Announcing the latest Store Adore deal: 20% off any online purchase at Otte.

When the search for a perfect garment is in full swing, the term “shopping” is interchangeable with the term “hunting.” A great shopper is on the prowl in a department store or eclectic boutique. And while a woman on a quest for the perfect outfit can resemble leftover footage from Animal Planet, the shoppers at Otte (online, in Williamsburg, in the West Village and newly opened on the Upper East Side) appear much calmer than the average wardrobe-ravishing huntress. Perhaps this disposition disparity rests on the fact that unlike most stores, every single item of clothing in Otte is flawless. Striking the perfect balance between natural and glam, edgy and sophisticated, spectacular and comfortable, Otte is a gem of a shop, where you’ll find brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim, 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, Chan Luu, Mason and T-Bag, as well as local designers that the store makes a point of supporting. Sometimes a bit of yank on the purse strings, Otte’s magnificent style is now more attainable than ever with Store Adore’s exclusive online discount!

We Adore: We’re obsessed with statement skirts for fall. The length of this La Rok Sequin Mini Skirt (regularly $248, Store Adore price $198.40) is perfect for showing off a little leg without seeming unclothed—not to mention the fact that the geometric shapes filled with contrasting blocks of shimmering color will stop anybody within a 5 mile radius in their tracks.

We Adore: We’re also coveting the Rebecca Minkoff Market Tote (regularly $675, Store Adore price $540). It’s big enough but not too bulky, and the greyish shade goes with everything.

Click here to get your 20% discount at Otte online

Now that convention season has ended, we’re kicking into big-time political season. Had enough of campaign buttons and “Rock the Vote” tees, but still want to show support for your candidate? Or maybe you’re attending a political affair and need a hostess gift that extends beyond a life-sized cardboard standup of your candidate? Indeed, the serious pundit in your life would probably appreciate something more sophisticated. We scoured our favorite online shops for gifts that are smart, often quirky and befitting for lucky gift-getters of every political ilk.

Wishingfish: Pat the Politician ($10)—the campaign book of the season! With this you can scratch McCain’s rough-and-tumble war rhetoric, pull Hillary’s purse strings and even wave goodbye to George W. Bush! Also from Wishingfish, our favorite sort for tongue-in-cheek gifts for every occasion, find teeny Republican and Democrat snapsuits ($22) for the voter to be.

Ann Hand Renowned Washington, DC-based jeweler Ann Hand takes sporting your American pride and political message to new heights. Why slap a bumper sticker on your car when you could pin her sparkly rhinestone pins on your trench? A running tally in the window of Hand’s eponymous Georgetown shop and on her website has Obama winning by a landslide.

Kalastyle: Ready to clean up the country? Feel Good/VOTE soap ($7.50) by statement soap maker Kalastyle boasts an olive branch fragrance.

Knock Knock: This clever gag gift reminds us that “there are more than just two parties. In fact, the Pick Your Party Wheel O’ Wisdom ($7.50) features 14, including lesser known ones like the Peace & Freedom and Prohibitionist parties. With a spin of the wheel, interesting facts, slogans and stats appear. When you like everything you see, you know that the arrow points to your perfect political match.

Eleni’s: Hand-iced Candidate cookies ($59) are sweet even when the political process isn’t.

Etsy: At online indie marketplace Etsy:, aspiring artisans can sell their wares directly. A search for the word “election” delivers 26 pages of results and provides a unique snapshot of which way the artistic community is leaning these days. Find Obama earrings ($10) and charm necklaces ($22), “Pick Your Party” coffee corsets ($12) and hundreds of other handmade political statements.

Uncommon Goods: The mission behind New York-based site Uncommon Goods—to connect people with products that are unique expressions of individuality, high in quality and low in negative environmental impact—guarantees that buyer’s remorse won’t kick in. The site devotes an entire section to politically themed gifts, like these “salt pepper and politics” shakers ($45) and political candidate noteholders ($25).

Barackawear: Since the celeb favorite Barackawear line was founded last year, the company has sold more than 20,000 t-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with the eye-catching “Barack-the-Vote” mantra over $7,000 has been donated to the senator’s campaign.

Jonathan Adler: These Donkey and Elephant Banks ($78) from renowned potter Jonathan Adler look chic while helping you hold onto your hard-earned cash—can you say that about your favorite candidate?

We’ve already learned how to Dress Like a Motherchucker.

Now here’s some inside scoop on what the girls have been wearing:

I admit that I have a longstanding girl crush on Serena (who doesn’t?) but bitchy Blair was looking mighty adorable by the pool in the Hammies on Monday night. Not sure that I could pull off the headband myself, but she sure looks cute. And if you want to give the look a try, you can buy the Joomi headband at Pink Olive. It’s $78, but only $66 with your 15% Store Adore discount. Click here to get it. (Photo provided to Store Adore by Pink Olive.)

In this coming week’s episode, this gigantic silver ring will be featured (our guess is that it’s on Blair, but no confirmation yet). The ring, an awesome interpretation of the oversized trend, is also by Joomi, and also for sale at Pink Olive (regularly $148, Store Adore price $126).

