Rani's: A Hidden Gem in Coconut Grove

As your GTG, one of my main duties is to inform you of new trends or new store openings. In some rare instances I get to inform you of things or places you might not have even known were around.

As is the case today.

How many of us love denim? I know I do. In fact it's one of my favorite garments with my five inch heels.

Denim is probably one of the most expendable items in any of our closets because of its versatility. While often thought of as casual pieces, jeans have evolved and with time have proved that you can rock a pair of jeans and still be the belle of the ball. (Just make sure jeans are suitable for the ball.)

Recently I heard about Rani's,  a denim boutique located in Coconut Grove. My friend who used to work there had been asking me to check it for sometime now, but I hadn't gotten around to it until this past weekend. And I was in for a treat.

 The shop, which is located in the heart of the Grove, can be easily missed if you're not looking for it.

Display window in front of store

Display window in front of store.

The boutique which has been around since 1971 started selling Indian cotton apparel such as dresses and skirts. It wasn't until the late '70s that Rani's started to sell jeans and has been specializing in men's and women's  high end designer denim ever since.

Click on image to enlarge

Rani's look is quirky, fun and very unique to its brand. I was instantly greeted by the sales person, Marie. Marie was not only easy to talk to, but she was very warm and this girl knows all there is to know about brands, fit and body types.

**So if you're ever in this part of town and need denim make sure you ask for her. She's the best!

Rani's carries the following brands:

• Diesel
• Citizen of Humanity
• Seven for all mankind
• 1921
• Paige Denim
• Hudson Jeans
• AG
• Scotch & Soda
•  Religion
• House of God
• Threads for Thoughts
• Jag (men's shorts)

Aside from selling denim, they also sell other apparel like tees, dresses and accessories such as hats and wallets. Rani's now carries the accessories line from Will Leather Goods, which includes wallets, clutches, weekend bags and backpacks, as well as belts by Bill Adler (also part of the Will Leather Goods division.)

Here are some of my fave finds:

Rani's also has some cute fitting rooms-- one is even made out of denim.

Fitting Room with Denim Curtain.

Fitting Room

Brief History Lesson on Rani's:

• Because of its hot spot status throughout the 90s, Rani's owner used  to hire police to control the crowds.
• The boutique was one of the first places in Miami that sold Diesel--since the denim giant's debut in 1978.  

Celebrity Sightings:

• Demi Moore
• Sharon Stone
• Basketball Legend Isiah Thomas
• Members of The Bush Family

And because I'm such a shopaholic and a true Miami Heat fan (though I would not be caught dead in one of those generic championship shirts, well maybe only to sleep,) I had to buy this mega cute vintage Miami Heat tee to rep my team!

Cute, huh?

Rani's Business Card

What are some of your favorite hidden gems in your town?
Always Fashionably Knowledgeable,
Your GTG

"I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal simplicity-- all I hope for in my clothes." YSL

GTG's Spring 2012 Men's Fashion Trend Report

Fellas-- here is your spring 2012 trend report to keep you looking sharp and stylish throughout the sizzling months that lie ahead.

This season is defined by the revival of classic looks with modern twists.

The Essentials:

• Color Pants: It's all about pops of color for bottoms: trousers, chinos, jeans or shorts. Remember to wear these pants with classic items like polos (in the summer) and cardigan sweaters (in the fall) to achieve the perfect look.

Note: This season designers have focused on clean cuts and tailored looks, so forget all about the baggy jeans as that is no longer in! And don't forget pops of neon colors are also very hot for men.

Jil Sander Cotton Blend Trousers

• The Gingham Shirt: A classic staple in any gentleman's wardrobe. Gingham  refers to  the colored checks that are spliced with white checkers. Gingham originally started as a striped pattern, but by mid-18th century the checkered pattern became the norm

Note: Buy a gingham shirt in linen for the summertime.

Hugo Boss Slim Fit Dress Shirt

•  Polo Shirts: are another classic staple in any man's wardrobe. It's easy to dress up or down. And it's the middle point in a spectrum of shirts ranging from dress shirts to casual t-shirst. They're great to pair with color trousers or your swim trunks.

Polo by Ralph Lauren Rugby Stripe Polo Shirt



• Denim Blazers: Tailored and structured but unlined, which you can easily style with every other article of clothing in this report.

