The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

The Serendipity Chronicles

Lisa Stark is the kind of woman every Miami fashionista should know. Not only is she beyond stylish, she’s a ninja of sorts: when it comes to finding, finagling and fetching the most fabulous pre-owned (she calls them pre-loved) luxury items in South Florida, she does it all from her modest, but chic little Boca Raton boutique called “Serendipity Consignment.”

I first met Lisa and her retail posse on a glorious Saturday afternoon and to say her store was jammed packed with shoppers (who couldn’t care less about the amazing weather) would be a gross understatement. It was as if the retail Olympics were unfolding right before my very eyes. Women were sifting through a plethora Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Chanel purses.

Did I mention the shoes? Neatly lined-up on racks around the room where labels that would make even Sarah Jessica Parker jealous: Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Christian Louboutin, just to name a few. The clothing was just as impressive with skirts, shirts, pants and dresses from Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, Marc Jacobs, Alexis, Parker and well, the list goes (frankly, it would take up this entire blog.)

The most impressive part, though, was the energy and spirit of the ladies selling Lisa’s luxury items. Her inner sales circle is a group of really strong, good-natured, wonderfully, sweet women. The group takes customer service to an entirely different level because they can. They’re in the type of environment that encourages it, which allows them to be interesting and interested.

Lisa calls it “The white glove treatment” and she takes it very seriously, paying special attention to each and every person who walks into her store. I don’t wanna sound like a negative Nelly, but I was taken aback by her posse’s genuine kindness and professionalism. It’s probably because I’m a mall baby. I guess it’s my age and the way retail played itself out in the 80’s and 90’s.

Back then, it was all about mass production, where everyone was sold a blanket idea, along with cookie cutter fashion trends. Clothing chains quickly took over the singular experience of a local boutique and instead of being greeted in a grateful manner when I walked into a store, I grew accustomed to being grunted at and treated like I was going to steal something.

Luckily, those days are dwindling as people grow savvier about how they spend their hard-earned money. Lisa gets that, too. With social media in full effect, it’s all about selling a feeling, an experience, a lifestyle. Her approach is so successful, her consigners have become customers and her customers have become consigners. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, but especially for shoppers looking to score the things they’ve always dreamed of without putting a kidney on eBay.

Read the rest of the blog at www.WSVN.com or shop the looks with the credits listed below.

Shop the blog looks at www.consignmentboca.com
Twitter: @SerendipityBoca
IG: @SerendipityConsignment
FB: Serendipity Consignment Boca

Twitter: @ShireenSandoval
IG: @ShireenSandoval
ssandoval@wsvn.com
www.shireensandoval.com

Photographer: James Woodley
Twitter: @BritFloridian
IG: @BritFloridian
www.James-Woodley.com

Hair & Make-up: Odette Hernandez
Twitter: @Odettehernandz
IG: @O.D.E.T.T

Styling & Assist: Jackie Kay
Blog ideas: jackie211@yahoo.com

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
MattAuerbach@yahoo.com

Feeling Magenta

Feeling Magenta

Feeling Magenta

Feeling Magenta

Feeling Magenta

Feeling Magenta

Feeling Magenta

Despite the hustle and bustle around the television station, when I closed the door to my office, the room fell silent and my composure quickly started to crack. The brief reprieve from the buzz of the newsroom left me open to a wide range of emotions: I laughed, cried and then quickly buried my head into my hands and let out a silent scream. I was undeniably NUTS with excitement.

Like a boxer who had just won the most important title bout of his life, I balled both of my hands up into tight fists and punched the air with an enthusiasm reserved only for the movies…”Rocky,” “Rudy” and “Chariots Of Fire” had nothing on me. It wasn’t enough, though, so I jabbed the air again, this time like an athlete who had just won an Olympic gold medal.

One she had worked and sacrificed her entire life for. I had finally done it; won the match, earned the medal and the moment was all mine. I wanted to call someone and share it. I wanted to tell someone that the years of sacrifice, commitment and hard work had finally paid off. All the holidays I had worked through, birthday parties I had missed, family reunions I couldn’t attend and relationships I couldn’t sustain because all of my energy always went to work – I wanted to scream to anyone who would listen that it was ALL WORTH IT, but I couldn’t…

Just minutes before my air-punching moment, the Vice President of Sunbeam Television notified me that after a rigorous two month-long audition process to become co-host of Deco Drive, I had indeed landed the job: however, until we hammered out contract details, released a formal media statement and announced it to the inner fold of Channel 7, my promotion was to be kept a secret. I obeyed as if my very career depended on it and well, it did. A few weeks later…

Read the rest of  “Feeling Magenta” at www.WSVN.com or shop the looks featured in the blog at www.MagentaCouture.com.

Twitter: @MagentaCouture
IG: @MagentaCouture
FB: Magenta Couture

Twitter: @ShireenSandoval
IG: @ShireenSandoval
ssandoval@wsvn.com
www.shireensandoval.com

Photographer: James Woodley
Twitter: @BritFloridian
IG: @BritFloridian
www.James-Woodley.com

Hair & Make-up: Odette Hernandez
Twitter: @Odettehernandz
IG: @O.D.E.T.T

Assist: Jackie Kay
Blog ideas: Jackiekay211@yahoo.com

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
MattAuerbach@yahoo.com

Cool as a Cupcake

Cool as a Cupcake

Cool as a Cupcake

Cool as a Cupcake

Cool as a Cupcake

Mattie McDonald was one of the prettiest women I’d ever seen. She had light green eyes, dark brown hair and milky white skin. When she wafted by me, she smelled of lavender, honeysuckle and some other hypnotizing perfume I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I spent a lot of my spare time daydreaming about her and not just because I wanted to know her. Ultimately, I wanted to be her.

I know it sounds a little “Single White Female” of me, but really, it was a little more innocent than that. Mattie, or Mrs. McDonald, as I knew her, was my 5th grade homeroom teacher and I was completely in love with her. I mean, everyone in my class was. I guess you could say I adored her. Here’s why…

Read about the rest of my article on cupcake fashions at www.wsvn.com or create your own ladylike “Cool as a Cupcake” look from my blog wardrobe:

T-Shirt: www.bloomingdales.com
Skirt: www.tedbaker.com
Necklace: www.forever21.com
Bracelets: www.kokopalenki.com
Ring: www.josetteredwolf.com
Purse: http://uk.monsoon.co.uk
Shoes: http://www.giuseppezanottidesign.com

Thursday, July 17, 2014 ,