Fashion Flock

Spring is in the Air at Stacia!

2012-01-28T20:39:00.000-08:00

Spring has arrived at my Stacia Santa Monica boutique! I can't believe it's practically February already, but Spring is just around the corner and we've got a fully stocked store to prove it. I'm so excited to showcase my Spring collection for the first time in its entirety at my new boutique. As much as I adore all my wholesale stores across the country that sell my line, there's nothing better than having one place to display the complete collection rather than it being cherry-picked. My web site has always been that place to show my entire collection, but there's nothing better than the touch n' feel experience of an intimate boutique where you can see all the vivid color combinations up close and personal (oh, and chatting with the designer is also a bonus!)

In my store now is the complete Surface bamboo collection of mix n' match space-dyed color-blocked dresses, tops, and cardis as well as the Coastal collection of vibrant, multi-colored cocoons, tees, and wrap dresses. One of my fave pieces (pictured above) is the ultimate wrap dress -- the Locust faux wrap dress -- if you were to buy only one dress this season, this is the ONE!

Save the Date! Misa Jewelry Trunk Show at Stacia Feb. 8th

2012-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

Make it a girl's night out on Wed. Feb. 8th from 5 to 8pm. Pop over after work at Stacia at 808 11th St. off Montana Ave. in Santa Monica and view the gorgeous Misa jewelry collection. Sip some cocktails, enjoy some tapas while shopping in my beach bungalow boutique.

I'm not a big jewelry person, but when I met Misa and discovered her beautiful hand-crafted confections, I was hooked. I'm the proud owner of 6 Misa pieces (and counting!) I've never been a fan of cheap, costume jewelry, but rather prefer a high-quality piece that I will wear for a lifetime. Misa's gold and silver pieces fit that bill. She literally carves and sculptures each piece by hand with designs that are inspired by the ocean, coral, seashells, Hawaiian lauhala, and her island upbringing.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, treat yourself to some self Love and discover Misa jewelry. Enjoy 10% off your purchase of either Misa jewelry or the new Stacia Spring '12 collection.

Topanga Canyon Here I Come!

2012-01-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday is my Fall 2012 Stacia photo shoot. So excited!! I love doing these outdoor shoots in the glory of California's landscape. This season we're shooting at Trippet Ranch in Topanga Canyon, which is also the name of one of my groups in the Collection. When I designed the Collection and experimented with my space-dyed color palettes about 6 months ago, I had envisioned a rustic, bohemian woman wearing my bamboo fabrics with accents of wooden beads, feathers, and flowy silhouettes, all inspired by my trip to Joshua Tree last Spring and my weekend hikes through Santa Ynez Canyon to Tripett Ranch. I've picked the model, the location, and completely style the shoot with my new fave Canyon Lady hats from Yellow 108 (now sold in my store!), and with anticipation I'm hoping my vision comes across loud and clear in the final pictures. Last week I'm doing my weekly grocery shopping and see the cover of Vogue the first time with Taylor Swift and BINGO, my vision comes full circle. I LOVE this cover! It's totally what I'm going for with this upcoming shoot. So weird that both Vogue and I are both on the same wave length! As I'm sure they shot this cover months ago, about the same time my Fall collection was coming into fruition. Hope my pictures are just as inspiring!

Three Times a Charm

2012-01-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm always a little late discovering these things, but I was watching episode 11 of Desperate Housewives on my DVR last night (I'm two episodes behind) and low and behold I spot one of my creations on Teri Hatcher, AGAIN! The ladies over at ABC are lovin' Stacia this season (this is the 3rd time they've sported Stacia on DH.) Teri paired my Quail Stripe bamboo scarf with an edgy black leather jacket. Get Teri's (aka Susan) look and pick one up for yourself while we still have them. Only 4 left!! Available at my Santa Monica boutique at 808 11th St. or online at www.shopstacia.com. Oh, and they're on sale!

Last Call...Stacia SALE!

2012-01-24T21:44:00.001-08:00

The Spring boxes have arrived from my factory and time is running out on my Fall clearance sale. Going,going, gone! Hurry while the goodies are in stock. A lot of great wear-now pieces at a huge discount. Soon they'll be gone and the new Spring collection in full swing. Visit shopstacia.com or stop by our shop off Montana Ave. (808 11th St. in Santa Monica.)

Palisadian Post

2012-01-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice little write up about moi in the Palisadian Post, my local newspaper in the Pacific Palisades. Every Thursday night I look forward to opening my mailbox to find my copy of the Palisadian to read about local news and what's going on in the Village, our little Main Street America. Enjoy!

Inspiration 2012: Point Dume

2012-01-04T13:57:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to my fashionflock! Another year has gone by and I'm already thinking about 2013 Spring designs. Just a little inspiration from me to you. A quick trip out to Point Dume this NYE was a beauty. I used my new app Hipstamatic (which I love!) to document the gorgeous view from the beach. Nothing could be more inspiring than this landscape.

Fall 2012 is complete and will be ready for February trade shows. My Fall '12 collection is inspired by the California landscape, once again, with groups titled Point Dume, Trippet Ranch (one of my fave hiking destinations and location for our next shoot), Topanga Canyon, and Joshua Tree (last Spring's mini exploration trip that inspired this group.)

Stacia Exclusive for Sundance

2012-01-04T13:47:00.000-08:00

Another exclusive for Sundance: the Stacia Muse cardi in supple bamboo space-dye. I love working with this cataloger. They have a great eye for unique, laid-back lifestyle items for their active customers and are now embracing more eco-friendly products for their catalog. This is our second run with them (the Sunset boxy tee was a big hit last season!) and we're excited about offering this exclusive design just for them for Resort. Sometimes I have too many design ideas and some of them don't make it on the line, but luckily this little cardi of mine (that I totally adore!) had a second life with Sundance. I love the dual drawstring waist and back neck; just enough detail to make this cardi a stand out in your wardrobe -- all year around! Check out this exclusive item on Sundance's web site. You'll be living in this cardi from now until next Fall.

Mele Kalikimaka!

2011-12-24T18:39:00.001-08:00

Picture This Christmas Card

Shutterfly has classic, elegant Christmas invitations for your party.

View the entire collection of cards.

Go Green at Stacia!

2011-12-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

Go Green this Holiday season at Stacia on Montana. I've got the store chock full of affordable eco-luxury gifts for everybody. I've scoured the market for some of the best eco-friendly gifts at all price points. When you give a "green" gift this Holiday, you're sending a message that you care about the environment and you support local artisans.

Great stocking stuffer idea: new Ipanema Brazilian sandals priced at $25 and in an assortment of metallics and patterns. They're 99% recycled rubber so you'll be guilt free with this purchase. I've carried Havaianas at Stacia since 1998, but now I'm a die-hard Ipanema fan. Who wants to wear what everyone else is wearing, right? These sandals are better quality, less expensive, eco, and hipper in my book.

A gift for the surfer chick or wave-lover: now stocking Hawaii surf-artist Heather Brown's colorful, graphic surf prints (matted on sugar-cane paper!) ready for easy framing. The 11 x 14 prints are only $45. Plus we now carry Heather Brown beach-ready graphic tees and hoodies (printed with water-based inks) priced $35-$68.

A gift for the Home-body: Stacia's new Bungalow Home collection features a set of colorful space-dyed patterned pillows and throws made of Bamboo (sold separately or in a set, priced $68-$298.) Forget Missoni's $$$$$pricey blankets and update your living room with a Stacia space-dyed bamboo throw (affordable AND Eco-luxurious!) If you're on even more of a gift budget, I suggest the Bungalow soy candle. Burns cleaner and smells of bamboo, fig, coconut, and the ocean (priced at $38.)

For that sexy someone on your list: I now stock the uber-cool lingerie label, Gypsy, which is handmade in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Sexy leopard-printed bralette and matching undies are my pick! Priced $28-$38.

For the boys: is your gal looking for some heavy metal and something that comes in a tiny box? Stacia now carries the Misa jewelry line of gold and silver necklaces, charms, and earrings. And I'm not talking about costume jewelry here that will turn your neck green. This is the good stuff! 14K gold that will last a lifetime. And all handmade by the artisan, Misa. Her collection fits right in with my bungalow boutique with each piece reminiscent of the ocean's coral reefs and seashells.

Top it off with a hat! Yellow 108 hats are made from recycled materials and salvaged wool. Who knew there was such a thing as a sustainable hat?! But most of all, I love this new Canyon lady shape. A chic update to the fedora you see everywhere. I'm using this floppy hat in my next Fall photo shoot for sure! Priced at an affordable $38.

And lastly, we now carry Seabags of Maine. The quintessential beach carry-all made of recycled sails. These chic totes come in two sizes and make perfect reusable bags for the beach, farmer's market, or just toting around your essentials (some gals have a lot!) Lovin' the metallic stars and anchor appliques for just a touch of sparkle. Takes the reusable bag to a new level! Priced $160-$180.

Stop by Stacia at 808 11th St. and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica and shop my bungalow-inspired boutique for some great Eco-luxury gifts you can't find anywhere else.

Huge Holiday Sale at Stacia!

2011-12-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

Huge end-of-year/Holiday sale at Stacia - both online at shopstacia.com and in-store at the Stacia boutique at 808 11th St. in Santa Monica. I'm cleaning house before the end of the year and getting ready for the debut of my Stacia Spring '12 collection due to arrive in stores next month. Why wait till Dec. 26th to get your deals when you can buy now while supplies last. Come next month, goods will be 'bye-bye' and the store/web will be splashed with new Spring colors to get you dreaming for longer Spring days.

My fave Holiday gifts (for someone you love or for yourself) are the poncho (fits every body type so no guessing game on sizing), the fringed scarf (wear it year-round), and the sequin stripe tee (just enough bling for those New Year's Eve bashes!) So hurry boys & girls, and click thru to shopstacia.com for Free Shipping and Holiday savings from now until Dec. 31st!

Even Housewives Love Stacia

2011-12-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

I'm all hunkered down in my sweats lounging on my couch with a bowl of popcorn ready to enjoy one of my guilty pleasures on the DVR -- Desperate Housewives! When you have three kids and a biz, there's no time to watch anything live these days so thankfully my fully-stocked DVR machine keeps my shows in waiting for when I finally have some "me" time.

About mid-thru the show, I have to take a better look, but low and behold, there's one of my sweaters on the back of Felicity Huffman, I mean, Lynette Scavo. In the scene she's spying on her husband and follows him into the airport bathroom to convince him not to take that flight to Paris with his new girlfriend (don't you just love a good soap opera?!) Why of course he stays -- how could he not resist her when she's wearing that fabulous Quail toggle cardi --hee hee! She wore it for quite awhile on the show which was a nice surprise (probably because it was so damn comfortable she didn't want to take it off.)

Just a few months ago, my Cottage stripe cardi was worn by Teri Hatcher, aka Susan, so I was pleasantly surprised to see another Desperate Housewife don one of my creations. Yay! Luckily we still have a few of these Quail cardis in stock in my Montana Ave. store so stop by and wear what the hip housewives are wearing!

