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Turf Club Couture
Racing season in Del Mar dictates stepping out of beachwear to don more swanky attire. Anything goes, from silk dresses and stilettos to flirty hats and form-fitting, feminine suits, and everything in between. Although a visit to the turf club these days won't have you rubbing elbows with the likes of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, it certainly can't hurt to dress like you're about to. Besides, you'll want to look your best when your winning horse crosses the finish line.
- Mia Stefanko, photos by Paul Body, makeup and hair by Paula Mayer,
models from San Diego Model Management
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Left: Lisa is wearing an Ungaro Fever fuschia silk and cotton dress, a pearl necklace, and Claudia Ciuti rose gold satin heels with jewel details from Matti D in Del Mar with a Felix Rey Africa wood clutch from Dera Kayna in Del Mar
Right: Brenda is wearing an Alice & Trixie floral print halter dress, Exchange by Charles David green heels, and green and gold earrings, necklace, and bracelet from Tatiana in Del Mar
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Haute For Horses
It's racing season, but if horses are a year-round love of yours, you can bring a little equestrian style into your wardrobe with cowboy-inspired or Western items. For bolder looks, try a stylish pair of cowboy boots or leather fringe. For more subtle looks, a handbag with a jeweled horse image, leather accents on garments, or bold stitching can bring hints of life on the range into your collection. Here are a few Western offerings from several Del Mar boutiques. - Jane Shiomi, photography by Vincent Knakal
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Left to right: Ann Ferriday top with black lace detail and corset influences, Jelessy jeans in taupe, and hyde and BB Simon jeweled belts from The Rare Earth
in Flower Hill Promenade
Johnny Cotton Western shirt, 7 Jeans cutoffs, Rocket Dog grey suede cowboy boots, and a leather heart and gold necklace from Mabel's in Solana Beach
Arella brown suede jacket with fringe and stud accents, and 1883 by Lucchese cream cowboy
boots with floral stitching detail from Frustrated Cowboy in Del Mar
Red Haute Couture bag with horses, jewel details, and black beaded handles; and Beija Brazil loungewear set in tan with Western stitching and jewel accents from Jolie Femme in Del Mar Plaza
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Fair Trade Fashion
Global Girlfriend is a unique fair trade, Web-based boutique that sells specialty hand-made goods crafted by women's nonprofit programs and cooperatives worldwide, as well as products that benefit women's human rights. Recent additions include beaded and silver jewelry from Amy Kahn and KABW (a women's cooperative in Nepal), and 100 percent organic cotton items from Assisi Garments (a fair trade organization started by the Assisi order of nuns in Southern India). Many women worldwide try to make a living selling their artisan-quality handicrafts, but find that they have little access to market opportunities. Through fair trade practices, Global Girlfriend brings the works of such artisans to the public. "The women we work with are incredibly enterprising and tenacious, they just need design input to appeal to the Western markets and economic opportunities to get their products to those markets," says Stacey Edgar, who owns and operates Global Girlfriend. "By helping them create marketable products using their amazing skills and craftsmanship, we are able to create a sustainable business model that can help break the cycle of poverty." (720/988-5880, www.globalgirlfriend.com)
- Jane Shiomi
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Savvy Sunglasses
Sometimes, the best accessory on a sunny, summer day is a stunning set of sunglasses. When selecting a pair, though, be sure that fashion meets function. According to the American Cancer Society, long hours in the sun without eye protection increases your chances of developing eye disease, and UV-blocking sunglasses can help protect your eyes from sun damage. Ideally, sunglasses should block 99-100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. If the label reads, "UV absorption up to 400 nm," this is the same as 100 percent UV absorption. Also, labels that say, "meets ANSI UV requirements," mean the glasses block at least 99 percent of UV rays. Large-framed styles that are all the rage lately a la Nicole Ritchie are not just for looks - they are also more likely to protect your eyes from light coming in from different angles. These super-chic styles are from Eyes on Del Mar in Del Mar Plaza, where they feature a multitude of lines including Chanel, Bvlgari, Prada, Spy Optics, and more. (858/792-9211) - Mia Stefanko
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Mindi is wearing an Arianne De K silk rose dress with Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti golden snakeskin wedges, all from Tucci in Solana Beach
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Left: Mindi is wearing an Alexia Admor black lace dress with Chinese Laundry black patent leather heels and a black beaded necklace and earrings from Tatiana in Del Mar
Right: Brenda is wearing a Roland Mouret black Titanium dress, a Y and Kei three-tiered black and white necklace, and a Dalia black and white wide-brim striped hat from Dera Kayna in Del Mar, with Rodo pearl sandals with jewel details from Nonnino in Del Mar
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Left: Brenda is wearing a Badgley Mischka chocolate and blue floral print silk dress with a Louise Green sky blue hat from Peaches En Regalia, and Christian Louboutin bronze sandals from Gerhard, both in Del Mar Plaza
Middle: Lisa is wearing an ABS Collection Champagne dress, a Louise Green straw hat with floral ribbon detail, and Maya chandelier earrings from Peaches En Regalia, with Vera Wang Camoscio sandals from Gerhard, both in Del Mar Plaza
Right: Mindi is wearing an ABS Collection marine print dress, indigo stone necklaces, and Claudia Ciuti bronze sandals, all from Matti D in Del Mar
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A Celestial Dream
San Diego jewelry designer Simon Mattar, owner of Rock-n-Gold Creations Fine Jewelry Design, won a first place award in the 2006 San Diego County Fair's professional jewelry competition. An unusually-shaped, bright-orange spessartite garnet inspired Mattar to create a multi-gem pendant. "When I saw the bright orange body color and the distinctive triangular shape with its bulging sides, it reminded me of a shield, and I immediately thought about a design," says Mattar. In addition to the spessartite garnet, other stones include three trillion-cut tsavorite garnets, four round brilliant diamonds, three baguette diamonds, and two rubies. The setting contains both platinum and 18-karat green gold. Mattar calls his creation Celestial Dream. (858/571-4560, www.rockngold.com) - Jane Shiomi
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Environmentally Surf
A new Patagonia surf shop recently opened in Cardiff-by-the-Sea with goods to please surfers and environmentalists alike. Fletcher Chouinard, surfboard shaper and son of Patagonia's founder and owner, Yvon Choinard, created a board ten years ago that uses EPS (extruded polystyrene) foam and epoxy resin, replacing the former industry standard of non-recyclable, non-biodegradable polyester resins and polyurethane foam blanks. All new boards are PCR (Post Consumer Recycled material). Devon Howard, pro surfer and manager of the new store, says, "While our boards are not 100 percent green, they are in most cases 75 percent more enviro friendly than today's standard board. They're also several times stronger, which means less broken boards going into the landfill."
This attitude fits neatly with Patagonia's policy of "creating the best product and causing no unnecessary harm." The company has given over $25 million to grassroots environmental groups, and gives at least one percent of annual sales to environmental causes. It was the first major retail company to switch its clothing over to organic cotton (1996), and the first to make fleece from recycled soda-pop bottles - a trend that is catching on with brands such as Gap, Levi's, and Timberland. Local grassroots environmental groups can apply for funds through Patagonia's For Planet grant-giving program. (760/634-9886, www.patagonia.com)
- Kathe Gogolewski
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© 2005 Rocket Publishing Company, Inc. 760.942.2330 P.O. Box 676130, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
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