We may have discreetly let on that that we harbor an appreciation for some forms of teeny-bopper entertainment, but we’ve been more open about our obsessions with decidedly grown-up pop culture. Call it juvenile, call it silly, we will not veil our love for one teen-targeting franchise: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Lightyears older than the projected demographic when the books debuted, we first fell in love with the series while reading them aloud to a cabin full of 13-year olds before bed as a counselor at summer camp. (It was then that we began referring to the coming-of-age tales of friendship as simply “Pants!!!“) (more…)

So here we are, the last unofficial week of summer. Fortunately for us, September in 2008 is like July in 1998—sultry temperatures and sunny days. Which means we can squeeze every last wear out of our warm-weather wardrobe. But what, dear readers, to do about our white pants?

Most of us grew up listening to our mothers’ staunch Memorial Day through Labor Day edict; most of us also rolled our eyes and tried to rebel against the fashion statute. But yet, every fall we pack up our whites, eschewing all things light until snow ushers in acceptable “winter whites.”

This Bostonista loves her whites. She also loves and respects her very stylish co-workers. So late last week, she conducted an informal office poll: White after Labor Day—brilliant idea or fashion tragedy?

The votes are in…

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Even though Bostonista’s not exactly back-to-school shopping anymore (it’s been, um, a year or two…), every August we still feel that natural (read: tax-averse) instinct to replenish our closet with new goods. So what if said goods now include sundresses and spaghetti straps from summer markdowns? You’ll see us supporting the habit at Habit and plenty of other purveyors this weekend. For the likeliest Bostonista sightings, head to:

Barneys Denim Promotion
Barneys New York, Copley Place
Aug. 11-25
From Aug. 11 to 25, bring in a pair of your previously loved denim jeans, and Barneys will recycle them and give you 20 percent off your next pair.

dresscode
2 Elm Sq., Andover
Through August 31
All summer merchandise is 20 to 50 percent off, including jewelry, shoes, bags, and clothing by Rebecca Taylor, BCBG, Diane von Furstenberg, Seven for All Mankind, Ella Moss, and more.

Envi
164 Newbury St.
Aug. 15-17
Spring and Summer apparel is up to 60 percent off at Envi, a store that offers one of the biggest selections of eco-fashion in the country with brands like C&C California, Edun, Loomstate, Terra Plana, and more.

First Date
28 Chestnut St., Andover
Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The entire collection of summer tops, dresses, skirts, and pants are marked 40 percent off and jeans and all accessories, including jewelry and bags, are marked 20 percent off. They’ll also have special “Double Date” areas where it’s buy one, get one free.

Habit
703 E. Broadway, South Boston
Through August 31
Habit’s holding a birthday party to celebrate its second year in business—and you’re invited! Included with the invitation: 15 percent off every non-sale item in the store, including new fall merchandise and jeans. Items that were already on sale are now marked down 20 to 80 percent.

Snobby isn’t exactly the right word for our approach to shopping. Particular is more like it. While we love a good pair of Prada pumps, we also appreciate the affordable good design happening over at Target. But there are some brands that just aren’t us.

We thought Old Navy was one of those chains. Until a few weeks ago, when an errand spree in South Bay Plaza changed our mind.

We first wandered into the cavernous store in search of a Peter Pan-collared blouse for an upcoming Fashion Masochist column. We walked out with an Ella Moss-esque striped sundress, a metallic gold knit dress that could easily pass for Helmut Lang, a Missoni-inspired bandeau bikini, and three cardigans (two striped, one solid black). All for under $150. (more…)

Last night, we were this close to having a one night stand. It was at the Achilles Project’s Shopping Under the Influence Party. And it wasn’t with a dude. It was with a dress.

The Fort Point Channel boutique-and-restaurant-in-one threw one impressive soiree, combining four of our favorite things: shopping, sipping, eating, and sales. Everything in the store was already slashed 50 percent (and will still be marked down all next week, and until the fall merch hits the racks). But party guests got an additional 10 percent off just for showing up last night. Add to that the complimentary cocktails from Stoli Blackberi and Bacardi, and tasty bites from Persephone’s menu, and my how the credit cards came out to play. (more…)

While we might not always remember this, fashion is about more than just clothing or how things look. A lot of what makes a style interesting comes from the story that inspired it and the process that lead to the final product (Project Runway isn’t just popular because of Heidi Klum, people). Here in Boston, the people at Guerilla Fashion are using that idea as the main concept behind their video projects.

According to its website, GF is going to present “a brave new world of style” that uses video as a way to help fashion entertain and educate. A little vague, we know, but we’re excited to see what their first major project will yield because it just so happens to coincide with Boston Fashion Week 2008 (which this year gets its own week, unlike last year’s unfortunate overlap with the considerably better-attended New York Fashion Week). (more…)

Last Thursday the fashionably fabulous America’s Next Top Model judge (and stylist to the stars) Jay Manuel revamped the Pru’s Lord & Taylor intimates department into a Calvin Klein underwear runway show brimming with Boston women ready for bra-talk.

Forgiving Bostonians’ four-letter pronunciation (”bra-r”) of the undergarment, Manuel introduced his essential CK picks, modeled by women of all chest sizes. (Manuel’s favorite, the 5-way convertible, an interchangeably strapped bra that he says “can be worn underneath everything in the closet”—will be put to the test by ANTM models on next season’s final episode.) (more…)

Because we’re nothing if not dedicated employees, this Bostonista spent Friday and a precious summer Saturday in the funky, dirty, sweltering hot fields of the tri-annual Brimfield Antique Shows, shooting fall fashion.

As far as work days go, it wasn’t all bad: Scouting for locations among vendors selling vintage eyeglasses (dating as far back as the 1790s), purple velvet ottomans ($495), oddly compelling Chilly Willy drinking glasses; and larger-than-life sized lawn pieces (Palmetto horses, Luigis) was actually pretty fun. (more…)

Most clothing designers have a carefully cultivated “story” that condenses their background and inspiration into perfectly press-worthy sound bytes. Local designer Bless Mazarura’s story, however, really does go beyond fashion.

After escaping poverty and abuse in his native Zimbabwe, Mazarura enrolled at the Montserrat College of Art in Beverly. Three years ago, he began designing Bless by Bless Couture, a collection of part-rocker, part-urban Ts, tanks, and sweatshirts emblazoned with a phoenix design. (more…)

Forget about the actual health benefits of aerobics, roller blading, and pilates. Workout fashion trends are rarely about the actual workout. What really matters are the fashions that flourish in sync with each exercise fad (e.g. leggings and yoga, unitards and aerobics, leg warmers and Jane Fonda).

While it’s entirely possible that the unitard phase was owed to the freedom of movement those (often shiny, often awful) garments offered its wearers, but we have a hunch they took off thanks to Xanadu’s thighs. But we need not embarrass ourselves and those sharing our sweat space by donning the latest in lycra or spandex in the hopes of appearing both chic and sporty. Legendary Finnish running brand, Karhu (it means “bear” in Finnish), has both function and fashion covered in their latest line of running shoes and accessories. (more…)