Montana Ave. Holiday Walk

2011-12-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Stop by tomorrow night from 5 to 9pm for the annual Montana Avenue Holiday Walk. I'll have DJ Roy spinning some Holiday tunes, Noonah pouring some cocktails, and informal "mannequin" modeling in my shop windows. The Stacia Ecoknit collection of clothing will be 20% off for the evening. Plus come check out our new Eco-luxury products -- Gypsy lingerie handmade in Haleiwa, Hi, Misa jewelry, reclaimed wool hats from Yellow 108, Seabags recycled sail cloth carryalls, Heather Brown surf artist's tees, hoodies, & prints, and the new Stacia Bungalow home collection of bamboo pillows/throws & soy candles! Go green this Holiday and shop for affordable eco-luxury gifts at Stacia. 808 11th St. at Montana Ave, Santa Monica.

Grand Opening Party Pix

2011-11-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who stopped by on Oct. 20th for our Grand Opening party. What a great night! DJ Roy spinned some tunes, Noonah mixed some wicked cocktails, and everybody mingled throughout the boutique and in our secluded garden while feasting on delectables from Nothing Bundt Cake and Kreation Kafe. The highlight of the evening was a raffle for an amazing Arcona facial -- lucky winner Lori Magana! Many thanks to Rich Schmidt from Palisades Post for documenting the evening in pictures. And to my fabulous shop girls - Val and Jess - couldn't have done the evening without you two!

Cyber Monday at Stacia!

2011-11-28T08:47:00.001-08:00

Black Friday at Stacia on Montana

2011-11-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

Curvy Girls Love Stacia

2011-11-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

Check out this month's Latina Magazine for the Stacia Moonbeam bamboo dress. Stacia dresses are for real women with curves (that goes for booty and boobies!) What's great about my knit dresses is that they accentuate the positive and hide your flaws (we all have them!) That's the great thing about my space dye patterned yarns is that they sort of camouflage what you want to conceal, but the sexy bamboo knit shapes your figure in all the right places. Oh, and it's super comfy too. Take it from curvy girls like J Lo and Salma Hayek, slip into a Stacia dress and feel like a million bucks no matter what your size or proportion.

ENK Coterie Spring 2012

2011-10-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

A nice little write up in Fashion Week Daily during Fashion Week in NYC. Had a great time in NY and so glad to help sell in the Coterie booth this season!

Stacia Sale on Swirl.com ends Thursday

2011-10-18T13:01:00.002-07:00

Join Swirl.com today and have access to some great new Stacia designs at the fraction of the cost. Sale ends Thursday so hurry while supplies last! My picks at the sale are the Cruiser stripe Caftan, a sexy crochet Tortoise dress, and the only cardi you'll need this Fall, the toggle cool cardicoat in Rattan. Jaw dropping prices start at $59 up to $109. Happy shopping!

2011-10-18T13:01:00.001-07:00

Stacia: Intuit's Customer of the Week

2011-10-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's my two cents on Quickbooks. Watch about 2 1/2 minutes in and see why Intuit has simplified my life as a designer, bookkeeper, entrepreneur, and jack-of-all-trades. Enjoy!

Count Down: Stacia Ideeli Flash Sale Starts Now!

2011-10-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Stacia Ideeli flash sale is starting now! Hurry, you got 72 hours to cash in on some current Stacia Fall items at crazy wholesale prices. One of my favorite picks this run is the cobalt/black stripe caftan dress above. Pair with some black tights and rockin' boots and you'll be au courant this season. Another fave is the Rattan slouchy cowl neck dolman top with side seam pockets. Looks chic over skinny leggings or belted with jeans. Prices are at wholesale starting at $79.99 to $99.99. Hurry while supplies last!!

2011-10-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

I Heart Quickbooks

2011-10-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Ever since my accountant begged me to upgrade my bookkeeping system to Quickbooks in 2007, I've never looked back. It has totally streamlined my business. And no, this is not an ad for Quickbooks. I'm just a one-man-show here and can't afford to hire a separate bookkeeper, plus I actually love to take a break from designing and use the other side of my brain and crunch some numbers. Quickbooks has enabled me to do that quickly and easily so I can spend more time designing and less time formatting a P & L report.

I recently had a great opportunity to showcase my company on Intuit's web site, the genius behind Quickbooks, and express how my day to day operations have been stream-lined thanks to technology (too bad it wasn't an ad for Apple's iPhone!) I had a great time with my friend and producer, Ms. Kim Chi Tyler (the video goddess based in San Francisco and owner of Loop Films.) She made me feel super relaxed and at ease. I'm certainly not a fan of being on camera, let alone talking about myself! But thankfully the crew made it easy as pie (and they made my store look fabulous!)

We actually shot two videos, one about my biz and how I use technology, and the second one more off the cuff explaining what works and doesn't work for me in Quickbooks (for their sales team and engineers.) As a Mac user, I've found some flaws in Quickbooks and was eager to share with Intuit in the hopes they might improve the software. I'd love to incorporate Quickbooks for my point of sale system in my boutique and have all my computers link together whether they are on the premises or not, but so far none of these features are yet available for Mac (go figure, Apple is only the most powerful company in the world now!)

Take a look at the brilliantly produced piece on Intuit.com and learn more about my business and how technology has simplified my life and grown my little Brooklyn retail business to today's thriving 300+ stores wholesale business.

Spring '12 Photo Shoot in Malibu

2011-09-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

What's better than hanging out at the beach for the day and surrounded by the natural beauty of Malibu? A group of strong independent woman worked this shoot again and what a day we had! We started out at the Malibu Country Inn, a scenic little Inn that sits just above Westward Beach near Point Dume. Thanks to Amanda and Ivy, the resident managers at the Inn, we had free reign of the place with it's picturesque landscaping, rose garden, and gorgeous view of Malibu beach and the swaying palm trees. Our model Isabelle from Next was a real trooper enduring a 24 look shoot, but I'm sure hanging out at the beach wasn't too much of a sacrifice. Once again, I used the talented local photographer Erika Seress, Jacqueline for amazing hair and makeup, and my trusted assistant Amy Silberman (she's even more organized than me!)

All was good until we decided to shoot under the radar at Point Dume Nature Preserve - busted once again! We only got one look in at that location and were quickly shooed away by a handsome county watch guard in full uniform. Luckily we just got a slap on the wrist for not having a permit. But this group was resourceful and we moved on up the PCH to find a more secluded spot to finish up our shoot. Just past El Matador beach is a little hidden gem of a cove called El Pescador Beach. We quickly scurried down the path to the hidden cove to discover a completely desolate beach (and out of reach to county trucks!) Rugged rock formations, large sculptural driftwood, crashing waves, and dusty pathways down to the beach - a perfect setting to shoot my Beachcomber and Coastal collections!

Stay tuned for images from the shoot and hopefully a video of the behind the scenes of our day (if I can get my hubbie crackin' on the video!)

Off to NYC today to show the world the new Spring '12 collection and entice them with my aspirational look book...who wouldn't want to be wearing luxurious, soft Bamboo knits while lounging or strolling at the beach in Malibu, right?

Stacia Takes Manhattan

2011-09-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't been back to NYC since 2008, right around the time the lovely recession began with the Lehman Brother's catastrophe. I usually rely on my East Coast showroom to run the trade show circuits for me and man the booth at Fashion Coterie, the mother of all trade shows. But every once in awhile, I'll hop on a plan and make an appearance at Coterie (usually in September when the weather is much more enjoyable than February's.) I always learn so much by meeting and talking with buyers, new and current customers, to help me tweak the collection for future seasons. After 2008's appearance at Coterie and speaking with one particular buyer, he encouraged me to put copy on my Stacia hangtags promoting the selling points of my sustainable Bamboo yarns. Change is good and a lesson learned on my last trip. I'm due for another visit and heading back East again for Coterie next weekend.

This season I'll be promoting Spring 2012 (scary, right?!) Showcasing my new space-dyed and striped bamboo knits in vibrant Spring colors for next February delivery to stores. I just finished my beach photo shoot last week for the Collection (to be shared with you in another post...) What a great way to jump start Spring with a day-long shoot in Malibu! Coming soon...a collection inspired by California Architecture in a group called Surface featuring rich hued colors named Retro, Lucite, Abstract, and Tribal; another group titled Coastal for the lifestyle we all dream of - Catamaran, Villa, Locust, Seashell, and Abalone - colors that evoke the idealic Coastal living; and finally the quintessential beach group - Beachcomber with seafarer stripes named Gulf, Seaglass, Riptide, Cabana, and Lava.

So if you're a buyer or in the trade, stop by my booth 5040 at the Javits Center on Level 3 in NYC September 18 - 20. If not, stay tuned for pictures of what's to come in stores this February!

Stacia For Sundance

2011-09-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

I'm always eager to pair with other cool businesses to make the Stacia collection more obtainable to a wider audience. Hence the recent joint venture with SUNDANCE catalog, the laid-back, rustic-inspired catalog by Robert Redford. I've been receiving these catalogs for years and always thought it would be a no-brainer to make some custom sweaters for them. And it all happened by mistake!

Last Fall's Vegas show was sort of a disaster with the bulk of my Fall samples not ready in correct colors for the show (thanks to the extended Chinese New Year!!) But by chance, one of my Fall styles was sampled up in a Cactus colorway from a previous season, and one that the Sundance crew immediately fell in love with. Lucky me! So off to production we go to make the uber cool boxy tee in a super-soft bamboo yarn in Sundance's favorite color, Cactus. The rustic coloring and slouchy styling are a perfect fit for the Sundance catalog.

Six months later, we're live on Sundance.com and in the mail order catalog. Check out this one-of-a-kind Stacia sweatertee made exclusively for Sundance and at a very handsome price!

Here's to more collaborations with other cool brands to help put Stacia's luxurious, washable, and sustainable bamboo knits in front of more customers (hello, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters...!)

Vegas Bound

2011-08-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'm Vegas bound! Jet setting to the desert just for the day tomorrow to check out my booth at ENKVegas. The three day show started today and is at the Wynn Hotel in the Latour Ballroom - booth 20010.

It's been a few years since I've personally gone to the Vegas show. My road warrior rep, Lori Halio, usually runs the show for me. But, every once in awhile it's fun to make an appearance and pop up in the booth to meet the buyers and media. I'm not a fan of trade shows of any kind (I can't stand the sterile A/C environment and long halls of crowded booths) and I like to leave it up to the 'professionals', my showrooms, to handle that aspect of the biz.

I'll also be going to NYC this September for Coterie, the first time since 2008. Every time I attend one of these shows and hang out in the booth for 8 hours a day, I tend to pick up a few tidbits and some ammunition to use in the next collection. Hearing first hand from the buyers what's checking and what they need for their stores really helps me at the drawing table. Also, in the beginning of a season I tend to throw all my ideas out there, so it's nice to see first hand the buyers' reaction so I can whittle down the collection to a tight group of styles and colors for production.

Wish me luck in Vegas, baby!

Stacia Turns 13!

