Layering Up

In a previous entry we discussed layering for the fall/winter seasons. Here's where you start! We recently receive some ultra cool tees from Distilled. These would look really hot under a lush cardigan or great hoody. Not only are they stylish with great fit but everyone is numbered in editions of 300. So unlike the ever so popular Obama tee's no worries with Distilled. You won't see everyone walking around with your shirt. Gotta love that!

Invader T-shirt by Distilled


Library T- shirt by Distilled

We've Been Busy!

Hello all! I have missed you! Sorry I have been MIA, but I hope you are enjoying the fruits of our labor! So happy about our online shop! And if you haven't checked it out since Friday, you have a lot to catch up on!

New jewelry by Samanca, Moss Mills, Toki and Ophelia
New gifts by Circa Ceramics, Busy B Designs and more
New shoes by F-Troupe
New Apothecary and Sale items
And, hurray, additions to the Press page!

We will try to update every day with new items, and at the very least every other day. We just received slim leg Kasil jeans for Men! So hopefully we will have those up by the end of the week.

Stay tuned xoxox Jac

All About Jac.

There are a few things about Jac. that are important to understand. For starters, let's take a look at our updated "About" Jac, from our new website:

Jac sells stuff. Beautiful, cool, unique stuff.

We don’t sell stuff based on trends or celebutantes. Jac sells stuffs that we love; stuff that you’ll love too. Consider us a general store for people that like to look good, live well and give great gifts. We’re obsessed with design, and compulsive about discovery. We’ve filled Jac with a carefully edited mix of men’s and women’s clothing, gifts and specialty goods from around the world. Come visit us (and our beautiful, cool, unique stuff) so that we can help you find something that will make you happy.

I'd like to add something that I think is very important. When you shop at Jac, you will never, ever shop to The Eagles. "No Desperado", "No Lyin' Eyes" and certainly no "Hotel California". And let me take this a step further: there will also be no music from the solo catalogs of Don Henley, Glen Frey or Joe Walsh. It's just not our style.

The only exception to this rule is Glen Frey's "The Heat Is On", which we love.

To celebrate the start of another glorious week here in Atlanta, we present to you the music video of "The Heat Is On", which features all sorts of good stuff from one of our favorite movies, Beverly Hills Cop. Enjoy, and don't forget to tell all of your friends about your favorite boutique (did you really think I'd get through this post without some form of shameless promotion?).

Presidential Fashion Primer: Barack Obama

One week ago today, my fellow Americans (and non-Americans), I invited you on a journey with me that's taken us from Joe Biden's fight for flannel to John McCain's quest for universal boot cut jeans. There have been high times (Sarah Palin's teak bottle opener) and low times (my failure to address Wolf Blitzer's sinister facial hair), but throughout, you've stuck with me, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

And with that, I give you my last Presidential Fashion Primer. Barack Obama, my friends.

Trovata Highway Corduroy Pants

One thing we learned on the campaign trail is that Obama is- I'm not sure exactly how to put this- the "cooler" of the two candidates. Just like we remember Bubba Clinton's first campaign for his virtuoso sax solo on Arsenio, we'll also look back at Obama's groove-tastic turn on Ellen as a watershed moment in Presidential campaign politics.

To play up on his decisive advantage in my subjective "cool polling", I recommend Trovata's Highway Corduroy Pants. They're cut somewhat narrowly, which is perfect for the fit Illinois' Senator's athletic yet stately lower half (did I really just say that?).

To find out more or to purchase Trovata's Highway Corduroy Pants, click here.

Zebra Crossing Club Elephant Backpack

Nothing says "Democrat with the ability to reach out to Republicans" quite like a grown man with an irresistibly cute, purple elephant backpack. Zebra Crossing Club's Elephant Backpack is not only super soft, but it also has a detachable Elephant soft toy. It's perfect for his little daughter Sasha, who's probably more than a little tired of Daddy's non-stop campaigning. There's also secret pouch, so if he'd like, the Senator can fill it with sour grapes and have it delivered to Rush Limbaugh post-election.

To find out more or to purchase Zebra Crossing Club's Elephant Backpack, click here.

