Your One-Stop Color-Shop: Elements

Rows of shorts in purple, green, linen, and pale metallic gold. Purple print dress by Alice + Olivia.

If any of the following are on your summer shopping list, head to Elements:

• caftans
• bold prints
• colorful shorts
• bright cuffs
• kaleidoscope patterns
• local jewels
• colorblocked clutches
• flowy fabrics
• massive sale racks

Plus, June and July are months of seriously hot deals at Elements. For starters, the sales racks (four large ones) are full of designer pieces marked down to 50 percent off. Buy two 50-percent-off items, and get the third for 75 percent off. (I scored this Erin Fetherston halter maxi dress with a sheer hem for half the price today.) Shop Monday-Thursday from 3 pm to 6 pm and awaiting you is complimentary champagne and 15 percent off your purchase. (Who needs happy hour?) If that’s not good enough, how about gifts with purchase? On Tuesdays, spend $500 and receive a gift certificate for a mani or pedi. Spend $1,000 and get both. So basically, Tuesday between 3 pm and 6 pm is officially the best time of the week. You can snag free champagne, serious discounts, and a free mani/pedi.

(clockwise from top left) Locally designed stingray skin cuffs and bangles, new obsession: Erica Weiner jewelry affordably priced under $200; Dallas designed Archipelago clutches in solid colors and colorblock snakeskin, Park blouses in rainbow shades

Elements is FULL of flow-y, vacation-y caftans that will help you survive the summer. Prints cover the spectrum from ladylike hues to statement-making on-trend photographic prints.

The staple-worthy sheer blouse, made more interesting with a cage cutout.

Look What I Found at Relativity Outdoors: Cool Baubles, Stylish Boots, and Colorful Tops

All winter wear is 25 percent off right now.

I can’t keep myself out of Relativity Outdoors lately. It could be that I found unique but functional gifts in there for everyone I know over Christmas. Or maybe it’s the way the outdoor adventure store’s furnished with shelves of hiking boots, chic tree branches, and snowy mountain landscape photos that makes me feel like I’ve actually spent some time outdoors during my lunchbreak. Whatever it is, I know I love stopping in, finding out about the latest technological advancements in Columbia jackets, styles of Arc’Teryx military grade sports bras and tanks, and newest shipment of Love Nail Tree jewelry. Oh, and taking home a garment from the sale rack. (Today I bought the boyfriend some slick, black Element board shorts for $25.) Check out my favorite things from the shop today.

1. Columbia tunic, $75
2. Soft-as-butter jacket
3. Horny Toad button-down, $85
4. Sandal island
5. Arc’Teryx tanks, $59 to $69
6. Sorel “Tofino” boot, $140
7. Love Nail Tree binoculars necklace, $42
8. Love Nail Tree rings with foreign coins, $17
9. Loe Nail Tree charm necklaces
10. Hemp t-shirts, 2 for $30
11. Patagonia “Advocate” men’s slip-ons, $55

Look What I Found at Lula B’s

I love Lula B’s. The outdoor banner advertises for “cool dealers.” Ain’t that the truth. For those who haven’t been: Deep Ellum’s Lula B’s (there are two locations) is a big, two-story warehouse full of retro stuff. Shop for furniture, clothing, jewelry, kitchenware, barware (lots of barware), lighting fixtures, shoes, and crap, I mean, um, weird odds and ends. Take a look at my favorite finds from yesterday:

1. Bag, $27
2. Vintage teal velvet cape, $26.50
3. Sequin tops are all the rage, and these vintage versions ring in at $25, $18.50, and $35 (from left to right).
4. Chic lamp
5. The store’s packed with colorful crystal under $20.
6. Bugs, bats, and flying lizards for sale.
7. Who wouldn’t love this sunshiney phone for $45?
8. Not old, but super cool. Alice in Wonderland-themed jewelry box.
9. Bug-filled bracelets, $25

Look What I Found: Minty Dog Toys at Green Pet

Minty dog toy ($12.95)

While cruising around Green Pet, I stumbled upon these super cute holiday toys perfect for any dog’s stocking! Not only does the nearly indestructible toy look like a mint, it smells and presumably tastes like one as well. (I didn’t actually gnaw on it myself to check the taste, but fresh doggy breath = bonus holiday present for you.) Even if your pup is sure he’s not on the naughty list, tell him to put out some cookies for Santa Claus this year, just to be safe. - Katherine Paullus

Look What I Found: Fun Greeting Cards from the Dallas Museum of Art Store

About $4 for each.

