Vans & Shortomatic introduce custom boardshort program

Vans and Shortomatic introduce our premium custom boardshort program, Vans Powered by Shortomatic, now live at vans.com/customboardshorts.  Vans Powered by Shortomatic allows one to design their own version of Vans' popular Era Classic boardshorts choosing from an array of 16 colors, six customizable patterns and four vintage prints plus a rotating limited edition artist print kicked off by the legendary Neil Blender.

Inspired by Vans' classic Era shoe, the Vans by Shortomatic Era includes the features surfers want with a unique 14% 4-way stretch material that's lightweight, quick dry and anti-chafe.  Vans by Shortomatic offers leg length options and the ability to ID the inner tongue of the shorts as well as to add a replica vintage Vans patch.  Handmade locally in Santa Monica, the custom shorts start at $99.00 and are dispatched within two weeks of the order.

Vans Powered by Shortomatic continues Vans' tradition in offering custom designs, dating back to the 1966 beginning of the company when customers could enter a Vans store and create custom shoes from their own fabrics.  In addition to Vans by Shortomatic, DIYers can choose from four classic Vans shoe styles, 20 colors and 28 prints and patterns at vans.com/customs to design their own Vans shoes. 

“Since Day 1, we've tried to give customers exactly what they want and we've empowered them to create their own versions of our shoes,” said Vans Apparel Marketing Manager Russ Pope.  “We're excited to bring this same concept to the Era boardshort and give self designers the chance to dip into our creative vault and spin a completely unique pair of shorts.”

Vans Powered by Shortomatic is the latest addition to Vans' expanding boardshort program.  Earlier this year, Vans re-launched a broad range of styles developed with the Vans Surf team ranging from the technical, high performance Era Stretch short and the comfortable, heritage-influenced Era Classic to the retro surf style of Joel Tudor's signature short, the JT Trimline.

Shortomatic, which launched in 2010, makes custom printed boardshorts and is a spin-off of the popular Yogamatic (custom-designed yoga mats).   Based in Santa Monica, CA Shortomatic allows customers to upload their own art design or browse designs from their artist's community.

Bargains beyond the beach

Think Port Stanley and I'll bet you think sunshine, sandy beaches, GTs and Mackie's orangeade and famous secret sauce.
And you'd be right.
But what many don't know is this Lake Erie fishing village has a treasure trove of hidden gems, just a few steps off the beach.
After surviving our Arctic winter, who could blame you for making a beeline to the sand and staying put till it's time to head back to that always several degrees hotter city?
But if you're a fan of ridiculously affordable designer labels, unique gifts like roses that light up in water, vintage jewelry from mom or grandma's day or greeting cards with outrageous punch lines, it's time you gave the shops a whirl.
Some shops are seasonal and a few close Monday and Tuesday.
I live in Port Stanley and as a Sarnia native, I've come to love my adopted lake as much as Lake Huron, a place where I can indulge two of my passions, sunbathing and shopping.
Step into Boutique Re-Vert on the main drag leading into Port and you'll have a flashback to those glory days when the London and Port Stanley Railway brought the likes of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and the Dorsey Brothers to the legendary Stork Club.
Owner Jeannine Catt, sewer, artist and lover of vintage clothes, often has big band music playing in the background of her eclectic shop.
Re-Vert (French for green), reflects her dedication to recycling everything while covering the other meaning, revert - as in back in time.
"I carry vintage, gently used, designer resale, and everything from the very crazy to the very classy," says Catt, who also sells her own paintings upstairs.
Tiffany Richter, owner of the Chique Shack boutique, offers 25% vintage and 75% new in a shop featuring steals on an entire outfit, from shoes to accessories.
Richter swiftly picks up on clients' tastes. Her womenswear isn't organized by size but by colour. Customers gravitate to what suits them, then try it on to see if it works. Richter, a new mom, is salesperson extraordinaire. Rarely have I left her shop without a purchase, because when she says, 'I've got something I think you'll like,' she rarely misses the mark.
When it comes to gifts, novelty items and reproduction posters of Port's heydays, Stan Portley's is a place to browse for hours.
Owner Ann Nicol, a London native who danced to Louis Armstrong (live) at the Stork Club as a young woman, first came to Port as a child but could never quite get the name straight. Hence the unique name of her antiques and gift shop - a nod to a childhood memory that brings a smile to shoppers.
Her shop's customized posters have been sent around the world and her gurgle jugs must be heard to be appreciated but if you need incentive to get your child to drink their milk, here's your ticket.
At Country Bliss, a Port Stanley stalwart where you'll find the Country Home candles that give the shop the scent of an upscale spa, the more you look, the more you love.
Owner Jennifer Jones has a knack for collecting the unique, the charming to the outrageous.
Her line of Anne Taintor greeting cards will have you howling with the formally clad 1950s era women on the front with a greeting you'd never expect inside.
Brambles is a home decor store with great gifts and prices. Old-fashioned kitchen clocks with a timer, replica old mail boxes, those glowing roses that will add the wow factor to your dinner party are found here.
At Waterspots, owner Annette Giles has never met an object she couldn't transform into a planter. Coffee pots, purses, and for a special birthday request, she even elevated the lowly bed pan to a floral masterpiece.
This is the first summer Port can boast a shop for plus size women. Silk Woods Boutique has expanded its online operation to a popular store that's filling a niche.
And you don't have to be plus size to find the right purse or accessory at Silk Woods.
Apropos holds a special place for me.
Owner Lorraine McElroy made an impression long before she expanded to her hugely successful Apropos and Apropos After Five.
The original Apropos opened 15 years ago in tiny quarters but what McElroy lacked in space, she made up for in inventory and sheer enthusiasm. Shoes with clear heels, crystals woven into clothing, she had styles I'd never seen before.
On my first purchase, she took my number for her file. Soon, she'd come to know I was one of 10 kids and when we drew names for Christmas, she got familiar with my sisters' tastes.
One year she called to say if I had Laurie's name, she thought she had the perfect gift. Her disappointment was palpable when I broke it to her I had brother, Phil's name. (Five boys, five girls - it was bound to happen one year.) But that sums up Port Stanley.
You can keep your malls. We've already got the free parking.
But we've got something you can't put a price on.
It's the personal touch.