2011-08-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

I can't believe 13 years have gone by running my business, my baby, Stacia Inc. It seems just like yesterday when I was sprucing up an old dumpy building on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn to create my dream, my very own design label and boutique.

After 6 years of working my butt off building my retail business in New York City and designing/manufacturing the Stacia label in house, I had a sort of quarter-life crisis and needed to re-evaluate. Hence, the move out West with my hubbie and 4 month old baby.

Seven more years later, two more kids, and a growing wholesale business for Stacia, I have come full circle back to my retail roots. Opening a store in Santa Monica has made my design dream a reality. Now I have the "bread n' butter" wholesale business anchoring my 13 year old business, and a new boutique where I can showcase the full collection without the stresses of solely running a retail operation.

So here's to another 13 years and hoping I can keep doing what I love and bringing you colorful, super-soft knits made with love in Santa Monica, CA.

Check out our new promo at the Montana Ave boutique - enjoy 13% off the new Golden State bamboo/cotton collection for the month of August and score a free gift with purchase to celebrate our 13 year anniversary!

"Fresh Shops" in Los Angeles

2011-08-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the cool editors and bloggers over at StyleSectionLA for the great mention. Stacia's new Santa Monica boutique is one of the "Fresh Shops" in Los Angeles!

Buy Local at Stacia on Montana Ave

2011-08-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

In this economic climate, it's important to support your local businesses, including yours truly. Santa Monica, where I've chosen to set up shop, conveniently has a wonderful Buy Local campaign, encouraging it's stylish, "Green" consumers to buy local in Santa Monica. I've been involved with this program since I settled my wholesale business in Santa Monica on Pico Blvd., but now that I have a legit retail biz in the Montana Avenue shopping district, I'm all the more supportive of this Buy Local organization. Please support the local businesses on Montana, Main, and all retail in between, so to keep the city a buzz in cool shops and restaurants (who needs another big box retailer, right?)

Buy Local even has a cool blog that features newly opened eateries and shops in Santa Monica, sort of giving you the best of the best and lowdown of what's happening in the city. I was fortunate to be featured this week on their blog for my new boutique, Stacia, at 808 11th St. and Montana Ave. Check out the article by the uber cool blogger, Annie, who has a keen eye on what's hot in Santa Monica.

Enjoy more pictures of my new boutique at Flickr!

And for all you locals out there, stop in this week between Tuesday and Sunday and receive 10% off your purchase at our boutique if you mention "Buy Local."

Stacia Opens Santa Monica Store - Retail Store and Industry News - WWD.com

2011-07-29T15:36:00.000-07:00

Stacia Opens Santa Monica Store - Retail Store and Industry News - WWD.com

LA Times Image: Stacia Store Opening

2011-07-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

As seen in this morning's Los Angeles Times Image Section:

OPENING

Stacia: Innovative knitwear company Stacia — which specializes in über-lightweight, multi-colored fabrics — has debuted a beachy new bungalow boutique just off tony shopping row Montana Avenue. To celebrate, the brand is knocking 40% off its spring and summer merchandise.

808 11th St., Santa Monica. (310) 393-7100. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

http://www.shopstacia.com

Montana Avenue Artwalk Tonight!

2011-07-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

Stop by Stacia at 808 11th St. for the Montana Avenue Artwalk tonight from 5 to 9pm. Featured artist at the Stacia boutique, Ria Ray. Most merchants on the street will be displaying local artists' work in their shops and offering an open house till 9pm tonight. Come sip some refreshing raspberry wine spritzer at Stacia and take in the gorgeous, inspirational art from my friend, Ria Ray. See you tonight!

Stacia Signage

2011-07-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

The sign is up! Woohoo! It's been a long process, but my Stacia boutique sign is finally up and it looks great. Stop by today for my store opening. Store hours today are 10 to 6 and tomorrow 11 to 5. Enjoy 40% off the Spring/Summer collection plus take an additional 20% off if you mention the "405 Closure" special.

Stacia
808 11th St. at Montana Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Ph: 310.393.7100

Final Countdown

2011-07-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is D-Day! A whirlwind day of sprucin' up the boutique's interior. Finally all the handymen, electricians, and woodworkers are gone so I can start putting some inventory out on the floor (and lay down my new, pristine blue Flor rug!) Every thing is pretty much done.

Only two glitches - a Quickbooks nightmare and the Sign installation has been delayed until tomorrow at 7 am - Yikes!! Talk about cutting it close. The sign company ran out of my beautiful Aruba Sunbrella awning fabric and just got more in today, which delayed installation for another day. Luckily they can come tomorrow A.M. to install (which takes about 2 hours) - just under my opening time of 10 am.

Instead of spending most of my day pricing, doing visual display, and inventory, I wasted about 2 hours on the phone with some tech guy in India to try and solve my Quickbooks 2011 problem (trying to get two computers set up and synced to run my bookeeping, but no luck...) Oh well, I'm doomed to do double entry for my bookeeping with two computers running QB and two users (boring tech stuff, I know.)

The good news is we got some ink today! Thank you California Apparel News, Andrew Asch, for the lovely write-up on our store opening tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Stacia Debuts Santa Monica Boutique - Fashion Retailing News | California Apparel News | LA Fashion

2011-07-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

Stacia Debuts Santa Monica Boutique - Fashion Retailing News | California Apparel News | LA Fashion

Count Down to Store Opening!

2011-07-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

My days are numbered and I'm slowly approaching D-day, that is, the Stacia store opening! Running around like crazy to get everything done, but slowly but surely it's coming together.

Finally the curtains were installed to separate my design studio from the retail front - a crisp white canvas curtain plus a breezy sheer overlay so I can see you, but you can't see my lovely inventory shelves and messy design studio. I already feel like Oz behind the wall of curtains, secretly creating new designs for my customers for next season! And my good 'ol wrought iron dressing room rod has made it's way all the way from Brooklyn from Stacia New York's Smith Street days and is now hanging in my Santa Monica bungalow shop.

The two biggest hurdles have been the SIGN (and dealing with the City of Santa Monica for the permit!) and the cash wrap counter. I'm not doing anything too crazy on the sign, just a basic awning in my trademark blue with the Stacia logo, but going through all the levels of bureaucracy down at City Hall has been a thorn in my side for weeks now. Who knew everybody and his brother downtown would want a piece of my sign action - $385 here, $265 there, $91 here, $397 there...from the City Planning Division to the Building Safety dept. to the Records Management - over 50% of my sign cost going to the lovely city of Santa Monica (your welcome!)

The second hurdle has been the cash wrap counter. Was hoping to find a clean white counter somewhere in the market, ready-made, but nothing quite fit the bill. I dreaded the thought of custom-making a cabinet as I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars and break the bank. But luckily I found a great woodworker, John Summerville (doesn't his name sound like a woodworker's name?!) through my handyman and was able to get something custom built, yet affordable. I'm so happy with the results. Just needs a few coats of white paint and I'm in business!

Two days to go...just bought a new iMac today for the retail store (cha-ching), in the process of upgrading software (ugh!), and finally getting some inventory on the floor. The store has been strewn with rags, paint cans, nails, and dust for weeks, so hoping to clean up and get some of my sweaters priced and on the sales floor by Saturday. 40% off Spring/Summer and the new Fall line coming in July 21st! Still need to lay down the new sky blue Flor rug too...

The good news is I have two great shopgirls for Stacia on Montana Avenue. Val and Jess will be your go-to-gals for anything Stacia in the new shop. They'll be like your very own personal shopper/stylist who's only job is to assist you with your Stacia experience. The bungalow-inspired shop should feel like your favorite beach hang-out, where you can peruse some beachy knits, sip some cucumber-laced water, relax in my garden and take in the ocean breezes. Hope to see you this Saturday, July 16th for our store opening. Store hours are Tuesday thru Saturday 10 to 6, Sundays 11 to 5, and closed on Mondays.

The Stacia Shop
808 11th Street at Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Phone 310.393.7100.

Coming Soon...Stacia Shop on Montana Avenue!

2011-06-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

It might not look like much right now, but I envision a beachy, cozy shop for my Westside fans to visit, right off Montana Avenue, Santa Monica's trendy shopping district. A clean, white-washed interior with pops of my vibrant spacedye candy-color knits on the shelves, ocean-blue Flor rug, a surfboard propped in the corner, some seashells and succulents, and my old Brooklyn chandelier dangling above.

I just moved my headquarters, that is my design studio, last Thursday, and it has been none stop since getting the place ready for the public. I love the craftsman details of the interior, clean white shutters, lots of windows and sky lights, a light and airy place to come to work already! I plan on having my design studio concealed in the back by a wall of sheer drapes (I'll feel like Oz behind the curtain!) The front will be retail, but interaction with moi, the designer, will be inevitable. I can't wait to share it with my Stacia customers. Finally a proper place for my customers to shop. So long Pico pop-up shop, hello Montana Avenue!

It's been 7 years since I've been in retail. After shuttering my Stacia New York boutique in Brooklyn, NY in 2004 after 6 years of blissful business on Smith Street, I've come full circle and ready to do it again! Now that I've grown a successful wholesale business, found my nitch in designing colorful, beachy Bamboo knits, and my first born is 7 years old, I'm ready to tackle the world of retail once more. Hopefully this time all the more wiser and life simplified by the beach. Or at least, I hope so!

Stay tuned for the work in progress. Planning on a July opening. The daily appointments with Verizon, Security, Signage companies, Handyman, Electrician, interviewing prospective Sales Associates, have been a whirlwind effort to get things ready. Wish me luck!

Cleanspirited.com - Ecofashion at Your Fingertips

2011-06-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Stacia has recently partnered with Eco-fashion site Cleanspirited.com to bring luxurious, sustainable fashion to your fingertips. A fashion-loving, eco-conscious gal now has even more reason to shop Green. Check out Stacia's 'best-of' space-dye bamboo knits on Cleanspirited.com starting today, along with some other great Green fashions.

To be honest, I didn't start using bamboo because of it's sustainability, but chose it because it is a superior fiber for dyeing vibrant colors (my forte!) and it's as soft as butter. Plus, ever since ditching NYC, I haven't dry-cleaned a single garment in over 7 years! My knits are washable so if they're going to make the cut in my wardrobe, washability is a must. I've always been a stickler for recycling (still trying to educate my forgetful hubbie on that one), never forget a reusable bag (I'll stuff my purchases in my purse before I don a plastic bag), and a huge supporter of Ban the Plastic Bag, Ban Styrofoam, Clean up Our Oceans, you name it, I'm there when it comes to Green. But, as a designer, it was just by chance that I fell into designing with Bamboo, a sustainable fiber that grows like a weed and is highly replenishable and abundant on the earth. Go figure, I was designing Green before I even realized it!

So whether you're looking for ways to Green up your life and support small Eco-businesses or if you simply want the softest, washable, luxurious knits on your body, then truck on over to Cleanspirited.com and get your fix.