NSF Deppen Cardigan

At first glance, the Deppen may fool Obama and his advisers. They may think "this sweater is too elitist, too contemplative, too thoughtful". They're wrong, because not only is the knit work impeccable, but the placket reveals a cream and crimson detail that screams "I was the Editor of Harvard Law Review and my opponent nearly failed out of the Naval Academy". While Obama spent the last two Presidential election cycles watching his Democratic predecessors fall to a proud "C" student, this smart cardigan can help him convince the electorate that being smart is a strength, not a weakness.

To find out more or to purchase NSF's Deppen Cardigan, click here.

Regardless of what you wear on November 4th, don't forget to vote.

DearJac.com Version 2.0 Has Launched!

Once again, stock photography has done the trick in helping capture a moment so succinctly.

We can't stop kvelling over our latest and greatest achievement, the new DearJac.com. It features nearly 300 different items, from fantastic baby gifts to the perfect cashmere sweater. All that, and it looks absolutely fantastic (if I do say so myself).

So go ahead, pour yourself a cup of Joe, sit awkwardly on the couch and do like the model in the picture above: Visit www.dearjac.com and have some fun!

And when you're done, visit our friends over at NuSpace Media-http://www.nuspacemedia.com/. They helped us create this site, and they're not only super talented, but also super cool.

Happy Birthday B.D. Wong!

My plan was to start something new today.

I had this idea that I would start an ongoing feature where I would find a celebrity who was celebrating a birthday, and somehow tie him or her into Jac. It would be fun, funny and would help out when we just didn't feel like blogging too much.

So today I had a choice between such luminaries as Anton Von Leeuwenhoek (Microbiology Rocks!), F. Murray Abraham (Rock Me Amadeus!) and Monica (everything seemed to go to rocks after the "The Boy Is Mine" duet with Brandy). Not exactly the strongest pool of candidates.

I chose none of the above- and instead- have opted with with B.D. Wong. He plays Dr. George Huang on Law & Order SVU, and he is very, very awesome.

In honor of B.D.'s birthday, we're offering him a free gift with purchase. If you see him, please let him know that he's got 24 hours to claim his prize. We close at 7 tonight.

For those of you not familiar with today's birthday boy, click here.

(Vice) Presidential Fashion Primer- Sarah Palin

While writing this post, I gained a new sense of appreciation for the editors responsible for the infamous "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline:
Here I am, a humble haberdasher (not unlike Truman) with an even humbler blog, and right as I'm about to publish a masterpiece on Sarah Palin and fashion, this article comes out. $150,000 for clothing, spent primarily at Saks and Neiman Marcus.

After I got over my initial disappointment (it's hard to believe that what you once thought was Jaclyn Smith Collection blazer from K-Mart is really a $3,500 masterpiece from Valentino), I decided to pull myself up by the snow mobile bootstraps and just get back to the task at hand. So here goes.

Publicka Boat Neck Kimono Dress



The Governor could really shake Washington up in Publicka's Boat Neck Kimono Dress. It's a fantastic dress that Washington -and it's ugly, ugly cousin "the liberal elite media"- would simply have no answer for. Can you see Nancy Pelosi wearing this? How about Andrea Mitchell? And as an added bonus, Publicka is a Korean company. Foreign Policy experience bonus!


F-Troupe Pebbled Leather High-Heel Boots


I can't think of a better pair of boots for a stroll on the "Bridge to Nowhere" than these leather lovelies from F-Troupe, an upstart British shoemaker (more foreign policy experience, by the way). They're sublimely soft, and as you can see from the picture, more than just a little haute-Wasilla. They're priced nice as well, so Sarah wouldn't have to worry about taxpayers complaining about wasteful spending. Not that the Valentino blazer in question wasn't worth every penny.

Roost Shark Bottle Opener

This teak bottle opener is truly a must buy for The Palinator. For one, it's a shark. Sharks swim in water. Alaska is bordered by water. Russia borders the same water that Alaska borders.

Political gold!
Also, it's a shark. Sharks, like moose, are not human. Palin hunts moose. I think you know where I'm going with this one. And for an added bonus, when the Governor gets to Washington and cuts Joe Six Pack's taxes, he'll be able to afford fancy bottled beer. He'll need a fancy bottle opener. This bottle opener has the potential to flip Ohio and Florida over to the Palin-McCain ticket.

Three down, one to go. Stay tuned for our Obama Fashion Primer, where we'll wrap up our hard hitting expose on Presidential fashion do's and shoes.

