The CWS is Coming to Town!

We're just days away from the first pitch of the 2010 College World Series! The sporting event gets underway on Saturday, June 19th for the final time at the legendary Rosenblatt Stadium, but the party starts on Friday with a opening ceremony featuring music and fireworks.

No matter who you are rooting for this year -- Arizona State, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, TCU or UCLA -- Trocadero has a rainbow of accessories so you can color coordinate with your favorite team. Baseball caps and t-shirts are so passe. There's no reason why you can't be chic while watching the game! Show your Bruins pride in a pair of turquoise DV sandals. Rather than sweating in a giant foam finger, wave your red, blue or yellow patent Anya Hindmarch clutch in the air to cheer on your favorite players.

Here are some of our favorite accessories in this year's CWS teams' colors.

Maroon/Red: Anya Hindmarch patent clutch, Red Flower Blood Orange candle, Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Chinoise, Matt Bernson Barracuda sandal, Harajuku tote, Kara by Kara Ross bangle and enamel ring, Crocodile Creek bib

Yellow/Gold: Anya Hindmarch loose pocket, Anya Hindmarch patent clutch

Royal Blue/Baby Blue: Anya Hindmarch loose pocket, Anya Hindmarch patent clutch, DV sandals, Marvis aquatic mint toothpaste, We Are Happy To Serve You ceramic deli cup, Flip and Tumble reusable bag

Purple: Marvis jasmin mint toothpaste, Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Purple Haze, Seychelles sandals, Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace perfume, Kara by Kara Ross enamel ring

Orange: Bond No. 9 Little Italy perfume and candle, TDM tie-dye bamboo scarf (not shown)

In the three years I've lived in Omaha, I've yet to go to a CWS game. I think I need to experience at least one at Rosenblatt before it moves to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha next year. I'm not partial to any of the teams playing (go BU Terriers!), so I'll probably pick one based on their uniforms, which is what I did when I was a little girl. I do love purple and orange...

All in One-Piece

Okay, so I know bikinis are the choice of many fashionistas out there for showing some serious skin this summer, but don't cancel out the one-piece.

A one-piece can look very sophisticated with a hint of divaness and dare I say, just as sexy as a bikini.

If you are at a loss of what type of one-piece to wear or because maybe you haven't worn a swimsuit in ages, try channeling your inner goddess with these inspirational pieces from some of the most popular icons in fashion.

From Marilyn Monroe to Jane Birkin, there's something for everyone that will compliment a unique personal style.

Don't forget to spice up your one-piece with these accessories from Trocadero for a more fashionable look.

Postcards from Doha

So I've been living in the Doha for a month now, and I never could have predicted what I've experienced. Besides the lack of women, and the women you do see are completely covered up with abayas, the constant construction/sandstorms and the bizarre driving tendencies (last week I drove by a truck going backwards on the interstate) I love the shocking differences of this culture. Accessories are big here because women are covered up all the time. The difference is is that here they are way into brands (logos), which I think is kind of tacky. Just because you have latest Louis Vuitton logo handbag doesn't mean you're fashionable. But that's just my personal opinion. The women sure know how to dress though—seeing their platform shoes and jewelry peaking out from under their black abayas along with their perfectly painted nails and blown out hair is breathtaking (spa culture is also big here). Shopping malls are everywhere and the temperatures are so hot now (the average is around 108 degrees Fahrenheit) that most people either leave the country or spend all day indoors. Since I have to practice modesty (covered shoulders and nothing more than two inches above the knee) I've been wearing lots of T-shirt dresses with leggings, along with my Matt Bernson Flash sandal. The top ways I've been fighting the heat (I break a sweat walking across the street to get coffee) are....

1. Using aloe vera instead of face moisturizer. It soaks right in and doesn't sweat off.

2. Eating watermelon! It gets really old chugging water all the time here, and produce here is really cheap. It costs about $5 for a giant melon.

3. This white top from American Apparel. I layer it over my tank tops and the armpits are baggy enough for maximum airflow. 

Besides the extreme heat, it's just nice to know that my stereotype of the Middle East as a war driven, uber-conservative out of touch place is way wrong. I feel like an American idiot. I'm even going to try and stay after my internship ends at the end of August. I really want to see the Tribeca Film Festival in November. We'll see what happens...I'll keep you posted. 

In the Mood for the College World Series

Baseball, one of America's favorite pastimes, has taken over Omaha for the first half of June in the form of the College World Series. Two days ago, I sat through four innings (as many as I have the patience for) of the LSU vs. Arkansas game with my friends but could hardly concentrate on the field. I was more intrigued by what the fans around me were wearing. Sitting in front of an LSU fan with toy tigers and Mardi Gras beads glued to her hat (cute, I know) and behind ten die-hard Arkansas fans body-painted to spell out "Razorbacks", I just had to look. Even walking through the crowds of fans in the Old Market, I noticed that many of them can't help but sport their home team's colors, as well. However, I saw that many of the fans stick to colored clothing when they could be going the extra mile with team colored accessories we have at the store. Take the purple Botkier James tote, for example. How perfect would that be for an LSU lover? Or a few red items, like the Matt Bernson Barracuda sandal and the Rafe Pearl bag, for someone cheering on ASU. The store even has Carolina blue baby clothes and Dolce Vita shoes, plus a Southern Miss gold Python bag! Any accessory from our "team-colored" display seems perfect for these fans.