Finally, we admit that we don’t follow the shooting schedule as closely as we should, but we heard a rooming that the show will be filming on 78th and Madison next Friday. Our calendars are marked.

Sample Sale at ADAM on September 9th through 12th. Click on the image below for details.

Announcing the latest Store Adore deal: 25% off of everything at Kathy Kuo.

Clearly a born aesthete—industrial designer, model, buyer and decorator—entrepreneur Kathy Kuo returns to her roots as a home designer with her e-boutique Kathy Kuo Designs. Drawing on her jetsetting lifestyle and extensive experience working in interior design all over the world, Kuo offers an eclectic line of furniture, home accessories and linens with a global flavor and elegant presentation. Mahogany writing desks, ornate nesting tables, slender armchairs upholstered in taupe velvet and hewn bookshelves bring to mind Tahitian hotels and Thai treasures; while garden urns, carved figurines, mirrored wall coverings and antler coat racks are among the kind of unique objects one finds on a journey abroad. In addition to the larger investments, a collection of throw pillows, wall hangings, croc-embossed serving trays, whimsical jars and canisters make for rare gifts. The recent introduction of Kuo’s personal pet project, her handbags, makes a trip to this webshop a must: a favorite among Kathy Kuo shoppers, the Model Tote is a go-everywhere hand/diaper/gym/evening bag with an Eastern feel that’s similar in style to the chic home goods. Her New York-based fans with a bit of a decorating budget will love her home design service, available through the site.

We Adore: Oversize Antler coat racks (regularly $210, Store Adore price $157) are at once artful and functional. Less of an investment than a full blown chandelier, they offer an equal dose of that hunting lodge chic charm.

Click here to get your 25% discount at Kathy Kuo Designs

We girls and you geighs all know the reason Gossip Girl is so amazing (and not in an ironic way) is — next to Blair’s bitchface — Chuck’s wardrobe. Crafting getups ever more outlandish with each juicy episode, the costume department of GG has figured out that Ed Westwick is a searing, pouting clotheshanger for everything piped, striped and tied in a bow. It takes a certain dude to pull that off (read, a dude with disposable money and a massively overblown ego), but the Basstard’s wardrobe does elicit certain whimpers of envy among guys I know. In particular, my bestgeigh Jared, who whined to me on Tuesday morning that we at Store Adore haven’t told our men where to go get purty. In an effort to include the rougher sex, here is my short list for Basstastic shopping, downtown style, on NYC’s Lower East Side. (Photo courtesy of Gossip Girl News.)

BBlessing

This honey-toned boutique on Orchard Street was the first of its kind in the newly gentrified LES, founded in 2006 by art-dude and creative titan Daniel Jackson, who places even emphasis on the razorsedge fashion and gallery-style installations always rotating in the huge (for NYC) space. Aside from the draw of the hosted installations, BBlessing’s cult following is ravenous for the duds, which comprise a collection a bit Tokyo-indie, part street art, and largely high-end neo-Gothic (think velvet blazers and patent shoes). Look to these guys for Rag & Bone, Preen, Surface to Air and BBlessing’s own label. (Photo courtesy of BBlessing.)

181 Orchard Street, NYC 10002

20 Peacocks

For officewear bespoke style, the groomed look to 20 Peacocks, Clinton Street’s Oxford-vibe shop for custom button-downs and gorgeous ties. This is a European shirt-and-tie shop, installed in NYC’s edgiest area — for downtown dudes so over Brooks Brothers. The ready made and the custom shirts (which take about 6 weeks to complete) come in a variety of whimsical patterns and shades, though they still fit in with corporate environs (no shimmery mulberry hues, just some beautiful pastels and paisleys). The shop prides itself on unexpected shirt/tie pairings, too, so let them serve your man coffee and tell him how to do it up. (Photo courtesy of 20 Peacocks.)

20 Clinton Street, NYC, 10002

Gargyle

Befitting Chuck on his preppiest days (though, without that godawful red scarf), brand spanking new shop Gargyle offers a collection of neuvo-country club duds for guys (and gals). Urging New Yorkers to eschew black and embrace badminton, Gargyle goes the way of cotton motorcycle pants as an alternative to jeans; red lambswool cardigans; short guy shorts; and gingham biker jackets. (Photo courtesy of Gargyle.)

16A Orchard Street, NYC, 10002

Save 20% on a purchase of $30 or or more at Spreadshirt.

How often do you hear a phrase and think, “That should be on a T-shirt”? In fact, no matter how complex life can seem, most things can be boiled down to a humorous, attention-getting tee. Fortunately, you can create statement-making tees to your heart’s content at Spreadshirt. The site offers three services: You can design your own apparel, open a free online shop to sell your custom clothing designs (and collect a commission), and purchase designs that others have created in the Spreadshirt marketplace. The company uses a superior printing process called plot printing, which produces long-lasting results and colors that don’t fade, with a choice of two finishes: flat (slightly shiny, like vinyl) or flock (soft and slightly raised). First choose from a variety of products, like American Apparel tees and tanks, organic and bamboo shirts, track jackets, thermal shirts, maternity tops, organic cotton totes, messenger bags, hats and even undies. Once you pick your merch, you choose a design. Designs are organized by category and offered by navigation down the side of the site, but they’re also searchable by tags.

