Fashion Slow Lane!

My BFF from high school just updated her profile photo on fb. I must admit she looks adorable in plaid. I am sad it ever went out of style. I grew up in the 80's and 90's when plaid and Kurt Cobain was the in thing, and the whole grunge Seattle thing was totally in. I never got into the grunge look because I was more into the preppy look, remember white tennis shoes with white socks? That was totally me. Now that plaid is starting to come back, I just think its great. Check out my friend Andrea rocking a really cute plaid top - looks great the second time around. You go girl.

I don't read much about Club Monaco, but I have found it to be a really great store for me. The price is reasonable (most of the clothes are made in China), but the fit and the quality is pretty decent. It works for me. I have champagne taste but like a beer budget, so I do not shop at H&M, their clothes quality sucks, the threads fall off right away, but I can work with Club Monaco. The clothes are on trend but not over the top, the price is reasonable, you can buy a nice top for $50 or so, and the quality lasts me for a few years or more. The clothes are not tooo Junior. I am not a junior, but I like to be in style..I don't need hoochy mama clothes or "club wear" like Bebe, so this is great. Club Monaco has clothes for going out for girls night out as well as business attire. Totally thumbs up!

Better late than never. Follow us on twitter! Our name is: Roccodante (no spaces, all one word) We update daily, weekly or whenever the mood strikes.

I think ETSY is great for people who just make a few items by hand on the side or for a hobby. However for handbag and accessories designers like myself, its impossible to sell on ETSY because frankly I don't hand make 500 handbags per year or whatever it is that I produce. For me, my goal is to make enough bags to actually make a living and a profit, so hand making is not possible. I think hand made things are amazing and there is a market for them, but does it make me less of a designer because I don't hand stitch each piece on my own kitchen table? I am not sure. I can tell you that I design over 100 bags per year and over 12 collections per year in my design studio and on my kitchen table AND I get paid to do it, so that is good. I am afraid of knives and cutting instruments. Really. When I took a pattern making class two years ago in Milan, Italy, the teacher (Signore) was eternally frustrated with me because I did not use the blades to cut the patterns, instead I...

This past few days I have finally received some orders from Linea Pelle show that I placed ages ago. So now I have 75 lbs or purple and green Italian leather that inspired me for some bags, that alas I long forgot about - and the hardware that came in also that was ordered at the Linea Pelle show is like so five months ago. It takes them that long to get it to me, that by the time they do send it, I have forgotten, um..what I was inspired to make with the items...That is my biggest RANT ever is how slow suppliers are....

I was looking for some great boots for the past year or so, something reasonable and casual yet not too casual. I found these amazing "Veronica" Frye boots the other day at Nordstrom and love them! They are super comfortable and you can walk all day in these, I wear them with denim skinney jeans or leggings. The leather is great and molds to your foot, and they have traction on the bottom, just enough for rainy Seattle days when the stairs get slippery.

New at Clutch in downtown Seattle. Rocco e Dante Italian leather cuffs in three different styles, dark purple, green and black Italian leather with gold tone hardware and screw top studs. From $48 on up. Check them out at www.clutchseattle.com or visit their downtown handbag and accessory boutique - in the heart of the financial district at the Fairmont hotel in downtown Seattle.