(Vice) Presidential Fashion Primer- Joe Biden

Part two of our Presidential Fashion Primer takes us from one old(er), crotchety bald(ing) guy that's been in Washington for thirty years (without changing much of anything) to another old(er), crotchety bald(ing) guy that's been in Washington for thirty years (without changing much of anything). My friends, John McCain, my friends, meet Joe Biden, my friends.

Joe Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972. His "thing" is that he's an ordinary guy. He just happens to be a Senator. So the challenge for us today is to figure out how to help Joe support his message with three, count 'em, three items from Jac.

Here goes:

Billykirk Steamer Bag

Billykirk's Steamer Bag is the perfect tote for Joe to appeal to all the other Joes out there. It's large enough to fit a six pack (Six Pack Joe), some pipe couplings (Joe the Plumber) and a Nascar Hat (Nascar Joe). The leather straps not only provide a little old school elegance, but they'll also let voters know that Joe isn't afraid of the extra work that they'll require (unlike other candidates, he'll say, who'd rather take the lazy way out by using bags with velcro or magnetic closures).

Built By Wendy Grey Flannel Shirt

Joe loves reminding us that he's from Scranton, and nothing says blue-collar Pennsylvania more than plaid flannel. We know how well Lamar Alexander played the plaid back in the '96 GOP Primary, and I think Joe would really benefit from tossing the Brioni aside for one of my favorites, Built By Wendy. The great thing about this shirt is that while it's in the mold of the traditional flannel, it's got some great modern detailing that really sets it apart.

"The Balm"-Ritual's Post Shave Gel

If it's getting chilly here in Atlanta, I can't imagine how it feels out on the stump in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Factor in the fact that he probably needs to shave every morning, and poor Joe's face must be taking a beating! While he comes off as an Aqua Velva Man, I think Joe would love Ritual's "The Balm". It's full of aloe and lidocaine, meaning that Joe can focus on winning the election, not on an irritated punim.

Two down, two to go. Stay tuned for our next installment, where we'll make the Governor of Alaska look cooler than an Anchorage winter.

We'll try, at least.

More of Jac !

For all of you screaming for just one more minute! Your wish is our command. Jac has new hours. Hooray! We'll now be open Mon-Fri 12-7pm, Sat 11-8pm and Sun11-5. So come, shop and stay as long as you like.

Jac. Presidential Fashion Primer: John McCain

Now that we're almost at the finish line of what seems like an endless Presidential election cycle, it's time for our blog to weigh in on the candidates. While we have no intention of providing our coveted endorsement (you'll have to come into the store for that), we thought that we'd provide a little bit of commentary on both candidates, as well as their running mates. Starting with John McCain, we're going to offer three items that we carry at Jac. that we think each candidate would benefit from.

Relwen Commando Cargo Pants

My friends, not only would these cargo pants flatter Johnny Mac's somewhat squat silhouette, but they'd also help reinforce his public service/military credentials. The large pockets would give him ample space to store the red pen that he promises to use when reviewing pork-laden legislation, and he could hitch the hatchet he plans on using on the federal budget to the rugged belt loops. As a bonus, these pants were seen recently on the character Vincent Chase in HBO's Entourage. Talk about crossing across party lines to reach out to the Hollywood Elite!

J. Fold Leather Brief Bag

The J. Fold leather brief bag works on two levels for McCain. For starters, the contemporary (dare we say modern) design will give the Senator from Arizona a younger look, which may help him counter some of the inevitable ageism that he'll encounter in the voting booths. The idea that he may be carrying a laptop inside will also help him convince voters that he knows how to use the world wide webs, the email and the facebook.

Kasil Cohen Bootcut Jeans

Nothing makes a candidate look more like "one of us", than a good pair of jeans. I mean, have you ever seen George Bush clearing brush in a pair of chinos? Of course not. So for Maverick McMaverick, we recommend Kasil's Cohen boot cut jeans, in either the Triumph Baltic or Triumph Atlantic wash. He's probably never tried on boot cut jeans (he seems like more of a straight-leg kinda' fella'), and I think he'll really like how the Kasil's fit him.

My friends, be on the look out for our next Presidential Fashion Primer, when we'll offer suggestions for Joe "not the plumber" Biden. Get excited!