From clowning to theater, Osgood gives her all

Growing up, Kathleen Osgood didn't set out to become a professional clown or the onstage sound effects person for a live radio theater company. She wanted to be a farmer.

"They called me 'the reluctant thespian,' because I'd do anything to stay behind the curtain instead of getting on the stage," laughs Osgood. "But I always ended up in every school play and church play, plus I was in the band. But I wasn't one of the people who dreamed about being a performer — I wanted to go into agriculture."

Osgood got a degree in entomology with a minor in agriculture education from the University of Florida. She went to work for the Florida Department of Agriculture, where she remained for 25 years — the job eventually brought Osgood to her present perch in Monticello. She retired two months ago.

She is doing her best to enjoy her retirement to the fullest — taking a two-week trip to Europe with her 86-year-old father, adopting a new Labrador puppy and performing in shows at the Monticello Opera house. At the same time, she is fighting late-stage lung cancer, which — even though she never smoked — has spread to her bones.

It was while living and teaching in Key West right after graduation that Osgood finally succumbed to the lure of performance. She needed to take continuing education classes for her teaching certificate, and one of the courses she took was a class in clowning.

"The teacher was from Amsterdam, and he was with the Pigeon Drop Theatre, a street theater group. Their business card was a picture of … well, you can imagine," says Osgood. "He put me together with two other women and we became The Spumoni Sisters, the world's best all-female clown troupe. Well, really, the world's only all-female clown troupe."

For several years, The Spumoni Sisters worked in Key West, and on school breaks they trekked across the South to perform on the streets of New Orleans. Unfortunately, a bad car accident ended the troupe's travels.

"I was in full clown makeup, and I got thrown through the windshield onto the car that hit us. It was raining, and they skidded into us really hard, and I smacked against the glass like a bug," says Osgood. "I left an imprint of clown makeup — this squashed white face on the windshield.

"It's weird, but when I found out my cancer had metastasized, the doctor explained that it only gets into bones that have already been weakened, and asked me if I'd ever hurt my neck in a car accident. I guess that really came back years later to haunt me."

Soon after the accident, Osgood returned to her hometown of Palmetto and began working in agricultural labs. She taught clowning classes on the side at Manatee Community College while also continuing her professional clowning career. Some of her students went on to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.

She taught a wide range of clowning skills, including makeup, mime, juggling and even fire-eating. But the most important skill for a clown, Osgood says, is to learn to express things with your body.

"If you're trying to convey that you are smart, you would lead with your head. And if you're trying to convey that you are stupid, you let your head hang back," she explains. "If you want to express loving kindness, you hold your hands back so that your chest — your heart — is out. You're portraying a character and your body has to go along with it."

