‘Tis the season to be shopping! Yep, it is holiday sale time and serafina has the sales. The best sales serafina readers should consider for this week and next are:

Planet Lulu
Planet Lulu is having an online sale this Tuesday 11/28. Its by invite only so you best sign up asap. There’s lots of new stuff to choose from — denim, pajamas, watches–you name it. And what’s great is the free shipping hour. Need more info? Check out their MySpace page.

Lily McNeal & Twelfth Street
There is a two day Lily McNeal and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent sample sale Downtown this weekend. Additional designers include: Mimo, Pink Dice, Garcon, Kerry Cassill, Denner and Pink Vogel.

The Cooper Building
860 Los Angeles Street Ste 415, Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-622-5399
Friday 12/1 10am-7pm and Saturday 12/2 11am- 4pm
Map

Billion Dollar Babes
BDB has a wide variety for all of your holiday shopping. A couple of my favorite designers featured this month are: Alice & Olivia, Geren Ford, Wendy Hil, Ya Ya and Tree. And honestly what’s better than shopping with a martini in hand?

Should you want to shop the Friday 12/1 VIP sale check out their website to sign up.

Barker Hangar
3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Friday 12/1 5pm-9pm and Saturday 12/2 9am-5pm
Map

Joie
Joie’s sale has an abundance of tops, jeans, cargos, dresses and more. Discounts are as much as 85% off retail. I’ve got my list and I’m checking it twice!

2323 East 52nd Street, Vernon, CA 90058
323-277-3900 (ex.573)
12/8 12noon- 6pm and Sat 12/9 8:30am-4pm
Map

Raw 7’s bold, couture streetwear — think rock ‘n’ roll meets Kate Moss — includes velvety-soft cashmere tops with original artwork and beading, cashmere slip dresses, and luxurious beanies and scarves — everything a gal wants for posh (and cozy) holiday gatherings. Remix high-quality leather, silk, and cashmere –- seriously, softer than a newborn’s tush -– add intricate naughty meets nice stitching and beading, blend well, and you have Raw 7, whose designs are literally wearable works of art.

And the best part of it all: the XS runs 0P, and they fit me perfectly. Sleeves aren’t too long and no tailoring is needed. I’ve added a few Raw 7 designs to my holiday wish list. I have been a very good girl, indeed.

In Los Angeles you can find a selection of Raw 7’s cashmere sweaters at Sophea Parros in Pasadena and Thousand Oaks.

Online the sweaters can be found at Revolve Clothing, Couture Candy, Nordstrom, and Blue Bee.

Petite, pregnant, fashion conscious, and on the hunt for ingenious camisoles and chemises that will accommodate your growing belly? Maternity line Larrivo carries petite sizes for expecting and nursing mamasitas. Larrivo hasn’t forgotten that women want to stay stylish and sexy — in and out of the boudoir — during their pregnancy.

Larrivo’s garments are offered in a range of designs and fabrics. But what makes the line truly spectacular is the versatility; the camisoles, chemises, and bras can be worn during pregnancy, while nursing, and beyond. The innovative and patented NurtureBra® Support System provides a built-in bra that has an easy-to-open hidden snap feature. 32AA or 32A? No need to worry! Larrivo petite sizing fits even the smallest of A-cups.

All pieces are designed to be stylish, comfortable, and easy to nurse in.
Petite. Practical. Stylish. Sexy made simple.

To find Larrivo’s petite sizes in your area, check out the store locator complete with international destinations (call ahead to ensure they have petites). Or purchase petite sizes directly from Larrivo online.

My dear friend Jane was married this September to the dashing Damon Seeley. Naturally, she was a stunning bride — what else could she be in an exquisite and perfectly fitted dress? I asked Jane to share her gown experience with serafina.

Where did you find your wedding dress? And what designer did you choose?

I found it at Galleria Bridal, a lovely boutique in Santa Rosa. Designed by Maggie Soterro, my dress, style Mariella Maria, absolutely lived up to its beautiful name.

Did you need to do alterations?

I purchased a size 0P, which helped length-wise, though it still needed a bit of hemming. Otherwise, it was absolutely perfect. The bodice had a corset-style back, which saved me a ton of time and money in custom alterations. And, it wasn’t too tight, which meant I could wear it comfortably all night long!

Being petite, I needed a bit of help filling out the top so I purchased a silicone NuBra. They worked perfectly under the gown, and I loved them!

Would you recommend this boutique and gown to other petite brides?

I highly recommend Maggie Soterro’s corset-style dresses and gowns — especially for petite brides. And the boutique I purchased from, Galleria Bridal, carries many of Maggie’s designs.

