Amazing Gray...the Shade of the Season
Rag & Bone
Be & D
Goldenbleu
Elie Tahari
Jimmy Choo
Stella McCartney
Juicy Couture
Red Sound
Burberry
Alexander McQueen
Brunello Cucinelli
Michael Kors
Lacoste
Tory Burch
Nordstrom to come to Birmingham!
Finally, in a press release from Nordstrom today, something definite came out of the whispers and rumors that have been swirling around Birmingham retail circles for years.
Nordstrom to Open First Alabama Store at Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham
SEATTLE, WA Nov. 30 -- Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc., a leading fashion specialty retailer, announced it has signed a letter of intent to open a new Nordstrom store at Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham. The two-level Nordstrom will be approximately 143,000 square feet and will open in the former Macy's location. Scheduled to open spring 2012, the new Nordstrom will be the retailer's first Alabama store.
"We've been looking for the right opportunity to open a store in the Birmingham area for years," said Erik Nordstrom, president of stores for Nordstrom. "We're eager to serve Alabama customers who already know us and to build relationships with those who are experiencing Nordstrom for the first time."
"Nordstrom sets the standard for retail excellence, something our shoppers have come to expect from GGP and Riverchase Galleria," said Bob Michaels, president and chief operating officer of General Growth Properties, Inc. "This is a great opportunity to continue providing an unparalleled line-up of retail for the Birmingham shopper. Nordstrom's commitment to outstanding merchandise and superior customer service will be a perfect complement to the existing department stores."
"Riverchase Galleria is the premiere super-regional shopping center in the southeast," said Jim Wilson, III, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC. "We continue to seek out and attract the most stellar tenants in the country and this is the case with Nordstrom, one of the leading fashion specialty retailers in the United States. My father, Jim Wilson, Jr., had the vision to bring Nordstrom to the Riverchase Galleria and for the past seven years, up until his death in 2006, worked toward that goal. We are excited to see his dream come to fruition with the announcement of Nordstrom joining the Riverchase lineup. Nordstrom's presence will be a shopping boon to the City of Hoover, the Birmingham area and the entire Alabama market."
Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 157 stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 101 full-line stores, 51 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques, one freestanding shoe store and two clearance stores.
Nordstrom to Open First Alabama Store at Riverchase Galleria in BirminghamSEATTLE, WA Nov. 30 -- Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc., a leading fashion specialty retailer, announced it has signed a letter of intent to open a new Nordstrom store at Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham. The two-level Nordstrom will be approximately 143,000 square feet and will open in the former Macy's location. Scheduled to open spring 2012, the new Nordstrom will be the retailer's first Alabama store.
"We've been looking for the right opportunity to open a store in the Birmingham area for years," said Erik Nordstrom, president of stores for Nordstrom. "We're eager to serve Alabama customers who already know us and to build relationships with those who are experiencing Nordstrom for the first time."
"Nordstrom sets the standard for retail excellence, something our shoppers have come to expect from GGP and Riverchase Galleria," said Bob Michaels, president and chief operating officer of General Growth Properties, Inc. "This is a great opportunity to continue providing an unparalleled line-up of retail for the Birmingham shopper. Nordstrom's commitment to outstanding merchandise and superior customer service will be a perfect complement to the existing department stores."
"Riverchase Galleria is the premiere super-regional shopping center in the southeast," said Jim Wilson, III, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC. "We continue to seek out and attract the most stellar tenants in the country and this is the case with Nordstrom, one of the leading fashion specialty retailers in the United States. My father, Jim Wilson, Jr., had the vision to bring Nordstrom to the Riverchase Galleria and for the past seven years, up until his death in 2006, worked toward that goal. We are excited to see his dream come to fruition with the announcement of Nordstrom joining the Riverchase lineup. Nordstrom's presence will be a shopping boon to the City of Hoover, the Birmingham area and the entire Alabama market."
Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 157 stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 101 full-line stores, 51 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques, one freestanding shoe store and two clearance stores.
OK, so it's not opening until 2012, but no doubt it will be worth the wait! Word is that the reason construction will take so long is that the area surrounding the site will be totally redone to create a streetscape shopping experience.
