The Shop Tart!

Everything You Need to Know About Paper

Well, maybe not everything, but the Shop Tart had a great time scouting several local stationary shops this week! She believes the art of letter and note writing is endangered (not dead!) and needs to be revived. Email is great (and Twitter...and Facebook...), but nothing beats a good old fashioned note. The Shop Tart has note cards for all sorts of occasions: fancy thank you notes, casual thank you notes, responses to wedding invitations*, condolences, what-a-great-party notes**, to name a few. The Shop Tart is ashamed and embarrassed to admit she thought she had to travel far and wide to find the sort of modern stationary she likes. As she learned, stationary for all occasions and all tastes can be found just around the corner.

Gibson's is the standard for the traditional girl (or the wacky girl with an overbearing and very traditional mother or mother-in-law-to-be). They know all the rules and they'll help you navigate them without making you feel like you should know the rules or that the rules even matter (even though they do!) Many, many years ago, when the Shop Tart was a debutante, she ordered her engraving plates and a large quantity of engraved cards  from Gibson's. She still uses them for any sort of note that requires sophistication and maturity.  Gibson's also carries Crane's Imprintables, a super line of note cards and invitations that can be printed from templates on the Crane website. Having a party in two days and want printed invitations? Buy the paper at Gibson's, go home and create your invitation online and print them on your home computer. Voilà! Ask for Lynn and tell her the Shop Tart sent you. She's a hoot! Gibson's also has arguably the best collection of cocktail napkins in town, so take a look while you're there.

Jot (in the same spot as Finleaf, Frenchie Skirts and In the Loop) carries so many stylish options. Tara, the owner, is really excited about more eco-friendly paper and Letterpress printing, an old technique that's new again! Tara carries lines from smaller companies with big style and her passion for paper is obvious from her extensive knowledge. The Shop Tart fell in love with the wrapping paper at Jot. It's reversible, so each sheet has two complementary patterns, both gorgeous! For brides, Tara has a special sitting room, with the most fabulous black and white striped couch and stacks of bridal magazines. That little room made the Shop Tart wish she could get married all over again...Oh well, she'll just have to hope one of her sons marries a girl who wants her help. Wonder how likely that is?

Mbellished, owned by Margaret Murphy, is a great place for the modern, yet preppy, yet stylish woman. Margaret can custom design just about anything. The Shop Tart loved her clean, classic-with-a-twist style. She had everything from personalized stick-on gift tags to invitations. Have you ever gotten an invitation with a cute poem on it and marveled at your hostess' creativity? Well, it might not have been hers! Margaret had a wall filled with invitations she created, including cute little poems she wrote. She can write something for any occasion, from a child's sleepover party to a 40th Birthday Oyster Roast. Mbellished has a great website, too, if you want to save some time by making choices before you go to the store. All the paper products are available online now, and gifts will be available soon. There are already plenty to choose from in the store right now. The Shop Tart particularly liked the personalized frames.

Burlap, on Rosewood Avenue, had oodles of modern choices. The Shop Tart was thrilled to learn that they can create custom holiday picture cards in just a few days. Frankly, the Shop Tart's children are a little too adorable for the standard drugstore photo card and she needs something better. Burlap also carries Jack and Lulu, a Shop Tart favorite for note cards. And they had a beautiful collection of wrapping paper, for when you want a gift to look extra special (or professionally wrapped!)

The Shop Tart was thrilled to learn that all of the stores have quick turnaround time for invitation printing. She's not so good at planning ahead and likes things done quickly! It's so much nicer to be able to go to an actual store and see examples, instead of trying to muddle through choices online (and waiting days for shipping!) In fact, she might just have to plan a party, so she can order invitations...or four parties, so she can go to all four stores. How about a Shop Tart launch party? And whatever would she wear to her launch party? Hmm...

Happy shopping!

* Does anyone under the age of 54 still do this other than the Shop Tart? Just in case you should receive an invitation without the response card that has become standard, please know that you should drop a note in the mail, preferably on your own engraved stationary. It should read:

Mr. and Mrs. Shop Tart
accept with pleasure (or "regret that they are unable to accept") the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. Parents of the Bride
for Saturday, June Whenever.

Use your own information, of course, lest the hosts think the Shop Tart is trying to crash the wedding. The Shop Tart hopes her mother is pleased to know that she knows this.

** Would you like to make a hostess' day? Send her a note the morning after her party, telling her what a great time you had. One or two sentences will suffice. She'll be too tired to read more!

