One fish, two fish...

I don't have much today, but since I've had jewelry on the mind I thought I would share these lovelies which are currently in the display case at Anthropologie on Walnut Street. Wouldn't they be great to wear for a big evening out? So quirky and dramatic, I declare them to be must haves.

Now Anthro, all you have to do is mark them 75% off. In which case, they will be on my ears tomorrow night!

A Fashion Rant for the Fellas

As we all know, there are many sartorial sins committed each day throughout our fair city. Don't even get me started on the fact that leggings are now being accepted as a reasonable substitute for pants... that's for another time. What I'm here to address is my biggest fashion pet peeve, and this one is being perpetrated by our male counterparts. I am talking about Oakley-style sunglasses being worn with a business suit or any other form of street clothes.

Every day I walk around this city and I am constantly presented with men in their dress shirts and khakis, strolling to lunch or wherever, donning a ridiculous pair of wrap-around performance glasses such as one might wear to, say, cycle in the Tour de France. Gentleman, may I ask... do you put on running shoes with your business suit? I didn't think so. Seriously, unless you are headed over to Citizen's Bank Park to field fly balls on your lunch break, you should consider purchasing a second pair of sunglasses, something appropriate for non-athletic pursuits. For instance, no one has ever gone wrong with a pair of classic Ray-Ban aviators.

Shopping can be a pain, but it can also be fun... especially when you are searching for something that has the ability to make you look like George Clooney or Daniel Craig, instead of A-Rod hanging in the dugout. And there are many stores in Center City with a selection to satisfy every taste and facial shape. Try Macy's for a wide range of brands and price points, A/X Armani Exchange or Banana Republic for something urban and sleek, Urban Outfitters for the hipster or hipster-at-heart, or Modern Eye at 13th and Walnut for the unique and fashion-forward.

International fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld with his bear doppleganger, also named Karl.

I do not advocate buying a cool pair of sunglasses for your Mini Me, but to each his own.

I am aware of the frustration that might be associated with buying a second pair of sunglasses. You might be thinking, "the ones I have are perfectly fine; they block the sun, and don't fall off my face when I get tackled or hit by an errant pitch." But why not consider them like shoes, or really anything else in your wardrobe, in the fact that not every item serves every purpose. And believe me, you will look more handsome and more pulled together. I will certainly thank you, and I have a feeling the ladies in your life will too.

Mother's Day Shopping @ Petulia's Folly

Have you done your shopping for mom yet? If not, then get yourself to Petulia's Folly over at 17th and Sansom Streets to peruse their comprehensive and lust-worthy selection of John Derian decoupage.

In my opinion, these gorgeous decorative plates, paperweights and lamps are perfect for Mother's Day or any day. Derian's decoupage pieces (decoupage is the art of gluing cut-out paper onto an object) are all handmade in his New York studio, and feature lovely antique images of botanicals, animals, insects, and so on. I have started my own little collection, and often stop in Petulia's Folly to compile my wish list. What's great is that you will find something perfectly pretty for mom, while also finding something pretty, yet subtly quirky and humorous, for yourself!

Prices range from "utterly affordable" ($25 for a glass drink coaster) to "splurge" ($200 for a 14" platter) to "investment" ($950 for a glass lamp) with LOTS of options in between. I recommend the round dome paperweight, which at $60 is a hefty gift at the pefect price.

Oh, and if you don't find the Derian decoupage to your taste, the store carries an impressive array of home decor, jewelry and fashion from the likes of Hable Contruction, Tamar Mogendorff, Pade Vavra, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Paul & Joe, Hanii Y, Catherine Malandrino, and many more. Something there is certain to strike your fancy and solve your gift-giving conundrums!

Petulia's Folly can be found at 1710-12 Sansom Street.

Great Shopping Destination: Egan Day

Last week I was lucky enough to come across Egan Day, a lovely jewelry boutique located at 16th and Spruce Streets. What a great addition to the shopping scene in Philly! Owned by husband-and-wife team (and recent LA transplants) Kate Egan and Cort Day, this chic little space carries the work of legendary jewelry designer Ted Muehling, as well as Maria Beaulieu, Gabriella Kiss and Jonathan Wahl. Each of these sought-after artists is carried in Philadelphia exclusively at Egan Day.

All of the jewelry is totally unique and exquisite, with a clear nature-based inspiration and occasional whimsical flourish. Right now, I'm craving the bird earrings with pearl drops by Gabriella Kiss seen below, and another pair (also by Kiss) featuring very realistic hands crafted from 18k gold. 