Cosmic Love

2011-05-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

My latest play list includes Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine, an ethereal, yet powerful anthem that really put me in the mood when designing Fall '11. Ironically, I had named one of my favorite colors Cosmic, for no other reason than that it just looks like something cosmic. I've been in a "gray" phase for some time now and couldn't resist mocking up a lavender toned gray for the new Fall collection. Black is boring, brown essential, but gray to me is ethereal and romantic. My new Cosmic space-dye color takes on a new dye technique I developed that gives the overall space-dye color a true ground color with "digital" flecks of color. And it reminds me of my new favorite song, Cosmic Love, both sensual and alluring. And now that the song has gone mainstream in the Water for Elephants trailer - a movie I'm now eager to see because the song really evokes the essence of the romantic circus setting (and of course, a little Robert Pattinson doesn't hurt either!) I'm sure when I'm wearing my new favorite ribbed cocoon and fringed scarf in Cosmic this Fall, I'll be humming this Cosmic Love tune and feeling my love for gray (the new black for next Fall.)

Stacia Earth Day Trunk Show

2011-04-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day, or rather Earth Weekend. It's a weekend-long celebration of our beautiful Earth! Come join me at BOCA, my favorite boutique in Pacific Palisades, for a festive shopping event in the Village today. The new Stacia Spring/Summer bamboo Ecoknits collection will be discounted 20% off for today's event. And get your free Stacia bamboo scarf gift with purchase while supplies last. I'll be on hand to answer any questions about the collection and to personally help you style your Stacia look this Spring.

My LA sales rep, Lori Halio of The Great Room, will also be at today's event previewing the new Stacia Fall/Holiday collection that will be available in stores in July. Place your special order today for Stacia's Fall bamboo knits and guarantee your color and size will be available for you at BOCA later this Summer.

Hope to see you there today for some fun Earth Day festivities and earth-friendly shopping! Saturday, April 23rd, from 10 to 6 at 1024 Swarthmore Ave. in Pacific Palisades, CA.

Stacia on Swirl.com

2011-04-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

Get your daily dose of Stacia on Dailycandy's flash sale site, Swirl.com! Starting today and ending on Monday, April 18th, you can get your Stacia at 60% off retail only at Swirl.com. One of my favorite sites for daily fashion alerts now has a cool flash sale site giving you access to your fave brands at below retail prices. Yet another opportunity to own your own super-soft Stacia bamboo knitwear for cheap! And the cool thing is, my knitwear is seasonless so you get the maximum bang for the buck. Bamboo breathes in Summer and keeps you cozy in the Winter, all in effortless style. Above are a few of my picks from the sale - the Raven cocoon, Solstice hoodie and square scarf, the Juniper laced tunic, and the Clover chevron stripe vee top (I'm actually wearing this top as I type!)

Happy Shopping!!

The Golden State - Stacia Fall 2011 Photo Shoot

2011-04-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

It's a wrap! Another fun, successful day shooting the Stacia collection is complete. It was a long, hot day at Tapia Park in the Malibu Canyon photographing the Fall 2011 collection. After months of rain and chilly weather in LA, we finally saw the sun, and it was a scorcher. A beautiful day in the canyon and a perfect backdrop for my new Fall collection of bamboo space-dye knits inspired by, none other than, our beautiful Golden State.

We had a great, all-woman crew yesterday and we cranked it out (32 looks in all) in less than 6 hours. Our gorgeous Manhattan Beach-native model, Lauren James, was a real trooper. And of course, we couldn't have gotten all these great shots without our fabulous photographer, Erika Seress. Hair/makeup by Jacqueline, photographer's assistant, Kira, and my go-to gal, Amy (thank you!!) - a great crew of strong women!

Tapia Park was a serene location with unlimited scenery to shoot against - huge bolder rock formations, still-life distorted tree trunks, fields of golden brush, pebbly creek beds, and all set against the gorgeous Malibu Canyon mountains. We even saw a large skeleton body of an unknown animal by the creek (yikes!)

So here's a little teaser of what's to come from Stacia this July - the Quail stripe caftan in bamboo/cotton - one of my favorite new pieces from the collection.

Stacia Sale on Ideeli.com

2011-04-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

3 days and counting...get your Stacia priced at $79-$99 only at Ideeli.com. A few of my best-selling styles and colors from Spring are specially priced for a limited time only on Ideeli.com, my favorite go-to flash sale site. Hurry and join so you can get in on the deal!

Another Daily Deal with Plumdistrict!

2011-03-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand, Stacia is doing another daily deal with Plumdistrict.com today only. Hurry and get your Stacia coupon to redeem $100 worth of luxurious bamboo knits at shopstacia.com!

Stacia Plum Deal February 18th!

2011-02-17T20:08:00.000-08:00

Now's your chance to snag some Stacia knits at $100 off at shopstacia.com! We're doing a one-day-only deal with plumdistrict.com, the savvy mom's go-to site for online deals and coupons. They're selling only 200 of these vouchers tomorrow, Feb. 18th, so hurry and get yours before they sell out. For $50 you'll get $100 off your next Stacia purchase at shopstacia.com. When you purchase your voucher at www.plumdistrict.com, you'll get a unique voucher code that will be redeemable at checkout at shopstacia.com. Now that's a plum deal!

Inspiration 2012 - Warhol's Camouflage

2011-01-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

If you read my last post, you'd see that my son Campbell is big on COLOR and PATTERN, and of course, so am I. During Winter break I took Campbell to the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Honor Fraser Gallery in Los Angeles (thru February 5, 2011) so he could view a true iconic pop artist. I knew he would be entranced by these colorful camouflage paintings and give him further inspiration to continue his pattern drawings. He was in awe of the scale and vibrant saturated colors. My son and Andy Warhol are so in sync! He was itching to get home to try and replicate some of these camouflage patterns in his own color combinations. I was equally inspired seeing these beautiful and sometimes unexpected color combinations on such a grand scale. I too was anxious to get home to work on some new space-dye color palettes for my next Spring 2012 collection!

When we got home, I created some stencil drawings for him with tracing paper and made copies so he could practice coloring in the camouflage patterns with his own color combinations. He would often get frustrated with his marker and color pencil drawings because he couldn't get the colors even or fully saturated. I explained to him that acrylic paint is an easier medium to create even color. I promised to buy him a small canvas and 3 to 4 acrylic paint colors so he could experiment and get the colors to look the way he wanted. A perfectionist in his own right and certainly his mother's son!

Mosaic Art Inspiration

2011-01-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

Although my 6 year-old son is slightly colorblind (browns and greens look the same to him) he has a definite gift for COLOR and for patterns. I like to think he inherited that from me, although he definitely did not inherit his knack for numbers from me. Over Christmas vacation, my son Campbell was often at my design studio while I worked packing and shipping boxes. Luckily my studio is chock full of markers and color pencils from my Parsons school days so there was plenty of creative tools to keep him busy. Without any guidance, Campbell proceeded to create these intricate pattern drawings in rainbow colors that were completely mesmerizing to say the least (see picture above.)

I've since learned from his First Grade teacher that he's been a trend setter in school with his rainbow pattern drawings. The class is divided into tables of 4 to 5 kids and every few weeks they rotate students. The teacher would notice that all the worksheets and drawings from a certain table each week all had these rainbow patterns on them (sort of a signature style for the table.) So where ever Campbell went, that particular table would adopt the "rainbow mosaic" style of drawing. Too funny! That's my boy!

In any case, I'm very proud and now you know why my son Campbell has always been a source of color inspiration for my Stacia space-dye designs. Future fashion designer, probably not, but surely a future engineer is brewing in that boy's head.

Stacia Spring/Summer 2011 Video

2011-01-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

Check out the behind the scenes video of the Stacia Spring/Summer '11 photo shoot in Playa del Rey, CA. The Spring goodies are trickling in from the factory and the first delivery is up online at www.shopstacia.com and in stores now across the U.S.

The first Spring group is appropriately titled Landscape, with space-dye colors inspired by California's gorgeous landscape - Sage, Asilomar, Bluff, Pelican. Made in a sumptuous bamboo/tencel, these are knits you'll want to live in year-around (and maybe sleep in!)

Back by popular demand is the drawstring cool cardi, a best-seller from last year, but now updated with sophisticated ruched sleeves. And if you're looking for a sexy, yet feminine comfortable dress, try the flutter front dress in Asilomar (I love pink and navy together!) The dress looks rugged and cool when paired with some Fryes and equally chic when paired with heels.

All the other items featured in the video are coming soon...I'll keep you posted on their arrival. From now 'til April I'll keep you flush with new Stacia space-dye frocks and tops!

End of Year Sale at Stacia!

2010-12-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

Stacia's end of year sale has begun! Hurry while supplies last. Enjoy free shipping and 40-50% off the Stacia collection. Everything is marked down and priced to move. We're clearing our shelves for the new Stacia Spring '11 collection which is arriving in January. Happy shopping!

LBD Alert

2010-11-30T20:10:00.001-08:00

The Holidays are upon us and you have a million Holiday commitments coming up - what to wear?! Whether it's a dreaded work-related Holiday party or a fancy schmancy Christmas cocktail event, you need to look HOT and of course, be comfortable, which is why we ladies always go to the dependable LBD - Little Black Dress - to solve our fashion dilemmas. But no offense Ms. Hepburn, the LBD could use a little updating. Which is what brings me to my cool version of the LBD - in Space-dye of course!

One of my fave bamboo dresses this season is available in a classic black and white space-dye pattern - the empire braided dress with kimono sleeves. The ever-flattering empire line is accentuated with a flat braided tie-back belt and a sexy v-neck for a little decollete, baby. Why look ho-hum in solid black and be uncomfortable in a tight, zippered sheath when you can look sexy, flirty, and stand out at the party in a Stacia bamboo spacedye dress? And oh yes, it's super comfortable, thanks to the luxurious, soft bamboo knit (no zipper, YES!) We only have a few of these puppies left so grab yours while supplies last and before those parties start piling up.

And if you want to forgo the LBD and just look chic in an all black ensemble, you may need a little arm-candy to keep you warm (and I don't mean HIM!) Cover up those chilly arms with our sexy Raven shrug. It's super cozy and sexy when draped loosely over your bare shoulders, either over a dress or a festive sleeveless blouse. Made of 100% bamboo, this luxurious knit will transition you from Holiday parties to pre-Spring weather in a classic black/white spacedye pattern. On sale now at shopstacia.com. Enjoy free shipping for the Holidays too!

Follow the Fashionflock Event

2010-11-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

Follow the fashionflock to Santa Monica! The Stacia Ecoknits & Misa Jewelry exclusive trunk show at the Stacia Pop-up Shop in Santa Monica. A good friend and fellow Island girl, Misa, designs the most beautiful, hand-crafted jewelry. Check out her confections at www.misajewelry.com. I'm a fan and have already laid out my wishlist for my husband.

Both Stacia and Misa will be discounted one night only just for you! The perfect opportunity for a girl's night out and to get a head start on your Holiday shopping (one for Mom, two for me!) And don't feel guilty to do a little shopping for yourself - you deserve it! Either way, it'll be a fun night to celebrate fashion and bond with other LA ladies. Please RSVP to info@shopstacia.com or info@misajewelry.com.