Galleria Bridal
3201 Cleveland Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: 707-544-3695
Fax: 707-544-3636
info@galleriabridal.com
Map

Closed Tuesday

Petite starlets, take notice! Something sweet, fresh and appropriately sized is coming to a dressing room near you. Something more than the trivial selection at your typical department store. I’m talking about smart, innovative clothing you’ll want to set aside for your next Hollywood extravaganza. It’s Tamiece. Named after the Tagalog word for sweet, this line is the petite-fashion child of Sheena and Pam Borja.

Like many of us, Sheena and Pam found themselves buying clothing that required a tailor’s touch after purchase. They vowed to rescue the overlooked market, and created a petite-minded line for their Fall/Winter 2006 debut.

Their inspiration came out of frustration; they were fed up with the laughable selection of petite-sized contemporary clothing. (Sound familiar?) So, the sisters took action. They created a sexy, party-ready line that takes notice.

Their full line is specifically proportioned to the petite frame — from the sleeve length and torso height, to the pant inseam and pocket placement. I’m telling ya — these garments fit. You’ll want to keep your eye on these gals…

San Francisco shops that carry Tamiece:

Mingle
1815 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 674-8811
Map

RAG
(Residents Apparel Gallery)
541 Octavia Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 621-7718
Map

Outside the SFO area? Find Tamiece online at Indie Shopper.

Ladies, after long years of sole searching, I am transfixed with Sacco, a chain shoe store based in New York that would make Imelda Marcos proud. Sacco carries every fantastic style imaginable, all made with superior quality Italian soft leather and suede. Not the jet setter I once was, I rely on Sacco’s website to find all the boots and shoes I crave. Not enough?

Sacco has every shoe you need to pound the pavement in style: evening, casual, work, comfort, and savvy city slicker boots. They also carry a delicious selection of handbags, all faultlessly paired with companion shoes.

Many of my readers and friends who wear a size 5 shoe have requested that I compile a listing of stores and websites that carry small shoe sizes. Since it’s boot season, I perused the Sacco site and compiled the best city boots for walking –all sized five. (Sacco conveniently lists a sizing chart for Euro/ US sizes.) There are many 5-1/2 and larger sizes to choose from. If they don’t have your size in a particular style, give them a jingle at: (212) 243–2070

Should you live in NYC and have never ventured into a Sacco (gasp!), I’ve linked the store locator.

For my readers in the Los Angeles area — if only they had one — or five – locations in Southern California — write in and let the company know we desperately need a Sacco in LA: Comfort@saccoshoes.com. Are you ready boots? Start walkin’.

Dara ($275)
Size 5 available in black and brown leather only. 2-1/2″ stacked heel, leather lining, inside zip, leather and rubber sole. Made in Italy.

Neat ($265)
Size 5 available in black and brown leather only. 1-1/2″ stacked kitten heel, leather lining, inside zip, leather and rubber sole. Made in Italy.

Clean ($265)
Size 5 available in black, bordo, chocolate leather, and chocolate suede only. 2″ stacked leather heel, leather lining, inside zip, leather/rubber sole. Made in Italy.

Dina ($345)
Size 5 available in black leather only. 2-1/2″ stacked heel, leather lining, inside zip, leather and rubber sole. Made in Italy.

Click ($335)
Size 5 available in black leather only. 2-1/2″ stacked kitten heel, leather lining, leather and rubber sole. Made in Italy

Nine ($335)
Size 5 available in black leather only. Other sizes available in black, brown, or bordo leather. 1-1/2″ stacked kitten heel, leather lining, inside zip, leather and rubber sole. Made in Italy.

I recently spoke with petite lingerie expert and mastermind of Lula Lu, Ellen Shing. Within the interview she gave me the lowdown on brands, her inspirations, and how to shop for the perfect fit.

What inspired you to open Lula Lu?

I am a 36A and I had thought it was a common enough size until I started bra shopping. I visited several large department stores and, without fail, each time I selected a style, the store didn’t carry it in my size.

I started asking my friends — many much smaller than me — and I got this outpouring of stories of how they were often sent to the children’s department to purchase bras that would fit. Inspired, I discovered a need for a business such as mine, so I decided: Why not?

Is there a brand of panties you would recommend for my readers?

Honeydew boyshorts are great; they run tiny, so their Small is more like an XS, and fit sizes 0-2. Hanky Panky One Size Fits All Low Rise Thongs also fit many of my customers who are smaller than size 0. A huge blessing for many women.

And bras?