Rainy Days

The trench coat is a classic for all seasons. Its especially great for days like to today when the the roads are damp and there's a slight breeze in the air. This trench by Hazel is an easy way to pull together your look on groggy days when you much rather be in sweats.
Dashing isn't it?!

The only thing we like more than a big sale is cheesy stock photography!

The one year anniversary has been celebrated- now we're ready to celebrate our new men's department. From Thursday through Sunday, we're offering 30% off ALL ITEMS in the men's department.

Everything Men's. 30% Off. Four days only.

Jeans, khakis, a laptop bag or the perfect button-up shirt. You too can look like the guy in the cheesy stock photo above (except instead of carrying around that horrendous "sale" bag, we'll outfit you with one of Jac's signature recycled shopping bags).

There's no better time to support your favorite neighborhood shop, so go ahead, cut and paste the link above and send it on to every guy you know. They'll thank you for it. We'll thank you for it. Our friend in the picture, he'll thank you for it too!

Also, starting this weekend we're changing to special holiday season hours, and due to overwhelming request, opening on Mondays!

New hours:
Monday-Friday 12-7
Saturday 11-8
Sunday 11-5

Those Fall Jeans you've been waiting for have arrived!

The newest arrival to our Fall collection is our new denim jeans. What I love about the denim here at Jac. is the diversity in design and material. I love the fact that when you slide on pair of James, Anlo, or Kasil denim you can dress it up or dress it down. They can be paired with a silk shirt, the highest of high heels, and you are ready to head out for the night and feel dressed up and comfortable at the same time. On the other side of the coin you can grab a pair of Converse and a tee shirt and go for a bike ride on a Sunday afternoon. Regardless of what you envision for your day, the denim here at Jac. will be a sure fire way to feel good while looking good!

James jeans is a company based out of Los Angeles where they take much pride in the process of dry aging their denim. Here are a few examples of the James jeans we carry here at Jac. for Fall.

Anlo is another one of our staple denim companies we carry here at Jac. Anlo is a company also based in Los Angeles. These black skinny jeans, have a shinny finish with a "rocker" look at the ankle.
We have high-waisted jeans, low waisted jeans, dark denim, medium color denim, black and grey denim, skinny, boot cut, to flared jeans. So come in and check it out for yourself. We will be glad to help you find exactly what you are looking for!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Thanks!
Candice

The Best Men's Shirt Ever*

Back in the day, when I was just a mere twenty-something, I happened upon a Giorgio Armani sample sale. I felt like quite the insider- it was in an unmarked suite in the middle of a New York office building, and it seemed as though only those in the know knew (this was before the Facebook/Twitter/Texting revolution). There were no dressing rooms, so like everyone else, I just bought everything that I could carry (this was after the eBay/Craigslist revolution).

One of my finds- or at least I thought, at the time- was a crisp, blue fitted shirt. When I got home and tried it on, I realized that the shirt was tailored to be a little bit more than "fitted". It was tight. And when I say tight, I mean tight like the shirt worn by Bruno:

I wasn't really sure what to do. I mean, on one hand, it was a beautiful shirt. A beautiful Armani shirt. It was supposed to look good. But every time I looked at myself in the mirror, all I saw was a painfully tight shirt, and a really awkward looking dude who didn't look thrilled to be wearing a painfully tight shirt.

So I gave the shirt away. I had to.

Now, on the other hand, I'm a veteran of notoriously baggy shirts. I came of age in the '90s, when guys wore everything really baggy. These were our heroes, after all:

So here we are, late in 2008. What's a guy to wear? We don't want to be poured into our shirts, but we also don't want to swim in them either. Thankfully, Jac's got the answer: Steven Alan's men's shirting.

These shirts are tailored just right- they're slim without being too skinny. What I love about them the most is that while they've got traditional roots, they look very much a shirt of "today". It's hard to find shirts that can walk this line, and Steven Alan's nailed it with this line. Check out some of the shirts below:

Jac. is the only place in Atlanta to pick up Steven Alan, so stop by asap to grab yours asap!

* We carry men's and women's Steven Alan!

Mad for Mashka

Hello to our new lovelies by Mashka:

A Secret That Shouldn't Be Kept

As the year goes on, Jac becomes more and more of a one stop shop boutique. Not only do we have the fiercest party dresses for the fall, but we have added the body armor to perfect your look,bralettes by Top Secret (http://www.topsecretsociety.com/).