Burberry Slim Fit Denim Blazer

•  Loafers: Effortless, yet refreshing. Say bye bye to your sandals and replace them with a pair of casual  loafers.

Boss Orange Witton Striped Canvas Espadrille Loafers

• Short Swim Trunks: Who wears short shorts? Hopefully you will! Swim trunks have gone short for a retro look.

Saturdays Surf NYC Thomas Board Shorts

Happy spring shopping fellas!

xo

GTG



 



Bloomingdale's: The Outlet Store Review

My love for Bloomies is second to none, in fact this was the store that got me into a lot of financial trouble, but hello can you blame a girl. Bloomingdale's has a great selection of everything that I love!

So when I found out last November that the department giant had opened its first 2 of 4 Bloomingdale's The Outlet Stores in South Florida, I was excited.

Sure it  took me 7 months to make my first visit, but I'm not a fan of either malls, where the stores were opened (Dolphin Mall and Sawgrass Mall--eek!)

Last weekend I was finally able to check out the store in Dolphin Mall and decided that I had to report my findings to my girls.

I was immediately drawn in by the display of L.A.M.B. shoes at the entrance (and no there was no sign that indicated that the pairs on display were L.A.M.B., but I know my shoes.)

Main entrance of Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store located in Dolphin Mall

For the most part, I have a love/hate relationship with outlet stores, but it's mostly hate because I feel these stores promise you the world, and they never deliver (such as Saks Fifth Avenue's Off the 5th, Nordstrom Rack and Neiman Marcus' Last Call.) But this was Bloomies, so I went in with a positive attitude because after all I'm a Bloomies aficionada.

I don't know if I've metioned it or not, but I suffer from chronic OCD and I can't handle messy or dirty places, especially if I'm trying to get my shop on, but my first impression of this outlet store was: "Wow this store is amazingly neat and organized, especially for being such a huge place.

After being talked out of buying the L.A.M.B. shoes that I had already fallen in love, I made my way down the shoe department, which was also surprisingly neat and spacious, but not very interesting.

Snapshot of the women's shoe department

BTW: This store does not want the consumer to forget that it is an outlet store, so they have signs posted everywhere like the one below:

You can also receive a $20 certificate off a $100 purchase just for signing up to their newsletter. 

After shoes, naturally I headed to their accessories department, which was very sad. You won't find a huge array of brands or purses or jewelry  (it was so sad, that I couldn't even bring myself to taking pictures of it.)

My girlfriend who was on a mission to find a sexy top for her outting that night, also left empty handed as there was not a huge selection of sexy.

I, on the other hand fell in love with the dress pictured below. Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store claims that everything is 35-70% off retail prices.

Hands down this was the best thing I found, aside from the pretty pair of L.A.M.B. shoes. Still, I couldn't bring myself to pay more than $100 for a brand I had never even heard of.

The front of the bright clam colored dress. This color looks great on both fair skinned and darker toned 
people.

The back of the fabulous clam colored dress that would go great with a pair of gold strappy sandals and a bold cocktail ring. What would you wear it with?

As you all know, I'm a creature of habit and visuals, if you want my attention put something pretty in front of me and I'm like a moth to a flame. The store's display tables did not disappoint. See for yourself:

Cute and appropriate for the summer season, not like some other outlet stores that highlight their winter looks in the middle of summer. 

By this time, my girlfriend and I had split up and I was doing my best to take in as much of the store as possible, but I sort of got lost in the denim section. I love denim, especially if it's premium denim.

Denim Shop

They have a lot of jeans and brands to select from at reasonable prices, and don't forget the $20 off your $100 purchase, you can walk out with a pair of cute JBrand jeans for $80--now that's what I call a good deal.

Are you planning on taking a trip to find thrifty things? Here are a few things you should remember when hitting up Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store:

Pros:

• It's a huge store with the possibility of finding a lot of great items, but make sure you give yourself a good 2-3 hours minimum to go through the merchandise in the various departments.
• The store has a good layout and virtually has signs all over the store to help you navigate through it.
• Again, I can't stress the importance of a neat and organized store, which makes for a happy shopping experience. 
•  Don't forget to take advantage of the $20 off any $100 purchase

Cons:

• Not a huge or great selection on shoes, handbags or jewelry
• There's only one fitting room section for each sex and they are sort of hidden, so you might have to ask a sales associate for direction.
• Speaking of sales associates, they weren't much of help or welcoming. The members on the floor in this particular store were too caught up in their conversations with one another to even take a minute to greet you or ask if you need help.

