For the perfect accessory, consider the fabulous purses and wallets by Jimena Ysita, a Mexico City-based designer I discovered while shopping Ula Dres.

High-end and stylish, Jimena’s bags are a story in craftsmanship and artistry. In fact, for her 2008 collection, she drew inspiration from the portraits of painter Gustav Klimt and his projection of women as confident and ethereal. And her designs reflect this, featuring primary colors of black, pale pink, and gold, and an array of exotic leathers, metals, and unique fabrics.

I duly regret not snatching up every Jimena Ysita bag available at Ula Dres. But seeing as her designs are expected to premier in the U.S. within the year, I won’t have to wait long.

Should you find yourself traveling south-of-the-border in the meantime, you’ll find Jimena’s line at the following boutiques:

Colecciones 908
Homero 908
Col. Polanco
Mexico City
+52 55 52 50 22 29

Ula Dres
Luis G. Urbina 74
Col. Polanco
Mexico City
+52 55 52 81 88 66

Kloset
Feliciano Cobian 150-E
Col. Los Angeles
Torreón, Coahuila
+52 877 12 28 14 18

Suckla
Circuito Jardin #1
Alamos 3era sección
Querétaro, Qro.
+52 44 21 25 34 29

Happy holidays! Its been another successful year for serafina, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your visits, ideas and support.

Keep your comments and emails coming! To start the New Year our right, I’m already compiling articles for 2008 and I would love your input! I encourage you to leave a comment or email me with any ideas you’d like to see in petite sizing for 2008.

I wish you all a fashionable and safe 2008!

serafina

If you are stuck trying to find the right gift to give this holiday I have a great option for you to consider: the iPod nano. I received one yesterday as a gift and I have to say I didn’t know how much I wanted one of these little beauties until now.

The iPod nano is as elegant and functional as it is petite. Its thin light weight design fits in any tiny clutch. I love the high resolution picture and great sound quality which will be great long flights and airport lay overs. Its available in a rainbow of colors and with either 4 GB or 8 GB of memory. You’ll never have to be without the Style Network…

My dear loyalists, if you think you’re struggling with the ultimate gift to give your partner, imagine what your other half is feeling. Well, I’ve made it easy for the lads this season: direct them right here to the 2007 serafina holiday season gift guide.

Boys, this entry is for you! We at serafina know it’s nearly impossible to find a much-coveted gift for the petite chica in your life — and even harder if you’ve scoured the stores for her year after year. Whether this is your first gift to your girlfriend — or your twentieth — the below suggestions are sure to make her glow from within.

Banana Republic Sweaters
You like it when your beautiful lady turns heads. Help her swivel necks right off their shoulders with a smart selection of merino wool turtlenecks and shawl collar sweaters from Banana Republic. Classic, timeless, and available in a bevy of colors, these will keep your missus warm this winter.

***

Jewelry
The iconic Tiffany box. Just a glimpse of that perfect robin’s-egg blue will make her swoon with delight. Any gift from here is a statement and a lifelong treasure. Wrap your love around her wrist.

If you’re on the hunt for something truly unique, trek over to Larchmont and explore the bijoux at Sonya Ooten’s gem bar. Intricate. Elegant. Truly exceptional pieces for a truly exceptional woman.

Lingerie and PJs
Yes, we know you love to see us in it. What’s better? If it’s understated, delicious, and made by Cosabella or Nuit, we lust for it.

That said, the most perfect man-shopping-for-bras-and-panties-for-his-lady store is, without a doubt, Panty Raid in Silver Lake. Incredible selection, friendly, helpful staff, and a low-key shopping experience make this a must stop for lingerie. Gentleman, check your girl’s bra and panty sizes before you go; never buy anything too big — or too small.

Free People Chemise | XS | $66 (Bare Necessities)

Free People makes an array of sweet-n-sexy jammies that will heat up any snowy morning. (Panty Raid carries this little nightie in an XS in-store. Comes with matching red panties!)

If you aren’t in L.A., you can order it here in XS at Bare Necessities.

Coach Cashmere Scarves | $148

Coach Scarves
Made of soft, warm, and stunning cashmere, a girl can wear a Coach scarf with any coat, any ensemble, any thing, anytime. Or, if you’re lucky, she’ll wear it with nothing at all. Find these scarves at the Grove.

Stephanie Johnson Savannah Travel Cases | Foldover Bag (top) $64

Stephanie Johnson Travel Cases
Decadent and luxurious? Yes and yes. Women love their makeup, and most of us spend gobs of money on their lotions and potions. Help her protect all those bottle, jars, tubes, and pans with a posh — and wildly fantastic — full travel case set. Ohhh la la! Visit Steph’s national store locator to find them in your area.

A final but important note: Ask for a gift receipt with every purchase! Just in case it doesn’t fit or she wants to exchange. Also, be sure to look at the store’s exchange policy; some boutiques allow only a week for returns and exchanges.