Let's Hear It For The Boys
What a week for the boys! Last night's Project Runway was all about menswear, challenging the designers to create an outfit for football player turned Today Show co-host Tiki Barber. The designers, who are all accustomed to designing solely for women, found the intricacies of menswear quite taxing! Also, this week's Birmingham Weekly (Vol.11, Issue14), features an article on holiday dressing for men. The article just happens to include expert advice from...yours truly. If you haven't yet picked up your copy from one of the many distribution locations, you can read the article online at
As always, if any of you men (or women, of course) have questions about holiday dressing or any other style issue, send me a line at tracy@chicmadesimple.com.
No more V.B.S. (Visible Bra Strap)!
OK, men, this particular post is not for you (unless you wear a "Bro" a la Seinfeld).
Ladies, how many times do you find yourself wearing a sleeveless shirt and finding yourself constantly re-hiding your bra straps? And trust me, no matter how much celebrities like Britney Spears and Tara Reid try to make us think it is fashionable to have a hot pink bra strap showing, it isn't - it's trashy! (I mean, what image comes to mind when you think of the formentioned women? Need I say more?) OR, maybe you, as I have, relegated y
ourself to wearing a strapless bra with your sleeveless numbers, only to find yourself uncomfortable and, frankly, a bit saggy. Racerback bras just don't offer the "support" (a.k.a., padding and push-up to make my barely-B look like a full-C) I need. I tried using a large safety pin to connect bra straps in the back, which led to painful and embarrasing outbursts when the pin decided to come undone.
ourself to wearing a strapless bra with your sleeveless numbers, only to find yourself uncomfortable and, frankly, a bit saggy. Racerback bras just don't offer the "support" (a.k.a., padding and push-up to make my barely-B look like a full-C) I need. I tried using a large safety pin to connect bra straps in the back, which led to painful and embarrasing outbursts when the pin decided to come undone.Alas, "The Strapper" to the rescue! Looking a bit like a curved "H," The Strapper easily converts a regular bra into a racerback, making it perfect for tanks, cocktail dresses, workout wear, etc. Available via http://www.thestrapper.com/estrapper.com/, the gadget comes i
n various colors and 2 sizes (I recommend the one-size-fits-all Large for everyone), retailing for $5.99 for a single and less for packages of multiples. OK, so the website video of women dancing for joy about their Strappers is a bit goofy, but the product is indeed a handy tool to fix a serious wardrobe issue and might just make you do a little jig as well.
n various colors and 2 sizes (I recommend the one-size-fits-all Large for everyone), retailing for $5.99 for a single and less for packages of multiples. OK, so the website video of women dancing for joy about their Strappers is a bit goofy, but the product is indeed a handy tool to fix a serious wardrobe issue and might just make you do a little jig as well.Even better, with every sale of The Strapper, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to support cancer research. That's what I call a win-win!
A New Season of Project Runway!
The 4th season of the Emmy-nominated competition reality series Project Runway premieres on BRAVO, Wednesday, November 14 at 9PM CST. Featuring supermodel Heidi Klum as host and a panel of industry luminaries, including fashion designer Michael Kors and Elle magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, the addicting show follows hopeful fashion designers (some already amateurs, some wannabes) through weekly design challenges that has included making a party dress entirely from grocery-store items (the corn husk frock was gorgeous!).Tim Gunn, Parson's School of Design instructor turned Chief Creative Officer for Liz Claiborne, Inc. (in part thanks to the show's success and his charming personality) leads us through the behind-the-scenes, acting as a liaison for the designers. In what Bravo promises will be the "most exciting season yet," some of the biggest names in fashion, sports and design will guest star this season.
The 15 contestants will be whittled down to the finalists who will receive the ultimate honor of showing their own line in front of an audience of fashion industry movers and shakers at New York Fashion Week. Other prizes for the winner include an editorial feature in ELLE magazine, $100,000 to start their own line, the opportunity to sell a fashion line on Bluefly.com and a 2008 Saturn Astra.
Tune in to be wowed by the contestant's creativity and entertained by their diverse personalities.