These “Tonight I am Single” and “Foxy Lady” tees were a big hit at Store Adore co-Founders Meredith Barrnett’s Miami bachelorette…

OR,

Want to rock the vote? Check out a range of politically inspired designs and wear your candidate on your sleeve—literally (regularly from about $14).

Click here to save 20% on your purchase of $30 or more.

Shopping is an experience that involves all of your (very refined) senses. It’s not just about the goods; it’s the whole package, baby. (And sometimes, if the packaging itself is superb, it doesn’t even matter what’s inside.) Boston has a handful of boutiques that not only have amazing merchandise, but also amazing merchandising—the kind of spots you hit just so you can luxuriate in the atmosphere. Here are some of my faves:

1. Twilight

Designed by owner Alison Barnard, Twilight’s boudoir-like setting features dark wood floors, plum rugs, ruched taffetta curtains around the fitting areas, fun black and white print wallpaper and upholstery,jet black glass chandeliers and fun shooting star imagery painted high up on the walls (the design echoes the store’s logo, also seen on its cute shopping bags). The festive setting is perfect for the party dress-focused inventory.

2. First Date

Owned by two super-cute sisters who grew up in town, First Date embodies the spirit of the pulled together PYT with a preppy sensibility, but a trend-conscious attitude. The clear blue walls provide the perfect backdrop for all the fun outfits, which hang on racks and shelving that might resemble your very own closet (or the ones you’ve drooled over in Hold Everything catalogs). The sofa, with its trellis-print cushion and hot pink pillows, makes the perfect place to lounge while watching the date movies playing on the flat panel TV. Who says the ‘burbs are boring?

3. Lazuli Jewelry

If you’re looking for a solid selection of modern jewelry, but don’t feel like pawing through the afterthought pieces so often placed at the register, hit Lana Barakat’s Lazuli Jewelry showroom. Housed in an office building on Copley Square, you can stop in sans appointment for a pretty view of the city and a pop of color. The bold colors are enough to perk anyone out of a midday slump. Plus, we guarantee you can get your holiday shopping done early, both for your BFFs and your guy friends that can pull off a piece of silver.

4. French Lessons

Gilda Tunney stocks her heavenly mini-chain, French Lessons (in chi-chi suburbs like Wellesley and Hamilton) with delectable fashions from the likes of DVF, Milly, and Nanette Lepore. But in addition to these fashionista staples, what we love about the boutiques is the decor: baby pink shelves set against romantic black and white wallpaper, curlicue chandeliers, mirrored vanities, stretched canvases with prints of Audrey Hepburn, oversize and ornate mirrors and even a leopard-print chaise. It’s as though we’ve died and gone to Tiffany’s.

5. Plum Produce

I may not eat my vegetables, but I sure like to look at them at Plum Produce. Barbara Lynch’s tiny shop is the kind of spot that might just turn a meat-eater into a dedicated organic vegetarian. The offerings are the art of the earth. I find myself imagining that if I purchased these edible treasures, I could undoubtedly create a masterpiece in the kitchen. And, if I’m not in the cooking sort of mood, I go in to gather inspiration for my dream kitchen. Someday, sigh.

Join Store Adore and Madewell at Denim After Dark

Thursday, September 4th

7pm to 9pm

Madewell Soho (486 Broadway at Broome)

- Style and fit consultations with Store Adore Founders Meredith Barnett and Cristina Miller

- $25 off any pair of jeans

- Complimentary denim hemming and custom embroidery

- Complimentary Madewell Mojito Bar

- RSVP: events@madewell1937.com

Read the Store Adore profile of Madewell:

Bright colors; rail-straight denim; Minnetonkas and Havaianas; artful canvas totes and an overall air of relaxed, untucked preppy-meets-hipster cool: welcome to Madewell, J. Crew’s casual, stylishly youthful younger sister. Madewell borrows heavily from the iconic behemoth’s cheerful, color-popping palette and crisp, easy-to-wear aesthetic. Yet no one will mistake one store for the other—whereas J. Crew is consistently classic with a twist, the Madewell mini-chain is a lot more trend conscious, overflowing with well-made (what else would you expect?) takes on the latest trends: ikat dresses, ankle-zip jeans in neon colors, glittery patent gladiators and tees inscribed with notebook-style doodles. Then there are the no brainers that Madewell loyalists already come to look for: tissue-weight sweaters in sorbet shades, leather riding boots and slouchy bags that rival the big-name designers’, frothy summer scarves and day-to-knight dresses in flirty prints and vibrant solids. Reasonable prices, an ever-changing stock and frequent live events, including DJs and “Denim after Dark” nights, help the growing chain keep its cool, under–the-radar vibe.