Emergy

{My Emergy necklace… I get so many compliments on it!}

I first met Ashley at a blogger meet-up in February.  In March, before I left New York, we were able to meet for lunch and she told me more about her plans to launch a site that featured unique products from up-and-coming designers and artisans in emerging economies.  Supporting artisans and smaller designers is important to me, so I was thrilled to hear that Emergy would offer unique handmade items from around the world.  By supporting artisans, whether local or abroad, you’re supporting someone’s livelihood, getting a unique and high-quality item and you generally have a better idea of where the object is coming from.  I think that in the same way people are caring more about where their food comes from and how it was produced, we should bring that same sense of ethics to fashion.  

{Outfit I styled for Ashley’s blog. Necklace- Emergy, dress- J. Crew, jacket- Anthropologie, sunglasses- Marc by Marc Jacobs, watch- La Mer, bracelet and right hand ring- jewelry maker on Portobello Road, left hand ring- vintage, clutch- Clare Vivier}

When Ashley contacted me to do a feature on Emergy’s first collection, a collaboration with a women’s jewelry cooperative in Rwanda, I could hardly contain my excitement.  I purchased a green layered 4-strand necklace and styled an outfit with it.  You can see the feature on Ashley’s blog.  

{Ashley- stylish, philanthropic AND business savvy!}

I also got the chance to ask Ashley a few questions about Emergy:

1. How did you start Emergy?  What gave you the idea?

I actually came up with the idea after coming home from my semester in China and looking at all of the great items I accumulated while iving there. The initial idea for Emergy was just a boutique with items from different emerging designers in China and I was going to call it Minc (short for Made in China). Then I realized the need for smaller designers and artisans was present in other countries. My passion for social entrepreneurship pushed me to focus on emerging markets and the difficulty in being able to provide a uniform range of sizes in clothing pushed me to focus solely on jewelry.

2. Tell me a little about your current Rwanda collaboration (ie: how you found the artists, how long the process took, what drew you to the work, etc).

One of my friends moved to Rwanda in the fall and met the women (Sarah and Ellie) who I’m currently partnering with. He saw a few of their pieces and brought me back some samples during a visit back to the states. I instantly fell in love with the pieces, reached out to Sarah and Ellie to learn about their background and what their plans were, and we hit it off immediately. Sarah and Ellie work directly with the women co-ops to create the jewelry you see on the site and work with me on color choices and such.

3. What has been your favorite part of working on Emergy so far?

Definitely meeting people with similar values and who are passionate about the same cause. It’s also been surprising and refreshing to meet people who are so willing to lend a hand. It’s pushed me to put myself out there time after time and I’m always pleased and flattered when people fall in love with what I’m doing.

4. What was the biggest obstacle to starting your own business?  Do you have any advice for young women wishing to do the same?

My biggest obstacle was definitely creating a solid idea, that involved more than just a basic retail strategy. What made it easier was really utilizing my resources. You’ll learn that most people really support entrepreneurship and love to support entrepreneurs so don’t be afraid to share your idea, concept, passion, etc. When you’ve gotten enough valuable feedback, work on a strategy and taking the necessary steps to put your plan into action.

I’m also a big advocate of seeking out advisors and mentors. They are industry specialists and can fill in information gaps for you where you lack knowledge.

5. What inspires your personal style?

I still don’t know how to define my personal style! Haha! I think it is very much inspired by NYC, I’m from here so that makes sense. I’ve definitely picked up style cues from my travels. Being in Europe made me appreciate the whole simplistic and sophisticated/sexy style, while living in China forced me to take more risks in terms of styles and playing with colors.  

6. What do you see for Emergy in the future? 

The ultimate goal is for each customer to be able to track the creation process from start to finish. I’d like for each piece to come with a unique QR code, upon scanning customers will be able to see the artisan who made their piece of jewelry and the financial impact they’ve made on their company by buying that piece. Tech is such an important part of our lives right now, so doing this makes complete sense. I’d love to take the mystery out of retail and make people feel good about their purchases. My friend Jessie coined the term Fashion Philanthropy and I’m running with it!