Ask Tracy
Q:
Dear Tracy,
What's the deal with peep-toe and patent shoes? I always thought they were for Spring/Summer, but I am seeing them for this Fall. How do I wear them and make them look appropriate for colder weather?
F.G.
A:
Dear F.G.,
You are right - peep-toe and patent shoes abound in this Fall's shoe collections! Mary Janes, ballet flats and pumps with chunkier heels are also popular styles. (Check out the pictured Valentinos that encompass 3 trends in 1 shoe!) Wear all with stockings or, even better, opaque tights (I love Hue's variety and quality). Just make sure that when wearing peep-toes you choose sandalfoot tights, so that there is no visible seam at the toe (or just tuck the seam under your foot). The truly fashion forward can choose trendy footless tights while the weather permits.
Stylishly yours,
Tracy
Dear Tracy,
What's the deal with peep-toe and patent shoes? I always thought they were for Spring/Summer, but I am seeing them for this Fall. How do I wear them and make them look appropriate for colder weather?
F.G.
A:
Dear F.G.,
You are right - peep-toe and patent shoes abound in this Fall's shoe collections! Mary Janes, ballet flats and pumps with chunkier heels are also popular styles. (Check out the pictured Valentinos that encompass 3 trends in 1 shoe!) Wear all with stockings or, even better, opaque tights (I love Hue's variety and quality). Just make sure that when wearing peep-toes you choose sandalfoot tights, so that there is no visible seam at the toe (or just tuck the seam under your foot). The truly fashion forward can choose trendy footless tights while the weather permits.
Stylishly yours,
Tracy
Required Reading for Men
Back by popular demand, the editors of Esquire have created an all-new guide for men who want to live stylishly. The Big Black Book 2007 (yes, they know it's red) is filled with almost 200 pages of useful information on everything from martini mixing to grooming to bespoke suits (if you don't know what that means, even more reason to buy this issue). A perfect bathroom read (we women still don't understand what you DO in there...), pick up a copy at your favorite bookstore or magazine stand. Just having it in your house will up your style quotient! $9.95
Ask Tracy
Q:
Dear Tracy,
I just saw you on Fox and so glad I can ask someone this!! Is is too late in the year to wear a halter top? I purchased some heavy sweater halters and dark-colored sleeveless tank style tops, but just feel like it is October, hello, so too late to wear them! My pants stay dark, my wardrobe consists of black, khaki, brown and tan. I had a little girl tell me at my sons daycare "you wear the same clothes all the time!" Everything I wear looks the same! HELP!!
Thanks,
D.R.
A:
A:
Dear D.R.,
In warmer climates such as the Deep South, perceived fashion “rules” can and need to be bent a bit for comfort and practicality. Halters are fine – year-round, in fact – just as long as they are seasonal when it comes to color and fabric. For example, you don’t want to wear a halter 
in a light cotton or pastel floral print, but a richly colored silk or rayon jersey is great. The wool blend halter by Elijah (pictured left) and the silk jersey version by Sky (pictured lower right) are good examples. Even chiffon can be worn if it is a Fall-inspired print, like the D&G leopard print halter pictured. The heavy sweater knit halter you described sounds perfect for the cooler seasons. When considering color, think richer, deeper. warm hues - amber, chocolate brown, sage or olive green, eggplant, peacock blue. 
in a light cotton or pastel floral print, but a richly colored silk or rayon jersey is great. The wool blend halter by Elijah (pictured left) and the silk jersey version by Sky (pictured lower right) are good examples. Even chiffon can be worn if it is a Fall-inspired print, like the D&G leopard print halter pictured. The heavy sweater knit halter you described sounds perfect for the cooler seasons. When considering color, think richer, deeper. warm hues - amber, chocolate brown, sage or olive green, eggplant, peacock blue. 
As for your being in the all-too-common rut of "wearing the same clothes all the time," consider a Closet Re-Vamp! We will go though your current items, create new outfits, and decide what you need to liven up your wardrobe (and show up the fashionista pre-schooler at your son's school!)
