Valentine Gift Ideas from Trocadero!

As a lifestyle and accessories boutique, we see women walk through the store day in and day out without any idea of what they're looking for. The Troc staff understands that sometimes women don't know what they want, which makes shopping for them all the more difficult. To make the exhausting task of searching for Valentine gift ideas a little easier, we've come up with five top-selling products that any wife or girlfriend is sure to love. 

1.) Bond No. 9 fragrance, $225 for an 100mL bottle

We maintain that there isn't a woman out there who wouldn't love a Bond No. 9 fragrance on any day of the year, but Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion to give her a sweet scent. Our top pick is easy - Chinatown, an alluring combination of peach blossoms and gardenia, was named the sexiest fragrance ever. 

2.) Mary Green boy shorts, $18

This classic Valentine gift idea is even better when you give her lingerie she'll actually want to wear! The staff of Trocadero is obsessed with Mary Green boy shorts, which combine a comfortable full-coverage cut with flirty lace detailing. Pair it up with a matching cami for a gift 

3.) Tocca candle, $38

Nothing says romance quite like a candle does, and our newest arrivals are irresistable. Choose from five sensational scents, including best sellers like Florence (english rose) and Yma (guava/currant). 

4.) MZ Wallace Kate, $390

We sing the praises of this bag on a daily basis, but only because we've had so many women tell us what a difference the Kate has made in their lives. The Teflon-coated nylon fabric makes it practical to clean and carry, and its numerous compartments make it a must-have for any occasion. Use it as a laptop bag, school bag, weekender, baby bag, and more. The Kate typically sells out in a heartbeat, but we've got a few extras in stock for Valentine's Day in both a gorgeous taupe and pebble grey. 

5.) Ten Things earrings, $55-$85

The newest jewelry line at Trocadero has been selling fast, and we can see why - the effortlessly feminine earrings are well suited to any style. We really adore the Storm earrings ($75), a gorgeous combination of gray and green stones in a delicate gold setting. 

Splurge Vs Steal

Rebecca Minkoff's Save/Spend wallet

It's January 20th. Have you been sticking to your New Year's resolutions?

I love this wallet from Rebecca Minkoff -- it reminds me of an old Anya Hindmarch double "Loose Pockets" that had one side as "save" and the other as "spend." We at the Troc used to do a lot of Anya Hindmarch business....that is, until the economy went bust and people just weren't willing to spend as much money on handbags and other leather goods. It's too bad because Anya makes some of the coolest accessories and we sure do miss them at Trocadero! But perhaps another season we can bring them back into the mix...

Anya Hindmarch "Loose Pocket"

But if you're like everyone else and wanting to save a buck here and there, do I have the biggest treat for you!

You'll either love me for telling you about this amazing store or you'll hate me because you'll be spending all your money there.

My friend owns an amazing consignment shop called Fashion Avenue 2 in the Minneapolis suburb of Wayzata. It is an offshoot of the original Fashion Avenue located in Edina on the main shopping drag. Both locations have -- without a doubt -- some of the best deals on designer labels. And so much of it is brand new, never been used items from designers like Anya Hindmarch, Lanvin, Mulberry, Yohji Yamamoto, Chanel, Dior, Catherine Malandrino, Vince, and the list goes on! We're talking ultra-deluxe designer as well as the contemporary brands that you know and love.

The best part is that much of their inventory is current season merchandise, never used, tags still on them...at 50% off or more. On their Facebook fan page, there is a brand new Louis Vuitton bag at 50% off the retail price, a never been worn black Y-3 bomber jacket originally $510 for $175 and so many other fabulous fashion finds. Honestly, if I lived closer, it would be the only place I would shop. For both myself and for gifts. You cannot beat the quality of the merchandise -- because it's mostly all brand new or very, very gently used. And I know that the gently worn items are even better deals because they're not brand spanking new.

How do I know so much about Fashion Avenue 2? Because I'm both a customer and a consignor. I had the opportunity to visit Minneapolis a couple years ago and finally got to see the store in action. I was so blown away by the terrific items stocked at both locations. If you're a fashion "whore," this is the place for you. Again, you might love me for telling you about this place but you might also hate me for making you spend all your savings there!

But just as the wallet says, there will be spending...but you most certainly (in some ways) will be saving as well. Heck, if you buy that Vuitton, you'll have saved $1,725!


source: Rebecca Minkoff wallet
source: Anya loose pocket

Golden Globes 2012 Red Carpet: Round Two

There's nothing more glamorous than a red carpet event. Why some celebrities choose this moment to have their two-year-old pick out an outfit for them is completely beyond me (I'm looking at you, Sarah). Below, see my top picks (and a couple of my worst-dressed candidates).

The Good:

Dianna Agron in Giles: This 'Glee' star heated up the Golden Globes in this fire-engine red dress with a matching red lip. The bodice of her dress also features my favorite detail of the night - laser cut swans.

Charlize Theron in Dior: I completely agree with Alice's assessment of Charlize's soft yet sexy ensemble.

Emma Stone in Lanvin: I'm partial to anyone who wears Lanvin, and particularly partial to Emma Stone's personal style. Although I don't love the silver eyeshadow, I can't help but adore this two-toned dress.

Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci: I love that she sticks to her character on the carpet. This Nina Ricci number was a bit softer than her recent choices, and I loved how her soft makeup and fluttery eyelashes played against her severe part. She played with contrast and the result is truly gorgeous.

Freida Pinto in Prada: Freida consistently chooses colors that are unbelievably flattering for her skin tone. I loved the texture on this Prada dress, and I'm glad to see her add a bold accessory to boost the look.

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen: Absolutely stunning. Reese manages to look completely effortless and totally sexy all in one - both adjectives that I wouldn't have used to describe her style five years ago.

