them!  There is a new website devoted to Made In USA factories.  Here is the link:    www.makersrow.com This sit is a great resource for USA based designers and startups.   They are adding new suppliers monthly so check back often!  The average American consumer is still very price conscious so I am not sure how fast Made in USA will take off.  The average American woman is used to buying clothes a