//Acrimony

Aside from the usual “work out more” “diet” new year’s resolution, I asked the staff at Acrimony and ACRE/SF to spill their new year’s fashion resolutions. Let’s keep watch to make sure there’s progress being made, no hands in the cookie jar, with fashion resolutions on track for the year. Let this be the year of no regrets…

Jenny:

1) Wear more leather: leather pants, leather sleeves, leather shoes (duh), leather backpacks, leather sunglasses, leather jewelry. Just not all together, obviously.

2) Find and wear a pair of boyfriend cut jeans that pair well with flats and heels. Have them become a staple in my wardrobe.

3) Always wear at least 3 pieces of clothing at all times, it’s not considered an outfit if you are wearing any less.

Lilly:

Marcus:

1) Try new textures

2) Explore fuller silhouettes

3) Wear jeans less often

Jared:

1) Wear more color and less black

2) Organize my life and look

3) Steer away from jeans

Isabelle:

1) Wear more dresses

2) Add more maroon to my wardrobe

3) Break in more denim

Brian:

1) Pay more attention to fit and proportion-Tailored Clothing

2) Wear bold prints

3) Buy Gitman

We’re always one to lead with our best, so we’re super excited that spring has already sprung in the form of five great styles that are going to make the transition from winter to spring that much easier. This first shipment includes the return of some classic favorites (so hurry if you missed them the first time around) and new styles that are sure to become warm weather staples.

The Eva-B Platform Sandal is a strappy little number propped up with a gorgeous platform and tall heel. Jet black suede makes it great for dressing up with the geometric shapes are a perfect complement to a simple jean-and-tee combo.

Available at Acrimony.

The Kelley Cut-out Oxford was one of our favorite flats from last spring, so we just had to resurrect it this season in the timeless black/taupe colorway. But to add a bright, kicky punch to the mix, we’ve also got a small run of them in rich brown with a rosy pink toe.

Brown/pink colorway available at Acrimony, black/taupe colorway available at Acrimony and ACRE/SF.

With its bold colorblocking and chunky heel, the Lulu Pump is one of those shoes that’s going to work its way into every bright outfit this spring. The slim, elongated heel gives it a sleek, modern silhouette that’s still very comfortable and balanced. A rich orange upper and deep fuchsia heel play perfectly with neutrals but will still be wearable when it cools down again.

Orange/fuchsia Lulu Pump available at Acrimony.

But what Jeffrey Campbell order of ours would complete without a style that we’ve customized just for you guys? We instantly fell in love with the Lulu Pump when we first saw it, but we were craving darker, bold colors that would complement San Francisco’s love of all things dark. A little head scratching, a little sit-down with Mr. Campbell himself et violà: our exclusive version of the Lulu with a gorgeous purple upper and a cobalt blue heel!

Available at Acrimony and ACRE/SF.

These styles have only just arrived but will be available to purchase online shortly. If you just can’t wait to get them on your feet, send us an e-mail at info@shopacrimony.com to order yours now.

Our sale continues, and for those shopping online, there’s a coupon floating around on the web that gives you an extra 20% off already reduced digs. It only works for online purchases, and expires this Friday. Enter “SAVE20MORE” at checkout. New markdowns on DRKSHDW, Silent Damir Doma, Wings + Horns, Robert Geller, Jeffrey Campbell, Rodebjer, Minimarket, etc etc etc. Do you coupon? Yea, you do.

Something Else by Natalie Wood’s collection for Autumn 2012 is titled OUTLAW. Inspired by a lone desert dweller on way too much peyote, I feel the sun beating on me as my mind dances in psychedelic circles. UK-based artist Julie Verhoeven contributes to this collection with elements of a savage landscape in illustration and design. I’m excited to see the carry-over of unique prints and whimsical silhouettes without becoming overly feminine. Completely enthralled by it ALL. Enjoy….

Nothing can take suck the fun out of a vacation more than the headaches of preparation. Research, planning, buying in advance, reading books, etc. Some people love it, I don’t. I live off the experiences of other people, making my own vacations better by avoiding other people’s mistakes. Let this be an easy guide to one of the most beautiful places in Mexico: Playa del Carmen. 

On the eastern side of Mexico, 20 miles south of Cancun, lies a small beach town called Playa del Carmen. It’s charming and quaint, but with enough tourist amenities to make it an easy vacay. We stayed HERE»Pueblito Escondido. We rented a private condo with our own pool and balcony, 10 steps from the sandy beaches of the Caribbean Sea. Don’t bother with an “all inclusive.” You can get around on very little money and have a way more authentic experience. 

Things to do (and what to wear):

1) Go fishing. Even if you don’t think you’ll enjoy fishing, you have to try it. There are fisherman lined up on the shore every morning. Show up at 8am, it’s $200us to take a boat out for 4 hours. They provide beer and the bait, the fisherman and captain will take you deep into the ocean. I caught a huge one, which we filleted and ate right afterwards. FRESH. You definitely want to be in your bikini/trunks in the event you want to jump overboard and swim with the fish. Serious.

2) Swim in caves. There are tons of cenotes (say-note-es) in Playa del Carmen, sinkholes resulting from collapsed limestone, filled with underground water. A short 200pesos taxi ride will get you to El Cristilano Cenote, a beautiful cenote, run by a quiet family who take care of this natural wonder. Swim through caves, side by side with huge fish, jump off huge rocks into depths of water if you dare. I did. This cenote is also known for those little fish that nibble at the dead skin on your feet. It’s strange but utterly amazing. Wear as little as possible, think of it as a body scrub, minus the scrubber.

3) Drink a Michelada. After having 6 of these, I’m pretty certain it’s become my favorite drink. Sort of like a bloody mary, but with beer instead of vodka. Spicy, salty, tangy mixed with your choice of cerveza. My favorite one was from Cockteleria Manigua, a seafood lovers heaven. Try the “rainbow tacos” (los tacos arcoiris) with pineapple and melted cheese. SO GOOD. Dress as if going to a BBQ. 

4) Eat tacos y tortas. Living in SF I’m no stranger to good Mexican food. But being in Mexico forces you to order things you normally wouldn’t. Don’t get a burrito in Mexico. Get tacos y tortas. Some of the best food was from the smallest (dingiest) taquerias we could find. ~10pesos for a bistec de res taco (beef) and ~70pesos for a bistec de puerco torta is eating a whole meal for $5. Tacos Gomez was probably my favorite. They have adventurous meats on the menu, but also have suadero (shredded beef) and res (cubed beef) for the regular folks. They don’t speak any English so practice saying TACO. Wear elastic waistband shorts, your stomach will definitely be stretching out tonight.

5) Find a secluded beach. For 90pesos, you can ask the taxi driver to take you all the way south of Playa del Carmen, past the last resort (Hotel Iberostar Quetzal). Walk through the resort and south past the beach chairs until you hit the part of the beach that is surrounded by a jungle on the other side. A 20-minute walk will leave you with a quiet, white-sandy beach all to yourself. Bring a long loose dress so you can pose in front of the palm trees, beach side.

See you in Playa del Carmen. Adios amigos.