Shop Small, Big Deals

Last year I blogged about “Small Business Saturday” (SBS), a drive to patronize small brick and mortar businesses held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving holiday.

American Express started this initiative in 2010 as a U.S. shopping trend, which has since grown to other countries including UK, Canada, Hong Kong and Australia where the campaign is called “Shop Small.”  In U.S. alone, holiday shoppers spent $5.5B on this event last year, and it is expected to grow bigger year over year.

In our own backyard, the following cities and advocacy groups are some of the SBS partners and supporters:  City of Scottsdale, City of Tucson, Arizona Small Business Association, Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Filipina Women’s Network.

What’s in it for me as a card member?  I will get a one time $10 statement credit for an eligible transaction on my registered AMEX card. Plus buying local is a great way to support my community and help boost the economy.

But why wait until after Thanksgiving? Why not make it Small Business Everyday? Why not buy from local merchants now? If everyone shops small, it can really be a bBig Deal! 

To get you started now, LIKE “Chasing Sheila” Facebook page and avail of the following and find more discount codes:

Doux Belle by Rachel Wagner offers vintage-inspired Parisian chic custom-made gowns and dresses, fine arts, vintage home décor, and more. Located in Scottsdale, Chateau Doux Belle has a romantic feel that takes you to another world, this showroom is a definite MUST SEE! Find a 20% off coupon on Chasing Sheila Facebook page for your next appointment with Rachel. Or go to www.douxbelle.com and enter "ChasingSheila20" at checkout for 20% off*.

Get covered in style, 15 looks in one shawl (that's like buy 1 get 14 free!), with Shawl Dawls by designers Roshena Chadha and Julie Manubay-Cruz. Visit www.shawldawls.com, enter “ChasingSheila20” at checkout for 20%off*.  Perfect gift for mom, daughter, girlfriend, grandma, sister, etc. 

See these Dawls rock their Shawls:

L-R: Sheer print long cinched vest style on Suzan,  long shawl styled as a short vest on Ibet, sheer solid short Cinched Vest on Ramiza 

L-R: Sandy (sheer print), Lisa (fringe cut) and Shirley (sheer print) worn Poncho Style

L-R: Long Vest style on Ramiza, Scarf style on Tracy, Long Vest style on Janet 

Treat yourself with fun shopping experience in any of 6 Allie Ollie Boutiques in AZ, visit Chasing Sheila page on Facebook for store locations and 20% off coupon, or go to www.allieollie.com and enter “CHASINGSHEILA20” at checkout for 20%off*.  Ask about their Fashion Club and private styling party.

Susan Casper, Allie Olson and Sheila Vertuno in Allie Ollie outfits

For a brand of timeless women’s day or night wear and accessories, my personal favorite is d.p.c. by Dora Yim.  Her Blue and Metallic Dress Dress and classic Houndstooth Coat are must have pieces! Watch out for d.p.c. SS14 Collection coming soon on line.  Visit www.shopdpc.com, enter “chasingsheila30off” at checkout for an additional 30% off* the Fall 2013 Collection that is already on sale.  Free shipping on all orders within U.S.  

Blue and Metallic Dress

Houndstooth Coat

If you missed Phoenix Fashion Week 2012 Designer of the Year, Bri Seeley and her Escape Collection at discounted prices in her trunk show at Clothes Minded last week, this is your lucky day.  Offered only to Chasing Sheila friends and family, enter “SHEILA40” at checkout for 40% off* of the Escape Collection at www.briseeley.com 

Alexa Coat by Bri Seeley

More big deals coming soon! Don’t miss out! Get in the know and keep your FASH on! Click here to join this site and LIKE/FOLLOW Chasing Sheila on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

*Restrictions apply, click here for coupon details.

XOXO, 
Sheila

Avant Garde Knight Rocky Gathercole

For the 2^nd year in a row, creations by world-renowned Filipino designers rocked the Phoenix Fashion Week runway grand finale.  From fashion forward Furne One in 2012 to avant garde knight Rocky Gathercole in 2013.

Thanks to Scottsdale native, now L.A. based, Arianna Sinclair, producer and representative for both icons, who made these local appearances possible.  Can’t wait to see the next big name…another Filipino talent, I hope.