Renovations help home reach its potential

Katherina Kalman could see what others did not. Beyond the blue shag carpet and walls of purple, green, pink and lavender, Katherina envisioned how she could transform her future home.

The 1,500-square-foot Springfield house hadn't sold immediately, largely because the interior aesthetics challenged most prospective buyers. But Katherina, who liked the location, large master bathroom and blank canvas offered by the lack of landscaping, saw the abode's potential.

Removing the blue carpet that ran throughout the house was one of Katherina's first changes when she moved in five years ago. In its place, she put hardwood in the living room, kitchen and hallway and neutral carpet in the bedrooms and office.

Textured walls updated the look of the home, built in 1996, and Katherina chose warm colors accented by red in the hallway, which ties into the wool tapestry in the living room. Katherina's mother made the wall hanging, which is a replica of one of the six panels that comprise the 15th-century The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries that hang in France's Musee National du Moyen Age.

All lighting is new, and Katherina customized the pantry -- a must-have change for someone who likes to cook.

"I only eat at home," she says. "I am a gourmet cook, and I cook international cuisine."

That makes sense, considering Katherina's background: She is a first-generation American. Her father escaped Hungary in 1956 and arrived in America with nothing but the clothes he wore. Her mother is German and survived World War II while her own father served on the Russian front.

Katherina has lived all over the world, from Germany to Saudi Arabia to Turkey and Switzerland. After living in urban areas like Denver, Houston and Washington, D.C., Katherina landed in Springfield in 1990.

Home is a relative term. As she says, "Wherever my shoes are, that's where I'm happy."

Still, Katherina has incorporated meaningful items in her home. Riding is a lifelong passion, and Katherina displays memorabilia that reflect her skill at eventing, a competitive sport in the equestrian world. One of her proudest moments came when she won the 2003 Bronze Medal Rider Award from the United States Dressage Federation, which is framed and hanging on a wall with other riding-related items.

The few family things Katherina has are also meaningful, such as her silver flatware. When her maternal family had to flee their home during the war, Katherina's mother, then 4 years old, had a backpack in which she was able to stow away six silver spoons. When Katherina was married, her grandmother's gift was the complete set to complement those six spoons that began in Germany and now reside across an ocean and half a country away in Katherina's house.

Veterans prepare to welcome Moving Wall to Westland

Beginning with on opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, the Vietnam Moving Wall will be on display around the clock for four days on the east lawn at Westland City Hall.

It's the second visit to Westland by the moving wall - the first came in 2006. The Westland Veterans Association is sponsoring the display.

“Probably 50,000 people came out that time (in 2006). What we found last time was that at times, there was a continual flow of people,” said Ken Mehl, Westland Veterans Association president. “It's just a unique thing. You'll be surprised at how many people come through at night - their time is a private thing.”

The Moving Wall is the half-size replica of the Washington, D.C., Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than 20 years. The names of those who gave their lives or who remain missing in action from the Vietnam War are inscribed in the order they died.

“I think the importance of the wall is the history of it. It allows people to see something that they wouldn't be able to see unless they go to Washington, D.C.,” said Mehl. “It gives families a place where children can see it. It's part of history. For me personally, I know a lot of people on the wall.”

Along with fund-raising efforts to pay for the visit, the Westland Veterans Association also has to make sure there are people on site 24 hours a day during the visit keeping on eye on the memorial, helping visitors find names and keeping the memorial clean. Following a recent volunteers meeting, Mehl said the response was good and most slots were filled.

About 25 wreaths from various veterans organizations are expected to be placed at the Moving Wall during the opening ceremony. Families of military personnel listed on the wall are invited to be seated in a special area at the opening ceremony and will be allowed to visit the wall before it opens to the public.

The official closing ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 24, although the Moving Wall will remain open until approximately 9 a.m. Monday, July 25.

In addition, the Michigan Moving Wall will be on display Thursday and Friday. The Michigan Wall lists all the Michigan men and women who were casualties in the Vietnam War. This is the first time the Michigan Wall will be displayed in Westland.

In addition to the wall, there will be military displays, a beer tent, food, games and live entertainment will be offered daily.

Visitors can help support U.S. troops overseas by making a donation of items such as heavy duty shower shoes, long and short sleeve cotton T-shirts, toiletries, writing materials, individual snack packets and books or a money to help cover shipping. There will be a special area set up for donations.