Look of the Week

This week, the Shop Tart stopped in M Boutique to snap this picture of Emily, the owner. Doesn't she look cute? The Shop Tart took her by surprise, so she only had five minutes to get ready, which is why this dress (priced right at 88$) is so great. You could throw it on and be ready for  impromptu Margaritas in the backyard or a night out on the town with friends. Or a beach barbeque...or a pool party...or brunch... Did the Shop Tart mention she thinks this dress is very versatile?

Emily was in such a hurry, she didn't have time for shoes, but the dress would look great with flip-flops, strappy sandals, espadrilles or, as you can see, bare feet. And that fab blue bag (58$), also available at M, would add zing to any outfit!

M has plenty of other tops and dresses for Spring and Summer, including some things that just arrived from brand new line BCBGeneration (a merging of two other lines, To the Max and BCBGirls). Also new in the store are Joe's Petite Jeans in organic denim, a super soft lighter rinse just in time for Spring! You can always find a great selection of denim at M.

The Shop Tart was dying to know where Emily found her funky, long earrings. Although M Boutique has a table full of  great jewelry, she found those just next door at Handpicked. The super-stylish Emily says she finds a lot of things there and down the street at Just the Thing. There's your tip from a fashion expert!

Happy shopping!
 

Why You Should Go to Trunk Shows

The Shop Tart had a great time at Van Jean yesterday, where she met Marysia Reeves of Marysia Swimwear and Jane Pope of Balboa Jewelry. Trunk shows are the best, because you have the opportunity to see a lot more of a designer's line than any store could carry. And, you get the inside scoop, right from the designer!

Marysia's suits were absolutely gorgeous. The color palettes were lovely. Some suits were tangerine and pink, others were aqua, black and tan, perfect for tan or not so tan bodies. They were very figure flattering and Marysia was there to help the Shop Tart choose which tops might best support her bust (there were several) and which bottoms might fit they way she preferred. There were one and two pieces available, all stunning and glamorous. Marysia interned with Milly and her style is similar, with maybe a touch more sophistication. VanJean will carry a lot of her pieces, so if you missed the trunk show, go take a look before they're all gone!

Speaking of glamorous, don't forget that jewelry at the pool is a must. And Balboa, by Jane Pope, is perfect. The Shop Tart was over the moon about some thin, twig like bangles and rings. And there was a citrine cocktail ring that she could have built her entire summer wardrobe around! The Shop Tart has always wanted a "beach wedding ring." You know, a simple band to wear in place of her engagement ring and wedding band, just on the beach. The Shop Tart's husband should take note, because it is dangerous to let his wife prance around in a bathing suit looking unmarried! She thinks one of these would be perfect.

As usual, the Shop tart was in giddy fan mode and had to snap a picture. That's Marysia on the left and Jane on the right. They could be sisters (gorgeous and stylish sisters!) And that's one of Marysia's suits to the left.

On other news...the Shop Tart plans to stop in Frame of Mind. The Shop Tart is in desperate need of a summer bag and hopes the larger flowered one ( a Nana Bag, by local designer Sally Peek) is still there. It's an eyeglass store, but Mark the owner also carries Nana Bags, jewelry designed by his own wife and the work of local artists. In fact, he features one artist a month and hosts a wine, cheese and art show for each new show. The wine and cheese (and art!) happens on the fourth Thursday of each month (May 22 will be the next one), starting around 5:30 pm. Until the next artist arrives, you can see Alicia Leeke's work - beautiful!

And, oh yeah, Mark also has glasses, including some things that are cutting edge and can't be found just anywhere. There were some really funky ones by Blinde. And if you aren't lucky enough to need glasses, he carries some fab shades, too, by Kate Spade (a Shop Tart favorite because they don't rest on her cheeks!), Gucci, Dior, IC Berlin, Yves St Laurent and Giorgio Armani.

Happy Shopping!

Follow The Shop Tart!

The Shop Tart has a busy week ahead, but she still plans to find the time to do a little shopping. She loves the convenience of shopping in town. Everything's right there, so no need to waste time (or crazy expensive gas!) driving to the mall!