And if you're already booked up with other Holiday parties, don't fret, you can always shop conveniently online at www.shopstacia.com and take advantage of our Fall sale and Free Shipping. Or better yet, make a private shopping appointment with me at the studio by emailing info@shopstacia.com.

Stacia Manhattan Beach Trunk Show

2010-11-24T20:39:00.001-08:00

Just in time for the Holidays! You're invited to a private shopping event in Manhattan Beach in a gorgeous home a stone's throw from the beach. Stock up on Stacia for friends and family at exclusive sample sale prices. Sip some bubbly, hang with some chic Westside ladies and get your fashion fix. Please RSVP at info@shopstacia.com and view the flyer above for details. See you there!

Private Shopping Event at Willow Spa

2010-10-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

The first time I entered the tiny, hidden bungalow of Willow Spa on a bustling Santa Monica Blvd. 5 years ago, I was immediately transported to a tropical oasis. Tucked behind the California bungalow is a relaxing Shangri-la, with its Bali-inspired cushions, rattan foot stools, hypnotic music, and lush greenery. The soft Santa Monica breeze and warm green tea served on a rustic bamboo tray (and a few Vogue magazines of course!) and I am set for a relaxing spa experience. I've been a customer of Willow Spa since I first moved to Santa Monica and have been an addict ever since! After each season of designing and boxing orders, I like to book my customary Zentastic massage (includes a soothing foot soak too.)

I was fortunate to meet the owner Wendy recently and introduced her to my eco-friendly line of knits, Stacia. We immediately hit it off and talked about teaming up for a private shopping event at her beautiful bungalow space. Next Thursday, November 4th, you are invited to join us for this special shopping event. Featuring other great organic products too - Baby Jade, Soy Delicious, Abbi' Scrubs, and Eminence Organics. I'm bringing my trunk of Stacia goodies so there will be some great deals on my bamboo knits (and some Stacia baby too!)

Sip some bubbly, shop for the Holidays, and enjoy complimentary Spa services all in the comfort of a tropical oasis. Space is limited so please RSVP at info@shopstacia.com or call Willow Spa at 310.453.9004. The Spa is located at 3127 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. The event is from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Raffle prizes too!

Model Muse

2010-10-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

When I was a little kid, my only fashion inspiration was Barbie. Now kids today are bombarded with fashion from all fronts - Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, Tween fashions...I would have been in heaven if I had that much fashion at my fingertips at age 5!

Recently I had an old childhood friend, Jodie, come visit and she told me one of her daughters was a little fashionista. She said that fashion was in her blood and she would practice her runway walk at home and had repeatedly give her fashion advice when shopping (and yes, this is a 5-year old!) I thought...what a dream! A fashion designer's wish to give birth to a mini fashion muse (there's still hope for you yet, Kaiulani!)

I was told one of the most important stops on their trip to LA was to hit the Stacia design studio so Riley could see the behind the scenes of a fashion house. Upon arrival, Ms. Riley immediately went into dress-up mode trying on any clothing that wasn't nailed down (and I remind you these are women's clothes I make.) But I must say, she made it work! Most of my grown-up tops make great little girl's dresses if belted just so. Riley soon discovered that and proceeded to strike her most model-like pose (see pictured.) I'll have to consider using this pint-size model on my next photo shoot for Stacia!

And later at home, Riley made herself at home in my walk-in closet (a Boudoir as I like to call it.) She pulled down one of my favorite Stacia space-dye crochet mini dresses and slipped it on without hesitation. I suggested we belt it. She picked a mother-of-pearl shell/macrame belt (very Malibu circa 1978.) Then she topped it off with my grandmother's gold/pearl multi-chain necklace for a little Gucci effect and the ultimate boho-chic look was created.

But the kicker here is when I asked her to pose for a picture. My kids usually sulk and slouch when asked to pose for the camera, but Riley immediately went into Top Model mode and gave me a sultry pose and pouty-come-hither look. Boy oh boy, Jodie my friend, you better watch out. You got one fashionista on your hands. Forget about enrolling her in John Robert Powers Modeling School (did I just date myself?), she's going straight to Paris!

Little Designers in the Making

2010-10-23T17:51:00.000-07:00

Three years ago I brought a little fashion design sunshine to my son's preschool classroom with a paper doll craft project and it was a hit. Now, my girly, Kaiulani, is three and it's her turn for a little Fashion 101.

Like last time, I cut out a bunch of printed fabric dresses and shirt/pant ensembles and glued them to construction paper. Then I brought loads of trims from my design studio - antique buttons, sequins, ribbon, beads, and lace trims -- oh yeah, and LOTS of glue! The kids went crazy with the glue (pools of it everywhere!) But they had a blast decorating their one-of-a-kind creations with beads, buttons, and rick rack. Even the boys (future Tommy Hilfigers in the making!) had a blast.

The best moment was with one little girl in particular (the last one to finish her masterpiece) who was very meticulous and every trim she picked was precisely thought out. I would keep recommending a particular button or offer to cut her some bead trim to use, but she would simply say "not just yet..." She wasn't ready to commit to any of my suggestions. I laughed a little because she sounded so grown up, and then she said "what are you laughing at?" (like "what are you laughing at moron?") I just thought it was so hilarious that she knew exactly what she wanted (and didn't want) for her creation and would not be rushed! I should know that myself by now - a designer cannot be rushed to create a masterpiece. Ever detail in a garment is important and cannot be created on a whim (be damned Project Runway and fast fashion!) I admire this little 4-year old's self confidence and spunk - future fashionista at work for sure!

Stacia Encore on Ideeli.com!

2010-10-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may have missed the big Stacia sale on Ideeli.com a few weeks ago, you have a second chance to score some perfect finds. Stacia's encore is for one day only. Sweater dressing at its best - from lush hooded wraps to sleek sweaterdresses, Stacia has your favorite layering piece waiting for you online. Hurry while supplies last!

The Dress With a Second Life

2010-10-14T08:33:00.001-07:00

As a designer, each season I experiment with new shapes, silhouettes, and details, and sometimes they're a hit right off the bat, and other times, they're a miss. Or sometimes, there's just too much to choose from on the line for buyers, so potential hits are overlooked. And for that very reason, I like to "resurrect" or bring back styles that were dropped from the line in past collections and put them in front of buyers in a new light. And nine times out of ten, the second time around is a charm. They finally get it! Unfortunately, a buyer's whim or hunch can sometimes prevent my customers from having all of Stacia at their finger tips. You are often denied having access to all of my ideas!

But alas, one of my rejects has had a second coming! Yes, the "pleated wrap dress" has been resurrected. I had originally introduced this l/slv dress style for Fall '09 in bamboo/soybean, but it unfortunately got canceled from the line after buyers all flocked to the cowl-neck dress instead. The poor little dress didn't have a fighting chance:( But I believed in that dress enough to bring it back this Fall, in new colors and in bamboo/cotton, and all of a sudden it's a hit! It's as if buyers had never seen this dress before, even though a year earlier they rejected it. Funny how the minds of buyers work. But the customer is king and you have all spoken! You love the dress and I can't keep it in stock.

So hurry on over to www.shopstacia.com and grab one of these hotcake dresses while they're still around. The ever-so-flattering empire dress has full wrap coverage at top, with cozy long sleeves for Fall, and a demure pleating in the front and back bodice. We still have a few in Walnut (as pictured) and just a handful left in Fig. So you never know, one rejected dress can have a second life, as long as its creator, moi, believes in it enough to keep trying...

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2010-09-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

Stacia sale on Ideeli.com going on right now! One day only so hurry while supplies last. A few of my favorite things pictured above...the Walnut bamboo/cotton cool cardi for $89 (orig. $215), the Juniper bamboo/tencel hooded wrap for $99 (orig. $220), the Huckleberry bamboo tab cardi for $79 (orig. $195), the Cactus bamboo braided empire dress for $99 (orig. $220), the Calico bamboo/cotton gathered vee dress for $108 (orig. $275), the Ranch bamboo/cotton pleat dress for $108 (orig. $275), and the Beachwood bamboo/tencel cowl-neck tunic top for $79 (orig. $195.)

And just a few tips from the designer...the tabs on the tab cardi can be removed and criss-crossed to create an instant closure. And a few customers have inquired about the "long" sleeves. Yes, I make my sleeves extra long for that ultimate cozy, beachy feel (I have a habit of pulling the sleeves down on all my sweaters so I have something to hold onto, but if in doubt, you can always roll 'em up!)

Prices start at 79 bucks - can't beat that!

Stacia Sale on Ideeli.com

2010-09-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

The Stacia sale starts tomorrow, Wednesday September 29th! Quick, join Ideeli.com now and gain access to the invite-only shopping site and snag some designer deals. Tomorrow's shopping event will feature Stacia's luxurious bamboo knits at 80% off retail. What a steal!

Behind the Scenes - Stacia Spring/Summer 2011 Photo Shoot

2010-09-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day in LA, and a perfect day for a photo shoot at the beach. Thursday, September 9th I loaded the mini van (my newly acquired Swagger Wagon) with the latest Stacia collection and lots of great beachy accessories and cruised on down to Playa del Rey. The sleepiest of beach towns here on the Westside, tucked between Marina del Rey and Manhattan Beach with the low flying LAX planes overhead. Just the place for an under-the-radar fashion shoot - no tourists and no crowds or on-lookers.

First stop, the serene Ballona Wetlands. With a backdrop of natural wildflowers and the gorgeous blue sky, my Landscape group of bamboo/tencel space-dye knits photographed beautifully. A few quick shots in the wildflowers and then off to the Inn at Playa Vista - a quaint, white-washed bed n' breakfast pretty much in the middle of no where, but could have easily fit in on the Nantucket coast. A perfect setting for my Pelican cool cardi and fringed scarf.

Next stop, the Destini Cafe. A charming little yellow-hued storefront selling an array of exotic teas. Our model perched on one of the outdoor bistro tables for a sip and wore the Zinc bamboo/tencel shrug in true effortless style. Try the Ginger Apricot iced tea - delicious!

For lunch, we breaked at the Bistro du Soleil for some yummy French sandwiches. Another little yellow storefront where we got some great interior shots of our playful model, Monique, dressed in the Lapis puckered dress, part of the colorful bamboo Prism group. A new stitch technique I've experimented with that creates a puckered/ruched effect by pulling ribbed rows together and tacking to form diamond shaped motifs - a beautiful, subtle detail I'm sure you'll love next Spring.

Next stop, a little lake-like waterway near a neighborhood playground, just adjacent to the beach. A rickety dock and sandy beach filled with ducks was a great spot to shoot The Cove collection of earthy bamboo/cotton space-dyed sweaters and my new solid bamboo jersey collection (feels like butter!)

Finally, to the beach! The beach in Playa del Rey is sort of a hidden treasure. Not too many people know about this little cove of a beach tucked behind the Marina and off the beaten path of crowded Dockweiler beach. And the parking is free! That alone means it's totally under the radar. Thankfully the beach was completely deserted so we had the run of the place. The newly painted lifeguard stands in vibrant greens and oranges were just the right accent for my new Retreat collection - two toned space-dyed "pop" colors accented with solid contrast trim. Perfect beachy attire for any coast!

