Trend watchers have predicted the decline of wristwatches in light of time-keeping mobile phones … but the watchmakers aren’t down for the count yet.
Phosphor - whose Swarovski crystal-studded, now-you-see-numbers-now-you-don’t Appear watch was featured in this space two years ago (April 29, 2012) - has apparently decided that if you can’t beat smartphones, join ’em. Touch Time, Phosphor’s new model ($159), is a digital touchscreen timepiece that operates with a swipe of the finger. Via smartphone-like applications, users can customize the watch face, selecting from five built-in displays; check lunar phases and their horoscope; do some figuring on the calculator; check the time in three zones; or clock their afternoon jog on the stopwatch, among other things. Touch Time is also one of the first watches that, like a smartphone,allows the wearer to customize the language on the display (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish and German).
The display stays on continuously, so no having to press a button to check the time. The watch comes in a variety of silicone band colors, including sky blue, electric orange, soft pink and white. There’s also a model with a stainless-steel band.
Phosphor watches can be found at Kenneth Edwards Fine Jewelers, 7811 Cantrell Road, Suite B, in Little Rock, (501) 312-7477, and at PhosphorWatches.com.
SUMMER HAIR-TO-GO
During warm-weather months, you probably want to spend as little time on your hair as possible. But this is the time when over-chlorinated, sun-dried strands need the most love. Packing full-size products on trips can be a full-scale headache (more like backache, and perhaps a wallet-ache if doing so requires extra baggage fees). And those hotel shampoos and drugstore trial sizes might not do the trick.
Thank goodness for Upscale Oribe, which has trial sizes of its pampering Signature Shampoo, Signature Conditioner, Shampoo for Beautiful Color, Conditioner for Beautiful Color and Masque for Beautiful Color ($13-$19.50). Also available in purse sizes are styling products like Oribe’s Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse ($21.50) that creates beachy waves and Thick Dry Finishing Spray ($21.50), a volumizing product designed to give hair fullness and hold without stickiness.
Products are sold at Oribe.com and Arkansas salons, including Studio 2121, 8214 Cantrell Road in Little Rock.
CLASSIC FOOTWEAR
Jessica London, part of the OneStopPlus Group whose merchandise I discussed recently, has announced its first “Classics Book” - a 72-page catalog featuring Jessica London’s classic apparel collection. Nearly half its pages are dedicated to more than 100 pairs of the brand’s Comfortview shoes.
It’s the shoes I want to highlight. Comfortview, the proprietary brand designed exclusively for OneStopPlus, is among the few brands offering shoes in hard-to-find sizes and widths that are actually attractive. (I know I’m not the only wide-footer who gets put out when she shops for foot gear online, narrows her viewing choices to “wide widths,” and then has to watch every remotely cute shoe disappear from the screen.) Comfortview boasts such features as padded insoles; skid-resistant soles with shock absorption; wider, stabilized heels for more support; and width sizes ranging from medium to double wide.
I took a turn in the brand’s Pam Braided Sandal ($39.99-$44.99 at jessicalondon.com). Offered in black, taupe and tangerine, the Pam - which rates a 4.6 out of five stars among online reviewers - has three braided double straps: one making up the ankle strap, another over the instep and the third over the toes. The upper is a wide, vertical strip through which the braided straps are threaded. The shoes also have a 2.5-inch stacked heel and zippered-back closure. The verdict? The shoe is quite comfortable, save for the ankle strap, which has mild “give” issues despite some elastic. I’m hoping the strap will loosen as time passes. Also, the front of the sole is quick to show wear when it comes in contact with rough, uneven sidewalks and other such surfaces. I’d advise limiting the sandals to inside wear, as much as possible.
SHOP FOR CHARITY
Belk, the department store, will have its Spring Charity Sale from 6 to 10 a.m. May 3. Customers can support local charities while taking advantage of discounts of 20 percent to 70 percent off of purchases.
In return for buying a $5 ticket come deals on rarely discounted merchandise and other items throughout the store. Ticket holders will also receive a $5 credit on sale purchases. The credit is valid on the first regular, sale or clearance purchase, including cosmetics and fragrances. (Purchases of Brighton, Diane Von Furstenberg, My Flat in London, Vitamix, Ugg and Under Armour are excluded. The discount is also not valid on phone orders or belk.com.) The first 100 customers will receive Belk gift cards valued from $5 to $100, and be entered in a chance to win one of three $1,000 Belk gift cards awarded company wide. In addition, sale participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $1,000 cash awards for their school or nonprofit organization.
Spring Charity Sale tickets are being sold by participating nonprofit organizations, and beginning April 25, will be sold at Belk stores. All revenues from in-store ticket purchases are equally divided among participating local charities and schools; charities get to keep all proceeds from each ticket.
For more information about Belk’s Spring Charity Sale, customers may contact Belk in Little Rock’s Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center, 11525 Cantrell Road, (501) 907-6200.
STORE NEWS
Faux Pas, the women’s boutique that operated 20 years before going from storefront to online last year (fauxpasboutique.com), recently went storefront again … sort of. In early April, Faux Pas took up residence in a room at Shoppes on Woodlawn, 4523 Woodlawn Drive in the Hillcrest neighborhood in Little Rock. The online store and shop will carry the same merchandise, so customers have an option if unable to find a desired item or size at one outlet. Shoppes on Woodlawn can be reached at (501) 666-3600.
Meanwhile, my prayers were answered. I had been crying out for a Dress Barn to open in North Little Rock, as the Little Rock location is way out west (12801 Chenal Valley Drive). Recently, on my way to a favorite haunt - Stein Mart in North Little Rock’s Lakewood Village - I spied a Dress Barn a couple of doors down.
The store - part of a Dress Barn retail chain whose website offers “fashionable, affordable weekend, work and special event styles in sizes 4-24” - opened March 21 at 2739 Lakewood Village Drive. Call (501) 812-6606.
Got fashion and beauty news? Contact Helaine R. Williams, Dressing Room, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or email: hwilliams@arkansasonline.com
High Profile, Pages 41 on 04/13/2014