Fad*ish- fashion and design

Don’t let the fact that you are in a mobile home fool you -- these roaming retailers mean business. An ice-cream truck for fashionistas -- sans the horrible music -- the Caravan is the new ‘it’ shop on four wheels. Not just because it is the only shop I know that can come to you (by special request only), but it lets you know yet another thing you can do with a RV.

Let's get down to the details. The tiny space will make you feel uncomfortably close to your fellow shoppers. Not a problem in Europe, but a paranoid New Yorker, might feel like constantly checking for their purse. But as much as one might feel as if they just got shoved into a sample sale, you will be rudely awakened when you see the price range, strictly up-and-coming designers. Some of which I thought were cute, and even celebrities agree, as the Caravan has hosted the who’s who of young Hollywood.

Let’s talk concept. The idea is brilliant and sure to be knocked off by wannabes in years to come. The RV is gutted out to accommodate fixtures, and even a dressing room. They keep stock minimal and décor basic to compensate for the spatial issues, and if you are there by yourself it can be one heck of an optical illusion. You will feel as if you are in a shop, because you are, as it still caters to all the things one loves about the experience.

The Caravan is worth the go-see. If you can find it, try it, information on their location is always available on their website at http://www.shopcaravan.com/.

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 6/17/06

Labels: Retail Report

We are already hot and irritable in the summer-- the last thing we want is a loud and crazy garden screaming at us. Not just for “earth children”, us city folk can have a garden too that whispers sleek elegance. For those who tire of the typical garden accessories, and want a more chic approach to their grounds, here are some quick tips for a garden face lift.

1. Ground Appeal. Mojave Sand sounds like a cheesy resort where you expect to see older men who wear Bermuda shorts and sandals with socks, but this unique grain of sand is all-the-rage in landscaper-ville. Its unique texture is due to the luxurious deserts of Mojave California, and due to this location, it can be found relatively cheap at your neighborhood hardware store. Most commonly it is used to cover the parts of your garden you would use for your seating area -- but Mojave sand can also be used as a more contemporary solution to woodchips. And because it is softer, and smoother than cement, it can definitely break a fall or save a skinned knee.

2. Ceramics Style. The last things I think about when trying to update my garden are decorative accessories, but it is worth a thought. Perch! offers a line of ceramics that are designed to hold anything from herbs to orchids. Their contemporary designs are cute with out being patronizing--after all I am a grown woman I don’t need to see garden elves, and cute ‘froggies’ when spending an afternoon lounging.


3. Elegant Furnishings. For anyone who saw an unrealistic photo spread in Elle Décor-- the type that has a bed in the wilderness-- and wanted to recreate it in their backyard, I would like to suggest an alternative. Cane-Line has the ultimate in minimalistic lusciousness for your backyard. Based out of Denmark, this outdoor furnishing company cuts right to the point, with designs that could make even the most contemporary of designers blush. Not only stylish but durable, they boast a maintenance free outdoor experience (well at least for the furniture), with furniture that can withstand rain, sleet or snow.

Why freshen up your garden? Sometimes a picturesque screensaver on your laptop is not enough to keep you from snapping at your co-worker over your Frappucino. With inflated gas prices, city congestion, and hectic work schedules we all could use a personal oasis in our backyard. When a change of scenery isn’t an option a change in garden style might do the trick.

For more information on products discussed in this article visit:
http://www.caneline.dk/
http://www.perchdesign.net/
www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&P=WR&I=LXJNV2
http://www.starbucks.com/

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 6/8/06

Labels: Decor

Remember when families piled into old RV’s, cruising through the nation’s heartland on a balmy summer’s day-- No? Well maybe you remember watching an 80’s comedy with Chevy Chase trying desperately to hold on to his dreams of taming the open road. Whatever your memories might be, the quintessential family RV has been updated to ensure you ride in style.

I do not wish to conjure up painful memories of childhood, or evoke images of sweaty men in stained tanks tops -- but Airstream is redefining what you remember about classic motor homes. Positioning themselves as a new option for confined living spaces, mobile homes are now more stylish than before, and are combating the bad image of yesteryears. Is it a practical lifestyle? Some might say yes -- when considering what they are calling a studio these days-- consumers are becoming more open to alternative living spaces.

Being a city girl to the core --I don’t even believe in camping-- the thought of living in a mobile home is reason enough to wake up in a cold sweat. If a friend bribes me, I might consider traveling RV style an option for those summer vacations when I just can't get out of the country. And I am not the only person considering new options for travel. Whether it is a hectic schedule, or international affairs, Americans are choosing to explore the homeland, and Airstream is trying to make that decision more comfortable by allowing you to take your home with you. Their silhouettes are clean, modern and over-usage of chrome can be construed as either Nuevo-chic, or taken from a scene out of the Jetsons (whatever your frame of reference). And not to be outdone by the Americans, Deutschland (Germany) has produced the sweetest RV to come out of Europe, affectionately called T@B, which indicates how small it is. This RV should be called a car accessory rather than a mobile home, as it rivals the SmartCar on the “sooo cute” meter.

With all the styles and developments available trailers still aren’t for everyone. Even though the design can be appreciate it would take more than European styling and seamless chrome to wipe away the negative stigmatism that took trailer parks decades to instill. While some people are opened to it -- and others still shudder at the thought-- all would admit that RV’s have come a long way.

Visit the following sites for more info on contemporary mobile homes:
http://www.airstream.com/
http://www.tabme.de/

*Originally Posted on Word on the Street 6/2/06

Labels: Decor