You could probably get all of your holiday shopping done at the Dallas Museum of Art gift store. More on that later. For now, go grab a handful of fun cards from their selection. Three examples are above.

Look What I Found: Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis for Sale

A recently hatched butterfly.

Avant Garden is selling these beautiful butterfly cocoons for $50 a piece. They’d make special hostess gifts and presents for nature lovers. When the little nest turns black, you can wait for the Monarch to hatch. Hurry in; there are only a few left.

Look What I Found: Cropped Lace Tank

$19 at Pitaya

The cropped top thing is in, whether we like it or not. This $19 lace version, found on the sale rack at Pitaya, is a great way to experiment with the look. Head to West Village to try it out.

Look What I Found: Leather Jackets at Lilli London

These trendy leather jackets stay around the $399 mark. Not bad at all.

So, along with the beautiful silver cuff I found at CaritoCaró in West Village, I also found a new store, Lilli London. For those of you who shop West Village or post up at the Starbucks on a regular basis, you probably already know about this store. But have you been in? If not, you need to. Along with the incredibly comfortable, slinky Charli collection of jersey-cotton duds, there are dresses and jackets, too. This rack of leather jackets was an exciting surprise. The black ones in the middle with the sweater collar and sleeves is going for an easy $399. That’s a great price for butter-soft leather.

Elephant Poo Paper at Green Living

Poo turned paper.

If you already knew that paper-from-poop existed, pardon this news announcement. For those of you who, like me, are just finding out and excited to stock up on PooPooPaper to give as gifts, go find it at Green Living like I did. If you’ve never been to the Lakewood eco lifestyle shop, you need to go anyway, regardless of poop, paper, or the combination of both. The new description in our Green Living store listing will tell you why.

Look What I Found: Blue Faux Leather Military Jacket

I was at Bittano recently and they had barely unpacked this fantastic blue faux leather jacket before I snatched it up for a photo to post here. I haven’t seen anything similar around town (well, I’ve seen lots of military looks but not in this color or material). And now that the weather is finally cooling down you’ll have lots of opportunities to wear it. Throw it over a dress for work or pair it with jeans and a tee for the weekend. Practice saying “thank you” because you’re going to get a lot of compliments. Oh, and at just over $98, you won’t break the bank but you’ll make a good winter investment.

Look What I Found: Halloween Oreos at Stanley Korshak

Halloween Cookies, $20

If you’re like me and start eating Halloween candy way before Halloween, then head to Stanley Korshak to nab a tasty treat that’s sure to spook your taste buds. These cute packages have chocolate-covered Oreos inside. Yummy! They’re kind of a splurge at $20, but they’d make a great gift. –Katherine Paullus

Look What I Found: Adorable Halloween Pet Cards

Halloween Cards, $2.95

While cruising for Halloween costumes for my dogs at Avenue Barket, I found the cutest Halloween pet cards I’ve ever seen. Whether they’re for your beloved pooch, or for a special someone, these cards are sure to bring a jack-o-lantern-style smile to anyone’s face. Since they’re only $2.95, you can buy several. Also, the owner is super nice has been known to throw in some free doggy trick-or-treats… –Katherine Paullus

Look What I Found: Holiday Dresses at Accents

You may think it’s a little early to be shopping for holiday dresses but I can assure you it is not. Why? Because if you wait until it gets closer you run the risk of having the same dress as someone else. And even though we’d all handle a situation like that with grace and class, you know that on the inside you’d be seriously bummed out. So if you start shopping now, chances are, that won’t happen. That being said, I was at Accents yesterday and saw two fun frocks that would be perfect for your holiday soirees. Details make budget-friendly clothing look expensive and designer-made; that’s why I love the red and silver dress pictured here. The cool pleating on the side makes an otherwise blah dress chic and unique. And because it’s just $44 you’ll have extra money to spend on Christmas gifts, or heck, another dress. If you want something a bit more blingy try this black number. Again, great detailing.  And you can’t tell from this picture, but it has a sexy, open back. It’s $52. Beat that.

Look What I Found: Cropped Tee at Jenna B’s

Found this cropped green and navy, long-sleeved top at Jenna B’s, and I’m totally kicking myself for not taking it home when I snapped the photo. Isn’t it fantastic? And it’s only $53.

Look What I Found: Boo! Boo! Bandages at Nest

How darling are these?! I’m obsessed with Halloween (as you’ll discover next month), so, of course, I had to buy these band-aids. For $4, you get four different styles: black with skulls, orange with spider webs, red with ghosts, and yellow with bats. So cute. Check out Nest’s sale while you’re there.