Now that you're in the know you are all ready for your trip to the Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store and you are armed with a plan of attack.

As for me, once again I walked away empty handed from an outlet store, but that never stops me from checking out the next one.

I'm on to the next one.

xoxo-- Your GTG

"Buying something on sale is a very special feeling.  In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me." Rita Rudner

Find the perfect pair of jeans for your body type

Greetings dolls!

Pants, shorts, skirts and even capris are some, if not among my favorite articles of clothing -- IF and only if they're denim!

Denim is so easy to dress up or down according to your mood. It's the versatility of them that I love most. And if you own the perfect fitting pair of denim then it can also be super comfy!

And what girl doesn't like to look sexy and feel comfortable?

This week's topic is finding the perfect pair of jeans for your body type. According to my extensive research, there are 5 body types women possess (it might seem like more because each type is addressed under different names.)


My mission today is to help all of my lady friends find the perfect pair of jeans by first helping you identify your body type and second to get you in the styles of jeans that best suit your body.

Below each body type you will find a picture of a celebrities who fits each description so you can visualize each type. 
The Body Types :

- Rectangular shape is also known as the banana and straight  shapes- Rectangular shaped women simply have the same measurements in their bust and hips, with little or no definition of a waist, which is what creates that straight look. The lack of a defined waist can make you look top heavy, even if you aren't.
The best thing about having a rectangular shaped body is that weight is evenly distributed throughout your enitre body!

Recommended style of jeans for rectangular shapes: boot cut, flared or wide leg jeans-- the width of these jeans give off the illusion of fuller hips.

Recommended brands: Rich & Skinny, 7 for All Mankind and J Brand

TIP: Layer your jeans with low cut tops that break up your torso from the rest of your body.

-Women with a pear shape have a greater hip measurement than their bust, which means all focus is on the lower half of your body. You also have a well defined wasist with narrow shoulders. This shape is also known as a triangle, bell and spoon.

Recommended style of jeans for pear shapes: This is my body type and from experience I can tell you that there isn't a single pair of jeans you can't rock. You can wear straight or bootleg jeans when you want to create more of a vertical line or you can wear flare and wide leg jeans when you want your bottom half to look more proportionate to the rest of your body.

Recommended brands: 7 for All Mankind, Levi's, Citizens of Humanity and True Religion

TIP: Wear slim-fitting tops with wide necklines or tops that have amazing eye catching designs that can draw attention to your top half. Also, invest in dark denim for a slimmer appearance.

-Women with an hourglass body shape are typically thought of as having the perfect body. These women almost have the same size of bust and hip with a narrow waist. 
 
Recommended style of jeans for hourglass shapes: boot cut jeans
Recommended brands: AG Adriano Goldschmied, Diesel and Lucky Brand

TIP: Cinch your waist as much as possible to show off your figure.

-Inverted triangle or V shape simply means you are top heavy. These women have proportionally broad shoulders, large bust and narrow hips. It is thought of as the second best female body shape.
 
Recommended style of jeans for inverted triangle shapes: flare jeans, gaucho denim and cargo style pants

Recommended brands: Calvin Klein, Miss Sixty and 7 for All Mankind Jeans

TIP: Wear pops of colors in form of shoes to draw attention to your amazing lean legs.

-Women with a full rounded or apple shaped bodies have broad shoulders compared to their hips, as well just like women who are an inverted triangle. Apple shaped women tend to have a rounder abdomen that makes them look unproportional to the rest of the body.

Recommended style of jeans for full-rounded shapes: boot cut, flared and wide leg jeans

Recommended brands: Big Star, Not Your Daughter's Jeans, and Levi's

TIP: Wear dark solid colors on top to conceal the roundness, so you can appear you have a slimmer waist line and a longer torso than you actually do.

I believe every girl should own a nice pair of designer jeans in her closet, so with that said I want to share a small secret that I learned from a denim specialist. When we buy a new pair of jeans--we are so eager to just get them on and show them off, that often times we have them altered if they are too long. However, you should try wearing your long jeans with high heels and washing them a few times before you decide on getting a pair altered. Denim shrinks every single time you wash it, so it might be that after some washes the length will fit you just fine and you will get more use out of them.

"I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes." -YSL

Stay tuned later this week for my Spring 2011 Trend Report!

xoxo!