Now that the Caroling is Over....

Every year I look forward to Dean Martin's toasty Christmas tunes - particularly Let it Snow - and the Drifter's good ol' version of White Christmas, but by the third day of listening to the "Holly" station on XM, we're about one plum pudding away from a Yuletide meltdown.
We've been pretty stoked since December 26th rolled around.

Here's a list of what we are listening to now!
Fleet Foxes
Ruby Suns
Band of Bees
Buena Vista Social Club
Nina Simone

The Notorious B.I.G. and My New C.O.A.T.

For the entire first year that Jac was open, my dear wife hemmed and hawed over exactly what items she should "take home" (I think the word she used most often was"adopt"), and what should be left on the racks to be sold. There were always many good of reasons to adopt, say, a dress ("I love, love, love it!", "This would look great with...", "I really do need..."), always countered with the one good reason not to adopt said dress ("That dress needs to be sold."). It was never an easy decision.

To fully comprehend the situation, you need to understand the depths of Jaci's obsession for everything in the store. To say that she's "selected" our clothing, gifts and "stuff" would be a severe understatement. She lusts over every single item that you see in Jac, for hours on end. And that's before she even places her orders. Seriously. The woman is absolutely smitten with everything that you see at 245 N. Highland Avenue, Suite 120. This isn't just blog propaganda (is blogropoganda a word?) either. M'lady loves everything in the store, and if she had her druthers, everything in the store would also be in our house.

Alas, everything in the store cannot be in our house. We have to sell some of it. Actually, most of it. This leaves us with many difficult decisions, and leads me to one of Brooklyn's Finest (shout out to anyone that got the reference without clicking on the link), The Notorious B.I.G., who succinctly summed up our dilemma in his posthumously released "Ten Crack Commandments":

Number four: know you heard this before

Never get high, on your own supply.

You'd almost think that he too had owned and operated a small, independent mom 'n pop boutique. He nailed it. Never get high on your own supply. Biggie never would have helped himself to his favorite Steven Alan shirts before they went on the floor, nor would he have treated his (numerous) girlfriends the latest and greatest Toki jewelry soon after the UPS guy dropped them off. He would have known better.

Now how does this apply to my new c.o.a.t, and why I have taken so long to get to the point? Soon after we started carrying men's clothing, I found myself staring at the same conundrum that Jaci had been dealing with for some time. A new coat arrived from NSF, a label that personifies California cool.

I longed for the coat for months, admiring the bomber styling and classic front detailing. It spoke to me, and it also spoke to my several-years-old, seen-better-days Club Monaco black hoodie jacket ("Your days are done old hoodie jacket... I'm the new jacket in town... he wants me... he needs me... he doesn't love you anymore.).

After months of listening to the Notorious B.I.G.'s cautionary words over and over in my head, I finally broke down and "adopted" the jacket from the store. I have no regrets, and I can now fully appreciate what Jaci goes through every day as she obsesses over a store full of fantastic finds.

Postscript: There are still two of the NSF Dean Jackets remaining, and they're marked wayyy down. Click here to buy one for yourself!

Thank you Jezebel!

Thank you Jezebel Magazine for including us in your "Shop, Don't Drop: Best Places to find Gifts this Season" Article!!!!

It's a MAY-JAH SALE!!!

You heard it here first!
As of today, our lovely Fall and Winter collections are on MEGA-sale!!
Trovata, Built by Wendy, Woo, Steven Alan, What Comes Around Goes Around and More! ALL UP TO 75% OFF!
Shop early for the best selection.
ENJOY! XOXO Jac.

LOVE JAC!

So...you are fed up with pesky salesmen/women, recovering from a heart attack from your local jewelry store and can't seem to find the perfect unique piece of jewelry that will stand out from the pile of tangled and unworn necklaces, bracelets and "those dangling earrings on page 87 from the catalog" that she wrote hundreds of "hint" post-its for. We have an amazing and very eclectic selection of vintage inspired pieces that most certainly won't end up at the bottom of the pile for 2009.

