Back In The Hood.

Ahh, FALL. A time for chilly weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and the highly anticipated season premiere of that show we secretly obsess over...you know, the one with all the good looking doctors... Just thinking about it makes me want to dig in my closet for that chunky old sweater I spend endless hours in year after year. We've had some good times--mister cable knit and I. Snuggled up on the couch, reading books, indulging in sweets, and watching Sally meet Harry over and over and over again. Do you have a sweater like that? It makes an appearance one season a year and immediately becomes your staple in- house outfit; because, OBVIOUSLY you couldn't be caught dead wearing that old ratty thing out in public, no matter how comfortable it may be. Can you imagine how mortified you'd feel walking down the street in that mister? With my luck the bum on the corner would probably make some comment about having one that looks just like it. C'est non chic! Which is why this year, I'm going to make every effort to snuggle up with things that are not only cozy, but fabulous, too! A staple that I can wear around the house or pair with leggings and hit the town in style. Hence my new obsession with Prairie Underground. If you thought the snuggie was the best thing to happen to winter, you're in for a shock when you slip these little lovers over your arms. Made from organic cotton and hemp it's hard not to believe me when I say this fabric will lure you into snuggle bliss. Hanging in cozy options from the hooded cloak, cowl neck tunic, kimono wrap, and quilted wing tunic-dress, you'd be smart to hurry in before all the good ones are taken (by me!)... and do yourself a favor, leave old ratty tatty shabby in the closet.

Sympli Put.

As SoHo is coming upon it’s 26th anniversary mark, we can’t help but think about age and time. We slowly find ourselves approaching the years of chronic back pain and cringing at the idea of wearing Depends (and not those designed by Claire Campbell). What a bummer.

However, while we may be aging gracefully, gaining wisdom, and starting to figure out a thing or two about how the world works, we are still in a continuous struggle against time. Time to finally lose that weight, be a better person, read more--watch T.V. less, travel to new places, take up fishing, learn how to cook, whatever desires we may have, we constantly find ourselves limited by time. Each of us on our own personal journey to figure “it” out, and whether we are 26, 35, or rounding on 62, it’s not as simple as it seems.

What is simple, or what can be, is how we dress as we submit to the pressures of time; Hence, Sympli.

Jan Stimpson, founder of Sympli clothing based in Vancouver, BC, created this line as a means for women to feel good about what they wear while simultaneously decreasing the amount of time spent obsessing about weight, body, exercise and food. Her vision is that the Sympli clothing allow its wearer to feel confident in comfy clothes and give her the time to focus on the things that matter: taking that trip to Tuscany, learning how to salsa dance, or spending more time with loved ones. Sympli contradicts old father time by creating no barriers. It is designed for women of any age, shape, size, and lifestyle. It literally is for every body. Created with low maintenance jersey for the high energy woman, it is perfect for travel, and easy to mix, match and layer. This clothing wasn’t designed to be complicated, or intimidating; it’s not based on an idea, or inspired by the “ancient Chinese water lilies dancing beneath the sea”. Sympli is a necessity, simply put.

Has Been.

While the recent loss of the talented musician Amy Winehouse is considered a great tragedy, not only for those who knew her personally, but also to those who wished to hear more music from the soulful artist (*cough* Martha Parks *cough*), most people would agree that even though the singer’s death did not come as a total shock, the probability that she would have ever produced an album that surpassed the awesomeness of Back to Black was not very likely. In fact, Miss Winehouse made it pretty clear that she was more likely to end up in the “has been” section of the itunes music store than ever making a cameo at rehab. In a few years, her melodies would have probably begun to gather dust alongside the likes of Macy Gray, Right Said Fred, Vanilla Ice, and whoever that guy was who sang the Macarena.

In terms of music, being a Has Been is not a title vocalists strive for, but if you think about it, “has beens” are kind of making a comeback these days. As we grow older, we come to an age where everyone outside of our immediate peer circle is a has been: moms, dads, aunts, uncles, coworkers, teachers… you get the drift. Then one day, there is a sudden revival of all things that have been.

In the blink of an eye, mom and pops have become super cool again, vintage shopping is the thing to do, and uploading photos with your hipstamatic iphone app is the only way to accurately depict your ballin vacation to Atlantic City. Look around. All of a sudden we’re living in the seventies again, guys in their twenties are growing out their 'stache in a schoolboy attempt to emulate Tom Seleck, platform shoes are back in full force (sorry Travolta, we know you wish they'd fade with the fever), and I’m pretty sure I just woke up next to some guy on his Flokati rug--that or his cat shed’s like crazy. So maybe it’s fitting that the recent arrival at SoHo is also a Has Been, a Swedish one of course.