• Today from 12 to 6 pm, VanJean is hosting an event you won't want to miss, a trunk show featuring Marysia Swimwear and Balboa Jewelry. Marysia swimwear is created by Marysia Reeves, who lives in Charleston. Jane Pope, designer of Balboa, also lives in Charleston and was recently featured in Vogue Magazine! The swimwear is super glam and the Shop Tart can't wait to take a look!
• Pout is hosting a makeup event. You'll meet Alison Raffaele, creator of a cosmetics line by the same name, and Victoria Luburich, creator of Wallett Cosmetics and lipstick guru. They'll be teaching a Master Make-Up Class on Thursday, May 15, from 10 am until 12:30 pm. Call to reserve a spot soon, because space is limited! If you can't make it to the class, the ladies will be on hand to mix and mingle from 1 to 5 pm. Stop by to meet them and enjoy refreshments!
• Need to spice things up in the bedroom? Strobler is offering 20% off all beds, bedroom casegoods and bed linens, including custom orders. Their linens are gorgeous! Now would be a great time for a new look.
• Weathers of Columbia is offering a $200 rebate for every $800 you spend, just in time for Father's Day. You'll need to join their email list to receive the coupon. Weathers has also reduced all sport coats and suits by 25%, Canale suits by $400, plenty of slacks and sportswear by 25-50% and all neck ties by $25. There should be something for all the men in your life!
• Bella Vista Bridal and Wedding Boutique is extending their huge sample sale through today. There are dresses for up to 70% off. The sale only happens once every two years, so even if you aren't planning to get married right away, you should still take a look. Actually, with discounts like that, you should take a look even if you don't have a boyfriend right now. The Shop Tart might stop in because, although her husband seems pretty steady, you never know what tomorrow may bring!
• Belladea has a full rack of things on sale that will work for Spring. They also have quite a few new things for summer, not on sale, but worth a look!
• The Bohemian also has a big sale rack, including some things by Parameter, a Shop Tart favorite. Bohemian Home, down the street, is hosting a wine tasting May 15. Give them a call for more information.
• The Shop Tart has heard some rather interesting things about new store Manya. She plans to investigate and update soon.
• Sophie Shoes is still offering 25% off all shoes. Time for new sandals! And wedges...and evening shoes...
• New restaurant Saffron is now open. The Shop Tart can't wait to try it!
• Don't forget the exclusive deal for Shop Tart readers from 20!20 Vision in Five Points!
• Stay tuned for a "Look of the Week" from Frenchie of Frenchie Skirts in the next couple of weeks. She was featured in a big article in The State today.

And speaking of the "Look of the Week", is there a store you'd like to see featured? Do you own or work in a store that the Shop Tart should visit? Or do you have one of those friends who sets the trends for everyone else? Please let the Shop Tart know, because she's always on the lookout for great style!

Happy shopping!

Stopped by The Main Street Marketplace

And what a beautiful day for it! The Shop Tart saw locally grown produce, handmade soaps and lotions, handmade and vintage jewelry and local art. She tasted a scrumptious benne wafer and enjoyed the smells of barbeque cooking. It was so nice to see people enjoying lunch al fresco. There were several vendors selling food, including that delicious smelling barbeque. It's open every Friday in May and June, so make sure to stop by soon.

And, yes, the Shop Tart's hair looked fabulous, just in case you wanted to know!

 

Have a great weekend!

Exclusive Deal for Shop Tart Readers!

The Shop Tart is thrilled to announce that 20!20 Vision in Five Points is offering an exclusive discount on something the Shop Tart really likes. Here it is:

• Save $50 on Botox injections.
• Save $100 on Juvederm.
• Or...save $150 and get them both at once!

The Shop Tart is too coy to tell you which of the above she has done, but let it suffice to say that, after she indulged, her husband couldn't quit telling her how beautiful and relaxed she looked. And he didn't have a clue that she had help*! Make sure to mention the Shop Tart to get your discount, which is available until the end of May. 20!20 also has a fab selection of designer sunglasses, including Coach and Gucci. Don't you need a new pair (or two!) for Summer?

In other news, the Shop Tart has a hair appointment this morning, at the Tillman Salon. By the time you hear from her again, she'll not only look fabulous, she'll feel divine! At Tillman, every appointment starts with a quick, but effective massage. Heaven! She also plans to stock up on Aveda products (Phomollient Styling Foam, Hang Straight Lotion, Confixor Liquid Gel and Sap Moss Conditioner, to name a few!) 

Once her hair is looking fabulous, she'll need to show it off. The Main Street Marketplace is the perfect place to be seen. Held in the courtyard of the Columbia Museum of Art every Friday in May and June, from 10 am to 2 pm, the Marketplace is supposed to be a great place to shop and lots of fun. The Shop Tart will be sure to let you know what she finds, maybe after lunch at Motor Supply or the Garden Bistro in the Vista. Ooh! And if she finishes lunch in time, she'll take her perfectly coiffed head into Carol Saunders to look at some jewelry (love the Alexis Bittar and Barbara Heinrich!) and local art.

Stay tuned for more about the Main Street Marketplace!