Marcellina G.

Moss Mills

Mashka

Yarborough

so, make this christma-hana-kwanza-kkuh a special one and stop by Jac. xoxo

Like, sooo totally awesome!!

Just in time for the whole 80's comeback, right?! Jac. figured out how to keep those sweet feet warm this winter with these crocheted high-top booties, complete with laces and shoe tongue. They come in a variety of styles and colors for every babies fancy! Now on to search neon onesies and acid washed jeans!!

Yay! Winter is almost official in Atlanta, and that means it's time for me to plan my winter getaway. And man, there are some amazing cruise deals out there if you are willing to go last minute. Check these out at Top Cruise Club!

Also, here at Jac. we received our Resort wear for the season. From designers like Love Tanjane, Lauren Moffatt, and Kerry Cassill.

If you find yourself on some hot Carribbean cruise, the Bahamas, or in Miami for a little R&R when the winter blues get you down, one these hot little numbers will brighten the experience. They are extremely comfortable, and the right pop of color that is sure to make you feel a lot happier while soaking up much needed Vitamin D from the sun while on a winter getaway this season.

Dress at top, by Love Tanjane. Dress at bottom by Lauren Moffatt.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Candice

A BIG and HEARTFELT thanks!!!

Photographers. Some are good. I am not.
Jesse and Whitney Chamberlain are amazing.

This stylish and super sweet couple are based in Inman Park and when we needed some photos shot last week (for a project we'll disclose next year!) there was no hesitation on who we would call. And not only did they do a phenomenal job, but they were so easy and fun to work with!
Though they handle mostly weddings, engagements and portraits, if you or anyone you know ever is in need of fabulous photography, call them! Our Labor of Love
They also have a super fun blog here.
Thanks you two!!

Public Service Announcement: Beware Of Supersized Shirts

So first of all, I'd like to apologize for my extended leave of absence from blogging. It wasn't my intention to take so much time off- it just kinda' happened. It's sort of like when you miss a day or two at the gym, and that "day or two" ends up turning into a month. And then you cancel your gym membership.

Well, this blogger is back, and he's out to prove that he's more than just a one trick pony that can only post wry little witticisms concerning political candidates and their (lack of) fashion sense. So here I am folks, back and badder than before.

In honor of my blogging "comeback" (not really a comeback... I've just been blogging over here), I've decided to make a confession: I have, in the not so distant past, been guilty of wearing shirts that didn't fit me so well. It wasn't due to a trend gone stale or a body gone svelte either- it just happened.

Perhaps an explanation is in order.

I'm over 6 feet tall. I'm the guy that sits in front of you at the movie theater (the theater that you didn't want to go to in the first place, because you can't figure out why they haven't gotten around to putting in stadium seating) and blocks your view. The guy that looks like he was an athlete in high school, or at the very least, a tall nerd. And at some point, I just figured that given the choice of small, medium or large, that I was a large. And in some unfortunate cases (I'm talking about you, grey, cable-knit turtleneck sweater from Brooks Brothers), extra-large. And for years, and years and years... I let this awful fashion crime continue, unabated.

I looked something like post-Britney K-Fed, save for the fact that I never wore a cape (or a large medallion with an owl on it), flapped my arms like they were wings or scowled like three year old who'd just eaten dirt. You know, that K-Fed. I miss the guy. Just a little bit.

So one morning I realized that the shirt that I was wearing was all wrong. I looked in the mirror and saw a little kid playing dress up in his father's shirt. It was baggy, the shoulder stitch was almost on my arm, and the sleeve broke well past the point of no return, practically in the middle of my palm. And it was then that it finally occurred to me: this wasn't the only shirt that fit me this way! For years, I had purchased shirts that looked like this. Oy vey!

