Posts Tagged ‘Tootsies’

Have Fun with Mother’s Day Shopping

Monday, May 6th, 2013 by Roz

By: Julie Bortnick, of the fashion and lifestyle blog from prosecco to plaid

Mother’s Day is upon us, and the inevitable question of what to get mom surrounds us all. It’s a tricky one because you want to get something thoughtful, something you know she’ll love and use, and something she doesn’t already own. Today is your lucky day because I’ve rounded up some great gift options with Roz, and the best part…they are all from local boutiques.

No woman can ever own too many handbags, and the Elaine Turner Nala shoulder bag in buttery soft leather would be the perfect addition to your mother’s collection. If she is a traveler, a travel jewelry box in the hottest new color is the chicest way to transport her gems.

Two accessories that will never go out of style are scarves and sunglasses. Add an oversized wrap to spruce up any look, such as the beautiful multi colored one from a bientot to add color and pattern.  Sunglasses are a key component to any ensemble, and the fact that they are monogrammed makes them far from ordinary, and why wear a designer name when you can wear your own?

Candles complete a room. The smell of one and the flickering of the flame bring a sense of calmness, especially with the ‘Powder Room’ Lafco scent. Along with candles, a Thyme soap set from More Than You Can Imagine is the perfect item to place by any sink in the house.

Jewelry is always a good choice when shopping for mom, especially when it comes from Willow Boutique. An Agate stone necklace is something mom may not buy for herself, but a piece she would wear forever, and a classic gold hammered cuff would go with any outfit in her closet.

Spruce up your mom’s wardrobe with the ideal outfit completer: a blush Elizabeth and James blazer from TOOTSIES that she can wear with any color in her wardrobe.  You can also get her an embroidered Haute Hippie tank that would take her through the warm months ahead in style and again, dress it down with a pair of jeans or dress it up a notch for evening.

If your mom loves coffee table books, head on over to Kuhl-Linscomb and you’ll be sure to find one she’ll adore, such as The Little Black Dress, The Big Book of Chic, or In Vogue. You could also get her an elegant fragrance like Santa Maria Novela – Angels of Florence, which smells divine.

Head into town and shop local this year. Some of our absolute favorite stores around the city have gifts that any mother is sure to love for years and years to come. Happy Mother’s Day to all!

How Today’s Trends Can Come Alive in Your Wardrobe…Add Accessories

Thursday, April 25th, 2013 by Roz Pactor

Accessories are my passion and it’s this love for all of these many fashion categories that excites me about each new season. However, putting this all into one blog posting can be challenging and somewhat overwhelming, so for today I will show you many of my favorite picks from most of the accessories that will make styling your outfits for spring/summer such a delight.  However, I must leave shoes to be their own posting as there is so much exciting fashion happening in footwear that they deserve their own story.

Why Do I Love Accessories ? Mainly because there is no quicker, easier and I must add,  budget-friendly way to make your current closet essentials look trend-right for the season, than through the addition of well-chosen accessories.  For example, if there is a color for the season like this Spring’s Orange and Yellow or Shades of Blue and you’re unsure that you want to wear it in your apparel…..a pop of it through accessorizing will make you feel very NOW and in-trend. White is always a fresh approach to the coming months and this year pop it off black and you are wearing the most popular color story of the year!  I could go on and on but the message is a little pop of accessories can go a long way to add style to your wardrobe and a lot can do even more……when in doubt, Accessorize!

The good news is that there are so many great places in this town that specialize in doing accessories well……a bientot, More Than You Can Imagine, Willow, Tootsies, Cotton Club, Neiman Marcus, J.Crew (both in store and online) and many, many more. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Friday and What a Week of Events It’s Been!

Friday, April 5th, 2013 by Roz Pactor

Another week of many great events and once again I didn’t make it to all that I had planned (apologies to Gabrielle Dror and Lisa Holthouse for missing).  Allergies and this unseasonably cool weather set me back a night.

However, there was still lots going on and many that I did see.  Here they are for me to share…. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Friday in a City That Never Stops….What a Week It Has Been!

Friday, March 29th, 2013 by Roz Pactor

I am fortunate to get invited to so many great events that happen all week long that I can’t ever make them all, but am making the effort to share the ones that I did with each of you.  Hope you were there too and enjoyed it with me!

Houstonia Magazine Launch Party……

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Local Designer, Kathy Bracewell, Has Built a Fashion Collection Around the Marfa Agate…

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 by Roz Pactor

Local Jewelry Designer, Kathy Bracewell, and her collection of semi-precious stone jewels, Agate Ranch + Marfa, was a creation that I have watched from the sidelines for a while.  It was not until this past Saturday at her Trunk Show at Tootsies, that I was finally able to spend some time with her and get an education on the Marfa Agate, and how finding this beautiful rough stone while looking for Indian artifacts has changed her life, got her creative design juices flowing and given her a new-found career.

