Help for the Husbands...or Boyfriends, Fiances, ect.

As you can see from Jamie's post, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. And for all the taken ladies out there, its a day of romance, dressing up, and fancy dinners. But we can't forget that uber-special, romantic present (maybe a ring, maybe a bag) at the end of the tunnel of love, right?But, what if that oh-so-lovely present, well, really isn't lovely at all?

Though it's sad to say, the men in our lives often have no idea what to get us for the lovey-dovey holiday and end up heading down the standard, dozen-roses-and-chocolate path. Yet, for all the guys out there, we understand that ladies can often be hard to shop for. So, to avoid this situation entirely, we've made a list of "routes" to help the guys (and girls) find their way to a perfect Valentine's day gift.

The Purse Route: I've decided the Anya Hindmarch Loose Pockets are the ultimate gift. With sayings like "Martini Money" and "Cruise Fund", the zipper pockets hold anything from money and credit cards to lip gloss and powder. They also come in a variety of colors (all with a metallic tint). Though I was jealous when Alex got one for Christmas, I'm hoping someone will pick me up one as a Valentine... hint, hint Patrick. Although I love the Homework tote I received as a gift, this would be a perfect addition. As for another idea... just imagine the Cruise Fund pocket with a cruise ticket in it. Adorable? Absolutely.

The Lingerie Route: If you're looking to head down a slightly sexier path, fear not. I've found the gift for you. Our Mary Green panties are an excellent mix of sweet and sexy. Why, you may ask? These panties (available in thong, brief, and boy short) are lined with lace, but they come in pastel colors like seafoam green and light pink. So, forget Victoria's Secret for this holiday and treat yourself to these stunningly stylish skivvies.

The Chocolate Route (if you must): The MarieBelle hot chocolate bars are one of our most popular gift items in the store. On a somewhat regular basis, people come in to the shop looking for that cute little something to give... and we almost always mention these. Priced at just 8 dollars and with different percentages of cocoa and sweetness, these chocolate bars are some of the best. Their unique taste and texture stand out from the mainstream brands and are absolutely delicious! However, if you happen to be shopping for a caramel-lover, our Recchiuti Fleur de Sel Caramels are the way to go. Though we've mentioned them plenty of times before, we just can't leave them out!

The Jewelry Route: Last but certainly not least on our gift list is the ever-popular present of jewelry. Though diamonds can be a girls best friend, they often break your budget. So, a quick remedy to that situation is a Helen Ficalora Sterling Silver necklace with our cut-out heart charm. For under $100, this adorable necklace and chain could be yours (or your sweet heart's). Plus, we've got other charms, running $30-$55 that could make your gift extra personal. Just imagine a little silver chain with your initials and a heart charm. Precious, just precious.

Well, that's about it folks. We've got everything from edibles to earrings in the shop, just in case you're in dire need of a gift for Valentine's day. Whether you're the giver or the receiver, be sure to stop at the shop to check out these heartwarming gifts during this cold (temperature-wise) holiday!

Valentine's Day Looks from Trocadero

It's difficult to believe, but Valentine's Day is only two weeks away! Although gifts for those I love are somewhat on my mind (haha), I'm already brainstorming look-at-me outfits to whisk out of the closet come date night. Whether you're on a first date or just out with your gal pals on February 14, these ensembles are sure to turn heads!

I've also made it as easy as possible to get these looks for yourself - everything but the dresses can be found at Trocadero. (Remember, we do phone orders!)

valentine's outfits by shoptrocadero

LOOK ONE: The Classic Lady

Showcase a show-stopping look in your perfect LBD. Tasteful gold jewelry, a luxe velvet clutch, and impeccable Giuseppe Zanotti sandals combine to accent a classic ensemble that is anything but boring. Swipe on two coats of a nude nail polish and spritz a bit of Bond's Lexington Avenue perfume (with notes of peony and creme brulee) for that added touch of evening glamour.

Kara Ross gold hoop earrings, pink quartz cuff & velvet clutch; Guiseppe Zanotti zip back heel in nude/black; Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Plie; Bond No. 9 Lexington Avenue fragrance.

LOOK TWO: The Girly-Girl

A feminine floral dress is a sweet staple for any date night. Amp up the outfit for Valentine's with a pair of unbelievable Brian Atwood heels in glorious purple satin. A shiny silver clutch and delicate hoop earrings make the perfect companions, while glittery purple nail polish pulls the whole look together. One spray of Bond's Bryant Park perfume and you'll smell like a flourishing flower garden for the entire evening!

Brian Atwood Dorian heels in purple; Sang A silver parallelogram clutch; Alexis Bittar quartz drop earrings; Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Frugalista; Bond No. 9 Bryant Park fragrance.

LOOK THREE: The Vivacious Vixen

Valentine's Day is the day to sport a sexy red dress, and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. Take a walk on the wild side by pairing the fire-y number with some leopard-print stilettos and a feisty black leather clutch. Show your man (or all the men in the room) you mean business with a spritz of Bond's Wall Street fragrance, a musky yet clean scent. Last but not least, get notice-me nails with this glittery burgundy hue. 


Brian Atwood Trixi pony-hair stilettos; LAMB black leather clutch; Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Black Russian; Bond No. 9 Wall Street fragrance.

Find the finishing touches for your Valentine's Day outfit (as well as great gift ideas) at Trocadero!