*Public Service Announcement: Honesty in marriage is important. She 'fessed up about two years later. Delayed honesty, but honesty nonetheless!

Get that glow!

The Shop Tart loves to shop. Oh, you already knew that? Ahem. Well, shopping takes stamina, all that walking from shop to shop, not to mention the stretching involved in pulling garment after garment on and off again. And talk about core strength! The Shop Tart has taken years of Pilates classes, just to learn how to breathe and hold her stomach in at the same time (it's a skill every lady should have!)  A good shopper has to be fit and luckily, there are plenty of cute and stylish workout clothes out there. Those clothes are important, because they have to go from the gym, to the coffee shop, to the grocery store and often out to lunch.

The Shop Tart happens to be a Yoga junkie, which means she practically lives at City Yoga, where she discovered the most comfortable Yoga pants ever, by Be Present. Bonus: They come in several lengths and more colors than she can count! City Yoga also has plenty of tops, many with (figure enhancing!) shelf bras. Right now, they have some great patterned camisoles and tanks in bright colors for Spring. In case you need them, they also have Yoga props (mats, blocks, eye pillows and beautiful mat bags), books and CDs. There are a few Nana Bags (made by local Sally Peek) hiding among the Yoga clothes, too. Sally can make one to order if you don't see one that suits you.

Half-Moon Outfitters is another great place for exercise wear. They carry plenty of Patagonia and the more stylish Prana. They also carry Marmot, including some fab patterned t-back tanks with built-in shelf bras. Speaking of bras (and how can you talk fitness wear without mentioning them?), Half-Moon stocks the Shop Tart's all time favorite sport bra, the Fiona, made by Moving Comfort. It's pricey, but well worth it, as it managed to stabilize the Shop Tart's bust through pregnancy and nursing, no matter how fast she ran or how enthusiastic she got in Step class. The Fiona is a true miracle. The bras are also available at Todd & Moore.

Half-Moon also had tons of bathing suits, by Carve Designs, Billabong and Patagonia. Those suits are all designed for surfers, divers and tri-athletes, so they stay put, no matter how wild the waves get (or how many children you ahve to chae down the beach or how much dancing you want to do after a Daiquiri or two!) And don't forget flip-flops to slip on after the beach or exercise class. Half-Moon has plenty of styles by Chaco, Reef and Rainbow, among others. The Shop Tart loved the less expensive patterned ones by Havaianas. In fact, they were so reasonably priced, she might have to get several pairs to go with different outfits...

Happy shopping!

Look of the Week

It's time for another Look of the Week, worn by aspiring designer and Revente employee Lindsey, who moved here last year from New Orleans. She's wearing a dress by Hazel, flip-flops by Rainbow, a funky octopus necklace by Nook Art and an animal print cuff studded with rhinestones. Everything is from Revente, but it's a consignment store, so merchandise changes regularly. Just yesterday, they had an absolutely glorious Prada straw bag with green accents and a chain handle for about a third of what it cost new...and a pair of white Prada loafers...and some Jimmy Choo sandals...all great deals. In addition to high end finds, Revente carries plenty of less pricey options. They even have a whole Lilly Pulitzer section, just in time for summer! The Shop Tart snapped this picture of Lindsey beside a BCBG dress (Size 6), which would be great for the Black & White Ball...

Incidentally, the Shop Tart is sure she would never be hired to work at Revente, because she couldn't stop herself from tearing into arriving bags of unworn designer clothing! Revente is paradise for the fashionista on a budget.

In other news:

• Melissa at VanJean has marked down a lot of Spring clothing 30% and still has a lot of sizes. And stay tuned for news about an upcoming swimwear trunk show...
• Pre-Summer Sale: Emily at M Boutique is offering 15% off tops and dresses, today only, so don't miss the chance to pick up some cute pieces for your next vacation. The shop is packed with fun, affordable things!
• The Bohemian has some great layering t-shirts by Active for $17. The Shop Tart, frankly, is sick and tired of buying t-shirts from certain big chain stores that seem like a deal at $7, until they stretch, pill and fall apart after one or two wearings. At $17, the Active shirts won't break the bank, especially since you can wear them all summer! The Shop Tart bought three and might go back for more.
• Main and Taylor Shoe Salon, an old Columbia favorite, is in the middle of their semi-annual sale. All shoes are 25% and 35% off, excluding Jack Rogers and Mephisto. Main and Taylor is the place to go for hard to find sizes, long, short, wide and narrow. The Shop Tart is always pleasantly surprised by the selection, so go take a look!
• For the gentlemen, there's an Oxx ford Suit Trunk Show today at Granger Owings from 9 am - 6 pm.
• A source told the Shop Tart that new shop Manya will be carrying Marc Jacobs. Oooooh! Can't wait for that to go on sale!

