Top Shopping Destinations

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Do you ever get bored of shopping at your local main street? I certainly do, especially when you want something completely different than what the locals can offer. Whilst online shopping has opened up new opportunities, most shopaholics still like the adventure of walking into a retail store and touching the garments and trying on the pieces before you buy them of course. I myself, love strolling through the store and appreciate customer service. I read an article recently stating that brick and mortar retail stores may soon be a thing of the past because of how technology is advancing, for example the Amazon stores where you walk right in and grab exactly what you need without talking to a sales representative. Taking a vacation to go shopping can be one way of getting the fix. Whether you’re looking to splash the cash or simply enjoy the thrill of window shopping, here are a few top shopping destinations to check out as rated by Lonely Planet!

Ditch The Flops

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's summer and the living is easy! The weather is warm and beautiful (most days) and of course sandal season is upon us. It's time to put away those booties and loafers for something much more comfortable to walk around in the heat. While reaching for your flip flops might be the simple and easy choice, it's definitely a fashion faux pas! Sure fashion is subjective but if you want to make an entrance those $5 flips flops from Old Navy just aren't going to cut it! This summer I'm making an entrance and turning the sidewalks into runways with Soft Surroundings latest summer footwear collection! 

The Summer Sweat

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti 

It's okay to admit that we all want to feel "hot", especially in the summertime. That is the time of the year when we're told to strip down into our bikinis, shorts and flimsy little sun dresses. Of course everyone wants to look amazing in whatever they choose to wear and this all starts with how you feel when you look in the mirror. You should never want to change your body because of what other people may think - always do it for yourself.

Pen Pal

C/O Dryel

As someone who deals with clothing on a constant basis, styling and selling, I run into a lot of trouble with garments. Life is unpredictable and you never know when snags or stains are going to happen. When you have a boutique or closet of clothes, you want to present the best version of the items, al the times. Thats exactly why I've built a kit of trusty tools to help me. To be the best stylist, store owner, laundress, fashionista, one must have be ready for anything and that's why Dryel is my best friend! 

Why We Need Wonder Woman

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's crazy to think that not too long ago (within the past century), women were allowed to vote, women were allowed to apply for their own charge cards and not ask their dads for theirs.When I was a just a little girl, my brother and I would walk into the local comic book store and check out the latest comics. I was always intrigued by the beautiful illustrations inside of comics, it may have been part of my influence into the creative field! The colors, the characters, the costumes, the romances, the plot lines, everything was given detail to except for one, women. Growing up, I never quite understood why I never saw women on the front lines of the comic book stories. Sure there were the famous women characters that we all knew and loved like Cat Woman, Super Girl, and Storm to name a few. But if you take a look at those characters' comics or other women characters comics, you'll notice that most of their stories are pretty abstract and vague or at the center of their plot is a man, unsurprisingly. It wasn't until I realized that that's the way the world is run, there are more men in power than women, even though women have been 52% + of the world's population for the past several years. Then, 2017 came around with it's first movie of a woman comic book character, Wonder Woman.