Amy Chu and the Reader
Amy Chu 8:30 a.m., Sept. 15
Fashion
Madewell Inc. apron-style dress for Golden Hill Park’s Burgers & Beer
“Amazon is like a secret store for me. If you dig, you can find really cute stuff.”
I spent last Saturday soaking up the late summer sun at the Burgers & Beer event in Golden Hill Park. As I ate my weight in burgers, my eyes were drawn to some summer fashions ...
Vanessa Valiente: the cure for Costco couture
Does San Diego deserves its reputation as an unstylish city?
Vanessa Valiente is San Diego’s original fashion blogger and an elite personal style consultant. Her services sit behind a long wait list and a battery of screening questionnaires, and for good reason. She knows what ...
Paola Alberdi-inspired style from H&M, Zara, Bershka and Forever 21
Check out the San Diego fashion influencer’s Amazon “drop”
In the Refill Cafe in Hillcrest I spotted Melissa wearing the most stylish linen blazer. I admired her effortless style. When I approached her, I learned that the Napa Valley native has lived in Tijuana ...
Shopping vintage is not only for Grateful Dead roadies
Clothing “foster mom” has some advice for you
For most men, buying secondhand clothing is an alien experience, and that puts them behind a steepening curve. According to industry reports, the secondhand clothing market is set to match or surpass new clothing sales ...
Zanzea jumper and Birkenstocks for the criminally indigent
Not Guilty in Golden Hill
The best part of contributing to this column is the people I get to meet on the streets of our city. Our interactions provide me with small glimpses into the worlds of others. On a ...
The “normcore” of Comedian Daunte Cordova
He has that “four decades put in a blender” look that’s hard to pull off.
The list of stylish comedians in San Diego is a short one. Foremost among them is Daunte Cordova, a stand-up comic who’s been outshining the competition for years. Cordova describes his style as a derivation ...
Office and casual attire from Nordstrom Rack, DSW, and LOFT Outlet
“Formal, but comfortable.”
In an effort to catch up with bathing suit season and burn a few extra calories, I took a walk around the neighborhood after work one Monday. As I turned a corner, I noticed a ...
Karen Olea’s thrift scores from Salvation Army and AMVETS
The San Diego native documents all of her shopping trips to local shops
I was headed to my car on the top level of a busy downtown parking structure when I caught a glimpse of Karen Olea mid-photoshoot. Karen wasn’t a stranger. I actually recognized her because I ...
Glam meets feral for Michael Peterson and the Natives
Meet San Diego’s smart-casual punk drummer
It’s hard to look “edgy” and “nice” at the same time. In fact, it’s almost impossible. Which is why it’s so impressive when someone pulls it off consistently. Michael Peterson, member of the San Diego-based ...
Faux fur Fourth of July from Nordstrom
Flashy fashion: costume beads, several bracelets, and two fists full of rings
Over the 4th of July weekend, I decided to trek up to North County to spend the holiday with friends who were visiting from out of town. In a not-so-surprising turn of events, we ended ...
Shop Ebay and Poshmark for hot weather deals
Right now there is less competition for sweaters, jackets, and long pants.
Summer is the best time of the year to shop for clothes. As temperatures warm, prices drop. Few men seem aware of this. The hot months bring the lowest prices of the year for most ...
Complement your patterned pants with a Bebe mini backpack
“I like to buy a lot of unique pieces and see what I can put together when I get home”
Although Golden Hill may not necessarily be one of San Diego’s hippest neighborhoods, wherever there is Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, there also is the eclectic mix of their cult following. It was there I spotted ...
Cut your own hair... seriously
Some people will think you’re weird. That’s worth $480+ a year.
Your first reaction to “cut your own hair” is probably to release a long, hissing breath and do something condescending with your eyebrows. That knee-jerk — brow jerk? — response is costing you an obscene ...
Bohemian dreamy like Mary-Kate Olsen, Nicole Richie, and Stevie Nicks
“I really love this company called Spell & The Gypsy Collective”
My friend recently invited me to Sunday brunch at Quartyard, which was hosting a vinyl pop up shop. Her husband was DJing the event to promote their record store, Normal Records. I’m not one to ...
Clothing subscriptions: not better than Ebay or Poshmark
That $240-360 you were going to spend on a subscription in a year will buy you an entire thrifted wardrobe
In a market saturated with bad deals, there are few worse than men’s clothing subscription boxes. The idea is appealing on its face: pay a company a recurring fee ($20-$30 per month) and they’ll send ...