The Bad:

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhuillier: Sarah's two-year-old daughter chose this dress for her. While that anecdote is cute, this gown clearly reflects it. Don't take style advice from someone who can barely dress themselves.

Piper Perabo in Theyskens' Theory: This sheer gown is an interesting choice, but it was Piper herself that really put this dress at the bottom of the pile for me. She was prancing around and fussing with the silhouette of it all night. It would take someone with the right attitude (and the right accessories) to pull this off, and I don't think that person is Piper.

Michelle Williams in Jason Wu: How can someone who is nominated for playing Marilyn Monroe, arguably the sexiest actress of all time, not inject an OUNCE of it into her Golden Globes dress? She's a stunningly beautiful young woman, and this ensemble doesn't demonstrate it at all.

photo sources: getty images, temptalia and the LA Times

Who were your picks for best and worst dressed at the 2012 Golden Globes?

Golden Globes 2012 Red Carpet Round Up

While I live-tweeted last night during the Globes as an experiment in tweeting, I couldn't help but comment on the dresses from the red carpet. There were the obvious hits and misses. The themes: fishtails, plunging v-necklines, nudes, shades of red and the every ubiquitous strapless numbers.

Below, my top picks of the night. And one of my least favorite looks as well...

Charlize in Dior Couture. She often does not disappoint and she didn't this year. My favorite total look of the night. Loved her diamond headband and soft waves of her hair.

Diane Lane in Reem Acra. It's not the most exciting dress but I think it's a very elegant and age appropriate dress. I think for women over 40+, strapless and sleeveless just aren't the most flattering and I love that she has a little capped sleeve on this one. She is simply gorgeous and ages beautifully.

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci. Talk about year of the mermaid! Her alabaster skin against the fish scale design of the dress in the iridescent green with the plunging v-neckline...it all worked for her.

Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka. Regal in navy and very tasteful but stylish. I like this look on her compared to some of the more sexy frocks she has donned in years past.

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen. Or is is Pamela Anderson? Wow, what a new marriage can do for someone! Love the red dress, love the tousled bed head hair. She has never been sexy to me -- more sweet than sexy -- but this look was very different for her and I liked it.

Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci. She has totally stuck her Girl with the Dragon Tattoo persona and shed her sweet, soft brown hair girl from The Social Network and her real life in general! For the time being, I like this very sleek side of her. It's a tad severe -- but so was the movie, right? I think the dress fits the hairstyle and make up. She nailed it.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang. Seriously, this woman is both sexy and a true comedic actress. Who else is that? And she was a true knockout in the dress. Love that it was navy and not red, that it was tasteful and elegant (it's Vera, after all) and she was true to herself. With the blown out straight hair to boot? Yay for Sofia!

Stacy Keibler in Valentino. Okay, so some people are only paying attention to her arm candy and Best Actor winner, George Clooney, but I couldn't help but be wow-ed by her. It's a transformation happening before our very own eyes. She's gorgeous (those long legs!), but the dress was perfection. Her hair was tousled just so and everything just clicked.

My least favorite look: Julie Bowen in Reem Acra. It did not evoke memories of Grace Kelly. I know it should have but it didn't. Instead she looked like she was in Halloween costume trying to be a princess. To pull that dress off, she needed to look edgier. Charlize could have rocked it in the right way. Julie made the dress way too precious. With that hair. With just being her. She should have gone for a great plunging v-neckline with smokey eyes. Not that she would have ever come close to Sofia but at least she would have been interesting. Fire your stylist, dear. You need a new look!

Charlize in Dior Couture.

Diane Lane in Reem Acra. 

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci.

Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka.

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen.

Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang.

Stacy Keibler in Valentino.

Julie Bowen in Reem Acra.

source LA Times

source Hollywood Reporter

Modern Technology Playtime

Tonight for one night only, FilmStreams theater, DaOMA (Design Alliance Omaha) and Omaha Creative Institute are debuting a film that had never been properly released in the U.S.

"Playtime" (1967) by Jacques Tati is a virtually silent commentary on the cold, vast and impersonal nature of technology that was becoming predominant in our modern age. It took 2 years to film and another 3 years to release. For lack of adequate skyscrapers, Tati decided to build his own building for a set that would become a film studio and ended bankrupting the production.

I found this old poster of the film online and loved it's graphic image of a body filled with buttons and directional signs and I thought more poignant than it's schitzophrenic, messy current poster image but then again I haven't seen the movie yet.

I am excited to see this piece of cinematic history on the big screen. Considering how much technology continues to direct even more of our lives this day and age it would be interesting compare impressions between now and then. If you get the chance to see it please share your feedback.

"Playtime is a lasting testament to the modern age tiptoeing on the edge of oblivion"-F.S.

Troc Staff Share Their New Year Resolutions!

Everyone enjoys starting a clean slate with the start of each new year, and 2012 is no exception. To get ourselves on track, the staff of Trocadero is more than happy to share their New Year's resolutions and how we plan on living "the good life" this year!

photo from hailmika.tumblr.com

Alice Kim, store owner:

• writing at least five times a week
• having more dinner parties
• learning a new language...maybe Korean! 

Jil B., manager: 

• practice yoga or meditation daily (she'll be certified to teach by fall!)
• save money for a trip to Europe
• celebrate turning 30 in style!  

Jamie B., part-time manager: 

• start her own blog again (the third time is the charm, right?)
• learn how to cook
• build savings
• exercise more - wouldn't be an honest list without including this, haha!  

Megan T., associate: 

• creating a cohesive wardrobe full of classics for every occasion 
• drink more water 

Jared S., associate: 

• investing in more staples and statement piece for his wardrobe! 

Chelsey Y., associate: 

• read every night 

What are YOUR New Year's resolutions?