We often get asked for recommendations for laptop bags (no surprise in a tech city like San Francisco). Carrying your computer with you has become as common as carrying your phone. We have to say- laptop bags have come a long way in recent years. Here are our top picks for modern computer bags that won't break the bank. We focused on backpacks, since they are very on-trend right not. But don't worry, we threw in a few shoulder bags as well!
Posts filed under Beauty & Wellness
Tech+Fash Update: Our Second Deliveries from Rent the Runway & Le Tote
Here is a round up of Megan and my second deliveries from our online shopping services. We'll be extending the review through the month of March to give you a full recap of our experiences.
Kimberly-Rent the Runway Unlimited, Take Two!
Following my ho-hum initial experience --I returned two of three items unworn to RTR's Manhattan pop up location --I was skeptical about the Unlimited service. It felt, well, limited.
The verdict of round two? I AM IN LOVE (insert smilie heart here). The Rent the Runway Unlimited service has some bugs to work through in user interface/product selection offering, but I LOVE the concept. When it works, it is magic. Who wouldn't like to try beautiful brands without the commitment of a full purchase?
For my second order I received a Milly Jacket that fits perfectly which I DO NOT want to say goodbye to. As a perk they offer a 30% discount if you want to purchase one of your rentals. However the price of this jacket is still too steep to me. I also received a Tibi Navy Dress with tie sleeves that again fits well and is a great weight for the current season. I wore it over the weekend with tall boots and tights and will be wearing it again tomorrow for a client meeting.
(Full disclosure: Kimberly was not in a photo mood in the second picture, but she was a trooper and obliged me.)
Want to TRY RTR Unlimited too?! They are offering a temporary $20 credit off your Unlimited order with the code: FFUNL1CAADB
What made my second order a success?
- I did my homework...I heavily filtered through all the items offered on Unlimited. I read the customer product reviews and carefully looked at photos to guess my size/fit accurately.
- I was lucky...inventory is still fairly limited and if you see something you like your size may not be available. This week I was able to get what I wanted.
Megan Says Buh-Bye to Le Tote
I wanted to love Le Tote, I really did. But after my second delivery we had to officially break up. As I mentioned before, I wasn't thrilled with the quality of the items. Many of the purses they offer aren't real leather, the majority of the tops are synthetic and the fits felt off to me. But the clincher was when Kimberly and I were at our morning meeting on Monday and this happened...
I lifted my arm to enthusiastically made a point and Kimberly spotted a hole in my sweater! Thank goodness she noticed it before I went about my day and headed to a few meetings.
Final thoughts:
- Le Tote is geared towards a younger demographic that wants to swap out items often.
- Check your clothing! There may be holes
- While the quality isn't great, their customer service is wonderful. Deliveries arrived 2 days after I ordered them.
Now on to test out Stitch Fix!
Stay Stylish,
K&M
Three Spring Makeup Trends You Need to Try Today
Hello 70 degree weather and sunshine! Anyone living in San Francisco will agree that spring has made an appearance.
We love the change of seasons and refreshing the closet with new styles. But it's also a great time to refresh your makeup look as well. And for this spring it's all about bright lips, vibrant eyes and bronzed cheeks.
Lip Trend: Red Lipstick
Red has always been a classic lip color. But for spring there is one specific red that has everyone going crazy - Candy Apple Red. Our favorite is MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in New Temptation.
Eye Trend: Vibrant Blue
Blue eye makeup can be worn any way you want. You can go smokey with a sparkly navy eyeshadow or be bold by drawing a heavy line across your lids. For a more subtle look, place a small amount right at the inside crease of your eyes. Our favorite is Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Radium.
Face Trend: Bronzed Skin
Kiss your skin with an endless bronze by applying bronzer and a highlighter for a naturally tan sheen without exposing yourself to skin damaging sun. Our favorite is Nars Bronzing Powder.
Stay Stylish,
K&M
Spring 2016 Pantone Colors- What to add to your wardrobe this year
graphic by @Alison Vinciguerra
Whether you are surviving the Polar Vortex or enjoying a balmy El Nino Spring, new collections will be on their way to stores soon! To help inspire you on what new shades to invest in we've created a Pinterest Board with a breakdown of the top new colors will be in stores this spring.
This year the color palette focuses on tranquil calming shades infused with a few happy candy colored pops. Here is a link to our Pinterest Board to explore more.
Stay Stylish,
K&M
Top Five Pantone Colors Used in 2016 Collections according to WWD:
1. Rose Quartz 13-1520 Percentage of designers who used this color: 22.55
“This really is a beautiful pink that will radiate well on the skin for women as well as men,” Eiseman said.
2. Peach Echo 16-1548 Percentage of designers who used this color: 19.87
Peach Echo is a very warm, friendly and accessible color,” Eiseman said.
3. Serenity 15-3919 Percentage of designers who used this color: 15.86
“As the name suggests, Serenity is a calming color that plays to the whole idea that we know we’re still living in turbulent times.” Eiseman said.
4. Snorkel Blue 19-4049 Percentage of designers who used this color: 15.21
Eiseman said this shade is “meant to be a bit more fun, less serious than navy, and serve as one of the anchor colors for the spring palette.”
5. Buttercup 12-0752 Percentage of designers who used this color: 11.45
“Buttercup is all about sunlight, happiness and cheer — ” Eiseman said.
To read the full of the WWD Article click here.
Update: Our First Deliveries From Rent The Runway & Le Tote
Since it's mid-week and we are almost through the second week of February, we thought it'd be a good time to give you a quick update on how our experiences with online shopping services have been going. (As you may remember, we are focusing on technology and fashion for the month of February.)