For your most basic undercover bodywear needs, try the Prop Top which remains smooth and invisible without the extra bulk. When you are in the mood for a slight feminine touch, the Tiny Tube is a smooth coverage strapless tube with lace detailing that, for once, doesn't flatten you out. And just because it's fall doesn't mean your bra has to do the same. This little number actually stays in place!! Waaaahoooo! That means you can party to the wee hours with hands in the air rather than at the sides of your dress.

Now that's a very happy hour!

Caution: Fuzzy Xing

Nothing comes close to being as cute or soft as our new in house fuzzy friends!!

Austrailia based company Zebra Crossing Club (http://www.zebracrossingclub.com/) has, by far, made toting your little one to pre-school even more adorable than ever. Each backpack comes with a removable animal kingdom buddy of your choice from a purple elephant complete with a hairbow or a very funky zebra strapped in a red backpack.

So pack-up your PB&J sandwiches kids and ring in the school year fuzzily!!!

Nick Nolte's House Fire Had Nothing To Do With Burning Incense

I recently blogged about our love of incense. To illustrate the point, I included a picture of Nick Nolte's mug shot (for those of you who are only recently tuning in, scroll down a bit to get a gander at his spectacularly weathered punim).

Unfortunately, Nick's house burned down earlier today. He escaped unscathed, outside of a few bumps and bruises. I just wanted to take a moment to say that incense had nothing to do with this fire, and that my earlier blog post was in no way a hex by myself or an endorsement by Mr. Nolte of incense. Just wanted to get that out there. I'm feeling better already.


In tribute to Mr. Nolte (not to mention Jac.'s new out-of-control awesome men's department), here's a more flattering image of the Nickster:

Jac+Marcellina G.+Daily Candy= CBS

You've heard us gush over Marcellina G. before (one of our favorites!), but now we've got video proof, live from Jac., of how fantastic Ellen Witt's designs are. Click here to see the clip from this morning's broadcast.

Special thanks to Tiffany Davis from Daily Candy, and the folks over at CBS for the love!

And speaking of Daily Candy, check out today's review of our new neighbor, Cacao! It's a fantastic new chocolate boutique/laboratory/event space that you must check out the next time you're in the neighborhood!

Say Anything... So Long As It's About Jac.

Check out this month's Jezebel Magazine ("Atlanta Luxury Living" to those of you non-Atlantans out there), where our band leader does a little q & a on what it's like to own the most fantastic boutique east of the Mississippi and south of the Mason-Dixon line.

If you can't pick up a copy, click here to read more.

It Only Comes Around Once!!

Clothing label What Goes Around Comes Around (www.shopwcaga.com) has graced this planet with beyond fabulous pieces for women, but it is officially the guys turn to swoon! Jac is the home for the Spector Jacket, ...ONE aged leather jacket, which carries a " utilitarian elegance of British hunting jackets meets Carnaby Street". On the front of the jacket are surface sewn envelope set pockets with semi-polished snap closures, a buckle detail at the waist as well as the collar and to keep you warm on those crisp Autumn days, it is lined in wool herringbone!!! Pretty groovy huh??

Fun Fashion for Tiny tots!

Fall has arrived and its time to pull out the long sleeves again. If you love to see your little one playfully stylish Jac has just what you're looking for! We just received some fab items for the cooler days of autumn from Smafolk. This stuff screams happy kid with incredible prints great for mix-and -matching: apples, giraffes, hippos, owls and all sorts of transportation! We also carry some of their great accessories: bibs, pacifier chains, and towels.



Adorable Owl and Toadstool Cotton suit





Red Hippo Body shirt has a retro vibe. Cute!




Multicolor Bibs give function and fashion

Accessorize yourself!

It's that time of year, FALL!!! Tis the season for the leaves to change colors, the crisp air returns once again, and layering becomes a necessity.

This week we got in the coolest scarfs. They are not just a great accessory for your Fall outfit but serves a "cool" function as well.

Epice scarves from Paris are made from wool and keep you warm and cozy this time of year.

We also have Perfectly Imperfect scarves with pockets to keep your hands warm in a variety of colors. PI is an organic cotton company from Los Angeles.

Come in and check out the new accessories for the season!
Candice