Details:

Right now there is no e-commerce functionality on the site, but I am taking orders! You can e-mail me directly to place an order for any of the pieces on the site (or Facebook page): ashley@shopemergy.com. The 4 Strand necklaces are $45, the Paper Bead and Cloth necklaces are $50, and the bracelets/arm bands are all $15. Also let me know if you’ve discovered Emergy through Bonjour Simone and you’ll get a 10% discount!

xoxo,

Simone

San Diego

{Palm trees in La Jolla.}

As much as I love the thrill of exploring somewhere new, there’s something to be said for a short trip to a destination you’ve visited before.  Without the pressure of trying to squeeze too many activities into the itinerary, it’s easier to relax.  I spent Labor Day Weekend in San Diego and even though I have visited more times than I can count, I left with an entirely new appreciation for the area’s cool ocean breezes, quaint beachside neighborhoods and laid-back pace.  I returned from my weekend feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever life throws at me.  Since moving back to California, I’ve realized just how much I missed this beautiful state and I look forward to discovering and rediscovering more of it.

{I went crazy for all the beautiful succulent arrangements in Old Town.}

{Hibiscus are so plentiful in San Diego, but these pink and orange ones were especially striking.}

{Colorful paper flags added to Old Town’s festive feel.}

{A strong mango margarita was the perfect accompaniment to tacos and guacamole.}

{Koalas at the San Diego Zoo… I could have watched these cuties for hours.}

{It was worth waiting in a long line to see these Giant Pandas and learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts.}

{Watching the meerkats dig, sun themselves and keep a lookout was fascinating.}

{Bougainvillea are one of my favorite warm-climate plants.}

{It was overcast the day we visited La Jolla, but that didn’t stop us from taking a beachside stroll.}

{I probably spent way too long watching the sea lions.}

{Breathtaking sunset in La Jolla.}

{The weekend was filled with so much good food and this peach-blackberry crumble was no exception.}

{A latte enjoyed at a restaurant with the most spectacular ocean view.}

xoxo,

Simone

StyleSays: Top 5 Lessons From An Online Shopping Addict

…and free shoes at the end!

Recently, I told you guys about Obvilux, one of my favorite new social shopping platforms.  They’ve recently revamped the site with some cool new features and will return shortly as StyleSays.  I’m very pleased to be hosting a guest post from Tiffany of StyleSays.  She’ll be sharing her best shopping tips, information about the new StyleSays and how you can enter to win a pair of Yotam Solomon shoes.  

Hi, my name is Tiffany, and I’m an online shopaholic.

I went to boarding school, now I’m at a lovely university that seems to believe fashion is Adidas shower slippers and free T-shirts, and did I mention I don’t have a car?

Full disclosure: my online shopping mania led me to find StyleSays on a friend’s Facebook wall and then bother them until they let me get involved with the site.

So yeah. I shop online a lot and I’ve learned a few things along the way!

5. Free returns: rarer than you think!

In my experience, less than 1/5 of online stores offer free returns.

Can you imagine getting fined $5-15 for buying something from a local boutique and then returning it?? Stores that include a pre-paid shipping label often deduct the cost of shipping from your refund without warning you. NOT cool, man.

Wanna know if you can get free returns on that item you’re thinking about? Use www.stylesays.com …but more on that below!

4. Try a smaller merchant!

Don’t be afraid to try a new site!

Small stores, especially Etsy and eBay merchants, are often spectacularly good about answering questions. You can ask them to hold items, to measure dimensions, or even for more pics.

3. Shop around, but not too much!

When you see the piece you want at the price you want, buy it! It seems obvious but comparison shopping can be addictive and 10 options is not always better than 1.

If you’re on the fence, don’t let it sit in your shopping cart forever! You’ll feel silly when it goes out-of-stock. If it is indeed an item you only want to purchase on-sale, find a way to save it so you can come back to it later. Or better, spare yourself having to remember and angst and just get a sale alert with StyleSays.

2. Don’t shop after 2 AM!

You’re delirious! You’re gonna regret this in the morning! Get back to bed, silly.

