misosouper, a shopping blog

The Trend Boutique is a shop after my own heart:  their mission is to offer tightly-edited selection of fresh clothing and accessories (most under $300) that embrace longevity, rather than fads.  As in:  you can wear this Plenty by Tracy Reese tie-dyed print dress in 2013 and look far removed from the hippy-dippy fads of 2009.  This creamy chiffon tie-neck dress from Bizz (only $83.80!); beautifully draped, covered-is-the-new-naked Postella Lima jade dress; and swingy Lauren Moshi seahorse tee?  Classics, all.

Neon?  You’re not gonna find it here.

The Trend Boutique is also committed to old-school customer service:  all US orders ship for free, and the cheerful staff is available by phone to help you with styling or sizing questions.

And what could be more timeless than a lush, lovely scarf?  Love Shop scarves come in a zillion different colors, are made out of a weightless but strong printed silk, and polish off a tank and jeans just as easily as they top a maxi-dress.  This week, you could win your very own scarf by posting a comment on what Trend Boutique item you want to wear this spring.  Get an extra entry by signing up for their mailing list, or Twittering about the giveaway, using @misosouper in your tweet (please leave separate comments for each entry you complete).  One winner will be chosen by random drawing.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 15, 2009. The winner will be selected on Monday, March 15, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, March 15, 2009.  Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

ETA:  we are giving away a Love Shop scarf, not a Love Quotes scarf.  Our apologies for the confusion!  To sweeten the deal, The Trend Boutique is offering a special deal to misosouper readers:  at checkout, just enter Miso15 for 15% off all orders, and Miso20 for 20% off orders of $150 or more.

I have a special fondness for artists and shopkeepers that blog, because such public illuminations of their inner workings and inspiration are, well, so illuminating.  Plus, I know how much work it is to stay on top of a blog, so to heap that on to the creative process takes a gritty force of will.

Enter Linda & Harriett:  they letterpress and they blog, both with gusto.  Their colors are bold, their cursive is forthright, and their graphics are confident and simple in the best possible way.  A bespoke wedding invitation (again, that cursive…so assured, so divine!) impresses upon you the import of the event.

So I’ll pen my daily to-do’s on their notepads, which make tasks like “buy stamps” look a little more persuasive, and send my “I apologize for my rowdy two year old” messages on cards that don’t seem to be pandering.  This week, we’re giving away one zigzag notepad and one set of zigzag note cards, both of which will help you take charge of your business.  Leave a comment on this post, describing which object out of Linda and Harriet’s paperie you’d like to use, and why.  For extra entries, you can post about the giveaway on your own website (please include a link in the comments so that we can verify), and/or tweet a link to this post (please include a link in the comments, and use @misosouper in your tweet so that we can verify). One winner will be chosen at random.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 8, 2009. The winner will be selected on Monday, March 9, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, March 9, 2009. Previous giveaway winners are not eligible.  Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

My obsession with non-metal right-hand rings is long-standing.  I have several pieces from Alice over at the lovely Carrotbox, but I’m always adding to my collection, given that I have five greedy fingers that need decorating.  Enter Gala Glass’s Murano glass ring collection:  all of the styles are quite metallic-y, which I like; they’re relatively inexpensive, which I love; and they’re all handmade, which I adore, because my ring stands alone as an objet d’art completely different from yours.  Plus, Gala has been blowing glass in its family studio for over 50 years; who are we to argue with tradition?