Meanwhile, the shop itself is its own work of art. Everything, from the light fixtures to the cloches that cover the glass branch jewelry stands, was made for the store by artist friends. Oh, and the place smells like heaven too! (The flowers are from George Baker around the corner.)

The oh-so-welcoming owners encourage people to come in and browse and do a little dreaming. Prices range from $100 up to the thousands, depending on the piece. All are so special though, like little works of art, that whatever the cost seems fully justified. This is the place to send your honey if you have an upcoming birthday/anniversary/engagement/holiday, or if you just want to splurge on something luxurious and lasting for yourself.

Egan Day is located at 260 S. 16th Street (next to Monk's) and is open Monday-Saturday from 12-6. Get over there soon and start dreaming!

p.s. And be sure to check out Kate's shoes when you stop by! She previously worked for Sigerson Morrison and has quite the envy-inducing collection of footwear...

Photography by Elizabeth Nettles

A Trip to the Outlets

This weekend a friend and I finally made a trip to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick, Pa. It was my first time out there, and it was certainly a successful outing as it yielded one of my most fabulous finds in recent memory.

The knockout Tom Binns cuff seen above (from the designer's Faux Real collection) was discovered at one of my favorite shopping destinations, Last Call Neiman Marcus. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this lovely sitting in the accessories case, and the shock continued as I discovered the markdown price. Being a total magpie, I have been coveting Binns' sparking necklaces and cuffs for several years, but never thought the opportunity would come along to have one of my own. But then, I guess I should never doubt the ability of Last Call to make my shopping dreams come true!

For those of you who love your designer goods and can't resist a great bargain, there is no store out there that beats Neiman Marcus' Last Call. I've been shopping at the Franklin Mills location for years (it's definitely more convenient to Center City) and have unearthed so many fantastic finds - a paillette-covered Missoni cocktail dress for $130, my dream pair of "Pesce" Christian Louboutin heels, a Lacroix bubble skirt with silk and tulle lining, the logo-print DVF wrap dress that Carrie wore on Season 3 of "Sex and the City"... the list goes on and on. The Limerick location is not as easy to get to, but I admit the selection and presentation were quite impressive on the day I was there. Still, I think Franklin Mills is the better choice as it is under the radar and not raided by tourists on a daily basis.

And so, another outlet trip, another treasure found. If you see me anytime soon in Philadelphia, it will be with this gigantic work of art strapped to my wrist. I plan to wear it all the time, with everything. Puts me in good company, as Binns is currently the jeweler of choice to our lovely and fashionable First Lady!

Lucite Lust, Part 2

Or should I say... Lucite Love? Here's a chic little container for your magazines, perfect for the bedside or a favorite reading nook. Also, the perfect gift for any fan of (arguably) Philly's most famous work of public art...

Via Modern Dose

It's Almost Here... Barneys CO-OP

Greetings, all! I'm Elizabeth of Peacock Feathers and I am very excited to be making my debut as a regular contributor to One Fine Philly! For my first post, I want to focus on one of my very favorite topics... shopping.

As some of you may have heard, Barneys CO-OP is finally coming to Philadelphia. It's been in the works for what seems like ages, but the signs are up at 10 Rittenhouse Square (the building next to Barnes & Noble on Walnut Street) and they are hiring their sales staff. If all goes well, it should be open by summer.


Why am I so psyched? Because, while Philly is home to some truly great boutiques (Petulia's Folly, Joan Shepp, Third Street Habit, Boyd's) carrying the most fashion-forward lines, we desperately need a real premiere shopping destination. An all-in-one store that features the hottest lines plus the more avant-garde collections that we may not have all heard of yet. With Barneys CO-OP, we'll be seeing stalwarts such as Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Sigerson Morrison and A.P.C. mixed with young guns like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone and Vena Cava. How aweasome is that?!

If you're anything like me, you are jonesing for milder weather, and so with that in mind, I created a couple ensembles from the new season lines at CO-OP. I know most of us are on tighter budgets these days, but it's certainly fun to look and gain a bit of inspiration. And so, I hope this all leaves you excited for spring and, of course, for doing some shopping/browsing/dreaming!

(Top collage, from left: Brygid dress, Diane von Furstenberg; jeweled bracelet, Fallon; cut-out bag, Erva; Kori sandal, Jean-Michel Cazabat. Bottom collage, from left: Bogart trench and Porta dress, Diane von Furstenberg; exotic metal flower pin, 3.1 Phillip Lim; leather nut-and-bolt bangle, Giles and Brother; braided chain wedge, Sigerson Morrison; Samira leather and lace clutch, Mayle)