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Worth Collection black light wool pants from www.worthny.com, Zooey white V-neck T from The M Collection in Leucadia and Carlsbad, and Le Mystére seamless bra from Jolie Femme in Del Mar Plaza
Eight Easy Essentials
You’ve cleaned out and re-organized your closet for the New Year, and the bags are in the garage ready to be donated. It’s now time to survey your closet of basic must-haves. According to image consultant Rita Szczotka, there is a handful of basic pieces that — with a change of accessories and shoes — can easily take you from day to night and around the world. They include: a tank dress, the black trouser, a seamless under-everything bra, the great white blouse, a fitted jacket, a pencil skirt, that perfect V-neck T, and a great pair of jeans. How does your closet stack up? — Mia Stefanko, photography by Vincent Knakal
Joe’s Jeans from Peaches en Regalia in Del Mar Plaza, Worth Collection white French-cuff blouse from www.worthny.com, and Earnest Sewn denim pencil skirt from The M Collection in Leucadia and Carlsbad
Nicola Berti cropped leather jacket in metallic brown from Peaches en Regalia in Del Mar Plaza and LA Made brown cotton tank dress from Bayley in Del Mar Plaza
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Returning To Her Roots
For San Diego native Natalie Mingura, jewelry-making began as a pastime on the shores, where she collected treasures such as sea glass and shells to make necklaces. Through the years, her jewelry designing evolved, but remained a hobby until 2001, when, upon completion of graduate school, she decided to turn her passion into a business. Natalie Mingura Jewelry (NMJ) offers six distinctive collections made from semi-precious stones, gold, and silver — Fortune Teller, Island Girl, The Pixie, Vintage, Bohemian, and Personal Touches. Each collection is inspired by a story that Mingura experienced during her travels. The newest collection, Personal Touches, allows clients to select customized messages and have them hand-forged into jewelry of their choice, perfect for any celebration like a wedding, anniversary, or birthday. Locally, NMJ is available at Mabel’s in Solana Beach, Sundancer in Del Mar, and California Fleurish in Mission Hills. (www.nataliemingura.com) — Mia Stefanko
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Brown Bagging It
Hard to believe a brown bag could cause such a commotion. But then it’s not every day that Bloomingdale’s comes to San Diego. In fact, the New York-based retailer opened its first store here in Fashion Valley, much to the delight of fashionistas. The department store’s benefit opening in November was the big ticket in town. Bloomie’s showed off its sleek, modern showcase with a private charity reception to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, the La Jolla Playhouse, and Voices for Children. Debby Jacobs, David and Patsy Marino, and Rana Sampson were honorary chairs. Bloomingdale’s senior executives from New York welcomed guests along with the chain’s San Diego general manager Cathy Muhlenforth. A well-dressed crowd sampled creative food by Waters Fine Catering and shopped for the latest fashions on all three levels of the stylish store, a glittering emporium devoted to the "goods life": clothing, cosmetics, designer handbags, house wares, tabletop, bridal registry, and a New York-themed restaurant called 59th & Lex. And, yes, that iconic brown bag, the store’s signature since 1922, was conspicuously present.
(619/610-6400, www.bloomingdales.com)
— Andrea Naversen
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Five For Gracie
Local fashion boutique Gracie recently unveiled its fifth location at Del Rayo Village in Fairbanks Ranch. The new boutique, like the previous four locations, operates independently but offers the same cutting edge fashions and high-end designs. Because of the size of the new 1,300-square-foot facility, customers will find more inventory than the nearby Paseo Delicias location - which continues to stock top designer names. Gracie owner, former fashion designer Gracie Mahvi, released a statement saying, "By opening this location, our ability to reach the needs of the Rancho Santa Fe community will be achieved." The remaining three Gracie locations are located in San Diego. (858/856-2628, www.graciebtq.com) — Alicia Garcia
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Glam Lunch
Prior to the holidays, over 100 guests enjoyed lunch and a fall/holiday fashion show from The Rare Earth at Paradise Grille in Flower Hill Promenade. Festive looks by designers such as Sue Wong, Laundry, Ann Ferriday, Hale Bob, and BCBG, to name just a few, were informally modeled, as were sweaters by Co2, Gabriel B, and Velvet. While enjoying a salmon salad lunch and sipping on special TRE-garitas (The Rare Earth margaritas) many busily circled their must-have-it list and commented that all the outfits were pulled together and accessorized in a fun and sassy, yet wearable way. The Rare Earth and TRE begin their winter blowout sale on January 5, which will last through the end of the month at both locations. (858/755-7227,
760/942-0227) — Mia Stefanko
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