Stylishly yours,
Tracy
Tracy
Good Day Alabama Appearance
It was a chic Columbus Day on Fox 6! Responding to the question many of my clients are asking, "How do I dress for Fall when it is still hot outside?", this morning on Good Day Alabama, I showed casual, transitional pieces
that can be worn now, then layered with other items once the weather turns cooler. Fashions were from Manhattan South, a new boutique in the Highway 280 shopping area next to Whole Foods, and models were provided by Real People Agency.
On the left - Joy is wearing Fortune Denim jeans - a Southern California denim fit and wash with an Eastern design details. 12 Swarvoski Crystals surround each button and an individual fortune is sewn into the back of each pair. Her screen-printed thermal top in grey (THE color of the season) is by Born Upon The Tide. Hand drawn designs. Her necklaces by Dillon Rodgers have been seen on rock stars and celebrities all over the world, featured on Access Hollywood, Friends, Coke commercials, and The Bachelor to name a few. ALL items are exclusive to Manahattan South!
In the middle is Rachel, sporting a fun tulip-shaped
Orion of London dress, a contemporary print driven line. Shoes are by Oh Deer Shoes, reversible ankle tights (they are charcoal grey on the opposite side!) are by Spanx. Her black-patent clutch is by Heather Hawkins Clutch - seen on celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon and the Desperate Housewives.
On the far right Leyla looks glam in a Jully Kang knit dress - I love this dress! So comfortable and easy to wear yet so chic! Could also be worn with a wide belt (they have some great ones at Manhattan South) and with leggings. Her Christian Louboutin look a-like platform peep-toe punps are identical to the real deals, but instead of $800, the Oh Deer versions are $70!
Following my segment, friend and makeup artist Jestina Howard of Aware Cosmetics (http://www.awarecosmetics.com/) gave a Fall Beauty update.
that can be worn now, then layered with other items once the weather turns cooler. Fashions were from Manhattan South, a new boutique in the Highway 280 shopping area next to Whole Foods, and models were provided by Real People Agency.On the left - Joy is wearing Fortune Denim jeans - a Southern California denim fit and wash with an Eastern design details. 12 Swarvoski Crystals surround each button and an individual fortune is sewn into the back of each pair. Her screen-printed thermal top in grey (THE color of the season) is by Born Upon The Tide. Hand drawn designs. Her necklaces by Dillon Rodgers have been seen on rock stars and celebrities all over the world, featured on Access Hollywood, Friends, Coke commercials, and The Bachelor to name a few. ALL items are exclusive to Manahattan South!
In the middle is Rachel, sporting a fun tulip-shaped
Orion of London dress, a contemporary print driven line. Shoes are by Oh Deer Shoes, reversible ankle tights (they are charcoal grey on the opposite side!) are by Spanx. Her black-patent clutch is by Heather Hawkins Clutch - seen on celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon and the Desperate Housewives.
On the far right Leyla looks glam in a Jully Kang knit dress - I love this dress! So comfortable and easy to wear yet so chic! Could also be worn with a wide belt (they have some great ones at Manhattan South) and with leggings. Her Christian Louboutin look a-like platform peep-toe punps are identical to the real deals, but instead of $800, the Oh Deer versions are $70!
Following my segment, friend and makeup artist Jestina Howard of Aware Cosmetics (http://www.awarecosmetics.com/) gave a Fall Beauty update.
If you missed the spot, you can watch it online at http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=55BA8032F77139E1CFA1B84AAB953FED?contentId=4574705&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
Something CHIC has arrived on the net!
I am very excited to be launching my website, www.chicmadesimple.com!Fashion has long been a passion of mine. At the age of three, when asked by my Montessori teacher about my summer plans, I responded, “This summer I am going to wear a shirt without sleeves.” A few years later, when all of my female classmates signed up for Brownies, I, not bearing to don the brown-and-orange pinafore that was the required Brownie uniform, signed up for ballet instead, much preferring the cornflower-blue leotard and pink tights. (A great example of what I tell kids during summer Fashion Camp – being stylish is not about looking like everyone else, but about being authentically YOU).