What a fun day! Thanks to our fabulous Venice photographer, Erika Seress, her assistant Sabrina, hair-makeup by Jacqueline, and of course, Mar Vista's own, model Monique - another great team. Check out a few of my favorite shots...

Stacia's Fashion Night Out Event - TONIGHT!!

2010-09-10T11:34:00.001-07:00

Behind the Scenes - Stacia Fall 2010 Photo Shoot

2010-06-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

Stacia Featured on White Apricot

2010-05-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

If you love fashion and all things Eco than WhiteApricot is your go-to blog. Learn about the hottest eco-designers and green trends in beauty and fashion all on one site. In this month's issue, Lucky Mag rated it one of 5 Eco Sites to Love, so what's not to love?! And thank you WhiteApricot for including Stacia Eco Knits in your newsletter! Check out the flattering write up about our bamboo knits (which are conveniently marked down right now, just in time for Memorial Day!)

Behind the Scenes - Stacia Photoshoot

2010-05-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

It could not have been a more gorgeous day to shoot next Fall's Stacia collection on the beach in Malibu. Although, the day didn't start off so sweet. Not only did I have to schlep my poor 4 month old baby to the beach with me (thank God Mom was in town to help!), but I got the dreaded call from the nurse's office to pick up my son at Kindergarten with a case of pink eye. Yeah! So with baby, Mom, and kindergartener in tow, we all headed to Malibu along the PCH through the thick marine layer (where did my sun go?!)

Thankfully the crew all arrived safely and with the sun burning through the marine layer, we started the shoot on a hidden gem of a beach at county-line. From there on out, the shoot was a dream. A beautiful backdrop - crashing waves, glistening sun, deserted beach. With only 12 looks to shoot, we cranked it out in 4 hours till the sun went down. Thank you Erika, Michele, Lauren, Brita, and Deidre for an amazing day!

Since Stacia is a beach-lifestyle brand it was only fitting to shoot it at the beach again, even if the season is Fall. Whether you're on a beach in Montauk or Malibu next Fall, my bamboo knits are perfect for snuggling up in. They're super-soft, light-weight but warm, and exude effortless style - luxurious, washable, and sustainable.

A few of my favorite moments pictured above...and coming to a store near you and online at www.shopstacia.com this July!

Mahalo Hapa Hale

2010-04-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to receive a bit of Aloha from a friend. Mahalo to my favorite island blog, Hapa Hale, for the wonderful write-up about Stacia's new Spring/Summer collection. I've always thought my knits would be perfect for the island laid-back lifestyle and sure enough, the locals agree. Check out the post and be sure to frequent this great blog that keeps you island lovers up to date on all things chic in Hawaii.

From the Sketchpad - Fall 2010

2010-04-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

Fall 2010 is in full swing here at Stacia. I know it's weird, Spring has just hit the sales floor and yet I'm wrapping up Fall 2010 which is in showrooms now. Even my head is spinning. The design cycle never ends. Now that Fall 2010 is a wrap, I've just completed sketching Spring 2011! Yikes! But let's get back to Fall, which is most relevant now and what you'll be seeing in stores this July (why stores insist on presenting Fall merchandise in the height of Summer is beyond me!)

Once again, my brilliant 6 year-old son Campbell has come to my rescue. His artwork has always inspired me (see previous posts) and his little water-color creations that come home from kindergarten never cease to trigger endless color combinations for my space-dye palettes. This one in particular (see above) inspired my Fall 2010 bamboo/cotton color "Solstice." I always do well with multi-colored space-dye patterns featuring a base color of black with pops of vibrant colors. They go well with jeans and your everyday black. It's an easy way to wear "color" but still grounded by your basic black.

I love to share my design process with my customers so you all can see it's not some mass-produced churned-out designs, but rather a very personal design process. I can't wait for the Solstice hoodie to hit stores this Summer. I think you're going to love this new color combination and as always, feel completely comfortable and cozy in my scrumptious bamboo/cotton knits. More inspiration to follow...!

Venice Designer Sample Sale

2010-03-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite shopping strips on the Westside is Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. And now there's even more reason to frequent this quaint little street (reminds me of Smith Street in Brooklyn with all the great little shops and restaurants.) Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 5 you can shop for designer duds at 80% off retail at the newly opened Designer Sample Sale Pop Up Shop. At 1025 Abbot Kinney nestled between a cluster of stylish restaurants (brunch anyone?) is the spot. Owner Zach has a designer's eye for those one-of-a-kind finds and has stocked his outpost with some of the best designer picks - Whitely Kros, Sharon Segal, Literature Noir, For Joseph, Bread and Butter, Maj, and of course yours truly, Stacia. Zach just picked up some of my greatest hits at my studio yesterday to sell in the pop up shop so be sure to stop by and tell him Stacy sent you! And the good news is this pop up shop is open every weekend, and starting in May, will be open Monday thru Friday. For more information you can contact popupshopvenice@gmail.com. Happy Shopping!

Stacia Fall 2010 Preview

2010-02-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

Stacia's Fall 2010 collection is ready for showtime. Come visit us at booth #8527 in the Javits Center at Fashion Coterie this week. My team at ESP Showroom will be there selling my wares for me and getting buyers amped for the new Fall collection. Lots of yummy bamboo sweaters, slimming dresses, and sexy tops in Stacia's signature vibrant palette of space-dyed and textured yarns. Super-soft bamboo and tencel blend knits feel great against your skin, and in some thicker gauges this season will surely keep you cozy warm next Fall. And all our knits are washable which gives our environment a break. Check out a few of my favorite pieces pictured above. Coming soon to a store near you next June!

Bundle Your Baby in Bamboo

2010-02-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

Time flies when you have a newborn. For me, baby #3 has flown by even more. But I'm savoring every bit of him and especially enjoying this time breast-feeding my little boy. Third time is a charm when you're a Mom. I've streamlined my baby gadgets and have maintained focus on only the essentials. They've got gadgets for every possible thing now - goofy apron-like cover-ups for breast-feeding, fancy swaddling cloths for sleeping - you name it, it's been invented. But when you're a busy Mom of three and still want to look somewhat put-together, you've got to find multi-use ways for tackling your daily baby's needs.

For me, I've discovered the bamboo Stacia scarves I've been wrapping up in for months now while pregnant have a new use - a convenient cover-up for breast-feeding and perfect for spontaneous swaddling on the go. So not only are my bamboo fringed scarves comforting for Mom to wrap up in, they're also great for cozying up to baby and for demurely covering your bosom when nursing. Either my rectangular fringed scarf (72" x 30") or the new square style with border (38" x 38") will do the trick.

It's become habit for me after 9 months of pregnancy; everyday I pretty much wrap one of my bamboo scarves around my neck to top-off an outfit. And now, without having to take my scarf off, I can go right into feeding position and easily cover up while nursing. And believe me, when you're dining out in a chic restaurant, the last thing you want to do is pull out a boring breast-feeding apron and announce to everyone what you're really doing.

Throwing one end of the fringed scarf over your baby's head and your shoulder does the trick, and your scarf is still in place. The perfect solution without sacrificing style and having to schlep an endless supply of gadgets for baby in your bag. And because bamboo is especially breathable and anti-bacterial, I've gone as far as swaddling my babe in one of my scarves at work. And with a knit you can really get a tight swaddle on your little burrito.

So if you're a new Mom and want to kill two birds with one stone, check out my scrumptious bamboo fringed scarves online at shopstacia.com, available in an array of vibrant spacedye colors, perfect for baby and Mom.

Stacia Goes Baja for Spring

2010-02-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Spring is knocking at the door even IF the groundhog says we have 6 more weeks of Winter (boo hoo!) But like any true fashionista, weather has never stopped us from enjoying Spring fashion in February. Die-hards will endure 6 more weeks of chill while wearing their favorite Spring looks all for the sake of fashion.

My solution at Stacia is to design transitional pieces that will actually keep you a bit warmer and still let you flaunt happy Spring colors. My new Baja-inspired collection features a slightly heftier 12 gauge bamboo/cotton knit (perfect weight for wear-now territory) in earthy, beachy colors. And it's not all spacedye either. My new knitting technique plays around with the textured look of tweed with a mix of two colors for a flecked effect, and bits of my signature spacedye pop up in unexpected places.

A few of my favorite pieces in the Baja group are the sexy lace-up flutter dress in Waterfall (aahhh...the color of the ocean) and the baja hoodie, which is my take on the Mexican striped baja tunics - my version forgoes the itchy woven fabric and lets you wrap up instead in comfy, soft bamboo/cotton. And let's not forget the vibrant Ocean chevron vee top. It's eye-popping color and flattering chevron-striped body is the perfect go-to top this Spring.

Check out more wear-now Spring looks at shopstacia.com.

Stacia in Shape Magazine!

2010-02-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

Check out my new bamboo cable cardi and pointelle scarf in Avocado in this month's Shape magazine! This is one of my favorite pieces in the new collection - now up online at shopstacia.com - a swingy cardi in a scrumptious avocado shade of green. The perfect go-to cardigan this Spring because its light-weight with textured cable accents and super-soft bamboo yarn will compliment any Spring outfit. And there's nothing sexier than a skinny, long scarf wrapped around a bare neck - mine is a fine-ribbed knit with pretty pointelle ends. Both pieces come in other vibrant Spring colors to tempt you as well. So pick up a February issue of Shape magazine and click on over to shopstacia.com to see more Stacia Spring looks...

My Latest Creation: Finnegan Beau Viles

2010-01-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

Last Week of the Big Sale!

2009-12-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

Last call for Stacia Fall/Holiday'09 goodies! This is the last week for our big 50% off sale online. Last chance to catch some last minute savings and snag your Stacia Fall/Holiday sweaters at half off. Inventory is slim and will be sold out by the end of the week. Baby #3 will be making his appearance any day now so I want to clear out my inventory before I go on maternity leave. New Spring merchandise will be up online early January so the site will be under construction after the 18th. So hurry and come visit shopstacia.com and stock up on Stacia scrumptious Ecoknits for the Holidays!
xoxo
Stacia

Stacia Sample Sale

2009-12-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

Get ready folks, it's our first official Sample Sale in the new Stacia pop-up shop space in my Santa Monica design studio. It'll be a full week of pilfering and rooting through racks and bins for Stacia treasures. I'm pulling out all the stops and have dug up some great sample finds for you from all seasons and all collections. Everything is priced to move - prices from $20 to $60 for samples, current Fall/Holiday goodies at wholesale (nothing over $98), and check out the buck bin! We'll be open daily from 10am - 3pm Monday, 12/7 thru Friday, 12/11. Sneak out of work at lunchtime and enjoy a leisurely raid at our sample sale on Pico. See you there!

50% off Clearance Sale at Shopstacia.com!

