Nordstrom Rack Today

Here's a shopping tip-off for today:

Tag Sale, Nordstrom Rack
Look for the red dots on select items
throughout the store for extra savings—

take 25-60% off the last marked price.

Also, Keep an eye out for more regular
blog entries in the near future!

Finally, Express Gains Some Momentum

I usually rush to Express for a few trendy pieces, but their Spring collection left me speeding out of the store. Thankfully, Express British bohemian designer Celia Birtwell brings Express up to speed. My favorite piece is her Volume Sleeve Dress for $128. Still, the problems with mass-designed clothing lines are that everyone has it and it's not all that cheap. On the other hand, if you can wear it and own it, then you can make it your own.

View The Collection

Tuck Ever-Lasting Longer

Jeanne Calmet holds the record for world's longest lifespan at 122 years
(1875-1997)

Americans seem to be fascinated with the prospect of living a longer life. Perhaps it's because science could bring biblical character's centennial-plus lifespans into a feasible reality.

Barbra Walter's special, "Live To Be 150", which airs tonight explores just that.
I imagine that Barbra Walters will investigate how living a quality life
and a longer life are two interchangeable factors. But the part of the quest of quantity that irks me is the extreme measures people will go to extend their lifespan and the oversight of the quality of life.

For instance, there has been research involving whether an extremely limited diet might prolong a lifespan. There's still no hard evidence it does. (See "Starve Yourself Live Longer.")

And while I am a supporter of emerging science that could make 40 the new 20; I still can't comprehend why outrunning the Reaper for longer makes you more admirable. See Michael Kinsley of The New Yorker's humorous take on the subject: "Mine Is Longer Than Yours."

We should exercise, temper bad habits, and eat well enough to sustain our lifestyle, but even if we have the potential to 150 in the future; we're still a mere speck in the scheme of things. So relax, enjoy and eat that cupcake with the butter-cream frosting. There's no reason to deprive ourselves of a quality life.

A Spring Dress With Flex

I realized upon recent inspection of my closet that my Spring wardrobe screams less chic and more Salvation Army. I'm one of those keep-them-just-in-case kind of gals, but a series of stretched-out cotton tank tops from middle school just won't cut it anymore. That's the sad truth. It's time to revise. My goal is to add a few versatile and more grown-up pieces like this one from New York & Company to my wardrobe.

$54.95 New York & Co. City Style Colorblock Shift Dress

Stephanie Simek Strikes Again

Just try to make sense of 25-year-old Stephanie Simek’s world. Rererato, the Portland-based art/music space she shares with her man, Adam Keller sounds as wacky and interesting as the exhibits they feature. Take, “Spaghetti: A Rhinestone Studded Suburban Dream.”

But if you can't make it to Portland, you can still experience Simek's equally interesting wearable art here in Chicago (1951 W. Division, www.habitchicago.com. Simek has added a new piece to her collection and it's just as eye-catching as her eyelash necklace. The centerpiece is a delicate pearlized Turbo Cinereus shell filled with a silver powder that sprinkles a dusting on the wearer's chest when tapped.

$95 www.StephanieSimek.com

Shooting The Breeze With Simek

TCG: How do you come up with ideas for your pieces?

SS: I like thinking about materials, all kinds of them and, how to they can be worn. I collect materials and then sometimes later they take the form of jewelry or adornment.

TCG: When did you start designing jewelry? When did your work start catching on?

SS: I started this line in the summer and things have been going pretty good from the start. I think because they are somewhat unusual, they've been getting some attention.

TCG: Would you say you have sort of a cult following for your jewelry?

SS: I'm not sure about that, but I am very pleased that even though I am based in the U.S., more than half of my sales come from other countries.

Simek's Projects:

Hello Baby Bird

Rer-what-oh?

Walgreen's DUDS

Walgreens wants you to done their new duds. The problem is that their "clothing line" really is a dud. The Casual Gear line is cheap, but if Walgreens thinks they're marketing anything other then pajamas, then they've really woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Stick to what you know best Walgreens--condoms and candy.

Clean And Simple Charactures

The subjects of her art are dreamlike caricatures drawn with clean lines, sprinkled with a touch whimsy and a Japanese anime flair.

Chicago artist Laura George attaches simple themes to each of her drawings. The result is an image that conveys a singular thought and expresses that thought in a clever and upfront manner.