Two for the Road: 12/21/09

Date: 12/21/09

Bag: Gucci tote

Shoe: Seychelles Hyperspace boot

Worn with: Floral dress with short sleeve cotton cardigan and American Apparel black yoga pants

Going back to the archives...this Gucci tote was another purchase from the via Montenapoleone Gucci boutique in Milan during show season. It's still one of my favorite travel carry-on bags because of its two interior zip pockets to put all my knick-knacks while on the plane, it is super lightweight and I like the north-south shape of it. I am wearing a floral dress I got from Deluré boutique out at Rockbrook Village in Omaha, a cardigan from Urban Outfitters and the yoga pants are my staples from American Apparel. The Seychelles wine colored boots were the floor samples from Trocadero that I took home with me one day. They've become a favorite for their simplicity and comfort.

Two for the Road:12/19/09

Date: 12/19/09

Bag: YSL Downtown tote

Shoe: Joie over the knee double zip boots

Worn with: American Apparel black polka dot leggings, black fleece mini skirt and C and C California black long sleeved tee, Derek Lamb cashmere cardigan

I have a bunch of outfits that I photographed before the holidays but haven't had the chance to post. My new year's resolution being about blogging more regularly. The other resolution? To stick to a more uniform schedule of being at the Troc. I've just been spoiling myself rotten by not going in as much since it's been very slow in the Old Market. Anyway, on to the history of the accessories...the tote was a gift from the YSL Press Office. I love that it is reversible (to brown) even though I never have carried it on the other side. The metallic bronze color works with almost everything and the bag is so lightweight, I literally would carry this everyday. I also love that YSL bags don't scream "Designer Handbag" and there are no real logos (except to those in the know see the "Y" stitching). It takes a true confident woman who doesn't carry about labels to invest in YSL. While I love a Chanel and LV once in a while, I think way too many women are hung up on making sure people know what they're carrying. Gucci logos, anyone? The boots are from Trocadero and are the best boots I have ever owned. I love their versatility, comfort and overall chic factor. They work with anything to improve any outfit.

Noteworthy Journals

I am eternally jotting things down, creating extensive lists of things to do, things to buy, and things to remember. Because of this pretty life-consuming habit, I have accumulated dozens of notebooks of all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique purpose. One notebook documents the pieces of clothing and accessories that I absolutely need in my wardrobe (and thus aids me in resisting impulse buys), one reminds me of certain combinations/silhouettes I find inspiring, seven of them serve as my personal notes on the latest runway shows, and one is a scrap book of anything that pops into my head. I also own two daily planners, one for home and one for my purse.

These little journals have to be unique enough to stand out from the sea of one-subject, college-ruled, spiral-bound notebooks that I use for my college classes. Luckily for me, Trocadero has all kinds of cute little notebooks that satisfy my need to write everything down, all for under $20!

note books by shoptrocadero

Cavallini notebooks (see the New York one, above) are a personal favorite of mine, covered with vintage-inspired pictures of faraway places - I now have both the London and New York editions. They'd make the perfect little travel companion, but for now, these little journals are the ideal size for traveling with me each and every day.

Attic Journals (top) are truly unique, and they're definitely a store favorite - I suggest them to everyone. Each journal is fashioned from an old vintage book (often, they were discarded from libraries) and filled with blank pages. You can occasionally find the old library sign-out sheet inside, as well as a few pages from the original work. The entire staff got a laugh out of a recent Attic Journal made from an old yearbook! These are ideal for sketching or taking notes.

For someone on the hunt for a more pocket-sized journal, we've got quite a few Apica notebooks (bottom left corner) that will do the trick. These are imported from Japan and are made from acid-free paper.

Of course, carrying all this around can be a bit of a hassle if you are used to carrying smaller bags. I recently recieved the amazing Anya Hindmarch 'Homework' Tote for Christmas, and it has become semi-permanently attached to my arm. It's the perfect size and strength for holding everything I need for the day -  Cavallini notebooks, planner, make-up bag , phone, and wallet included. However, it's the smooth leather handles and absolutely adorable print (a stack of made-up fashion books, like "The Art of Handbags" and "The Fashion Bible") that are the winning features of this casual-cool tote bag. Pair it with flats, leggings and an over-sized shirt and you have my college uniform!

src: net-a-porter

Big, Gigantic...

SALE!

Over the holiday season, all of us down here at the Troc were oogling over the holiday sale bags and shoes. To us, it seemed like the uber amazing deals and prices were the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, now we have something even better to fawn over...

Probably one of the biggest and best sales we've had at the store in a while. Let me give you the deets!

We have shoes from brands like Sigerson Morrison Belle, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Marc by Marc Jacobs all on sale for $100! Though we do have limited sizes, we've got around 20 different styles of shoes - so, there's bound to be something stylish in your size!

Then comes our boot/bootie table. The store now has an excellent sale on most of our boots, starting from $115 and up. From the Joie over-the-knee boot (my personal favorite) to the new Dolce Vita wedges, the markdowns are miraculous.

And last but certainly not least - our bags. Right now, all bags in the store are on sale. As if our sale rack wasn't enough, we decided to give every bag a better price. Right now I'm looking at the rack stocked with Anya Hindmarch, Rafe and Botkier and cannot believe my eyes. Of course with my luck, I just got a new bag for Christmas. Looks like I'll have to restrain myself from buying another. The deals just seem too good!

So, come on down here and check out the sale before it's too late!