Local style consultant Risa Kostis is no fashion industry amateur. As a former sales executive turned Public Relations Director for GoldenBleu Handbags in San Francisco and Prairie New York Women’s Clothing in Manhattan, Kostis has lived east to west, using her passion for style to create everyday adorable looks that are suitable…
It’s the holiday season, which means lights are everywhere: On your neighbor’s house, decorating the local bar, and on buildings of downtown Phoenix. During the buildup to Christmas, Jackalope Ranch will be running the numbers on some of the best and brightest light displays around the Valley. Visiting the eclectic…
Sure, it’s a blanket as soft as a vagina, and OK, maybe you’d like that feeling all over your face, but for a cool $70, we can assure you’d be better off paying for the real thing … or buying your girlfriend a really nice peace offering. …
Countless Kris Kringle clones invaded the streets and sidewalks of Old Town Scottsdale when the Arizona Cacophony Society staged it’s annual Santarchy bar crawl on Saturday, December 17. Participants came dressed in variety of creative and kooky costumes inspired by Christmas (including such lesser-known versions of jolly old Saint Nick as…
Sometimes it’s important to have an adventure, and in the spirit of discovery and shallow love for anything (and everything) that sparkles, Jackalope Ranch took a much-needed trip out of town to do some treasure hunting. This time, we trekked to Los Angeles for the Holiday Renegade Craft Fair. Note:…
Everyone’s got one in their closet — hidden back behind that pair of jeans that will never fit again is the ugly holiday sweater or pullover that was either given to you by a doddering relative, picked up at a local thrift store on a lark, or purchased on Etsy…
Ever since the color gods at Pantone crowned Tangerine Tango their color of 2012, we’ve been a little color obsessed. Websites including Pinterest and Tumblr — even Facebook albums — allow users to curate and categorize inspirations by subject matter, sentiment, and color. Pantonism (not officially associated with the Pantone empire)…
If you’re intimate enough to be exchanging gifts with either a fan or a practitioner of theater, you know that “they” can be extremely … uh, particular. They tend to feel misunderstood, so you’ll score huge friendship points if you give a gift that shows you get them. Here are…
With the holidays in full swing (and our endless shopping lists in hand) we’ve wrangled this list of 10 boutiques in the Valley that will make any remaining gift-buying trips a breeze. 10. Poor Little Rich GirlWhat: Poor Little Rich Girl deals in lightly used, and usually pretty new, designer…
In honor of the holiday season, we decided to look back at the particularly memorable holiday covers of the past 10 years. It was pretty clear from reviewing the covers that holiday garland and the ubiquitous, feel-good “season for sharing” stories don’t drive our art decisions. 5. Is Nothing Sacred?: Apparently Not in…
Most Christmastime displays tend to be manic and frantic orgies of light that usually border on cacophony and involve homeowners trying to cram as many bulbs as possible. Not so with Holiday Mountain. The yearly display at the Val Vista Lakes housing community in Gilbert is more of a tranquil…
A quick public service announcement: if you’re not looking to share a bench and some quality skin time with a few pants-less commuters (and yes, they are just happy to see you), you might to take the car on January 8. The No Pants Light Rail Ride ride is organized by…
Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: Little black dresses have been all we can think about since attending Dennita Sewell’s lecture on the fashion staple. This LBD from Annie Boomer Vintage fits the…
As the local artist writes in her handbook, “Wreaths are my newest favorite thing to make. I feel like I did when I first learned to bind a book. So much fucking excitement!”She let us into her creative space last week (between studying for finals and working on design gigs)…
In light of Foundry on First closing up for remodeling and restructuring (get the full scoop on our music blog, Up on the Sun), local fashion show Big Whig, which was slated for December 10, was canceled. Lucky for those with an eye for alternative apparel, the event has been rescheduled…
Phoenix Art Museum’s fashion curator Dennita Sewell dished out the history of the little black dress during the LBD cocktail party on Friday at Scottsdale’s recently opened Saguaro hotel.After imbibing, chatting, and snatching a few hors d’oeuvres, attendees sat down, facing mannequins dressed in a collection of LBDs from Robert Black. Sewell…
The streets of Ahwatukee are an absolute treasure trove of illuminated and decorated houses during the holiday season, including the yearly display at the home of Frank and Dianne Polimene. In the shadows of the nearby South Mountain, the landmark red lights of the peak’s television towers shine in the darkness…
Geeks and fanatical collectors of designer vinyl figures have another reason to visit Second Friday in downtown Mesa tonight (or any other night), as the grand opening of Lulubell Toy Bodega takes place tonight.The designer toy boutique, which relocated from Tucson’s Fourth Avenue to Mesa’s Main Street last month, is the…
It’s the holiday season, which means lights are everywhere: On your neighbor’s house, decorating the local bar, and on buildings of downtown Phoenix. During the buildup to Christmas, Jackalope Ranch will be running the numbers on some of the best and brightest light displays around the Valley. The Glendale residence…
The public relations fiend and owner of her own firm, The Brand Consortium, was director of PR for the fashionable event, and has handled the gamut of clients in the local beauty, fashion, nightlife, and lifestyle scenes. Of course, for every client there’s another event. And for every event, Rein has…
Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list.What: The hunt for an all-purpose, glamorous dress for holiday parties ends here. Skip go-to festive brights like red and green in favor of creamy, wintery white in…
If you’re into vintage Tory Burch, Saks, Louis Vuitton, and snakeskin Armani loafers — or are looking for a cool vintage birdcage, you’re in luck: The Royal Exchange and neighboring Sooo U! are now open in downtown Phoenix. And they’re ready to cater to vintage designer clothing fans and lovers of antique furniture. The…
