Of course we are complete advocates of shopping locally, but what’s a girl to do when it’s midnight or she’s trapped within the confines of a cubicle and she has a burning desire to buy a new (insert your favorite item here)? The answer is to shop online. Amassed here for your convenience is a list of fabulous websites that are guaranteed to quell even the worst case of shopoholicism in no time flat. We’re obsessed with shopping online.
swirl.com
Designer duds at a deep discount.
Note: Check out the latest Obsessive Beauty blog and enter the next contest.
Editor’s note: This year’s fashion issue was a huge hit, as was our Win It and Wear It Contest. So, from here on out, we’ll be holding a weekly contest at the Obsessive Beauty blog, where you can win more fashionable items from the people featured in the fashion issue, and many others. Upcoming prizes include jewelry from Stripe, a ring from August Mae Designs, panties from Manu, jewelry from Idle Hands, a leather accessory from Nuala, a facial from Beauty 360 Santa Cruz, a wallet from Wallflower Boutique, a hair cut and hair products from Urban Groove, and much more. The next contest begins on Wednesday, Aug. 18. In the meantime, check back here frequently for blogs about fashion and beauty.
NEW CONTEST: Visit the latest Obsessive Beauty blog and enter to win the latest contest. Deadline is Aug. 24.
Winners announced from the Aug. 18 contest. (See Below.)
ANNOUNCEMENT: Because this contest has been such a hit, GT will be running a weekly fashion/beauty giveway contest here on Obsessive Beauty. Check back next week to enter to win the first prize.
Like what you saw in the pages of GT’s fashion issue?
Then things will only get better for you. For the first time ever, we’re offering a slew of free giveaways, items featured in this Fashion Issue, all for free.
Here’s what to do: Leave a comment here on the Obsessive Beauty, Win It or Wear It Contest blog, or, go to the Fashion Issue cover story online and leave a comment. Tell us what you were obsessed about from the Fashion Issue and you’ll be entered to win one of the following prizes:
You know that saying, “You can never be too rich or too thin?” I would like to take this opportunity to tack on the addendum, “or have too many cashmere sweaters.” My personal obsession with cashmere began six years ago. In preparation for my first trip to dank and dreary London, I purchased a pair of cashmere-lined gloves to protect my digits from the elements. Little did I know how the spun-soft, wooly feeling against my skin would prove to be my hidden, secret addiction for years to come.
If you’re an avid reader of Obsessive Beauty, you’ve already heard about the make up and skin care godsend in Santa Cruz called Beauty 360—a sensational emporium packed with lotions and potions galore. My fellow blogger Christa Martin and I have been testing out the sumptuous products. In fact, our only complaint may well be that there are so many choices that it is difficult to know where to begin. That’s why we’ve decided to road test a smattering of brands and products, virtual test rats as you will, to save you the wrinkles you may have gotten had you raised your eyebrows trying to make such decisions.
On Friday, July 9, a team of innovative designers changed the face of fashion forever in Santa Cruz, in a powerful, dynamic, creative, inspired, gorgeous way. With the incarnation of The Thistle in the Kiss fashion show at Stripe, a popular clothing, jewelry, and house wares boutique in Downtown Santa Cruz, we saw fierce fashion hit the runway in a show like nothing we’ve seen here prior. It felt like you were a privileged invitee at a top-notch runway show at Bryant Park. And there at the center of everything was apparel designer Alexis Meschi of Lex Designs and accessories designer Terry McInerney of Nuala. Together, the pair joined creative forces with the staff of Stripe, who created an original line of jewelry for the show, and the team threw an unforgettable fashion show that will be gushed about for a long time.
As an acne sufferer for the last 20 years, I've been plagued by bumpy skin, cysts, white heads, peeling skin, the gamut of acne problems. I've tried prescription medications, topical products, and even antibiotics. Never in all that time has my skin looked clear and beautiful—until seven months ago. I always had some sort of a blemish at all times. At the beginning of 2010, I decided to switch up my entire skin care routine. Sick of using pricey products with minimal results, I did extensive research on what else was out there. In my search, I found a line, Mario Badescu, whose testimonials from real customers outshone those of Proactive and the other anti-acne lines. In the seven months that I've been using the line, I've had very few zits. The reason this line works on my skin (I think) is that it balances out the usage of harsh products like salicylic acid with healing properties like Balsam Peru.
For a girl with a Kim Kardashian-sized rear end, finding a flattering pair of pants can be a struggle. But no longer. Recently, I took a jaunt down the street to my neighborhood store, Stripe (Stripedesigngroup.com), where I do a fair amount of shopping. The staff knows me quite well by now, to the point that I can walk in the door and they'll hit the racks, pulling out things they know I'll like. And every time, they're right. It's so impressive, that I swear they know my measurements—they know exactly what styles I'm drawn to, and precisely how something will fit my body. They also know that I have a lot of junk in my trunk, so to speak. (My words, not theirs.) So when I stopped by Stripe recently, the staff confidently pulled a pair of black pants off the rack and insisted that I try them on "just for fun." There was that knowing smile they had. And once I put on the Level 99 Wren Trousers ($88), I knew why they were smiling. Until that day, I had never found a pair of pants that fit my curves so carefully and attractively. Soft, with a linen feel, the pants are wide-leg to streamline curvy hips, and they have been exquisitely constructed to boost up the rear end. Perfect pants? Absolutely. I ended up buying two pairs—one in black, and one in khaki/brown. Sure, I spent a ton of money, but as any woman with curves knows, once you find a dreamy pair of pants, you always buy two pairs. 
If you happen to find yourself on Broome Street the next time you visit NYC (as Christa and I did on our Big Apple adventure last month), a stop at Marie Belle New York is an absolute must. This delectable confectionary and tea boutique houses what may be the most toothsome and tantalizing candies east of the Mississippi. Upon entering the aromatic space, your senses will go into immediate overdrive. Combine the scent of chocolate, a delicate robin’s egg blue and chocolate brown color palette and an ambiance replete with stained glass, chandeliers and dark wood and you’ll have the sudden feeling that you have stepped straight into the pages of an Edith Wharton novel.
And you thought Santa Cruz wasn't on the cusp of fashion? Think again. Tis' the fashion show season for our humble town by the sea. On Saturday, June 26, you've got two fashionable decisions to make. And later, on July 9, it's time to invoke your inner fashion goddess once again. Let's start with your itinerary: On Saturday, June 26, sometime during the day, you're going to swing by Cameron Marks (402 Ingalls St.) on the Westside and check out the expansive trunk show featuring a handful of designers, chat about skin care and drench yourself in new jewelry. And while you're there, pick up some food at the Kelly's Dinner Market beginning at 6 p.m. Once you're happy and stuffed, hoof it over to Katwalk Salon (902 Soquel Ave.) for an 8 p.m. runway show hosted by the ladies of Idle Hands, a co-op boutique in downtown Santa Cruz, where they're holding a charity fashion show for one of Santa Cruz's Derby Girls, "Babs Bomber," who's out of commission dealing with an injury. Then, a few weeks later, you're going to swing by Stripe at 107 Walnut Ave. around 6 p.m. for their fashion show, "The Thistle in the Kiss," at 8 p.m., where clothing by Lex Designs, jewelry by Stripe, and accessories by Nuala will walk down the runway. Summer just got a whole lot better in Santa Cruz.