Kimberly joined Rent the Runway Unlimited and I joined Le Tote. They are both subscription-based clothing rental services that allow you clothing and accessories delivered to your door unlimited times a month. All of the items are gently worn and when you are finished you send them back for new items. Rent the Runway has more high-end brands and you get 3 pieces in each delivery. Le Tote is mid-range brands and you get 5 items in a package.
After getting our first packages, we are both feeling a little disappointed. Kimberly had a tough time finding items that she wanted in her first delivery. Let's correct that -- she found items, but they were all out of stock in her size. The dress she received wasn't the right fit and she didn't love the top, which wasn't seasonal. On the plus side, the bracelet she picked out is a hit and she is currently in New York for Fashion Week and rocking it!
As for me, my 5 pieces felt random and didn't create a cohesive outfit (which is often a complaint we hear from clients who use services like this). The skirt was cute, but I didn't have a top to match it. The blouse they sent felt like poor quality and it felt weird to be wearing earrings that someone else had already worn. That said, I loved the black Sanctuary pants that I received and plan to purchase them from Le Tote.
We are both excited to see what our second packages bring. Stay tuned...
Happy Wednesday,
K&M
Winter Beauty Rescues: Tried and Tested DIY Hair and Skin Masks
Dry winter air can wreak havoc on our hair. We love this DIY hair mask that conditions without leaving hair greasy. It's easy to prepare and you probably already have all of the ingredients in your kitchen.
Hair Mask Ingredients:
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until well blended. Apply to wet hair and leave on for 20 minutes (we like to put a shower cap on over to avoid getting any our furniture). Rinse with warm water.
We love the smell and soothing nature of this DIY body scrub. If you have more time, leave the scrub on a few minutes to soak in the moisturizing and revitalizing benefits.
Body Scrub Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup oats
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
- 1 Tbsp organic honey
- 2 tsp citrus juice
- 1/8 tsp of cinnamon (optional)
Use a food processor or blender to pulse oats until they are coarse (like brown sugar texture). Mix all ingredients together in bowl. Rub over skin and rinse with warm water.
Stay Stylish,
M&K
New Series: The Reality of Technology + Fashion Today
Image: Huffington Post
The Changing Face of Fashion- It's a topic that Megan and I spend a lot of time talking about. Nearly 50% of our clients ask us what we think of online clothing delivery services. And the honest answer it is: we don't know enough about the bulk of them to give a professional opinion.
So for the month of February, Megan and I will be setting out to unbiasedly answer the question of whether or not current online styling services are worth their weight... in cardboard boxes and shipping. We will be testing out Stitch Fix, Le Tote, Rent the Runway, and a few others.
The way we shop today is a lot different from how we shopped 10 years ago. We live in a city obsessed with technology and challenging the norm. For the past few years the merging of technology and fashion has been a hot topic. It seems everyday our inboxes are filled with new apps or retail delivery companies tackling a new pain point for consumers--the question remains... are we moving forward, trading conveniences or just create extra headaches for ourselves?
We'll be reporting back on our experiences so be sure to follow our updates!
Stay Stylish,
M&K
Our "Double Take" Shoot with Goorin Bros. Hats
We love hats. They're perfect for rainy days, bad hair days, sunny days... basically any day. So it's obvious why we had entirely too much fun collaborating with famous SF hatmakers Goorin Bros. again.
This time around we did a he said/she said story that features how to style the same hat for a man or woman. Three different hats, three distinct looks, all easy to wear. So ladies, the next time you are running late just grab your man's hat and rock it.
Here are some behind the scenes photos from the shoot. Click here to see the finished story.
Stay Stylish,
K&M
Books to Get You Inspired in the New Year
Looking for a little inspiration to kick off 2016? At Canvas we are huge readers and always seem to be in the middle of a good book. Here's what's on our bookshelves right now.
Megan's January Reading List:
My taste in books ranges from spiritual to total mindless chiclit (hey we all need to unwind at the end of the day). What I pick up to read always depends on my mood, so I usually have 3 books going at once.
- A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway
- The Game of Life and How to Play It- Florence Scovel Shinn
- #girlboss-Sophia Amouroso (Kimberly's recco)
Kimberly's Reading January List:
Starting off the year with some female power players. Although, unintentional in the #boss theme (these have been on my radar for a while) it seems fitting for this month and this year. To balance out the focus, I picked up the drawing book as a gift from the Chronicle Book sale to encourage creative learning.
Our Favorite Holiday Cocktails
We can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas eve! I am writing this blog from snowy (and COLD) Breckenridge, CO while Kimberly holds down the Canvas office in SF.
We thought we'd take a break from all of the shopping talk to share our favorite holiday cocktail recipes, guaranteed to get you in the spirit and feeling festive.
Kimberly's Spicy Cider:
4 Quarts Apple Cider or Apple Juice
2 Quarts of Trader Joes Spiced Cider
4T Mulling Spices (I prefer the WIlliam-Sonoma blend)
5-6 Jiggers of Bourbon
3 Jiggers Grand Marnier
Cinnamon sticks for glass garnish
I made this traditional cider for a little Holiday Cocktail Party this year and decided to add a twist with Grand Marnier. I'll never go back! It was a nice citrus addition and kept the spices from overpowering the drink.
Directions: Wrap mulling spices in a sachet of cheese cloth secured with kitchen twine. Add above ingredients in order and simmer over low-medium heat for 20 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.
Megan's Brandy Alexander
3 Cups softened french vanilla ice cream
4 Ounces brandy
4 Ounces creme de cacao
Freshly ground nutmeg for garnish
My dad's recipe, these "adult milkshakes" are a great dessert and super easy to make. I like to serve them in chilled glasses with a cookie on the side. Yum!
Directions: Blend ice cream, brandy and creme de cacao in a blend until smooth, but still thick. Pour into chilled glasses and sprinkle nutmeg on top.
Stay Stylish,
K&M