1. Friends don’t let friends shop alone!
I know online shopping seems like an inherently solitary activity (cue image of blank-eyed girl scrolling page by deadening page) but it doesn’t have to be!

Friends offer a good reality check when you’re going crazy, a kick in the behind when you’re dragging your feet, and they often know your style better than you! Isn’t it always more fun to shop for other people at birthdays and Christmases?

I’ve got friends all over the country (world, really), and after college I know we’re going to be more scattered. Even when my friends and I are in the same city, we chat and browse online during coffee breaks, on lazy Sunday mornings, and when the boss isn’t looking (…jk).

Bonus Round!

Final tip? www.stylesays.com Try it. It’s the best way to shop online with your friends.

Throw out that first image. Picture instead you and your friend strolling down Rue de La You, made of all your favorite stores and everything your friends have picked out.

With a magic wave of your hand everything that catches your eye—but that you aren’t ready to buy—is put away for later, never to be lost, and if it goes on sale your personal shopping concierge will let you know.

Speaking of which, he brings you everything you ask for but only what you ask for! And he alerts you if and when you’ve earned free shipping, whenever a store has free returns (rule #5!), etc.…everything a girl needs to know!

So get in line and for goodness’ sake be generous and share the invites with your friends! You’ll need someone to shop with, after all! Invite 3 friends to like StyleSays on Facebook and you might win any pair of Yotam Solomon shoes you like—we’re talkin’ handmade leather pumps. After all, we’re all about sharing

{A pair of Yotam Solomon shoes.  More about the designer here.}

Natural Beauty: Acure Organics Olive + Mint Facial Cleansing Creme

{Acure Organics Olive + Mint Facial Cleansing Creme, $15}

As much as possible, I try to live my life in a way that is kind to the environment and kind to my body.  I buy organic and local as much as possible, bring my own bags to the grocery store, recycle or reuse whenever possible, support local and ethical businesses and recently cut sugar and processed carbohydrates out of my diet, for the most part.  To me, part of being good to both my body and the environment is using all natural beauty products.  So many drugstore and department store beauty brands use ingredients that are irritating or even toxic to your body… not to mention many are produced in ways that are harmful to or don’t break down when released into the environment.

That said, finding the perfect all natural facial cleanser is difficult.  Not all products that claim to be natural are, and just because a product is all natural doesn’t necessarily mean it will work well.  I’ve been searching for a facial cleanser for months now and Acure’s Olive + Mint Facial Cleansing Creme is everything I’ve been looking for: all natural with several organic and fair trade ingredients, gentle but effective, and it smells divine.  It’s sulfate, cruelty, paraben, PEG, petroleum, phthalate and silicone free, vegan and won’t clog pores.  The cherry on the sundae is that Acure donats 5% of their profits from this cleanser to provide free mammograms for at-risk women.  In fact, each of Acure’s products benefit a different cause.

If you’re looking to switch to natural beauty products, here are my tips:

1. Always check ingredients.  As I mentioned above, some brands claim to be all natural when they’re not.  Conversely, some ingredients sound like synthetic chemicals when they’re actually derived from plants or other natural resources.  If you’re not sure what an ingredient is, look it up.
2. Save receipts.  Stores like Whole Foods and most department stores have return policies on cosmetics. Be sure to ask before you purchase and save your receipts in case something doesn’t work out.
3. More expensive doesn’t always mean better.  In general, be prepared to shell out a little more than you might for drugstore brands, but it’s still possible to find good, inexpensive products.
4. Samples, samples, samples.  Some brands, some beauty stores and most department store counters offer samples or travel sized products.  This is a great way to test out a new product without making a commitment right away.
5. Give it time.  Before deciding that your new purchase doesn’t work, give it a little time.  I’ve found that when I switch products, my skin takes about a week to adjust to the new product.