Happy shopping!

Black & White Ball!

Isn't it nice when you can support a good cause and be fabulous at the same time? The Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art are hosting the third annual Black and White Ball. It's going to be an absolute blast and the Shop Tart and husband can't wait to attend. The Shop Tart likes to be a good guest and participate in any theme wholeheartedly, especially for charity, so she's been scouring the shops for something black and/or white to wear. Her husband of course, will be in black tie and jacket or, if the weather permits, a white dinner jacket, which the Shop Tart thinks is just dreamy... He even has a special pair of Malcolm X/Buddy Holly-style vintage glasses to wear with it.

Here are some highlights from the Shop Tart's scouring (and, no, she has not made a decision yet...)

• The Ivory Tower is all about party dresses, many by Nicole Miller, who has a way of making a woman look smashing. There are a lot of things on sale, so look for a bargain, but don't ignore the regular priced dresses.
• VanJean has a lot of options: short dresses, tops in black or white, cocktail skirts to match and, the Shop Tart's absolute favorite, a long, black textured silk dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim. By "favorite," we mean that the Shop Tart felt overwrought with despair a little bit weepy for the rest of the day because it was a tiny bit out of her price range (which is always negotiable) and not her size (which is never negotiable, at least not on such short notice).
• The Bohemian has several cute tops, black, white and both, including some by Parameter which are lovely. They also have at least three LBD's (Little Black Dresses) for under $100.
• Round Robin has quite a few fun cocktail dresses, including a Michael Kors zebra print. They also had one in a black and white cheetah print.
• Fortay has several dresses in black and white, including a fabulous (and heavily discounted!) one by Shoshanna in a Size 8. If you're a Size 8, hurry down there! If not, hurry down anyway, because the sale only lasts until Saturday and things are going fast. The Shop Tart was there today and there were several girls and their mothers trying on party clothes.
• Coplon's has a fine selection of party dresses, including several affordable ones by BCBG and one totally appropriate flapper-ish dress in the clearance room. There was a fab white cotton dress with a black border at the bottom, fancied up with large, chartreuse jewels at the neckline, by Vera Wang Lavender Label (Lavender Label=much easier on the budget than Vera Wang's original line, by the way!) Chartreuse isn't black or white exactly, but the dress is so pretty and the embellishment at the neckline seems more like jewelry than part of the dress, if you're looking for justification!
• For next year, plan ahead and consider having something made by AnnaBelle of LaRoque or Frenchie of Frenchie Skirts. It's fun to be an original!
• Sophie Shoes and Kicks have plenty of gold and silver evening sandals that look great with black or white. Kicks had some amazing metallic clutches by lorelei to go with the shoes. Don't forget to pre-scuff the bottoms before the ball though, so you don't slip on the dance floor!
• Need a mask? They're available at the Museum Shop or you can get one at the ball. The shop is also a great place to find one of a kind jewelry and crafts by local artists.

Whatever you decide to wear, don't miss the ball, which is sure to be glamorous and fun! Check out the invitation below and call for your tickets today or get them online at the Columbia Museum of Art's website. Be sure to find the Shop Tart so she can see what you decided to wear! Mwah!

Follow the Shop Tart!

Spring has arrived! There are plenty of balmy days ahead, perfect for parking the car and strolling down Devine Steet, into Five Points and, after lunch outside at the Gourmet Shop, down to the Vista. Now is the time to add a few key pieces to your Summer wardrobe.

Here's what's happening this week:

• Huge Summer Sale at Fortay. All Spring and Summer merchandise 30%-60% off. That'll be going on all week, from Monday until Saturday. The Shop Tart stopped in the other day and has her eye on a super-slimming, brown and white striped Alice+Olivia maxi dress...and a sequin-trimmed tunic dress...and a DVF wrap dress...and maybe just a couple of things by julie haus...
• All shoes at Sophie are 25% off. They have loads of cute things for summer, including the adorable madras espadrilles featured in last week's "Look of the Week."
• The Ivory Tower has racks and racks of sale things, mostly dresses. They have a lot of Nicole Miller, who is a genius at the art of figure flattering. There was a brilliant pinstriped ruched dress in the Shop Tart's size. Hmm...
• Exotica is still open and everything is on clearance until they close their doors forever at the end of May.
• For super cute dresses that are très chic (but not très expensive!), check out Goga and Wish.

Happy shopping!