What A Difference A Day Makes......

Or, "Why I Stink At This Style Blogging Thing".

Of a Saturday Mr. E and i ended up in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley, as is so often the case. We'd been bopping around town a wee bit when Mr. E realized that he needed to get to the pharmacy - back home in Pleasant Hill - before it closed in an hour. However, we had not completed our Berkeley hanging out.....i suggested he run back home, transact his business, and meet me back at the cafe at 6:30pm for more knocking about.

Pookies like people-watching, too.

Let's see, an hour and a half to myself in a darling little neighborhood commercial zone. What to do, what to do.......I know! I'll go clothes shopping! First i stopped by Jeremy's, a Bay Area institution reknowned for it's designer bargains. They seem to achieve these incredible deals through buying a lot of samples which are dreadfully abused and misused in photo shoots, runway shows, satanic sacrifices maybe. Fabric tears (not seams, fabric), makeup and lipstick stains smack in the center of a bodice - this on items selling for $70-150 or more. Many ladies swear by the bargains they find there. Sadly, all i run across is frustration. Jeremy's requires bigger shopping cajones than this girl possesses.

Sheila will be pleased to know that Jeremy's featured a saggy boob bag!

I then strolled into Krasa. Krasa's motto is 'Get DRESSed' or, as the charming owner Elena expresses it, "Everybody in dresses!" Krasa carries every type of dress a modern woman might need - sundresses, office dresses, cocktail dresses, bridal shower dresses, clubbing dresses - all at excellent price points (generally $35-200). Krasa also carries a vast selection of unique leg wear, perfect for the starving student wanting to spark up the Saturday night outfit for a smaller cash outlay.

I fell for the gorgeous olive floral-burst Nine West dress right off the bat. Be still my heart! I tried it on and Elena graciously took my picture. Elena next suggested a coral and magenta dress (picture below), which looked smashing as well. Well, the clock was ticking and my pumpkin was approaching. I left to go meet up with Mr. E. I handed over the camera as we snacked at a sidewalk cafe.  He took one glance and said, "Let's go get this green one as soon as we finish eating."

 We then spent a lovely half hour as my stylish swain picked out a few more items for consideration. In the end, i only (only!) bought the 'olive cocktail' dress. But i plan to pop into Krasa on a regular basis from now on, and i urge anyone in the area to do so as well. Elena is passionate in her desire to revive dress wearing - in Berkeley, the belly of the Birkenstock-wearing beast. If anyone can pull it off, she can! Beautiful, practical, well-made, flattering and lifestyle appropriate dresses at very attractive price points. That's my definition of a smart business that deserves our patronage.

This dress is very happy in it's new home.

So, how does this post demonstrate my blogging failings? "of a Saturday" was a month ago! Everyone knows that internet readers want new content, they want it fast, and they want it now!!! What blogger in her right mind lets this type of material sit around on the hard drive that long??!?!  Take a real hard look at your monitor, dear reader, squint a bit and you may be able to see allllll the way down that fidgety internet connection to discern   -   me.

Dresses: Nine West from Krasa
Sandals: Aerosoles
Black velvet shoes: vintage Filippo Raphael