The Sample Sale Blog

Yes yes, we have our nerdy moments and are proud of it. Shiny new tech toys can make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. iPhone Apps are like tiny toys inside a bigger tech toy and quite frankly, that’s AWESOME. Here’s a list of five apps that make our inner nerds smile.

1.Hipstamatic- There are tons of apps for the iPhone’s camera, but this one really stands out. The app lets you mix and match the type of lens, flash, and film that your iPhone simulates, resulting in tons of possibilities. And when you’re all done taking your pictures, Hipstamatic lets you upload them directly onto Facebook, Flicker, or email. Cool and convenient for $1.99.

2. RedLaser- It’s no secret that we at The Sample Sale love a bargain, so this app is perfect for us. Simply scan the bar-code  of any product using your iPhones camera and RedLaser will hunt it down for the lowest price, online and in stores. The app will pay for itself($1.99) in no time.

3. YouMail- There are plenty of times when you can’t check you voicemail. YouMail saves you time and converts your voicemail to text, letting you read it. There are other cool features too, like being able to save a voicemail forever or setting up your outgoing message to greet callers by their name. Oh and best of all, its free.

4. Skee-Ball- This app manages to bring the fun of actual skee-ball to the iPhone. Between the sound of the ball rolling up the ramp, the lights flashing when you make it in, and the virtual tickets you can use to “buy” cheesy carnival prizes, its become one of my guilty pleasures. For $0.99 the iPhone version of Skee-Ball is worth it.

5. Bump- This app combines two great things, convenience and fist bumping. Bump will allow you to send anything from contact info, pictures, or calendar events by simply selecting it on your phone and bumping fists with another iPhone user who has Bump. And all this fist bumping, Facebook sharing, picture sending fun is free.

Happy App Store shopping.

No one really pays attention to the letter Z and I want to bring forth that Z’s are cool. Do you know why Z’s are cool? Well…

1. Zappos: Zappos is the ultimate place to buy shoes and I am constantly looking on their website to see which pair of shoes I can buy this week. With a purchase from Zappos they include free shipping, free returns, and a free 365 day return policy (amazing). So why do I like Z so much? Because Zappos starts with a Z.

2. Zippers: Zippers are trending so hard right now I want to zip to a store and buy some zipper shoes, zipper tanks, and zipper necklaces.

3. Zoolander: Who can forget the iconic quote, “It’s mer-man, mer-man,” or “I think I got the black lung (cough cough)” or “What is this a center for ants?” This movie is a timeless masterpiece in which Ben Stiller kills it.

4. Z-Brand: Z-Brand is my new favorite brand thus far. This is applicable to men and women as you will highly desire Z Brand’s new and upcoming look featuring of what we call the “vintage-colorado” look. Don’t know what I mean? Visit their website to find out. Also, as a treat for all you lovely people, we will be having a Z Brand Sample Sale on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 11:00 AM PST/ 2PM EST.

5. Zooey Deschannel: I mean, come on, who doesn’t like her? She is a great actress and a great musician—put that together and you get a dangerous Z combo.

My newest obsession is lace and it’s showing up everywhere, even on the runways. I used to think lace should only be hidden underneath my clothes for a special occasion. And when it was worn in plain sight, it either looked trashy or too gothic. But now I’m obsessed with mixing and matching lace into all my outfits to add a sophisticated edge. Lace headbands, lace belts, lace dresses, lace tops, and lace tights can be incorporated into any basic outfit to make a bold statement. My main tip is to let your lace piece speak for itself with minimal accessories. But don’t be afraid to experiment by mixing it up with different textured fabrics such as leather, wool, or tweed! The key is to keep it simple and classy.

So how exactly can you pull it off without looking like you walked out the door in your lingerie?

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Make your outfit flirty and fun with a pair of lace tights. Just because the weather will start to cool down, doesn’t mean you can’t show off a little skin. Keep it simple with a darker pair such as black or navy blue. My favorite way to wear lace tights is pairing it with a flirty mini skirt or textured fabric like tweed or wool shorts and black ankle booties. You can also pair it with over the knee boots and a tunic top to let the pattern peek out, adding a subtle touch of edginess.

Lace tops can get tricky because you don’t want it to seem like you forgot to put your shirt on. Stick to neutral colors like cream or pale pink to keep your look polished. Try layering it on top of a neutral or white tank and tuck it into a slim high waisted skirt. If you don’t want to go full lace, tops with a touch of lace will dress up your favorite pair of skinny jeans.

If you’re hesitant to try the lace trend, start off small with a lace belt or headband. G by Guess’ Lace Bow Belt can accent your outfit with just a touch of vintage lace.

And you no longer have to be in a wedding to wear lace in your hair. Urban Outfitters’ stretch lace headband is a simple way to keep up with the trend, keeping your hairdo feminine and hip.

The best part about the lace trend is that anyone can pull it off, either making your outfit more feminine or edgier depending on how you incorporate it.

Noisettes are an indie rock band from London but I want to focus solely on the lead singer and bassist, Shingai Shoniwa. Lately the UK have been producing great woman electro-rock-indie-electronica-bad-ass signers (I’m not complaining) that are just killing it with fashion styles. Shingai’s elective style surely stands out but it’s her presence on stage that makes it all worth while.  Bask in the glory of this Musical Fashionista as she dominates this indie rock genre. If you like fun indie-pop-rock-soul songs—–then YOU MUST LISTEN!