Always seeming to be the go-to girl for friends with burning questions such as “What color hosiery should I wear with this?” and “Do I have to wear a tie to that?”, in the year 2000 I made doling out fashion advice a full-time endeavor, and chicmadesimple was born. What I offer is a fresh approach to traditional fashion consulting that caters to, among others, what I believe to be an underserved group: style conscious yet budget-savvy and time-constrained individuals. Although they realize the importance of a look that reflects their lifestyle and individuality and thus bolsters confidence, these individuals most likely don’t seek assistance in the process of putting it all together, concerned that it would be cost-prohibitive or tedious. Because I believe our outward appearance is a palette on which we paint our individuality, I feel we owe it to ourselves to develop a personal style that makes sense for the way we live, and most important, makes us feel good - not because it is en vogue.
I consider myself a seer of sorts – a “style swami” if you will – helping individuals discover and then demonstrate their own personal style. For those clients who tell me, “I have no style” - balderdash! Everyone has a sense of what they like and don’t like – some are attracted to cool colors, some to warm…some like to dress up, some prefer a more casual mode of dress – putting this all together equals personal style. My goal is to help clients decipher these style preferences and to educate them on key style principles and elements so that they can make better decisions regarding that age old question, “What to wear?”
And what about trends? They exist, for certain, and rest assured I make myself aware of them every season via hours of Style TV and pouring through the glossy magazines that serve as a style swami’s trend tarot cards. But at the same time I appreciate the philosophy of one of fashion’s greats, the late Gianni Versace, who said, “Don’t be too into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide who you are and what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.” So while I may inform you of the season’s “it” color, that doesn’t me
an you have to wear whatever "it" is. Again, it is all about finding and embracing your personal style – some lean toward trendy, others classic. Either way, you want to look fashionable and put-together, not like you hit every sale rack this season.
Thank you for your interest in chicmadesimple. I invite you to peruse my services and consider what your style aspirations might be. I would love to hear about your style needs and hope that my “passion for fashion” can help you incorporate a little chic into all areas of your life!
Always seeming to be the go-to girl for friends with burning questions such as “What color hosiery should I wear with this?” and “Do I have to wear a tie to that?”, in the year 2000 I made doling out fashion advice a full-time endeavor, and chicmadesimple was born. What I offer is a fresh approach to traditional fashion consulting that caters to, among others, what I believe to be an underserved group: style conscious yet budget-savvy and time-constrained individuals. Although they realize the importance of a look that reflects their lifestyle and individuality and thus bolsters confidence, these individuals most likely don’t seek assistance in the process of putting it all together, concerned that it would be cost-prohibitive or tedious. Because I believe our outward appearance is a palette on which we paint our individuality, I feel we owe it to ourselves to develop a personal style that makes sense for the way we live, and most important, makes us feel good - not because it is en vogue.
I consider myself a seer of sorts – a “style swami” if you will – helping individuals discover and then demonstrate their own personal style. For those clients who tell me, “I have no style” - balderdash! Everyone has a sense of what they like and don’t like – some are attracted to cool colors, some to warm…some like to dress up, some prefer a more casual mode of dress – putting this all together equals personal style. My goal is to help clients decipher these style preferences and to educate them on key style principles and elements so that they can make better decisions regarding that age old question, “What to wear?”
And what about trends? They exist, for certain, and rest assured I make myself aware of them every season via hours of Style TV and pouring through the glossy magazines that serve as a style swami’s trend tarot cards. But at the same time I appreciate the philosophy of one of fashion’s greats, the late Gianni Versace, who said, “Don’t be too into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide who you are and what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.” So while I may inform you of the season’s “it” color, that doesn’t me
an you have to wear whatever "it" is. Again, it is all about finding and embracing your personal style – some lean toward trendy, others classic. Either way, you want to look fashionable and put-together, not like you hit every sale rack this season.Thank you for your interest in chicmadesimple. I invite you to peruse my services and consider what your style aspirations might be. I would love to hear about your style needs and hope that my “passion for fashion” can help you incorporate a little chic into all areas of your life!
Tracy Robinson
Fashion Consultant & Stylist
Fashion Consultant & Stylist
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