'Elvis' Sings, Dances in Chappaqua

For Anthony Liguori, an Elvis impersonator for about 25 years, Wednesday night's performance got folks dancing and kids crowding to the front of the gazebo stage in interest.

Liguori, who did renditions of works by The King that included "Blue Suade Shoes," "Burning Love" and "Jailhouse Rock," was the second act of four taking place for New Castle's summer concert series.

Dressed in a replica of a 1970 outfit that Elvis wore in Las Vagas, he enjoyed the occasion.

"It’s a really nice place, it’s a beautiful park, the kids are great."

Liguori, over the course of his career, has performed at the Meadowlands, cruise ships, casinos and theaters. For about the last eight years, he has teamed up with Bill Turner & Blue Smoke, which was on hand for the concert. Turner was once part of Bill Haley and His Comets.

Liguori also does Catholic group fundraisers, which he goes into more detail about here in an interview with our sister site, Hasbrouck Heights Patch, in New Jersey.

Model collection

Karl Lagerfeld had shoes that lit up like blue torches and a robot Coco Chanel perched atop a replica of the pillar in Paris's Place Vendome. Dutch designer Iris van Herpen sent out a dress with a skirt resembling a scouring pad and Alexis Mabille's bride wore green.

It was Stephane Rolland who showed that gimmicks don't need to be gauche, creating a collection inspired by 80-year-old American modelling legend Carmen Dell'Orefice.

"What inspired this collection was an eternal grace, an alluring attitude, a formidable presence, that of the great Carmen Dell'Orefice," Rolland says. "As a muse, she is statuesque and appears as a long and mysterious figure, just like a stroke of black ink topped with a white cloud."

Fighting words

THERE were no gimmicks at Azzedine Alaia's intimate return to the couture calendar. Few editors were included in the audience at the Tunisian-born designer's first show since 2003; US Vogue's editor Anna Wintour was a notable absentee. It may have something to do with Alaia's recent comments in Virgine magazine about Wintour's sense of style.

"When I see how she is dressed, I don't believe in her tastes one second," Alaia said. "Anyway, who will remember Anna Wintour in the history of fashion? No one. Take Diana Vreeland, she is remembered because she was so chic."

Fortunately, Alaia's collection was more restrained than his words, earning the praise of Style.com's Tim Blanks.

"His focus was as sharp as the laser cutting that created the latticed velvet on his eveningwear," Blanks said.

"It felt like the designer was exploring all the possibilities of a tightly edited handful of ideas, starting with one that was newest for long-time fans: the coat-dress."

Little and large

FROM little things big things are growing for the Eveden underwear group, which is targeting petite Australian women.

Eveden already services a curvy clientele with the Elomi range but recently acquired the French label Huit, which specialises in smaller briefs and bras.

"We hear a lot about women with D cups and bigger but there is a big market for well-made lingerie that starts at an A cup," says Janine Fisk, general manager of Eveden Australia.

"Huit has been popular in Europe for years. They were one of the first labels to create bras with air cushions.

"They also feature briefs that enhance the shape of women lucky enough to have a small bottom. I expect a great take-up in Australia."

British company Eveden set up an Australian branch 3 1/2years ago, following the overseas success of Australian brands such as Elle Macpherson and Collette Dinnigan.

"The company's thinking was that if Australians could sell their underwear to them, they could do the same thing," Fisk says.

In a crowded market Eveden is already having an effect on underwear drawers across the country, with about 350 stockists. From August 1, Myer will stock Elomi and the premium Fauve brand, which goes from a B to a GG.

"We're experiencing 20 per cent growth in the Australian market a year," Fisk says.

To improve its position in the market Eveden started the financial year by reducing the prices of many of its bras by $5. Bras in the Huit range start at $79.95 with briefs starting at $44.95.

"Boutiques that sell our products are doing it tough at the moment and this was our way to get people shopping," Fisk says.

"The strong Australian dollar also helps. It's the little things that make a difference."

Rambo-like effort needed to save famous Hope bridge

As the Rambo-themed First Blood: The Final Take celebration got underway Sunday alongside the banks of the majestic Coquihalla River in Hope, there was one question on everyone's mind: Will he be here?

By “he," they of course meant Sylvester Stallone, the Hollywood action star whose 1983 movie First Blood put the tiny B.C. town on the map and created a generation of “Rambo" fans.