To learn more about safe cosmetics, I encourage visiting the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Whole Foods’ Whole Body resources.

xoxo,

Simone

Public Relations: You’re Doing It Wrong, ModCloth

I’ve never really had a problem with ModCloth.  In fact, I’ve actually liked their apartment stuff and some of their clothing in the past.  That was, until last night when the fashion blogosphere started circulating a ModCloth product with some offensive copy.  Take a look:

{Click for a close-up.  Image via J. Rosel Kim.}

The copy reads:

Volunteering feels good, doesn’t it? It’s also a great excuse to travel, and this time your huge heart is taking you to Africa! Embody the vibrant personalities and positive spirits of the locals when you wear this dynamic maxi skirt with an gold exposed zipper! Created by Lauren Moffatt, a favorite amongst fashion bloggers, this skirt’s wide, blue waistband matches its bottom hem, and every other olive brown, bright red, ivory, and blue vertical line is decorated with tansy-colored flowers. Wear it wonderfully with a solid-colored top, oversized beaded jewelry, and shoes that are just as pleasantly unexpected as its silky lining and the colorful bouquet that diagonally blooms above the hem of this skirt, and you’ll be loved by Tanzania locals for more than just your helping hands!

There are a whole host of problems with this copy- the fact that it reads like the skirt is some kind of charitable collaboration (it’s not), that it exoticizes another culture and kind of lumps all the diverse African countries together as just “Africa”, that it promotes a silk dry-clean only maxi skirt for volunteering (hint: a lot of volunteer work is mostly grunt work)… the list goes on.  Because no money from the sale of this skirt is being donated, the volunteering in Africa narrative of the copy seems really exploitative.  

As of today, that version of the copy has been removed and replaced with a new, unoffensive version.  Everything’s good now, right?  Not exactly… 

Instead of issuing an apology, Modcloth has chosen to act like this incident never happened… except that it did and that people have blogged about it, people are reading those blogs and people are upset.  This is like PR 101, by the way.  It’s always best to admit to screwing up, apologize and promise to do better.  ModCloth had it easy, too.  It’s not like this issue was a huge deal, but their refusal to acknowledge their screw-up has made it into an even bigger one.  

Moral of the story: don’t write offensive product copy… but if you do and people get mad, admit to your mistake.  Pretending like it never happened in the age of screenshots and cached pages and blogging will 

just keep people talking about it.

UPDATE: 

ModCloth has responded.  Their PR people tweeted at me to link me to their response. 

The link takes you to this thread on one of the first sites to respond to the controversy, Get Off My Internets, where ModCloth spokesperson Aire says:

Aire here from ModCloth. We sincerely apologize for anyone we may have offended or upset with this description. Our descriptions are meant to create a fun narrative that imagines where our shoppers might take themselves in our items. The ModCloth writer who described this skirt has spent many years volunteering in and out of the country, and it was with those fond memories of her experiences that she created this description. We did not intend in any way to suggest that higher-priced items are part of the volunteering process, and we’ve renamed and relaunched the item in response to your feedback. ModCloth and its employees are dedicated to giving back any way we can. Please feel free to email our Charitable Giving Committee to find out more about how we help those around us, givingcommittee@modcloth.com. Thanks again for your feedback.- via Get Off My Internets

While I applaud their efforts to (finally) address the problem and I’m glad that they are involved in volunteer work and charity, this apology sounds more like a classic “fauxpology“- notice that they don’t apologize for their mistake; they apologize for anyone who got offended.  Classic.

xoxo,

Simone

P.S. They might want to change the link to the product, as it still reads: 

http://www.modcloth.com/Modcloth/Womens/Bottoms/Skirts/-Lauren-Moffatt-Trip-to-Tansy-nia-Skirt

Grilled Artichokes

Growing up in Northern California, it never occurred to me that there are places where artichokes aren’t as plentiful and delicious as they are here.  When my middle school best friend told me she had never eaten an artichoke (she grew up in Colorado), I was floored.  Now I see why people might shy away from them if they’ve never tried them before.  Aside from being a little weird looking, artichokes require quite a bit of prep work.  However, if you can get past the spiny leaves and long cooking process, few things are more delicious.

While steaming artichokes is certainly the easiest way to cook them, I think that brushing them with a balsamic vinegar marinade and tossing them on the grill (a trick my mother taught me) yields the most flavorful results.  Recipe below.