All this talk about the College World Series has just made me think how much I love attending. I mean, you can never go wrong with a nice summer day, tickets to a sports event, and some good greasy food. Oh, the greasy food at the stadium - even the staff here can't get enough. When asked to choose between a hot dog, popcorn, and a baked pretzel, I chose the pretzel... with a side of cheese! Sarah and Marie like their hot baked pretzels too while the other high-school intern, Lauren, chose popcorn (only because the ever-famous Bloomin' Onion wasn't offered) and Jared, another intern, went off the list and chose his favorite: cotton candy (pink, to be exact). As for Alice, Drew and Helen, they go for the Hebrew National hot dogs (courtesy of local Con Agra!). 

With two ball games almost every day, I'm just looking forward to the final match, which is the only whole game I'm willing to sit through. Who's going to win? I couldn't even guess. I do know the competition has narrowed down to ASU, Arkansas, LSU, Texas, UNC, and Virginia. So, good luck to all. The spirit, excitement, and food from the stadium is enough to last me the entire summer. I'm soaking it up; you should too.

Five hold-overs

We've talked about shopping your own closet a lot here on Troc Talk and in our weekly Trocadero Tidbits newsletter, so I've had it on my mind. As I go through my purchases from the previous summer in my own closet, I've found a few things that I know I'll be rocking all summer long (as well as a few things I plan to donate to my local consignment shop.) It just so happens that a lot of the items on my list are things we carry at Trocadero, so if you didn't pick up an ec0-chic tote or a pair of gladiator sandals last summer, you're still in luck. 

Here's my list of the top five holdover looks for the impending Omaha heat. 

1. Strappy Gladiator Sandals. Whether you opt for a comfortable flat style for everyday wear or a sexier high heeled number, last summer's Greek-inspired sandals are my top pick for what to hold on to or to invest in now. At Trocadero, we have lots to choose from: Matt Bernson's studded red "Barracuda," L.A.M.B.'s "Fuji" with its fetching triangular heel (pictured at left) or a metallic gladiator by Bettye Muller or DV Dolce Vita. I tried the "Fuji" on last weekend and can't get it out of my head. 

2. Oversized Clutches. For day or night, or day-to-night style, an oversized clutch is both chic and sensible. 

I have a number of vintage numbers at home, but if I were going to invest in a new one, my number one choice would be Anya Hindmarch's "Large Pipkin" clutch, pictured at right. It's perfect for day or night, neutral enough to be worn with everything but has gorgeous detail on the front clasp. It's an investment piece, to be sure, but one that you'd pass down to your daughters or neices without fail. I also love Kara Ross clutches, in both gold and burlap with python details, and the L.A.M.B "Ahndra Bala" clutch that Gwen herself recently carried. 

3. Eco-chic gear. We all know how important it is to be friendly to Mother Earth, and Trocadero helps us do it stylishly. I'm still planning to rock my Anya "I'm not a Plastic Bag" tote this summer, but if you missed out on that trend, you can check out her latest foray into eco-chic with the much-blogged about Fruit and Veg, Meat or Dairy totes. You can also pick up a canvas tote screened right here in Omaha by artist Miss Cake; we have a few in stock. New this summer is BC Footwear's "Danke" sandal, pictured above, which boldly advertises what it used to be: a rice bag. These comfy flip flops are not only eco-friendly, they're super cute. What's more is that beacuse they're made of old rice bags, each pair is singular, with subtle details that differ from pair to pair. Alice also carries a super cute phone or mp3 player case, also made from colorful recycled rice bags. 

4. Cross body bags (for day or night). Though I usually carry an

oversized bag stuffed to the gills with odds and ends, I'm totally into the idea of downsizing for the summer. I'd love to do it with Botkier's soft green "Moto" clutch, which is a petite sister to my white Botkier "Trigger" bag (that, coincidentally, Alice has too!) I prefer this beauty in green, though Trocadero also has it in black. If you're looking for a vegan style, we have a number of cross body bags in canvas and nylon by Harajuku Lovers. Botkier's "Marcel" is made for hot city nights with its long chain strap and woven gold detail on its sides. 

5. Wearing SPF every day. What's more important than our skin? I've long been a devotee of strong sunscreen, and I think its become more than a trend. It's a necessity. Luckily, lots of skin care lines are aware of the importance of skin protection, and Alice, is too: all of the face creams at Trocadero include an SPF. Korres makes both a lightweight pomegranate moisturizer and a wild rose moisturizer (at left) with SPF 6, as well as a watermelon moisturizer with SPF 30 (for pale girls like me.) Ole Henriksen has two SPF 15 moisturizers, one for normal skin and one for dry/sensitive skin. Malin+Goetz makes a SPF 30 moisturizer that we have in the store, and finally, for your little ones, pick up a tube of Susan Brown's Baby SPF 30.