The latest and greatest bra I’ve added to my shop is the Bodas Cotton Basics Padded Bra. It really is a superb bra! Just recently I had a 36AA customer come in and try on the 36A. She had never found a bra that fit her so well. Its 95% cotton and the cups run very shallow–basically, everybody gets to move up a cup size.

My customers also love the Honeydew Lazy Daisy Bralette Set — glorious fit and incredibly sweet and feminine — and Eberjey’s Delirious Bralette.

What types of camisoles are best for petite sizes?

Honeydew has great small-sized cami sets. Ditto for Wendy Glez — her stuff is interchangeable between the pajamas and camisoles. If you are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary and appealingly feminine and sexy, the Arianne Emmanuelle Corset comes in XS — and it is small!

Any great pajamas I should look into?

Arianne has these incredibly soft Rachel PJs that I can barely keep in stock. Customers rave about the quality and the insane softness. Fortunately, sizes run a bit small, so they work well for petites. Wendy Glez also has some fantastic pajamas that are ultra-comfortable.

What can’t you live without?

I go in phases where I try one of the bras and wear it constantly until I become obsessed with another. Right now, I’m in a bralette phase, and I’m in love with all of them. I wear Underglam the most at this point, although Elita is a close second. Since layering is in, it’s easy to wear the bralette and then layer on top of it, especially now that the weather is getting cooler.

Any final thoughts?

Don’t give up on finding a bra that works because it’s out there! Bras are like pants — they fit every body differently. If one style doesn’t work, move on to the next one. I always tell customers, “It’s not you, its the bra.”

Play around with sizes; there is no standardization with bra sizing, even by manufacturer. The main thing is to pay attention to the fit and don’t worry so much about the size. One of my customers normally wears a 36A, but because the bra style she was buying ran very small in the cups, she fit the 36C the best.

One fit tip to remember is that cup sizing grows as the band gets larger. It matters that you get the correct band size, otherwise you’ll be swimming in the cups.

Ellen Shing is the mastermind behind Lula Lu, a San Mateo shop specializing in petite lingerie. At Lula Lu you’ll find bras sized 30AA-38A (dress sizes 0–8), and small size lingerie, sleepwear, camisoles, and panties. Lula Lu carries comfortable and fashionable lingerie that not only fits the petite figure, but is flattering as well.

What is specifically unique about Lula Lu is that the company stands by its products; a team of product testers rate and scrutinize, snag, stretch, pinch, pull, snap, unroll, and unfold all of the shop’s lingerie. This equals unparalled fit, style, and quality before you leave the store with your fancy new finds.

Lula Lu carries brands like: Wacoal, Eberjey, On Gossamer, Wendy Glez, and Princesse Tam Tam, among others. Because department stores rarely carry lingerie in petite and small sizes, Shing is always on the prey for new lines and styles suited to her petite and small-chested customers. Her most popular sizes are 34AA and 36AA. Know why? Cause good things come in small packages. That’s why!

But should your tatas reside outside San Mateo, Lula Lu is also a virtual shop. Shing offers a fully e-commerce website. Her collection is extensive both in-store and online.

Stay tuned for an interview with Ellen! Entry will be posted Thursday!

Lula Lu * 212 E. Third Avenue * San Mateo, CA 94401 * Map

(800) 798 8354 or (650) 348-8858

If you yearn for modern, fine-crafted leather accessories and bags, look no further than dean. This Los Angeles-based company sells the good stuff — pre-eminent-quality leather in purses, watchbands, belts, bracelet cuffs, and more.

Dean accessories fit. I especially like the Women’s Studded Cuff and the wide leather watch bands. They are comfortable and look great with just about everything in my closet. In fact, both the cuffs and watchbands grace my six-inch wrist without the requisite extra hole in the band.

With your wrists appropriately accessorized, dean. goes a step further with equal accommodation for your waist. They carry two belts that they can fit to your waist size on the spot. The Spine and Link belts can be adjusted by removing links upon purchase. They’ll do this for you in minutes at the Sunset shop. Both come in a large variety of multicolored leather.

There is a smattering of stores around LA that sell dean. — Ethel and Fred Segal to name a few. However, the best place to purchase dean. is at their flagship store on Sunset in Silverlake:

dean. Store
3918 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 665-2766
Map

Who doesn’t love a sale? Especially one that you can shop at from your couch! Tonight at 9pm PST Planet Lulu is having an online sale. They have anything and everything on sale 50% off retail price with hundreds of designers to choose from. Should you be so inclined to check it out, stop by their myspace location for sale coupons. Login early to snag your petite sizes!

Find further sale and registration information on the Planet Lulu site.