Grilled Artichokes

Ingredients:
Artichokes*, figure that each person you’re cooking for will eat 1/2 to 1 whole artichoke, depending on the size.
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
4-6 cloves of garlic, depending on your preference
Coarse sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

1. Cut off the tops of the artichokes, then trim all the spiky ends from the remaining leaves.
2. Cut the artichokes in half, then scoop out all the hairy things (is there a term for that stuff?) in the center.  You’ll also probably want to take out the thin inner leaves as they are very sharp and not really edible.
3. Steam artichokes until tender and cooked all the way through.
4. While the artichokes are steaming, make your marinade by combining the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic.  I didn’t include measurements since I usually just eyeball it.  I usually use an equal amount of oil and vinegar, a large pinch of salt and 3-4 pepper grinder twists.
5. Turn your grill heat to medium.  Brush one side of the artichokes (I start with the flat, cut side first) with marinade and put them marinade side down on the grill.  Grill for about 6 minutes or until dark brown grill marks appear.
6. Brush the other side of the artichokes with marinade, flip and grill for about 6 minutes or until dark brown grill marks appear.
7. Enjoy!

*While it may be tempting to buy the biggest artichokes you see, the big ones tend to be woody and tough.  Small to medium artichokes are more tender and flavorful.  The artichokes should be firm and heavy and should look and feel fresh.  I’ve also heard that the tighter the leaves are, the better.

xoxo,

Simone

Dreaming of Fall…

Even though we’ve barely had a real summer here in the Bay Area, I’m already dreaming of fall clothes.  The overcast mornings, chilly evenings and my frequent trips to San Francisco mean I’ve been able to use my fall wardrobe all the way through summer, and I’ve realized it could definitely use some updates. Some highlights on my list are a new coat, slouchy open-knit sweaters, rugged boots and my dream handbag*.  

1. Coat, L.L. Bean

2. Sweater, Modcloth

3. T-shirt, Saint James via Madewell

4. Dress, Old Navy

5. Lipstick, Aveda

6. Scarf, Wilfred via Aritzia

7. Nail Polish, Butter London

8. Necklace, Rachel Roy

9. Flats, Sam Edelman

10. Bag, Alexander Wang

11. Boots, Frye

12. Leather Ring, By Boe

*My chances of actually getting said handbag are slim to none… but a girl can dream, right?

What’s on your list for fall?

xoxo,

Simone

Odds and Ends

A lot of bloggers do some version of an end-of-the-week wrap-up.  Aside from being a great way to kick off the weekend on a positive note, I thought it would be a fun way of sharing things that have delighted and inspired me throughout the week.  Plus, I take way too many photos and need a place to share them!

  {1 & 2. Olive and Lacey being snuggly in my bed.

3. The latest in my growing collection of succulents.  I think I have a problem.

4. An open knit sweater on super-sale ($10, originally $88) at Anthropologie.

5. A ginger tea scented candle from my recent trip to Carmel.

6. Blue Bottle coffee from one of my favorite East Bay restaurants, Sideboard.

7. The Bay Bridge on a foggy day.  It’s not as well-loved as the Golden Gate bridge, but I’m quite fond of it.

8. Beaded summer sandals.

9. Roast pork ramen from Hapa Ramen.  It was the perfect thing to eat on a chilly, overcast day.} 

-I loved the way Elisabeth paired her tough leather jacket with a floaty dress and sparkly necklace.  (mission: closet)

-Madewell’s fall lookbook is here and I can’t wait till the pieces arrive at their new San Francisco location come autumn.  (Madewell)

-My blogger friend Ashley was recently featured on the New York Times street style section!  Congrats, girl! (ashley4emergy)

-I met Krista at the Glitter Guide launch.  Her blog is filled with beautiful photography and glimpses into her fabulous life in San Francisco.  (City Chic)

-Since moving back to the Bay Area, I’ve been searching for some California-inspired art for when I get an apartment in the city.  I have several sites and Etsy stores bookmarked, but I finally made my first purchase- a poster inspired by this iconic San Francisco sign.  (3 Fish Studios)

-The Institute of Medicine recently ruled that birth control is a preventative care measure and recommends that all FDA-approved forms of birth control be offered through insurance without a co-pay.  If you want to help make affordable birth control a reality, voice your support of the IOM ruling here.