Sheila Vertuno and Arianna Sinclair

After almost 2 decades of strong base in Dubai, Gathercole Atelier with his atypical, excitingly lavish and insanely artistic designs is now back to his motherland, the Philippines.  Recently in his flagship store in Quezon City (another destination to add to my itinerary for my next visit back home), Gathercole started to break into the wedding scene crafting elaborate bridal gowns for the who’s who of Manila.

Bridal Gown by Rocky Gathercole

Gathercole humbly credits his mentor Vicente Arcaina, who took him to Saudi Arabia for his first job in the fashion industry, before he started designing for “Calash Haute Couture in Dubai.  Shortly after, Gathercole began to push every boundary to deliver his own cutting edge unapologetic designs which jump started his solo career into the empire that we now know as Rocky Gathercole Atelier.  Crafted out of real metal, colorful feathers and full head gears with horns, most of his beginning works were more editorial than wearable…dashingly ferocious. Here are a few shots of his 30-piece show at Phoenix Fashion Week...

Photos by Desert Rh1no Photography, click link for more glam shots.

Watch Rocky Gathercole's intricately designed dresses and gowns rock the Phoenix Fashion Week runway at Talking Stick Resort on October 5th, 2013.




Gathercole's controversial art landed him a spot in International Miami Fashion Week in 2011 and a placement in Vogue’s Special Anniversary issue in 2012.  And just last week, he dressed Becca Tobin, Glee actress and Adrianne Curry, America’s Next Top Model Cycle 1 winner, to walk the ramp at the Metropolitan Fashion Week Closing Gala and Runway Show in Los Angeles.

Rocky Gathercole (left) dressed Becca Tobin (middle) of Glee
Photo credits Metropolitan Fashion Week

Way to go, Rocky!!! Mabuhay kabayan and more power to you!!

Get in the know and keep your FASH on, LIKE/FOLLOW "Chasing Sheila" on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more fashion news.


XOXO,
Sheila

Los Angeles Fashion Fix

Not quite ready to exit the VIP scene yet, thank goodness California is a short drive away.  Invited by 2 designers, a date with a make up artist and a hosting event last week in L.A. was just the right fix for my Phoenix Fashion Week withdrawals.

While drizzly autumn weather puts us in a tented situation, LINDEN SS14 Mosaic Collection by my friend Jennifer Lynn was in full bloom at Los Angeles Fashion Council held on Oct 9 at The Grove.  LA Times reported, “LINDEN is proof that ‘clothing with a conscience’ doesn’t always mean sacrificing style at the altar of sustainability.”  

Jennifer says, "My Spring/Summer 2014 is called Mosaic Collection inspired by Artist Yaacov Agam's who designed a mosaic fountain outside of Paris at La Defense."  Created in 1977, Agam's musical fountain made of polymorphic mosaic surface offering artistic diversity when viewed from different angles, such as LINDEN's clothes...

LINDEN's final walk at LAFC...

By invitation only, I arrived with my Seattle-based pals Maggie Sartain and Maile Cabral, co-founder of Cabral Edwards Management.  

Maile Cabral, Sheila Vertuno and Maggie Sartain

As a PR and brand management expert, Maile’s judicious eyes instantly recognized LINDEN’s edgy style would be the right attire and immediately fitted the Macklorette dancers performing with Macklemore  & Ryan Lewis during their US Fall 2013 tour, starting on Oct 22. I couldn’t agree more, as my all-time LINDEN favorite piece Moto Leggings made of eco-friendly washable salmon-skin leather is also my go-to piece this season.

Wearing LINDEN Moto Leggings at Phoenix Fashion Week with Jennifer Lynn

Continuing to make a fashion scene, I supported my bestie Bri Seeley as her SS14 Silence Collection (pre-order via Luevo.com) debuted on Oct 10 at Eden Hollywood benefitting Step Up Women’s Network.  I loved that Bri chose to feature L.A.’s top bloggers of different looks and sizes highlighting the versatility of her oeuvre.  Standout signature pieces for me are the Jaclyn Skirt from SS13 Escape Collection and the Mischa Dress (#10 image below) 

Bri Seeley SS14 Silence Collection

The show was attended by several Hollywood personalities, including my buddy and date for the night…celebrity make up artist, Maxi Tone.