Now that I've reviewed my list of summer hold-overs, tell us, what do you plan to hold on to or purchase before it gets hot in Omaha? 

Trocadero at Summer Music Festivals

Last summer I went to Chicago for Lollapalooza. It was the first time I'd ever attended a multi-day outdoor music festival and I had a great time. I also learned what to wear. With Coachella going on as we speak, and tons of outfit posts from the festival all over the fashion blogs, I thought a little guide to style for the summer music festivals might be in order. Here's what I came up with.

All four of these outfits would work for any of the American festivals, and they'd work for Glastonbury, in England, with the addition of a good pair of rubber boots and a rain jacket.

We'll start at the left. A pair of jean shorts are necessary (I have this exact pair, from American Eagle Outfitters.) I paired them with a big pair of sunglasses, a simple grey American Apparel tank and of course an all-access pass. Accessorize at Trocadero with Anya Hindmarch's Fruit and Veg tote (to lug your sunscreen, water bottle, lip gloss and wallet) and keep your feet cool in a pair of DV brown "Caprice" gladiators.

The two middle looks both use a dress, and let me just say this is the coolest, most comfortable option at a festival crowded with people in 90-degree heat. Our top look takes a simple Alice and Olivia tank dress in a bright color and pairs it with a funky pair of Puma sneakers, your boyfriend's baseball cap and a classic pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers for an overall sporty vibe. Accessorize this look with a Harajuku Lovers crossbody bag in the fun "Flourescent" colorway and a set of Alex and Ani expandable bangles.

The bottom look uses a floral cotton sundress, from Theory, and makes it festival appropriate but still keeps things feminine. A hat is your best friend in the hot summer sun, and here we show a cute retro straw style from Eugenia Kim. A "Pepto Pink" pedicure from Rescue Beauty Lounge looks great with Matt Bernson's Talaria winged sandal and a pair of retro pink sunglasses. I'd use the Anya tote with this look, too.

Finally, at an evening show, when the sun is on its way down, consider a pair of comfortable boyfriend jeans with a floaty peasant top; here we show Current/Elliott jeans and a Malele Birger York embroidered blouse. A big floppy sun hat keeps the glare off your face and classic aviators just look cool. A simple but cute pair of Seychelles "Get Outta Town" flats and Botkier's "Marcel" clutch with a crossbody strap are dressy enough for drinks after the show.

Have fun at the summer concerts, and even if you're just enjoying music locally, let Trocadero know what you wear.

Cool Factor

When I first heard about designer Matt Bernson, I quickly brushed him off. I wasn't a fan of his signature studded sandal and his "cali" attitude. Boy was I ever wrong. When it came time to pick out my summer shoe, Alice suggested Matt Bernson's "Flash" sandal in black on black with the zip back. I remember kind of cocking my head before I tried them on, but they were surprisingly awesome and comfortable, so I took them home and gave Bernson a chance. I am now a convert. The tag lines on Matt Bernson's website are 'sex + comfort' and 'live beyond trend' plus he describes the "Flash" shoe as 'superhero chic.' So maybe I underestimated the cool factor of Matt Bernson and his sandals. I even had a (guy) friend tell me that he thought my outfit was boring until he saw my shoes!!! It's nice knowing that sometimes other people know your style better than you. (Thanks Alice!)  Are you a "Flash," "Fuji," or "Haley?" Check out our shoe page and tell us your shoe personality. Want more editor advice? Stop down to Trocadero and let us help you pick out your summer shoe or sandal. 

Inspiration by way of Talaria

After Trocadero got the new Matt Bernson Talaria sandal earlier this week, I felt a whiff of inspiration, as if from the gods. Just kidding. But it's an awfully cute sandal, and it can be worn in tons of ways.

Our looks this week all focus on this cute, versatile gladiator with a darling pair of wings at each ankle. First, a glittery mini dress paired with a Pade Vavra knuckle duster pearl ring, a simple Anya Hindmarch clutch and an adorable Pluma feather headband gets you ready for girls night out. Next, we update the ubiquitous black legging with a simple gray tank, an updated boyfriend blazer and the go-anywhere Sasha convertible hobo from Botkier. Finally, let your winged sandals take you though the workday in a simple black blouse, a brightly-colored tulip skirt and signature expandable bangles from Alex and Ani. None of these looks would be complete without a sprinkle of the truly addictive Glamo Glitz eye shadow from Scarlett Cosmetics.

And, in case you were wondering, the Talaria sandals are named after the winged sandals worn by the Greek Gods, most often Hermes, the messenger god. Pretty good lineage for a sandal, no?

All accessories above are available in store now at Trocadero! Clothes designed by Chloe, Elizabeth and James, American Apparel, Helmut Lang, James Perse and Lipsy.