Hope you enjoyed my list.  Feel free to post anything inspiring or exciting from your week in the comments!

xoxo,

Simone

Gourmet Ghetto

When I was in high school, I would regularly take BART to Berkeley with my friends.  We never ventured far from the UC Berkeley campus, preferring to hang out in the thrift stores, funky cafes and street vendors on Telegraph Avenue.  It was only when I moved back to the Bay Area that I began to explore another part of Berkeley- the Gourmet Ghetto.  As the name implies, this area of North Berkeley has a high concentration of great restaurants, specialty food shops and markets full of fresh produce and unique groceries.  To read more about it, go here and here.  The area also has a few cute boutiques, though I haven’t really gotten to explore them yet.

My most recent trip to the Gourmet Ghetto included yummy Thai food at Cha-am, a stop at the Cheeseboard and browsing for plants at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery.  It was slightly overcast and a bit chilly, so despite it being summer, I had to throw a jacket, boots and tights over my dress.  This was my first time wearing colored tights and though I’ve been afraid to wear them in the past, they are surprisingly easy to incorporate into my outfits.

{dress- Old Navy, jacket- INC, boots- Frye, bag- Banana Republic, scarf- All Saints, watch- La Mer, tights- Hue, belt- H&M}

Read about and see pictures of a few of my favorite Gourmet Ghetto gems after the jump…

Gourmet Ghetto:

Eat and Drink:

Cha-am

Chez Panisse (haven’t been yet, but it’s a legend)

Mint Leaf

Gioia Pizzeria

the Crepevine

Philz Coffee (not as good as Blue Bottle, but still excellent)

Lush Gelato

Shop:

Monterey Market

the Cheeseboard

Berkeley Horticultural Nursery

Earthly Goods (some hidden treasures among the dowdy Earth Mother-type clothes)

Tibet Himalaya House

Still to Try:
Chez Panisse

The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective

Imperial Tea Court

Dara Thai Lao Cuisine

Gregoire

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburger

…and more

I will update the list as I try new places… I’m even thinking of making a city guide tab on my blog to share all my local favorites.

{The Cheeseboard is the most amazing cheese shop I have ever been to.  They have every kind of cheese you can think of (and more) and delicious breads and baked goods that are made in-house.  Most of the cheesemongers are super knowledgeable and talented at finding you the perfect cheeses.  They also let you sample to your heart’s content.  It’s worth the out-the-door lines.}

{Chez Panisse- the downstairs dinner menu looks a little over-the-top for my taste, but I am dying to try the more casual, less expensive cafe.}

{Lush Gelato- try the yogurt and orange zest flavor.}

{Flowers at Monterey Market.}

{Berkeley Hort has plants you can’t find at other nurseries.}

{Massive omelette at the Crepevine.}

It’s only been a week since my last Gourmet Ghetto adventure, but I can’t wait to go back.

xoxo,

Simone

Getaway

For this Fourth of July weekend, my family and I decided to escape the merciless heat that has plagued the Bay Area lately and take a day trip to Monterey.  After spending the first half of the day among throngs of tourists and screaming kids at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we headed to Carmel and enjoyed the afternoon leisurely browsing quaint boutiques and taking in the breathtaking seaside setting.  The day ended with a decadent meal at Casanova, where I feasted on two of the region’s specialties- artichokes and fresh-caught seafood.

{Hauntingly beautiful jellies.}

{Green sea turtle at the aquarium’s newly-renovated Open Sea exhibit.}

{It was so refreshing to be near the ocean.}

{I love Monterey’s historic charm.}

{Carmel had so many flowers; I think they really thrive in the climate there.}

{Linguine with mussels, lobster and shrimp.}

{Enjoying the perfect weather… I dressed for comfort, but in case anyone is interested: jacket- INC, shirtdress- Zara, scarf- Sahara Imports in Berkeley, leggings- Target, shoes- Converse, watch- La Mer, bag- Betsey Johnson}

I hope that my US readers all had a relaxing and fun holiday weekend.  I have some fun posts lined up in the coming weeks, so come by again soon!

xoxo,

Simone