1. San Francisco based Stymie Apparel– the brainchild of artists Julie Cloutier and Claire Nereim,  Stymie Apparel features unisex screen-print T’s with an interesting take on the alphabet. The San Fran locals dissect letters and then rearrange the pieces to make other letters. A/Z was the first of their collections that featured an A made out of a Z and visa versa. Cloutier and Nereim’s adventure in typography results in apparel that catches the eye and enthralls the mind.

2. Chicago native Elise Bergman designs woman’s clothing featuring incredible fabrics such as organic cotton, silk, hand woven materials, and even vintage fabrics. With pieces that range from beach wraps to cocktail dresses, Elise creates clothing for eco-conscious, stylish women. Make sure to check out her Fall 2010 collection on her site.

3. New York based designer Mary Meyer may hail from Venice, CA, but shes quite connected to New York. Aside from designing killer clothing, Mary Meyer co-founded The Step Up Right Program that writes and produces plays with students from NYC’s public schools. She puts her creativity to use by helping out her community and making people look good in her clothes, whats not to love?

4. Fed up with major clothing companies dictating how men should dress, Cleveland boutique owner Brian O’neill and designer Sean Bilovecky created Wrath Arcane. Their clothing line for men embodies a minimalist approach to streetwear.

5. Los Angeles based City of Dolls- “An effortlessly chic contemporary collection offering must have pieces for the girl who is a style icon.” Appropriately named for the city the call home, City of Dolls features essentials that can be worn in a number of ways depending on your own personal style. The Sample Sale is excited to be selling City of Dolls on Friday, September 3, 2010.

Who are your favorite local designers?

So we talked about patterns and colored designs before—but never have we seen cool patterns and colors on a bow tie before! Not just on a bow tie—but on a BOW TIE NECKLACE. Yes you have read correctly, a bow tie necklace. We found this masterpiece at the OC Threadshow a couple of  weekends ago and I have to tell ya, I had to buy myself one of these bad boys because it’s just simply brilliant!

Get it on the action and purchase your very own Bow Tie Necklace from the awesome mastermind Leg Candy Apparel

The 80’s produced many, many great things. Some of my favorites include big hair, Full House, Pac-Man, Madonna, and those Slap Wrap bracelets that were eventually banned at schools. And then there was the Fanny Pack. I usually consider the fanny pack an excellent way to spot out-of-place tourists. Sure they have the hands-free practicality feature, but until recently I had never once considered them “fashionable.”

I attended the Threadshow at the O.C. Fairgrounds a couple weekends ago and my whole perception of fanny packs changed. While walking through aisles upon aisles of designer’s booths, I came upon the brilliant work of Fahmina Khundkar.

Her self-named label, Fahmina features accessories  made from factory scraps and reclaimed leather. In fact, over 95% of the leather she uses is saved from factory cutting tables and what she does with it is nothing short of inspired.

Say hello to the future of fanny packs:

With a ton of different shapes, sizes, and patterns, Fahmina certainly makes one that fits you and your style.  As soon as I saw them, my mind raced with possibilities. There are tons of situations where carrying a purse is less than convenient, yet going without a bag is even MORE inconvenient. Concerts, clubs, spontaneous adventures, all could be improved with the use of a fanny pack and now you don’t have to sacrifice your fashion sense for hands-free fun.

The fanny packs can be worn a couple different ways; across the shoulder, around the waist, whatever works best for you. They have details like silk lining, rivets, beautiful burnt-in designs, and mixes of leather that results in fashionable functionality.

Though the fanny packs were my favorite accessory of the day, Fahmina makes beautiful jewelry out of reclaimed leather as well.

You can shop online at www.Fahmina.com to pick up some fashionable eco-friendly accessories and while you’re at it, make sure to spread the love and “Like” Fahmina on Facebook and “Follow” her on Twitter.

One Life is a Los Angeles based brand that was founded in 2002 by head designer Peddy Ebrahim. Keeping women in mind, One Life creates active-wear that is both comfortable and sexy. Hollywood has definitely taken notice and celebrities are adding One Life to their wardrobe.

Brittney Spears in One Life

Jessica Alba in One Life

Eva Longoria in One Life

The Sample Sale will be giving you a chance to get  One Life at sample sale prices on Thursday, September 2, 2010. What better way to start the month than with some comfy and cute activewear?

My favorite season of the year doesn’t officially end until September 21st, but we all know that after Labor Day, fall pretty much tumbles in. And while I love the cozy knits, changing leaves and leather-jacket temperatures that fall brings, I can’t help but feel a little sad saying adieu to summer. After all, it is my favorite season (even my blog is named after the sun, check it out here). Sand, sun, beach, bathing suits, picnics, and parks are just a few of my favorite summertime things, so I thought I’d leave you with some warm weather eye candy to take you through the end of the season. And don’t get too sad just yet, after all, there are still plenty of memories to be made. Smile, it’s (still) the summertime.

(I know the title line was sort of cheesy, but I couldn’t help myself!)

1.Diesel Oled Watch: This watch is for those who love technology and awesome fonts.

2.For the classic guy who wants to keep the rounded watch look going strong. And the Gucci Digital Watch ain’t too shabby either.

3. For the guy who travels a lot for work or for leisure, you can never have enough time zones programmed onto your watch.

4. For the guy that loves design and architecture, this LIPS Men’s Watch has stylin’ vibes all around.

5. The classic Casio calculator watch. If you can pull this off, you can pull mostly anything off. Try it out!