2009-12-02T18:03:00.001-08:00

Time to clean house for the year end. The entire Fall/Holiday Stacia collection (or what's left of it) is now 50% off online at www.shopstacia.com. The goods have been going fast so hurry to the sale while supplies last. You're sure to find some treasures for yourself and for Holiday gifts now that we're in full-blown Christmas shopping season. My fave picks for the season - the shimmery, versatile cocoon sweater in Aura or Midnight (perfect festive coverup for those Holiday parties), the comfy bamboo ruched hoodie in Driftwood (a staple for all seasons), and last but not least, the two-fer henley in Mariposa (perfect paired with black pants and the scarf is removable so it's a two 4 one here!) Oh, and let's not forget, free shipping for the month of December...yippee!

Off The Grid

2009-10-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, folks, I'm going off the grid. My yearly vacation has finally come around and I'm outta here...Oahu here I come. I vow to not respond to emails or work-related voice mails in order to block out the everyday mundane world of work and not to ruin my vacation. This is my time to decompress and recharge those creative batteries and find inspiration in beautiful Hawaii. Going home is always a decompressor, but work is always a nagging topic in the back of my head. This time around, I've tried to tie up all loose ends (finished designing Fall 2010!) before leaving so as to leave all worries behind. So enjoy the scenery above, because this will be my view for the next 2 weeks...see you in November!

Baby Nahla Loves Her Stacia

2009-10-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

For most celebs, it's a fashion faux-pas to be seen wearing the same dress TWICE in public, but not for stylish celebrity babies. My mantra is if it's cute and comfy, keep wearing it. And Halle Berry must agree because her precious daughter, Nahla has been photographed again wearing her Lotus pointelle Stacia dress and ruffle panties (in this week's People and Us Weekly mags.) Too cute I must say. I only wish we still had this adorable dress available. Although, if you're in Santa Monica, we do have a few "samples" of this lovely kiddie dress available in our studio Pop-up Shop. Stay tuned for our next event in November so you can too get that baby Nahla style for your tot.

We're All Lifeguards

2009-09-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

In L.A. we're all lifeguards, lifeguards of our oceans and beaches. The ocean and the beach lifestyle has always been an inspiration for me in my designs and it's what brought me from Brooklyn to Santa Monica. Unfortunately, our Southern California beaches are some of the most polluted beaches in the U.S. But thanks to organizations like Heal the Bay and the Surfrider Foundation, awareness is key to cleaning up our beaches and coastlines.

This weekend my whole family - my mother, my husband, and my two children joined Heal the Bay at the Santa Monica beach near lifeguard stand #27 for Coastal Cleanup Day. We had a great time picking up cigarette butts, tiny pieces of styrofoam, plastic bags, cigarette lighters - you name it, we found it in the sand. It was a great turnout and over 300,000 pounds of trash was collected on Saturday. And it was a great education for my 5-year old son and 2-year old daughter about the importance of keeping the trash in the can and out of our ocean waters. Check out my husband's video of our morning at the beach. Enjoy! And hope to see you at next year's Coastal Cleanup Day!

Coastal Cleanup Day

2009-09-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, there's no excuses folks. Tomorrow is Coastal Cleanup Day and I'm going to be out there at 9 am bending over and picking up trash, pregnant and all. You can do it too! It's a great way to educate your kids about picking up after themselves and the importance of keeping our beaches clean. My five year-old son and two year-old daughter will be out there too, picking up and counting the trash they collect. My son actually enjoys the process of tallying the kinds of trash he finds. We participated with him before at El Porto beach and he was surprised, even at age four, by all the cigarette butts and tiny pieces of styrofoam (excuse my French, but why haven't they banned that shit yet?) So let your conscious be your guide and get out there tomorrow (check out Heal the Bay's web site for beach locations near you) and help clean up our beaches. See you there at Santa Monica beach lifeguard stand #27 (P.S. I'll be the one with the big pregnant belly!)

Is Imitation the Sincerest Form of Flattery?

2009-09-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

One of the best qualities of being a designer under the radar is that usually I escape unscathed from knock-offs. I'm not hosting huge runway presentations or splashy ads in magazines, so most cheap-chic lines don't even know I exist, which is great. But unfortunately, even Stacia can be a target. I guess the question is, should I be pissed or simply flattered that a celebrity knocked me off.

Since it's not a direct knock-off in silhouette, but rather an interpretation of my signature space-dye designs (a pointelle stitch and space-dyed colored pattern to be exact), maybe I should be flattered. The only risk really at this point is of brand confusion. Several customers, friends, and colleagues saw the infamous Tori Spelling 'Little Maven' dress on Ron Robinson's web site and on the Daily 10 and immediately thought it was a Stacia, but were surprised to find it was part of Ms.Spelling's new children's collection. The color is almost a replica of last Spring's "Heirloom" spacedye colorway that I custom-created and the pointelle pattern and edging looks hauntingly familiar to a pointelle collection I did last year.

The ironic thing is that I gifted Tori and her baby a year ago with a similar dress AND she bought one at retail from Kitson (hence the People magazine placement of my baby dress.) Most of my friends and customers were disgusted and upset, but honestly I think it's sort of a hoot. I'm rather flattered that Tori liked my design enough to market it for herself (and she'll probably do a better job at it than me!) My baby line has since hit the back burner thanks to the crummy economy, but maybe Tori will have better luck selling high-end specialty baby clothes than me (she certainly has the pocketbook to finance a lose if they don't sell at retail.) I only wish her the best of luck in her new venture and I'm confident that I have plenty of ideas still brewing in my head - enough to go around for everyone!

Stacia Pop-up Shop Success

2009-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all that stopped by my pop-up shop a couple weeks ago to celebrate a new kind of shopping experience. I've transformed my Santa Monica design studio into a temporary retail store to host sample sales and special events for my customers. We all had a great night of shopping, eating, drinking, and hanging out in my design studio, women trying on clothes and gossiping like they were at a calmer Barney's Warehouse sale - how civilized! It was such a pleasure to meet some of my customers in person and to see some of my favorite creations find a home.

My samples are like my babies that I've nurtured over a design season and to know that they will now be enjoyed by someone is a great feeling. Women of all shapes and sizes walked out with something that put a smile on their face. I remember two gals in particular, friends who couldn't have had more different body types (one was super tall and thin, the other petite and athletic.) Both looked smashing in my sweetheart dress and would make any man's jaw drop. But the most important feature of my designs is that they make a woman feel good about herself and are super comfortable.

If you're in the hood, feel free to email me for a private appointment and shop in privacy and chat me up. I'm already planning our next event, probably in mid November just in time for the Holidays. I've got lots of Fall/Holiday sample goodies ready to brighten your holiday and that will go easy on your wallet. Check out my web site events page periodically for updates and sign up online to receive an invitation. I'm thinking cupcakes, cocktails, and dresses...

Behind the Scenes - Stacia Photoshoot

2009-09-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

I just completed my Spring/Summer 2010 photo shoot and it was a blast! My photographer, Colette de Barros, could not have picked a more beautiful and fitting location to showcase my new collection - Palos Verdes, CA. Gorgeous! We could easily have been at Makapuu Beach on Oahu or in Havana, Cuba with the rocky reef-like tide pools and warm glowing light along the beach. It was such a thrill as a designer to finally see my vision complete on a beautiful, bubbly model frolicking on the beach in my colorful designs. It finally came together - my vision and designs that have been in my head for 5 months are now a reality.

Check out my new behind the scenes video of our long sunny day in Palos Verdes (yes, the amature video is courtesy of me and my point n'shoot camera, but thankfully my talented husband made something out of nothing with this little iMovie!) A special thanks to my wonderful, dependable friends, Thao Luu, Misa Hamamoto, Judith Toth, and the amazing and talented, Colette de Barros. I couldn't have done it without you guys! So here it is, the new collection coming soon to a store near you this Spring, and available for viewing at the upcoming NYC Fashion Coterie trade show.

Stacia Dresses Baby Nahla

2009-08-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend's radars out there, Stacia was spotted in this week's issue of Us Weekly (page 30) on Halle Berry's baby girl Nahla. I had gifted Ms. Berry last year after the birth of her beautiful creation in the hopes of seeing it on her some day. And alas, patience has prevailed and she was spotted in Studio City wearing one of my favorite Stacia baby dresses in Lotus. Sorry, the goods are gone, but happy to see Halle's little girl looking smashing in it.

Stacia Pop-up Shop Launch Party

2009-07-30T16:07:00.001-07:00

Come celebrate the launch of Stacia's pop-up shop on Pico! I'm opening up my design studio to the public for trunk show & sample sale events and by appointment only. My customers have been demanding a Stacia sample sale event so here it is! I've pushed aside my shelves of inventory and made a comfy space at the front of my studio that fronts Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica (a stone's throw from the beach.) In the past my poor customers have had to undress à la Barney's Warehouse sale without privacy and have had to take their lot home in a garbage bag! Now, there's a civilized space for my customers to browse and sift through my endless supply of samples, back stock, and design experiments (installed a dressing room too!)

I'll be hosting monthly sample sales and trunk shows in the space so sign up online at shopstacia.com to get your evite for upcoming events and to receive special promotions in the shop. The official launch party is Thursday, August 20th from 6-9pm at 1307 1/2 Pico Blvd. (between 14th & Euclid) in Santa Monica. RSVP at info@shopstacia.com. Feel free to invite your fashionable friends and make a girl's night out of it. Sip cocktails, sample cupcake confections, sift through fabulous one-of-a-kind samples, and chat with little 'ol me, the designer. I love to meet my customers and miss my Brooklyn boutique days when I could mingle with my clients. Hope to see you there!!

Stacia Cardigans

2009-07-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

The beginnings of my Fall Stacia collection are up online now at www.shopstacia.com. I've got lots of great, versatile cardis to get you through Summer's balmy nights and into chilly Fall, which is just around the corner. Get them while supplies last. More new goodies to come in August...stay tuned!
xoxo Stacia

Future Fashionistas in Stacia

2009-06-23T14:47:00.001-07:00

I had to share these super cute pictures of my son's friends sporting their Mom's Stacia in style. Who knew a 4 and 6 year old could have such style! The oldest, Maisie, makes wearing Stacia look like fun the way she cheers for joy in her Mom's Marigold space-dyed top (doubles as a dress for girls!) And Tess, who I've blogged about before, definitely will give Rachel Zoe a run for her money the way she knows just what to do with a bamboo scarf. I always felt that fashion should make you smile and not be so serious, and these pictures of little tikes in Stacia does just that. Enjoy!

Stacia Sale on Ideeli.com

2009-06-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

One of my new favorite shopping communities, Ideeli.com, is hosting a one-day-only sale on Stacia tomorrow, Wednesday June 10th. Ideeli.com is an exclusive, members-only shopping haven for some of the best edited fashion around and all at unbelievable prices. So hurry and join the fashion flock over at Ideeli.com so you too can have access to brilliant deals. Stacia will be on sale up to 66% off retail. You can't beat that!

Summer Sale at Stacia!

2009-06-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here and I got the goods for you. Everything is on sale at shopstacia.com to make room for Fall which is coming in later this month. I know, it's scary to think Fall merchandise is here in June already, but that's the fashion cycle for ya. So come visit at shopstacia.com and take advantage of some great clothes at reduced prices (and free shipping!) while supplies last. Lots of vibrant, tropical colors to entice you and super-soft Ecoknits made of bamboo and seaweed - perfect for Summer and at a great price!

