it’s that time of the year! philadelphia’s most well-known designer boutique  is having their basement sale. the wednesday-saturday sale will be a great time where you can look, try on, and maybe even buy some high end, highly coveted items. the sale runs during their normal store hours, so be sure to set aside some time during your lunch break to stop by!

Joan Shepp: 1616 Walnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19103  www.joanshepp.com

If you aren’t already familiar with R5 Production’s biannual “PUNK ROCK” Flea market, it’s about time you get informed. A zillion vendors selling everything. Literally everything. Come shop and support R5, local artists/bakers/crafters/vintage sellers/junk hoarders.

No matter what you are looking for for the holidays.. you’ll find it here. You’ll also find a ton of stuff you didn’t even know you wanted.

petulia’s folly is switching things up and as of tuesday, november 9 they will only be selling housewares and furniture. that means their well-edited collection of t by alexander wang, 3.1 phillip lim, and nicholas k is on sale. starting tomorrow (11/6) you can take an additional 20% off already reduced prices– either in store or online with code byebye20 at checkout. the original sale has been going on for some time, but with this new extra discount…

…go wild!

The market is an “independent fashion marketplace” created by local designers, artists and shoppers who are all advocates for independent designers their markets. The physical market is set up to provide a direct shopping experience between the designers and the customer, skipping the retail middle man who usually raises the prices to sustain a profit.  This environment can foster relationships between the two parties and help generate exposure.

I know we have a few weeks but I wanted to let it be known!

Old City boutque, Sugarcube is having a special 3 day long 30/40/50 sale. The sale will run Today through Friday, July 30th. Make good use of the bargains (and the extended store hours) and get 30, 40 or 50% off of select seasonal inventory and vintage wares.

For more information about what’s on sale and how to get it into your closet, stop by the store. I’ll be there rifling through the APC and Steven Alan.

Sugarcube®
124 North Third St., Old City
10am – 8pm (today through Friday)
Website – Blog //  Yelp

Here are a few of my favorites from Fresh Meltwater…

and from Print Liberation‘s collab with artist Lizzy Janssen…

Stay cool, everyone.

Many boutiques line the historic streets of Old City, but Sugarcube has truly found a way to stand out. Upon entering you’re most likely to be in awe of the warm and inviting vibes that stem directly from the layout and decor.

There is a mix of designer items and carefully chosen vintage to scour. As soon as you start browsing the merchandise you will automatically get a sense of what kind of people are hand picking the items, and who they are picking them for. There is a genuine thought process behind all of the stock choices. None of the garments are purely trendy pieces, but instead are a mix of current and classic contemporary styles.

Throughout the store you will find impeccable vintage items. Each of these is obviously chosen to correlate with the pieces they carry. Unlike some shops with no clear curatorial direction, Sugarcube reflects a strong vision that expands outside of fashion to encompass an entire lifestyle. The thoughtfulness of the vintage choices clearly expresses the owner’s desire to inspire their shoppers with more then just labels.

There are a great variety of designers carried in Sugarcube, but I have been particularly excited to see APC, Steven Alan, Dunderdon and Pendleton items. Each of these brands has an aesthetic similar to that of Sugarcube as a whole. They create versatile items that can be worn in a variety of ways that accentuate a man or woman’s personal style.

Along with the clothing, shoes and accessories, Sugarcube features talented artist’s work that you can admire or purchase.  (Above work by Rick Fichter)

To keep up with what’s going on at Sugarcube as far as new arrivals, sales and First Friday events, make sure to check out their frequently updated website.

Sugarcube®
124 North Third St., Old City
Website – Blog //  Yelp

Here are some photos of the set-up:

what i really liked was that it kind of seemed like a happening.  tourists, residents, children– all kinds of people– were drawn to the park because of the music and asking one another what was going on.  a lot of the people who asked me stayed once they found out.  i also enjoyed being able to put my feet in the fountain to cool off.

There were approximately 30 different looks. And while I appreciate the playing with fabrics and patterns with fair trade and locally made fabrics, a lot of the collection was not akin to my personal style.  However, there was one dress that was repeatedly sent out in different patterns (there were more iterations than what i photographed, the other photos didn’t turn out as well).  I love a simple dress that can be worn for ANY occasion– and it has pockets, which is even better!

The following dress I also liked, and would actually buy if it comes in black (I will have to check the store). It’s probably supposed to be a cover-up but in black it really reminds me of the photos of Anna Dello Russo that everyone keeps talking about.

Overall I preferred the most simplest shapes and patterns from the larger show.  For people that know me, this should come as no surprise.  I am very selective about my patterns and wear mostly black and white. I think my main reason behind recommending SA VA as a place to check out is because of the social-economics behind the label.  For my first fashion show, I can definitely see the appeal and regardless of whether or not I would wear the clothes, I think it was great for the city and as an experience and will definitely continue to go to as many local designer shows as possible.

If you’d like to read more about SA VA, their goals and philanthropy (they do a lot) check out their blog at: http://www.savafashion.com/wordpress/

SA VA | 1700 Sansom Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103

twitter.com/worninlove

it has been a while!

this upcoming week (june 14-20) is independent retail week at boutiques throughout philadelphia.  created by nolcha, “a leading business platform for independent fashion designers and retailers”, this week is filled with contests, shopping events, and an umbrella drive (you donate old umbrellas that get recycled into ethical designs) at boutiques in center city, old city, and manayunk. i have a busy week in store but i hope that some readers will take advantage.

the main even that i’m looking forward to is the SA VA LOVE fashion show in love park on satruday 6/19 (6pm-8pm).  SA VA is known for it’s functional, sustainable collections designed by sarah van aken and the store carries other locally made apparel as well.  fashion shows are rare in this city, but a fashion show with a focus on fostering the sustainable econmy and culture of philadelphia is even more rare and i think, since it’s an outdoor event, attendance will raise awareness and draw attention to these elements of fashion.

goodie bags and shopping guides, and city maps can be picked up all week long at:

Sioux Zanne Messix, 54 ½ North 3rd Street
Joan Shepp, 1616 Walnut Street
Latitudes Gallery, 4325 Main Street

i will try to take pictures wherever i go and post a review of what i had a chance to see next weekend.  i think this is a great idea that should achieve the goal of however many “philadelphia fashion weeks” that we have: highlighting participants in the local fashion industry through trunk shows, contests, special events, and partnerships.  remember to support and attend as many events as possible so there will more of these!

visit http://nolcha.com/independent-retail-week/philadelphia for a full list of events