I received an email today from a petite gal looking for a petite winter coat. Because I have had difficulties in the past finding the right winter coat that was stylish and that fit my small frame, I thought I would post my response to her for all petite gals searching for the right coat! Remember you’ll want to get a coat that is slightly roomy so you can fit sweaters underneath.

J.Crew Petite Classic Peacoat | XSP | $225

Eddie Bauer Convertible Down Parka | XSP | $198

Eddie Bauer has a good selection of warm and stylish coats in XSP sizes. This convertible down parka is perfect for your snowy commutes. Wear it short or wear it long depending on the weather!

Ann Taylor Plush Wool Coat | 0P | $298

I would also have a look at the Ann Taylor website for XXSP and XSP coats. Their selection contains coats that are perfect for formal occasions. The Plush Wool Coat would look excellent with a pair of tall boots!

Juicy Couture Hooded Coat | P | $398

If you are looking for something different than the chains, check out Shopbop’s size 0 selection. I love their Juicy Couture hooded coat. Its short, sexy and looks really warm.

‘Tis the season to look smashing in short embellished holiday dresses. Lucky for us, they’re ubiquitous –loads of designers are offering tinsel applique details to their holiday designs.

INC has a few that are perfect for your party hopping and they’re all on sale. The sizing only starts online at P/M however don’t let that stop you. Macy’s is thankfully on a universal system that allows them to find the dresses in any state including Hawaii. For each dress, I’ve noted where they can be found in and around the L.A. area and slightly beyond. See their handy store locator for directions. You’ll notice that there are only a few of these dresses left at the locations listed below so get ‘em while they’re hot.

INC Embellished Sheath Dress | 2P | $58 at Glendale Galleria

This dress is reminiscent of the one Heidi Klum was recently wearing on Project Runway. Elegant, lined and in this season’s it color. The dress starts in 2P and can be found at the following malls:

1 at Glendale Galleria
2 at Burbank
1 at Santa Anita
2 at North Ridge

INC Sequin Babydoll Dress | P | $96

This dress is great for the holidays or for year round events. Sizing starts at P but its unfortunately no longer offered online. Macy’s locations that have this dress in P are:

1 at Burbank
2 at Santa Clarita
5 at Chula Vista
1 at Stockton
2 at Oakridge
1 at Modesto

INC  Jewel Trim Boat Neck Sweater Dress | P | $96 at Glendale Galleria

This is a really sexy little number that doesn’t require you to run from the bar to the heat lamp. I love the beading on the faux pockets. And this may be a sure winner if your dry cleaning bill is as large as mine –its hand washable. Find this dress at:

1 at Glendale Galeria
2 at Eagle Rock Plaza
3 at Laurel Plaza
4 at Northridge
3 at Roseville
3 at Fox Hills

The denim warehouse sale is back in L.A. this weekend. I attended the last sale and got a pair of dark denim Citizens of Humanity for $80 and wide leg light weight Chip and Pepper jeans for $70. They had a huge selection of size 23, 24 & 25 jeans in all lines– not to mention skirts and shorts too. And they have all of your favorite denim lines: JBrand, Seven, James etc. If you need denim this is a great sale. Get there early ’cause the line will be long.

Saturday is VIP day with $15 pre-sale ticket that are $25 at the door.
Sunday RSVP for free admission or pay $5 at the door.

December 15th and 16th
Saturday and Sunday
10am - 4pm

Los Angeles Convention Center - Concourse Hall
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

They are also in Santa Barbara this Wednesday December 12th from 12noon to 8:00pm.

Fess Parker’s Double Tree Resort - Grand Ballroom
633 E. Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

The Warehouse Sale travels to many other U.S. cities! Be sure to check out their sale schedule. There are sales listed for San Francisco, San Diego, Scottsdale and more.

This holiday season is by far my busiest. And to stay glamorous I’ve been shopping like a fiend. The first dress I’ve purchased is the Diane von Furstenberg Luna Swing dress. Its a nice blend of wool jersey with a 3/4 sleeve and hits right at the knee. Its on sale at Barney’s Co-op for a mere $209 and comes in size 0 and 4 (hence a sale item). I’m pairing it up with a pair of black tights and my ankle booties.

I’m astounded and impressed at the amount of sales this season. The sales below will have petite sizes 0P and up. Let us know if the sales are good, bad or ugly in a comment. We can’t always get to all of them (although we try). Happy shopping!

Monique Lhuillier

40-90% discounts on bridal and ready-to-wear collections. This is the best time to be shopping for a wedding gown, so if you are on the market for the perfect white dress at a discount, I’d definitely check out this sale.

December 5th & 6th
Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

708 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Between Sherwood Drive & Melrose Avenue
(323) 655-1088

Geren Ford

Take 70-90% off jackets, dresses, tops, sweaters, and everything in between. Lots of holiday dress options…
December 7th & 8th
Friday 4-8 p.m.
Saturday 12-3 p.m.

453 S. Spring Street, Suite 820
(213) 689-9500

Ella Moss and Splendid

Loads of overstock and samples from past seasons. And you know what sample means: small sizes!