It all started when Kathy and hubby bought a ranch in West Texas almost 10 years ago.  She became a rock hounder and would continually find this beautiful and rare stone, which she took into town to a local rock shop owner named Paul, with her inquiries.  He has since become her teacher and working partner in creating a finished product,  exclusive to Marfa, known as the Marfa Agate.  I never realized that the Agates all over the world are all different and this one can be found no where else than the desserts of Marfa.  While they all looked similar in their rough stages, it was not until Paul cut the slabs for Kathy for her to polish that their true beauty and variations became visible.  This stone is the basis for her jewelry collection and the reason that this Houstonian makes two trips to Marfa per month to find more stones and keep a studio actively producing her designs there in Marfa. Read the rest of this entry »

Two Girls from the Bu…That’s Malibu, Make Fashion Jewelry You’re Gonna Love!

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 by Roz Pactor

When native Houstonian Shelly Kidney moved to California in the 90’s, it was not to be a jewelry designer.  As luck would have it, she became friendly with Vicki Levin, who was to later become her partner.  The girls did many things together, but the turning point for them was sitting on the Malibu beaches, stringing Fiji pearls and selling them to their friends, and the quantities increased rapidly.

They then worked together on films (Shelly’s husband, Ric, is in the film business), and travelled all over the world.  In each destination they would find interesting elements to add to their then growing jewelry collection…..native beads from Africa, Leather, more Fiji pearls, Thailand pieces, and they began putting together a collection of very hip, fashion jewelry. BuJu was founded, a trunk show at Tootsies followed, they were a success and became smitten with the business of making jewelry.

Their collection is made up of one-of-a-kind pieces made in Malibu, California, and though perfect for the stylish Rodeo-goer, her pieces are a great add-on to a Cavalli dress or a favorite of your own.

To see more about the BuJu gals, hear about their journey and see some incredible looking styles and styling tips on how to layer it all together, visit their site at www.bujujewelry.com.

The following are some key pieces from her Tootsies Trunk Show last weekend, many styles of which can be found stocked in the store today.

Photos courtesy of bujujewelry.com

Sharing Your Love on Valentine’s Day…

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 by Roz Pactor

To find these fab items, see below!

Valentine’s Day is upon us and what greater way to show you care than a small token of your love for those special people in your life. It’s historically a holiday of small trinkets and unusual items that say “I love you” in lots of different ways. Read the rest of this entry »

Hats On at Tootsies as Famed Milliner, Kokin, Visits to Benefit Hermann Park Conservancy…

Thursday, January 31st, 2013 by Roz Pactor

Famed Millinery Designer, Kokin at Tootsies

Thursday, January 24th Tootsies opened its doors for a brunch, personal appearance by famed milliner, Kokin, and a special hat consultation by the hat master for the many women attending the Hats In The Park Luncheon for Hermann Park Conservancy on March 5th. Unable to be there for the brunch, I did drop in to chat with Kokin and asked him what our Houston women had purchased and some insight into this Spring’s Hat trends for our stylish group of ladies who love to lunch and top off their ensemble with the newest in millinery design.

No shocker, he said that they loved color and seemed very interested in the fascinator styles. However, this is Texas where things are bigger and of course, many also loved the big glam hats as well.  The trends of the season that have done very well for him and that our Houston fashion gals validated at Tootsies were lace, sheer and even some sexy choices.

Read the rest of this entry »

When in Doubt For Last Minute Gifts…..Accessorize!

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012 by Roz Pactor
All Items Provided by a bientot

As Christmas fast approaches and we are really hitting it to make those final purchases for the fashion gals on our list, you can rest assured that nothing will put a smile on their face quicker than a fun accessory!  So we made a visit to several of our favorite accessories havens: a bientot, Willow, More Than You Can Imagine, Kendra Scott, Tootsies and Elaine Turner. What we found were endless choices that narrowing down for our readers was a challenge. However, things are flying off the shelves, so start up your engines and get shopping…6 shopping days left (plenty of time to do lots of damage with these great choices). Read the rest of this entry »

American Designer, Lubov Azria, Brings Her Collections Back “Home” to Texas….She Lived in San Antonio in Her Early Years

Thursday, December 6th, 2012 by maeganRoosa

What a life story for Lubov Azria…born in the Ukraine where she studied ballet under Bolshoi Junior Company.  Is then forced to leave Russia, heads to San Antonio, Texas where her family has friends and she lived for several of her early years.  I can only imagine the culture shock, but Lubov answered “yes ma’am” when I asked if this was true and says she considered herself a Texan at heart, but not for long as she then moved to L.A.  Her love was art, but realizing that making a living could be difficult, went to FIDM Fashion School in L.A., and found a new passion. She went for a job interview with Max Azria, 21 years ago, was hired, married her boss a year later, and the end result has been a beautifully close collaboration between Lubov and Max that has created for her a top design responsibility and title and a 20 brand empire that the two oversee.

As we chatted at Neiman Marcus after I had seen both runway shows at Fashion Houston, I asked her to talk to me about the lines that I had seen and a brief glimpse of each customer.  She felt it was important to understand that there really are three lines…. Read the rest of this entry »