Wearing Bri Seely Mischa Dress at Eden Hollywood

With Bri Seeley and Jason George, NBC's Blacklist Story Editor

With Robbie Laughlin of E News!

With Arianna Sinclair, Celebrity Wardrobe Stylist and Event Director

With LINDEN's Jennifer Lynn and LOIN CLOTH's Clary Ryan and Sam Mascaro

Make up by my dear friend Maxi Tone, Hollywood Celebrity Make Up Artist

Before the show, Maxi and I had a laid back afternoon playing with make up, catching up about his new cosmetic, his loyal clients Christina Milian, Patti Austin, Keesha Sharp and Lea Salonga, and also talked about women’s general beauty concerns.  Check out snippets of my one-to-one with Maxi…

Like most women, when the face in the mirror looks back at me, I notice the imperfections first.  Women incessantly wonder what regimen, treatment or procedures would fix the flaws magnified by their own minds. After all, to look beautiful means to look perfect.  The goal is to look perfect…NOT!

Let us not fool ourselves! The celebrities that we see on print ads are all photoshopped, the TV commercials have the right lighting and angles to capture the flawless looks that would sell the products advertised, and the models in the runway… they have an army of professionals applying pounds of concealer, spraying body foundations, attaching hair extensions, etc. Believe me, I’ve seen the BEFORE Backstage and the AFTER Runway looks from the front row.

“I don’t create beautiful, I only highlight what’s already within,” says Maxi.  The key is making the most of your looks regardless of your age.  Apply minimal cosmetics to highlight your best features.  Turn heads by showing a natural polished look, NOT a clown face.  And if you decide to enhance more permanently, do not go overboard sculpting.  Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against needles and knives.  Give me a few years and I may also take the plunge. But for the meantime, am just saying…less is more.

My personal daily must dos include diligent hydration, face and lip SPF protection, groomed arches and organic foundation. And if I didn’t get enough sleep the night before (which happens often), I curl the little lashes that I have. 

Let us know...what is your beauty secret?


XOXO,
Sheila

Phoenix Fashion Week Designer of the Year 2013

...and the Phoenix Fashion Week Designer of the Year 2013 is --- Dolcessa - Luxury swimwear for the confident woman. From the get go, I thought that this brand was way ahead of Phoenix Fashion Week itself.  Already an established brand, Dolcessa has graced the glossy and digital pages of national publications like People, Maxim, FHM, etc. It appeared in Sports Illustrated not one, not two, but 3 years in a row, most recently worn by Kate Upton in the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2013.  This high-end stylish swim wear was a crowd pleaser. The cover-ups and the crystal head pieces by Melis Accessories are my favorites.

Watch Dolcessa finale here:

Congratulations to Las Vegas based Katya Leoncio, owner and designer of Dolcessa.

From the competitors’ perspective, I am sure it was a long grueling yet productive 4 months going through the Emerging Designer Boot Camp.  Time well spent and all their hard work shined in the fabulous runway shows they put up during the Phoenix Fashion Week on October 3-5 at Talking Stick Resort. 

The 12 designers were so talented making this year’s competition much tougher than previous years.  As I shared my thoughts with Brian Hill, Executive Director of Phoenix Fashion Week, just minutes before the show started on the final night of the event, he said “I agree with you, Sheila, it is still anybody’s game at this point.  The scores are so close and the runway challenge will define the outcome tonight.”

Full of excitement, the standing room only spectators cheered as the top finalists were announced, check out a few of the looks from their Summer/Spring 2014 Collection.

Ja’ire International Couture designed by Ja’ire Hattley - "Daring apparel that commands attention." When the 2-sister team presented their first ensemble during the Emerging Designer Reveal in June, I was captivated and the brand set the bar high for my expectations. Unfortunately, the integrity of their first design carried only to half of their SS14 collection, the other half seemed out of place for a spring/summer line.