December 7th & 8th
Friday & Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Cooper Building
860 S. Los Angeles Street, 8th Floor
At Ninth Street

Mon Petit Oiseau

75% off of their fall collection with additional boxes of clothing marked down to $5-10. All little birds welcome!

December 8th
Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

6670 Flotilla St.,
Between Garfield & Yates Avenues
(323) 727-8090

Joie

85% off all jackets, tops, sweaters, and oh so much more.

December 14th & 15th
Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

2323 E. 52nd Street
Between S. Alameda Street & S. Santa Fe Avenue
(323) 277-3900

Jalda

All bags priced up to 85% off. Hors d’oeuvres and swanky drinks provided to make your shopping experience enjoyable. Really great gift idea for you and yours.

December 10th
Monday 5-8 p.m.

400 S. Beverly Drive
Near Olympic Boulevard, Suite 308
(310) 203-0888

Yaya Aflalo and Love Yaya

Tops, pants, sweaters and more discounted way beneath wholesale prices.

December 3rd -7th
Monday -Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

140 N. La Brea Avenue, 2nd Floor
Between Detroit Street & Sycamore Avenue
(323) 692-0022

Beige Holiday Sale

All clothing is 30% off, select jewelry is 10% and handbags up to 70% off . Find Arena Nevins, Black Tree, Victoria Tea, Fishnet Lingerie and more.

December 7th -9th
Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday 12p.m.- 5 p.m.

Beige
7274 Beverly Blvd
(323) 549-0065

**2 hour free parking on Poinsettia and Alta Vista

Calleen Cordero

I wouldn’t miss the Calleen Cordero super sale especially for your designer holiday footwear. Everything in the store is discounted up to 30-80% off. Size 5’s available. Sale ends December 21st!

7385 Beverly Boulevard
At Martel Avenue
(323) 934-5541

Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Closed Sunday

If you would rather not fight for parking or brave the L.A. traffic, there are ferocious online sales too. The three I like the most this week are Gracy Girl, Kitson and Lisa Kline.

Gracygirl.com

Free shipping on all orders with loads of items on sale. Order by December 21st.

Kitson.com

Order up to $250 online and get $50 off at the Kitson web shop. Sale is only December 1st -Dec 8th.

Lisa Kline.com

The Lisa Kline online boutique is offering a 20% off discount until December 6th. Type in ‘holiday’ at check out.

Been sportin’ your hosiery up under your armpits, waistband like a noose around your neck? Find yourself battling Aunt Helda’s cankles by noon? For the looooongest time, I could not find a pair of decent stockings or tights that fit my petite, yet oh-so- sexy frame. I know I live in L.A., but temperature variables are a personal matter, and I know that by the time the leaves should be falling off our ever green trees, I am cold, and I want tights. Good tight tights.

One of the fashion industry’s biggest lies: One-Size-Fits-All legwear. Bologna. They fit a minute number of women. Few things are more annoying than rolled waistbands, saggy crotches, and wrinkled ankles.

Tights and stockings need to be a perfect fit. If you’re on the border between two sizes, take the larger size. With shiny or metallic tights it is especially important to wear the correct size to stretch the Lycra to a high shine.

Whether you reside in the U.S. or the U.K., there are three hosiery sites that you should have at your fingertips. All three sites have a bevy of options for petite-sized stockings and tights: wool, silk, sheer, metallic, and all in a rainbow of colors: MyTights, StockinGirl and Tights Please.

MyTights.com
MyTights.com has hosiery suitable for every size, shape, and occasion. For those under five feet, MyTights has an über-petite section built right into the navigation. If you are under 5′0″ try Spanx, Skintone, and Levante.

If you are 5′0″ and above you have loads of options! Try Aristoc, Falke, Gerbe, Le Bourget, and Pretty Polly.

Fortunately the MyTights Petite Legging Finder for women less than 5′0″.

The brand Levante is also great for women sized 4′9″ and above. The matte suede stockings are glorious. No matter what size you are, you’ll always check the sizing chart for each product.

Need something posh and cozy? Try the Aristoc cashmere and wool thigh highs. And they actually stay up! (I suggest Small/Medium as they run small.)

StockinGirl.com
StockinGirl also carries a wide selection of stockings and tights for petite-legged gals. The reps at StockinGirl confirmed that their petite sizes generally fit women 4′9″ – 5′2″ between 90 – 110 pounds. This brand will be soon sold in Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstroms.

It’s glamour time. If ever an ultra-sheer sandal-foot stocking should fit perfectly, it’s under a gorgeous holiday cocktail dress. Or are you looking for a sexy French heel replete with back seams and a racy lace top?

Brrr. Winter is here. Cold weather opaque stockings and brightly hued opaque tights to the rescue.

Soft-as-silk, luxurious Merino wool and cotton cable-knit tights. (Each of these run small; a small will fit a 00P, and may be just a smidgen tight.)

Both MyTights and Tights Please sell mostly (or all) European brands, which fit a lot better (not too tight at the waistband, and the smaller sizes are actually small), and are way better quality for the price, than tights made for the U.S. market.