shopping

BRIKA and a Well-Crafted Life

by Ashley on April 11, 2013

BRIKA is a new online shopping site that features makers—artisans and designers—of modern craft by sharing their stories alongside their products with the hope of creating a connection between buyer and maker. The site’s founders hope to celebrate the value following one’s passions and building a beautiful life through well-crafted, everyday objects. I’ve been making note of some favorites.

Mariah Rich, for example, makes beautiful leather clutches, hand-cutting, sewing, and finishing them in her Portland Studio. After eight years of designing leather goods for other big fashion companies, she broke out on her own.

(Sidenote: I really need to come up with more occasions to travel light, and carry just a clutch. So beautiful.)

And Kristen Lombardi of Manimal makes the most adorable baby shoes. She found a Boy Scout’s manual at her local library that had a chapter on how to make moccasins; she sewed her first pair and was hooked.

Right now,

BRIKA is offering a $15 credit to all new customers who sign up through this link.

(Which means that this infinity scarf–that artist Annie Duong made with her own daughters in mind–will cost under $10.)

This is a sponsored post. Thanks to BRIKA for supporting Hither & Thither.

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J.W. Hulme Mini-Excursion Bag

by Ashley on February 28, 2013

I wandered into the accessories department at a high-end department store the other day and started browsing around among the Pradas and Proenza Schoulers… the “we start at $1300″-bag section. I remember thinking that one day, when I was a real grown-up, I would buy myself one of these beautiful, buttery bags, but that was when the highest number in my imagination was what seemed like an astronomical $400. Who knew?! Such a shame because the PS1 bag is really very lovely.

I asked the salesperson “what makes the $1500 Balenciaga bag cost that much” (even though I sort of figured I knew what she’d say: labor, quality of materials, label… the usual) “and the also fancy Marc Jacobs cost that much?”

She looked at me like I was crazy and then glanced at my bag (presumably to check whether it was vinyl). She practically spelled the name: “Balenci-aaaa-ga was Spanish. The bags are made in Italy.” Oh, but of course! That’s why! Aron and I were laughing about the rationale when he claimed: “now if there was some sort of lifetime guarantee… maybe then…”

Which is when I remembered that my other high-end dream bag DOES have a lifetime guarantee!

Isn’t the leather beautiful? Such a pretty color, and I can imagine the patina getting better with age.

J.W. Hulme bags are expensive, too (my favorite, the Mini-Excursion Tote on the left is $590 and the Legacy Shoulder Bag on the right is $370) but brand guarantees each of its handmade bags for life.

Umm, Aron?

[top image via J.W. Hulme site; bottom left photo by Joyce Lee; bottom right photo via Style Extraordinaire]

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Ideal Summer Sandals

by Ashley on February 20, 2013

I know I may be getting ahead of myself, but it was 80 degrees and sunny in Southern California this past Saturday and it got me thinking.

Do you have a fashion image you have pinned on Pinterest and just keep coming back to, over and over again? This one’s mine. There’s something about this combination of cropped, slim army-green pants, tanned feet, and natural leather, gladiator sandals that says summer to me. And it’s what I’d like to be wearing come warmer days. Pretty please.

I think Gap and Jcrew have some pants that might fit the bill. The right sandals, however, can be more elusive. I’ve done some sleuthing…

To & From

by Ashley on January 22, 2013

My new shopping habit, Luvocracry, asked me to suggest a Valntine’s day gift I’d like to receive for the latest issue of To & From–they just released their 2013 Valentine’s Day gift guide. You can find the feature, here, on pages 10 and 11.

Here are a few other things I’d be happy to have on any gift list…

Teuscher Champagne Truffles (my favorite chocolates)
A bejeweled clutch (and somewhere special to take it tucked under my arm)
Something shiny and delicate with my loved one’s initial
Something shiny and less delicate (ideally with a romantic inscription)
Anything with “A Love Story” in the title (but especially this book)
A preview of summer (with plans for somewhere warm to wear it)
A bouquet of sharpened pencils (because you know I love that movie)
Body glow oil (because I’d never buy it for myself but would probably like to)
Underwear both of us can appreciate
A honey jar (even though I’m already so sweet–ha!)
Classic, valentine red drop earrings
Or A bouquet of paperwhites and a romantic movie.

P.S. Request an invite to Luvocracy.

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Los Angeles: Two favorites on Third Street

by Ashley on January 15, 2013

We used to live in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, so walking the strip of shops between Fairfax and La Cienega on Third street was a regular routine (in between pancakes at Doughboys or a cheese board at Joan’s). One must-stop is always OK on Third (I hear they now have a location in Silverlake, too); and since we left, one of our musts from Nolita in NY moved in–Haus (oddly enough, not far from an outpost of NY’s Magnolia bakery).