Medium Apparel designed by Zac McDonald - "Creating premium men’s and women’s street wear." Medium Apparel is one of only 2 local designers selected for the Designer of the Year challenge. I witnessed how this line evolved in just a few short months from what I thought was one-dimensional serigraphy for men's t-shirts back in June to a well-executed brand of unisex trendy art wear as flaunted on the runway.   Here's some his and her looks... 

"

Stephanie Gentry by Stephanie Gentry - "Luxury fashion for the woman who wants to take the world by storm."  I liked the spring pastel hues and the light fabric which flowed perfectly with the desert breeze as the models strutted the ramp. However, there's too many ideas ambitiously crammed into one collection making it seem like the designs didn't belong together.  Perhaps rearranging the presentation can make a difference.

There are no losers in this competition.  Armed with knowledge, experience and industry network, this is just the beginning of a great future. Congratulations to all the designers!  And a huge kudos to the Phoenix Fashion Week team, well done!

Now off to California for the LA Fashion Council runway show at The Grove and the most anticipated presentation of Bri Seeley’s SS14 in Hollywood.

Get your FASH on, keep styling and make a fashion scene.

XOXO,

Sheila

Real Women Real Clothes

Hosted by the Los Angeles Fashion Council, LINDEN Spring/Summer 2014 Mosaic Collection will hit the runway at the Grove Shopping Center on October 9^th, 2013.

Following my “Does Size Matter?” blog a few months back I’m excited to share about an LA-based designer, who has real women on mind - curvy and skinny, tall and petite…you name it, this couturier got you covered!

I met Jennifer Lynn, owner and creator of LINDEN, at Style Fashion Week LA where she showcased “The Wind Up Bird Collection.” I immediately fell in love with her bold yet effortless style! LINDEN is fashion forward and edgy and still versatile to fuse into existing wardrobe.  The brand is about “embracing the modern bombshell in every woman” says Jennifer.  It is conveniently accessible to all body types, true to its latest campaign “Real Women, Real Clothes.”  Her signature is manufacturing 100% in USA with earth-conscious recycled materials making its production runs often limited for a more exclusive collection.

Watch this video as she talked about her brand and her Real Women Real Clothes project, just before she got selected to vie for the Phoenix Fashion Week Emerging Designer of the Year 2013.  No surprise at all! Congratulations to Jennifer and good luck!!!

In company of 3 beautiful women, Ashley, Stephanie and Cami, I had the opportunity to model several LINDEN outfits.  Like little girls on Christmas morning, with bins and racks of clothes to reconnoitre, we were so excited we didn’t know where to start! It was invigorating to find California-chic clothes that can easily be balanced with our own personal styles.  Standing 5 feet 9.5 inches tall, I was enthused to find trousers that are actually long enough for my legs.

Jennifer gave us the carte blanche to make our own selections, mix it up, and put together several attires.  For the “Real Women Real Clothes” photo shoot we went for comfortable, functional and realistic looks yet confident, fab and fashionable.  Keeping it real, there was no hair and makeup crew, no professional stylists, no artificial illuminations or backdrops to glam us.

With abundance of natural lighting and breath taking views, the rooftop of the Academy Awards Building in the heart of downtown Los Angeles was a perfect location for a perfect day of photo shoot.  See behind the scenes videos…

This is all about celebrating everyday women of normal sizes and figures, thru the lenses of amazing Jeremy Lee.

For the Phoenix Fashion Week runway show at Talking Stick Resort tonight, I wore LINDEN's Classic Moto Leggings with H&M halter top, BCBG soles and my new favorite arm candy, Rebecca  Minkoff leather MAC.  I was not interviewed at the red carpet, but if I was asked why I support LINDEN, I would say, "There is depth in this brand that carries a strong message. LINDEN is 100% made in USA which is great for our economy. The clothing materials are sustainable and eco-friendly, yet rich and comfortable.  I appreciate the "art" in each piece, and I love the combination of LA-chic and edgy style. Finally, it is refreshing to see designs that compliment diversity in real women's figure."

Hosted by the Los Angeles Fashion Council, LINDEN Spring/Summer 2014 Mosaic Collection will hit the runway at the Grove Shopping Center on October 9^th, 2013.

Get your FASH on and happy styling!

XOXO,
Sheila