Stacia Loves Jello

2009-04-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

Several of my online customers recently told me they found Stacia through a Jello ad. A Jello ad? I was completely clueless. I had not idea what they were talking about. But sure enough, in this month's More magazine there's a lovely triple-fold ad-itorial displaying the Style Doctor, Gina La Morte's Summer slimming picks inspired by Jello's new Acai and Goji flavors. Once again, my favorite dress has been chosen - the pomegranate flutter wrap dress (most recently featured on Instyle.com!) The perfect "cherry-licious" curvy dress for Summer.

P.S. The dress is on sale now for $154 - woohoo!

May Deals & Steals - Instyle.com

2009-04-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

Check out Instyle.com this month for their Deals & Steals for a special discount code off Stacia at www.shopstacia.com. The good news is most of Spring is already on sale on shopstacia.com, so add in an extra 15% off and you're surely getting a steal! Just between you, me, and Instyle, the secret code is STYL09. Enter at checkout and you'll receive 15% off your purchases and free shipping. One of my favorite Spring dresses is featured on Instyle.com - the pomegranate flutter wrap dress - to die for! The perfect sexy, colorful frock to brighten up your day. And many more great dresses to entice you at shopstacia.com...

Baby Stella in Stacia

2009-04-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

I didn't think there could be a cuter baby girl than mine wearing Stacia. Baby Stella has one-up'd my baby Kaiulani sporting her Mesa bamboo swing dress in People magazine this week. For those of you who do not know the baby stars by first name, Ms. Stella is Tori Spelling's latest creation. Unfortunately, this cute little frock is no longer available - sold out at Kitson and online at shopstacia.com. But don't fret, you can get a similar look for yourself online now. We've got several great bamboo knit dresses in an array of happy space-dyed colors that will suit you this Summer. And they're on sale now. Shop while supplies last!

Earth Day 2009 in Temescal Canyon

2009-04-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is around the corner and what better way to celebrate than outdoors in the sunshine amongst friends and nature. Come join the festivities in Temescal Canyon in the Pacific Palisades at Beeplanet's Community-style Spring festival on Saturday, April 25th from 10am - 2pm.

Beeplanet is a multi-sensory, play program based in Temescal Canyon that allows parents and their little ones explore, play, and learn about nature, music, movement, and art. Beyond these fabulous interactive classes (go online for class schedules,) Beeplanet showcases special events that help create a sense of wonderment, entertainment, and enrichment for all ages and to support local parks and the Earth.

Beeplanet's Earth Day celebration includes live music, dancing, arts and crafts for kids, interactive eco-tips, animal awareness, and of course simply relaxing in the beauty of nature. It's a great way to enjoy nature on Earth Day and to burn some stink off your kids.

Yours truly will be there selling Stacia Ecoknit bamboo scarves in vibrant nature colors, as well as raffling off a scarf for the event. And my good friend, artist Ria Ray, will be on hand to introduce her new mantra tie series "I take the vow" - her collaboration with Deepak Chopra.

Buy tickets online at www.beeplanet.com/events and spread the word!

Style Icon - Chloe Sevigny

2009-04-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

My husband loves to come home from Ralphs and ask me to close my eyes and hold out my hands. This is where I roll my eyes, grin, and happily accept my guilty pleasure, usually a celebrity rag mag. But this time, it was the latest issue of C Magazine. Boy, does Chloe Sevigny rock the cover! Chloe has always been sort of an underground fashion icon with her quirky avant-garde style, but with the success of Big Love, her stardom has come mainstream and her fashion wit is ever brilliant.

It's not just being swathed in a gorgeous Rodarte gown, but her sultry pose puts her one-up on any fashion model (Okay, can I ask? Did Rodarte get a free ad in C magazine for dressing Chloe for the cover or did they just win the lottery?) And in the pages of the mag, the true New Yorker shines and struts her stuff in all kinds of ruched, draped, zipped, and fringed black clothing. Stellar.

It's sort of great to see her all glammed up when I'm so used to seeing her in her Amish-wares every Sunday night on Big Love. Although her character's wardrobe is bland and prudish, her manipulative, calculating persona on the show is not. But that's what I love about her character. The clothes are a front and underneath all that Laura Ingalls, she's all sass.

In real life, Ms. Sevigny from as early as '95 has been her own trend-setter, sort of under the radar, but totally in tune to what's cool. As C says, she has that natural "too cool for school" look, but underneath all that style is a genuine, approachable woman, an "it" girl without the attitude. How refreshing!

I'm bummed my Sunday night hour of Big Love is now on hiatus and I have to DVR the reruns. But what a treat to see a familiar face on the cover of C - Chloe, my new favorite style icon.

From the Sketchpad - Part II

2009-04-05T14:43:00.001-07:00

It's been quite a few years since I hit the Shore, the Jersey Shore that is. My next vacation in fact will be in Bay Head, NJ. I can't wait to stroll the boardwalk, savor my Hoffman's ice cream, view the colorful seaside cottages, and feel the sugar-white sand between my toes, even if it's only for a quick weekend in July.

There's a collection just dying to come out of this vacation. I'm already thinking nautical stripes in vibrant shades of barn red, aqua blue, sherbert orange, and classic navy, all tipped in white of course. The Jersey Shore is a completely different animal than the beaches of Santa Monica or even Hawaii for that matter. There's something about those East Coast boardwalks, salt-water taffy, Italian hoagies, and hand-scooped ice cream experiences that just can't compare to any other beach lifestyle. Before I grew up in Hawaii and Alaska, and even New York City, I began life in South Jersey, and still remember those idyllic Summers at the Shore. So it be only fitting that I design a collection around those sensory memories and I've got one cooking in me right now.

This will be the perfect backdrop for my sustainable cotton/seaweed yarn, mixing nautical stripes with my signature spacedye patterns and pops of solid trim. I'm can already envision an orange and turquoise blue space-dyed combination with accents of blue and white stripes (as illustrated in my photo above.) I'm sketching braided cord accents in drawstrings hoodies, bandeau bikinis with an oversized grommet for a sexy halter tie, short-sleeved sailor hoodies with nickel grommets and lacing, and the quintessential striped hoodie. By the time I actually take this vacation to Bayhead, this collection will have already come to fruition, but my memories and expectations of the Jersey Shore are inspiration enough.

From the Sketchpad - Part I

2009-04-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Designing Spring is my favorite season and where I can really express my love for color. It's the reason I moved out here to Santa Monica (I ditched all my NYC black threads and hit the West Coast.) Back in my NY days on Smith Street, you'd be hard pressed to find any black or neutrals in my store. Other than the colorful island-themed line Calypso, I was probably the only New York designer churning out colorful Hawaiin printed frocks. But here in sunny Santa Monica, color is expected and I'm happy to deliver.

For Spring 2010, I'm already starting the grueling design process of figuring out my palette and inspiration. It's not that it's hard to come up with the ideas, it's just hard to edit my ideas down to three cohesive collections. I know for sure one group will be a collection of pop colors accented with white - a clean, fresh, island-style palette. I'm inspired by the quintessential beach house that's sun-washed in white with splashes of vibrant color accents. I'm already imagining my space-dye palette of kelly green/white, cobalt blue/white, ocean blue/white, tangerine/white, yellow/white, and even a crisp black/white combination (see a few of my inspirations above.)

With this in my head and almost fully developed, I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into Calypso Home at the Brentwood Country Mart last weekend. Low and behold on white lacquer shelves were brightly displayed pillows, beach blankets, candles, and vases in pop colors of green, yellow, turquoise, and orange, all accented with white. Ahh hah! Yes, that's what I'm thinking! Bold ikat-esque prints will be beautifully translated in my custom space-dyed knitted patterns and will look gorgeous in my bamboo knits. I'm so excited, I can't wait to start sampling these new ikat-spacedye prints in the next couple months so I can see my vision complete. Stay tuned for more "From the Sketchpad" as I start pulling together the Spring 2010 Stacia collection...

Michelle Obama - The Bee's Knees

2009-04-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

The queen bee has landed! This morning when I fetched the newspaper, blurry-eyed and half awake, I was immediately revitalized when I saw Michelle Obama on the cover of the LA Times descending Air Force One in Essex, England. She looked utterly refreshing in a vibrant yellow dress, black Spring coat, and patent leather belt. Next to all those dull politicians she was a shining star adding a much needed dose of color in a time of recession. Yellow is a color of optimism and evokes the feeling of Spring's new beginning.

Traditionally, yellow when paired with black makes you think of the colorings of a bee, but in this case it is pure perfection. Yellow was seen all over the runways for Spring, mainly in singular color sheaths adding just the right pop of color. But the world of politics is a very different world than the runway. What Michelle has single-handedly done for fashion in the White House is balance fun, wearable fashion with the conservative world she lives in.

It would be unheard of for her, or any politician's wife for that matter, to descend from Air Force One wearing just a bright yellow sheath (even Ms. Obama knows when it's appropriate to cover one's arms.) By doning a chic little Spring coat and effortlessly belting it with a black patent leather belt, she added a whole new dimension to her ensemble.

Bravo Ms. Obama!

Spring Trend Alert - Ruffles

2009-03-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's official -- ruffles are in. Ruffles have been fluttering across the runways and have now hit a store near you for Spring. From Seventh Avenue's Phillip Lim trickled down to catalog giant J.Crew, ruffles are everywhere. They're layered and soft and showing up vertically and horizontally on dresses, t-shirts, and even coats. And we've got 'em at Stacia. My favorite look this Spring is my flutter wrap dress in Ti Leaf - the ruffle trend translated into a sexy, wrap dress in a vibrant green color -- the perfect Spring outfit to dress up or down. Love love love it!

Check out The LA Times Image section online and post your favorite Spring 2009 outfit and comment on your favorite trends this season too. I just did!

Stacia Goes to the Office

2009-03-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Gorilla marketing -- that's what us small designers have to do in tough economic times. You've got to get your name and product out there and do whatever it takes. Thankfully, my good friend Thao had tickets to the Office panel discussion at the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences last week, so with goodie bags and look books in hand, we were ready to hit the stars. Although I'm a Leo, I'm pretty humble as a designer and not one to put my face out there or push product on strangers. But these are hard times and pushy is what I must be! Hey, we even left Stacia look books in the fancy bathrooms too (you never know where you'll find a new customer!)

Usually these poor stars are bombarded with fans requesting something from them - an autograph or a picture. So after the event when everyone stormed the stage to "get some", I demurely handed the ladies of the cast little Stacia goodie bags. They were completely surprised by the gesture. For once, they got something instead of having to give. Jenna Fischer (aka Pam), Kate Flannery (aka Meredith), and Angela Kinsey (aka Angela) were so thrilled to receive their Stacia colorful tops and I was equally thrilled they accepted them! Oh, and I didn't forget about the boys. I also gifted lead actor Steve Carell in the hopes he may pawn his gift onto his glamorous wife. All in all, it was a blast to see the cast of The Office (one of my fave shows) and to share a little Stacia love with others.