Au Courant

Just when you thought State Street was going to the corporate dogs: Two new mom-and-pop shops have moved into the 1000 block of State Street, and between them, they have something for everyone. K.frank (1023 State St.), owned by newlyweds/recent Aspen transplants Katie and Kevin Frank, carries sophisticated classics with a contemporary edge for men and women, with goods for home and baby coming soon. Ladies’ lines include Jenni Kate, Bee with G, Bensoni, Elijah, Goldenbleu, and Marie Marie; while duds for the dudes include Velvetmen, Inhabit, Hartford, Jake Agave, and Masons. And if you’re saddled with an unenthusiastic shopping partner (like, say, a husband), the Franks’ dog Brenna will keep him occupied while you get your shop on.

A few doors down, Outfit (1017 State St.) is another family affair. S.B. native Jon Monroe and his wife, Christine, opened their doors at the beginning of May, and though they’re still waiting on a ton of inventory, the cool, stylish duds and exotic imports they have already are enough to make any StylePhile swoon. Ladies will find denim from Blue Tattoo, Fortune, and Hart Huntington, Solas Fashion’s genius light-up bags, Jose Saenz’s handmade shoes, bags by Cynthia Rowley and Argentinean line Bacara, and wearables from Walter, Junior Dranke, and Jordi LaBanda. The menfolk are sure to dig Stencil’s ¼ber-trendy graphic long-sleeve tees, and everyone will love the fact that, from now until they’re totally stocked and ready to celebrate with an official grand opening (tentatively scheduled for Memorial Day), everything in the store is at least 15 percent off.

Summertime, and the style’s easy: I.V. portal to the world of fashion Miss Behavin’ is stocked for summer with bikinis from Pompei Beach and Lisa Curran, and warm-weather staples from 2 B Free, BB Dakota, and Taryn Manning’s Born Unicorn label. : And Wendy Foster (833 State St.) and Angel (1221 Coast Village Rd.) welcome a large selection of Tysa Wright’s line Tysa, which is clean, fresh, and versatile; in other words, perfect for summertime in S.B. The cotton voile skirts, pants, dresses, and tops can easily go from an afternoon at Butterfly Beach to cocktails at Lucky’s, both of which sound better than sitting at my desk.

Spotlight On:

Solstiss @fine fabrics

On Thursday, June 7, from 4-8 p.m., in conjunction with the Downtown Organization’s June 1st Thursday event, design center Fine Fabrics (26 W. Anapamu St.) will host an exclusive reception featuring the 2008 collection from legendary French lace purveyor Solstiss, a consortium of the world’s finest lace-makers. While you may not know the name, you only need to go as far as your nearest fashion magazine to check out their work. The company is known for supplying its wares, which often incorporate intricate detail and unexpected materials-as well as conventional materials used in unexpected ways-to the likes of Cavalli, Dior, Gaultier, Givenchy, LaCroix, Posen, and Valentino. Style icons Coco Chanel, Empress Eugenia, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Gloria Swanson all donned SolÂ-stiss for portraits, and Grace Kelly was married in a gown of the luxe stuff. Each piece of Solstiss’s lace is a work of art, and the opportunity for the public to check it out in its raw form is rare, and not to be missed. The collection will be available for viewing throughout the weekend, and the beautiful, handmade creations will be available for aspiring designers to purchase and incorporate into their own designs. Or, for a truly special indulgence, have a gown designed and made for you by Fine Fabrics’ couture service. Call 966-2488 or visit FineFabrics.com.

Not that footwear fiends need an excuse, but DIANI Shoes (1324 State St.) will host a grand opening event this weekend (May 18-19, 10am-7pm; May 20, noon-6pm) that will double as a benefit for soles4souls.org. Bring in a pair (or more) of newish, or gently worn flat-soled shoes to donate, and get a 20 percent discount on a pair of new shoes. Soles4Souls will then ship the donated shoes to refugee camps in the southern Sudan and other impoverished communities in Africa. : Friday, May 18, stop by dressed and ready (1253 Coast Village Rd., Ste. 204) from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for a trunk show that promises to be amazing, featuring designs from Helmut Lang and Laguna Beach jewelry designer Suzan Zahedi. : Punch Interieur (4950 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria) will host another Paris Flea Market day on Saturday, May 26, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring vintage and antique treasures from Carp’s best antique stores and dealers, all at flea market prices. Look for the black-and-white striped awning and the Eiffel Tower (seriously). [UPDATE: Punch has since moved to 1223 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.]: CoutureCandy.com is offering $10 off all swimwear throughout the month of May; just enter 10SWIMMAY07 at the end of checkout to claim your discount.

Check Out:

JESSICA

S.B. native Jessica Cashman’s eponymous 18-year-old consignment shop for women’s clothes and accessories, Jessica (2008 De la Vina St., 687-2755), boasts one of the most reliably solid consignment inventories in town. Cashman takes consignments by appointment Tuesdays through Saturdays, prides herself on weeding out the junk so her customers don’t have to, and offers the sage advice to “rotate your wardrobe-there’s cash in your closet!”

1)With nearly two decades of experience, Cashman has her system down to a fine science, which means new items are added to the shelves every day.

2)Denim junkies will find an epic selection of labels, including Joe’s Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, True Religion, Seven, Paige, and Paper Denim & Cloth sans the sticker shock.

3)Accessories, accessories, accessories: Jessica is known for its killer collection of bags, belts, jewelry, and, especially, shoes-that pair of braided tangerine wedges from Dior will bring a tear to your eye.

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