On Sunday, 30 years later after that first Rambo movie was filmed in Hope, residents gathered amongst movie props and fans to celebrate the iconic Kawkawa Bridge, a key filming location that is being torn down beginning Monday.

“It's a sad state of affairs," Brian McKinney, an organizer and fan, said of the bridge's demise. “This movie has become a cult phenomenon. The people that love this movie are fanatics. But they're good fanatics."

Those include Simon Birmingham, a 30-something landscape gardener who traveled from Southampton, England, to attend the event.

“I've been a fan of First Blood since '83," he said. “It just touched me; I don't know why. I can watch it every day, I just never get sick of it."

Dressed in Rambo's trademark outfit -- a forest green U.S. army jacket, jeans and a headband -- Birmingham is a dead ringer for the early ‘80s Stallone, though, as he points out, he's worn the wrong shoes. His real Rambo boots are stuck in customs.

“Screen accuracy for me is quite important," Birmingham said, looking mournfully at his brown hiking boots. “It's a bit of a letdown, because they're not the boots he wears in the film."

Birmingham, in any case, doesn't win the day's Rambo look-a-like contest. That title goes to Pig, a hefty, panting English bulldog sporting a black wig and rope belt.

Though Stallone himself did not attend, organizers were nonplused. “We knew this event would be legendary, even without him here," Riley Forman said.

One celebrity was on hand, however: Stephen Chang, a B.C. actor who played a Viet Cong commander in First Blood's flashback scenes. Chang hams it for TV cameras and fans, striking martial arts poses and flashing a glinting replica knife.

“I feel good because this movie will never die," he said. “As a matter of fact, I still get residuals after 30 years!" At a nearby table, Chang, the former Mr. Hong Kong 1970, autographs glossy photos for $15 apiece.

As the day comes to an end and attendees trekked to a local cinema for a special First Blood screening, organizers were already looking ahead to their next Rambo event: a 30th anniversary party over Thanksgiving 2012.

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As Mouret explained to Vogue, “[Women] see shows the day after they happen. Why should they have to wait?” The collection was an enormous success,lanvin shoes online, with some pieces selling out within hours.
Christian Louboutin Wedding Shoes Jennifer Lopez attended the photo call for her new film, The Back Up Plan, in Germany last month in a fitted grey RM by Roland Mouret Aphrodite dress. The gorgeous cap sleeve dress has a twisted detail on one shoulder, two tiny pockets either side of the dress and is cut low on the back. She paired her dress with Emilio Pucci heels, silver and platinum bracelets and gold hooped earrings.
The launch of RM by the designer Roland Mouret was designed as a global interactive event. Its inaugural Fashion Show was held on July 4, 2007 in Paris and featured 21 “easy-chic”, geometric dresses. The next day, the show was available on the internet, and consumers could pre-order the garments on a website.

Olivia Wilde attended the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party and was the essence of old Hollywood glamour in a stunning gown by RM by Roland Mouret. The dress’ texture added the perfect touch to the simple design Christian Louboutin Wedding Shoes , which she cinched at the waist with a skinny belt. The actress added her own accessories, by pairing it with a bold deep-red clutch and red satin Ferragamo. Her bold red lips,tory burch sale, and styled loose waves completed the ensemble.

Full length sot of Kristen Stewart attending The Cinema Society & Piaget screening of Twilight Saga Eclipse??

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Kristen Stewart rocked another LBD at the Cinema Society film screening of Eclipse. The long-sleeved mini was covered in deep plum palettes for a fluid wave effect, from the RM by Roland Mouret Fall 2010 collection. The actress kept her accessories simple with a classic pair of patent platform Christian Louboutin pumps.Christian Louboutin Replica


Naomi Watts has rocked three different RM by Roland Mouret dresses on the red carpet over the past month, most recently to the Tony Awards in NYC on Sunday night.

This past week, Christian Louboutin Wedding Shoes multiple celebrities sported his ensembles across the red carpet.

Mila Kunis arrives in style at the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball, held on Saturday (June 5) at a private Mandeville Canyon estate in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old actress wore a ‘Bora’ dress in dove grey by RM by Roland Mouret .

Amanda Seyfried attended the New York premiere of her new movieChole in an RM by Roland Mouret turquoise dress. She accessorized with black patent peep-toe heels and kept jewelry to a minimum with only simple hoop earrings and stacked bracelets mixed in.

Looking polished at the “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” photo call at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, Carey Mulligan styled her RM by Roland Mouret dress with a black belt and Fendi cutout heels.