{And while you’re poking around Gala’s extensive site, don’t miss the wine bottle stoppers, which are great for housewarming events or your exhausted (and by that, I mean drunken) mommy friends.  And in the grand tradition of “one for you, one for me,” one of these geometric bracelets would nicely square off your spring floral prints.}

This week, we’re giving away the Classic ring of your choice; simply leave a comment on this post, describing why your fingers need this ring, in ten words or less.  For extra entries, you can:  post about the giveaway on your own website; subscribe to my feed; and/or tweet a link to this post, using @misosouper in your tweet.  For each of these options, please leave a separate comment on this post with a link for verification.  One winner will be chosen at random.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 1, 2009. The winner will be selected on Monday, March 2, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, March 2, 2009.  Previous giveaway winners are not eligible to win.  Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

In our effort to reduce our household’s contribution to the earth-choking mass that is our local landfill, we’ve moved almost entirely to reusable bags for groceries and errands.  And because I’m, um, a bit of a product junkie, I’ve tried them all:  the recycled plastic versions from Whole Foods, tacky canvas versions collected as freebies from various conferences, netted versions with handles, and versions made from salvaged curtain fabric (which I do recommend, especially for carrying small loads, like a couple of bottles of wine or a bag of fruit).

But for heavy lifting, I’ve become devoted to my Skeeda bag:  made from heavy-duty–but surprisingly lightweight!–canvas, one of these totes has enough room for several bottles, three or four cans, a loaf of bread, and a few boxes.  They also hang an extra-long strap, which is way more comfy when you’re toting a big load.  Did I mention that they fold completely flat, and hey!  they’re also really cute?

And this week, we’re giving a happy-patterned Skeeda bag away to one lucky reader.  Simply leave a comment on this post, describing one thing you do to make your world a greener place.  One winner will be chosen at random.

ETA:  Extra entries given if you a) visit Skeeda’s site, choose your favorite bag, and post here about it; b) tweet a link to this post (please leave link in this post’s comments so we can verify); c) link to this post on your blog (again, please leave a link here for verification).  Don’t forget that you need to leave a separate comment for each of these so that we have accurate numbers for the random drawing.  Thanks!

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, February 22 , 2009.  The winner will be selected on Monday, February 23, 2009, and notified by e-mail.  Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, February 23, 2009.  Multiple entries will not be accepted, and previous giveaway winners are not eligible.  Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

When I first met my husband, we were young and broke, two facts which (I now know) shouldn’t have prevented us from dressing well.  I wore incredibly tight capris; he wore shirts purchased from the thrift store–not the funny “Virginia Is For Lovers” kind, but the old-man, estate-sale-leftovers golf polo kind.  Into every wardrobe, a little strain must fall:  we were bursting the seams of respectability.

We grew up, grew old, grew a few more coins to jingle in our pockets.  I spent some of them on Lucky Mag’s first book, The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece,  which changed my life.  After giving me permission to purge every ill-fitting, purchased-on-a-whim outfit I owned, I was down to two pieces of clothing:   a  vintage cashmere cardigan and a  ’50s cropped coat from my grandmother.   Imagine that.

Despite the strides we’ve made over the years, I’ve often wished my husband had the same sort of manual.  We all have room to stride, right?  Enter Esquire’s The Handbook of Style:  A Man’s Guide to Looking Good, whose introduction calls it a “roadmap for a territory that’s familiar and strange at the same time.”  Did you know, for instance, that in the summer it’s OK not to wear socks, but only if you give your shoes a break every other day?  Or that sideburns and a goatee elongate a round face?  Or that Bob Denver (not Jesus, which is a common misconception) is the originator of the modern mandal?

This book would be the ideal Valentine’s Day gift from me to him:  an extension of the “I want the world to see you the way I see you” brand of longtime love that allows us to accept what our mates wear, but still wish for them to present the best version of themselves.

I’m willing to be that there’s a man in your life in need of a few sartorial suggestions (honestly, the book should be required reading for any man old enough to plunk down a credit card for Crocs and/or frayed khaki shorts).  So if you leave a comment on this post describing your biggest fashion faux pas, you’ll be entered to win a copy of Esquire’s book.  Best answer takes the prize:  it’s not random this time, so funny and brief win the day.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, February 15 , 2009.  The winner will be selected on Monday, February 16, 2009, and notified by e-mail.  Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, February 16, 2009.  Multiple entries will not be accepted, and previous giveaway winners are not eligible.  Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.