Based on original 70s models, these shoes are so vintage they’re new. Fittingly enthused by the hottest mum in Sweden, who “smoked camels and screamed till her curlers fell out”, these boots are exactly what we imagine Amy could have been thinking about when she crooned “back to black”. You’ve got to move back to move forward, in more ways than one. So in honor of all Has Beens: past, present, and future, come pick up a pair of these boots and give Bianca Jagger a run for Mick's money. …maybe we’ll throw in a lava lamp or two… maybe.

Don't Miss It!!!

Come join us for the LOCAL event of the season!! Dozens of local artists, designers, and artisans will participate in the Daniels St. Collective Local Happening this Wednesday, July 20th, from 5-8pm. Drink, Eat, Shop!

See you there!

Sleeping Beauties.

Victoria's not the only one with a secret these days; SoHo's been keeping one, too!

With our new lace cami and undie sets by Only Hearts we've been breaking a few of our own rules (shhhh!). Isn't it interesting how we women spend all day trying to look fabulous--paying attention to every detail-- from our shoes to our nails and yet we fall into bed looking more like some frumpy old woman who claims Wal-Mart to be designer than like the beautifully dressed vixens of SoHo? We don old sweats and t-shirts that are better left for cleaning the bathroom than for our Egyptian cotton comforter. Perhaps we could learn something from the infamous Aurora, who's ethereal slumber won her a handsome prince and a happily ever after. So treat your sleep to something special, whether it be a flowing slip, wide leg capris or a snug little cami; because, after all, it's called beauty rest for a reason... you've got to look good while you do it!

Summer is for Brazilians.

Didn’t your mom ever warn you about those foreigners? They’ll wine you and dine you right into ignorant bliss and before you know it, you’ve fallen head- over- heels for some greasy stud named Marco who would rather spend his days chain smoking by the promenade than actually doing anything with his life. Well, I hate to say it Mom, but it looks as though I’ve been suckered in yet again, except this time my Brazilian love affair isn’t going to walk away so easily… unless it’s on my feet.

I have this theory about shoes; the more you spend, the more you gain…in compliments. Of course, this isn’t always true as I’ve scored some crazy deals in my life as a shoe fetishist--deals that would make grandma proud--but even the “steals” have been so unique that they, too, have earned titles as prized contenders in my collection. With these sorts of standards you can imagine the difficulty I run into trying to find stand-out shoes that are not only compatible with my teetering credit score, but are also comfortable, multi-functional and, above all else, fashionable. This is precisely why the new shoes at SoHo are my latest must-haves. If you haven’t heard of Melissa’s before then pay attention, because this Brazilian design brand is one you’d be embarrassed to say is not in your closet. Apart from being eye-catchingly cute, they are also eco-friendly; each shoe is made from recycled plastic in which 100% of the materials are used in production--it’s fantastic!

While all Melissa shoes are equally (and ecologically) fabulous, my favorite are the grey LOVING heels; imagine Dutch girl meets ‘Mars Attacks’ and you’ve pretty much created the perfect shoe for fun modern gals like the women of SoHo. Not to mention the fact that they are unbelievably comfortable and quite versatile! My love for them even has me seriously considering dubbing grey the new black (or Brazilians the new Italians). The price is well worth it and they won’t even break the bank. Think about it. These shoes are an investment--timeless in their uniqueness and sustainable in their comfort. Does plastic ever go out of style? Is it damaged by water or wine (for those disco divas out there…)? And if heels aren’t your thing, there are plenty of Melissa flats recently marked down for the summer sale, so, who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next lucky gal to score a pair for your collection!

Tune in to Tunics

There's a new word on the streets of SoHo and it's tunic. West Coast brand Mark and Estel's 3/4 sleeve cotton tunics have arrived and they are simply tooooo nice! Hanging in an array of colors from Raspberry Cream to Electric Blue, they add an extra burst of sunshine here at SoHo. So why else do we love them? It's simple; they work all year round! These swing-hem tops can be worn with skirts, shorts, leggings...whatever! Ranging in sizes S-XXXL, their luscious fabric doesn't cling, and the bell draped shape is awfully forgiving around the middle...if only we could say the same about some of our old jeans...