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Every so often a designer will offer my readers a nice discount towards their fashions. We thought that since there is no gift giving holiday for a while, we would turn July 4th into a holiday with gifts for you! Shien Ru Tsao, the designer and brain behind The KUZA Strap, wants to offer Kickin Off readers 10% off your strap of choice. There are several fun and colorful designs to choose from, and having one of these means you can head into Fall with confidence. Why all the sudden confidence for Fall? 
Because The KUZA Strap is actually solving a major fashion problem. You know when you have this amazing and totally coordinated outfit that consists of super chic skinny jeans and your new high leather riding boots? You are so excited, except that when you sit down, the jeans pull up and they bunch at the knee. Or, if you are a city girl and you are walking the many blocks to get where you need to be, you look down and your pants are puddles around the top of the boot. Big thumbs down. The KUZA Strap clips onto the bottom of the pants, much like a stirrup, and holds them down. No one but your cute little socks will see the strap, but who cares, they are adorably designed anyway. $16 for normal people, but you are not normal, you are special. Special people get a discount of 10% after you type in the code Kickin10 at checkout. www.shopkuza.com
When I would think about the moment I would become engaged, I envisioned tears, hugging, and just mushy mushy mushy. It's one of the biggest moments in life, so naturally you would think I would act appropriately. So, you can imagine my surprise when on Saturday, June 19th, Eric got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, my reaction was "What? What's going on? What are you doing? Is this a joke? What?!" I felt stunned, shocked, numb. I did not cry; in fact, my sister was crying so hard on the phone I could hardly make out what she was saying. After my initial ridiculous outburst, I laughed and then it all fell into place. Omg. I am engaged. SURREAL! 
He took me to one of the nicest restaurants in Portland, Maine called Fore Street. However, we may as well have been at McDonald's because I couldn't focus on the surroundings and hardly tasted the three bites of salmon he basically had to order for me because I couldn't focus. And to be honest, I still don't have my whole appetite back because when I get nervous or in this case excited, it always ties my tummy up in knots. It's been a journey for me, finding this man of my dreams. It was not easy, and I went through a dark place to eventually get to where I needed to be, which is here. I look back at my past and while I cringe sometimes at old relationships, I would absolutely do it all over again if it meant I would again end up with Eric. But I would probably complain the whole way. So now it begins- the planning. I have an idea of what I want for my wedding, but it's been a very general idea; I never thought about details because I didn't want to jinx myself. I also didn't want to have the whole thing planned before I even got engaged! I laugh and say that my sister has been like a horse behind the gate before the race... just barely holding it together wanting to go, go, go!! And thank god for my mom who emailed anyone and everyone to share the good news, which really saved me a lot of time!! I am thrilled to be able to walk through this with my family; my two sisters and my mother. Well, I have a brother and a father, but I am sure they wouldn't be too excited to be dragged down by this. So, I am saving their souls. I hear horror stories about the planning of a wedding, but the last thing I want is to turn this into something much bigger than it is. I read this quote recently, and I am going to try and keep it in mind for the next year, "There are only five things you need to get married: a bride, a groom, an officiant, a license, and a witness. Everything else is just fluff." It reminds me that I don't want to stress about fluff. I want to be loved, and love, and just walk through this experience with a smile, an open mind, and lots of laughing. Stay tuned for the fashionable journey ahead!
Sunday was the first night of Style Week Providence, the first ever fashion WEEK in Providence, Rhode Island ( the state I come home to for Christmas). About a month ago, I interviewed Rosanna Ortiz Sinel, the Founder of SWP, who gave me some insight into the event, the designers, and the overall process of making something big happen in such a little state. Sunday's kickoff began at 3pm with a book signing by Boston Fashion Week founder, Jay Calderin. There were two runway shows starting at 6pm, which of only one I was able to attend; Selah D'or by David Chum.I've been reading up on the designers showing this week, and I enjoyed reading about David Chum, the designer behind Selah D'or. David is a Boston-based designer who is self taught. With only a year and a half under his belt, he has been wowing the crowds. Though his fashion design career is brief, David knows a thing or two about beauty and art because he is a professionally trained artist whose work has been seen all over the country. I often refer to fashion as art, so marrying the two is never a surprise. The Selah D'or show was split in two parts; SS 10 and FW10. The first part of the show featured some very structured and feminine dresses with high collars and princess seams. He showed a few dresses with a deep plunging neckline that could give Hollywood starlets a run for their money. Done right, such a plunge can be truly elegant, as seen in his work.
The second part, FW10, featured a lot of black which, for my style, isn't a color I often wear. However, the last part of the show was worth mentioning. There were a few very cool mini dresses mixing sheer organza with black and gold filled chains, studded shoulderpads, and full metal zippers. Everyone knows you have to have at least one LBD in your closet. David's dresses offer a different take on tradition, which is always welcome in my book. His collections are available at Suneri on Newbury in Boston and Calico@Heir in Downcity Providence. He also has a great site which is www.selahdor.com. I also heard that David will work with you and create a custom design that is all that you could ever imagine. Images courtesy of Selah D'or.
There are no words to describe my style, because to be honest I am not quite sure what it is about certain things that strike my fancy. I tend to lean towards simple and unique utilitarian these days, whereas years ago I was very much into bright colors and bold patterns. I rarely find things that I must have or I will faint, so when I do I let everyone know that if I buy it, it's because it was meant to be in my life. Plain and simple. And I can promise you that when I do purchase such items, I will wear them to the death. This is a perfect example. Last year I was minding my own business walking down the cute streets of Portsmouth, NH when I came across a pair of shoes in a shop window. I walked by three times over the course of an hour before I decided to go in and try them on. I actually posted a blog about it last April, which you can find here.. These shoes spoke to me ladies and gents, they said loud and clear "Your feet will never forgive you if you don't buy these." I know, sounds weird, but I only speak my version of the truth. I bought these shoes, and I wear them at least three times a week in the warmer season. Point made. 
So that is also how I felt when I saw these Pauline Leather Oxfords from Austrian designer Rosa Mosa. I found them through one of my favorite designers in Portland, OR who also has a boutique called IDOM. Modi, the designer, sent out a newsletter introducing these beauties and I don't know what it was, but they immediately won me over. Man oh man these are just SO awesome. I know, simple right? You look at them and there is not much to them, but that's what I love. I need to get me a pair of these. Pronto.