So now that I've seen the light, I've begun buying shirts that actually fit me. I feel younger, look snazzier and people seem to like me even more than they did when I was wearing those ginormous smocks of yesteryear. Let me tell you... I look grrrrrrrreat (cue Tony The Tiger picture, pour yourself a bowl of flakes, rejoice, and get ready to read my final plea)...

Gentlemen: It's time to update your look and buy yourself a shirt that fits. I know that you're committing the same fashion crime that I was guilty of, because I see you doing it every day. It'll change the way you see yourself. More importantly, your friends and co-workers will stop asking you if you're modelling for the "after" picture for some sort of weight loss advertisement.

Ladies: Holiday shopping needn't be so difficult. Your man needs to get with the program. It's 2008, and your man's big-arse shirt is about as uncool as a pair of Z Cavariccis. Help him help himself and buy him a new shirt!

And to all of you: you can either buy these shirts online at DearJac.com, or you can come in and get them at the store (where you can ask Jaci in person just how dreadful some of my old shirts were!).

Props from Citysearch

A HUGE and HEARTY thank you to our buddy JB at Citysearch for including us in the Atlanta Citysearch Gift Guide here. We are so excited to be a part! You rock!
Then JB went liiiiiive on CBS - taking us with him! Hurray! Here he is talking about our fabulous two toned T-Box scarf and LeSportsac men's toiletries case: CBS ATL GIFT GUIDE

Wrap It Up!

By now you may have a good handle on your holiday gifts (like these by Circa Ceramics), or you may not (so head to Jac!), but either way, you should stop and think about your wrapping. You don't want to let presents get lost among the snowflake wrap clutter!! So, why don't you BUNDLE or BAGGU them?!
Bundle Bags, Jac's newest installment of eco-friendly recyclable carryalls, ingeniously conform to any present they contain! Based upon a traditional Japanese design, they are perfect for gift wrapping a Roost Menagerie Bottle Opener or even a bottle of wine, as well as a gorgeous alternative with options of silks and floral cottons. Here is a demo:



Another equally fantastic, but non-traditional wrapping option, is your trusty Baggu, which we have always encouraged customers to use for grocery shopping and can be found here. Well, you can also use one of them pretties to wrap your yummy Mor lotion and any other items and gifts. Here is their demo:

Happy Wrapping! XOXOJac.

In the Know....

Guess what kiddies? We just added a list of a few of our Resort/Spring 09 designers coming in at the store. We are so excited!! Feel free to peruse. It's down on the right side of this page.
Why did we do this, you ask? Well, because despite the chill in the air, resort is already accumulating at the store! Like the gorgeous Lauren Moffatt dress above. And the amazing Cynthia Vincent gladiators below. These items to be added to the site for shopping soon so check the New Arrivals section later this week!

It is officially December, and the temperatures are dropping and the reality of winter is setting in. Along with winter comes my favorite holiday of the year- Christmas. I don't know if it's the tradition of the whole holiday season or the childhood memories of the family festivities that bring a smile to my face. Maybe it's both but regardless I am full of anticipation to get together with family and friends and celebrate in the only fashion I know how: tons of laughter and cheer, a grand spread of desserts and finger foods, and my favorite part is celebrating the arrival of Santa Claus with my young nieces.

With all that said, it's not all sugar plums and fairies in my head. I do have a least favorite aspect of the holiday season: fighting the crowds shopping for that perfect gift for crazy Aunt Sue. So instead of joining the rat race this year come see what we have to offer at Jac. where it's a one stop shop for just about everyone on your list.

Here are just a few great holiday gift ideas I wanted to share with you here at Jac.

1. Stocking stuffers for men: Pocket knife, incense, jfold wallets, wooden animal bottle openers, and shaving cream by Ritual.

2. Stocking stuffers for women: scarves, solid perfumes, travel soaps and lotions, Anne Taintor compact mirror.
3. Gifts for a travel savvy mom, mother'n law, or aunt: jewelry roll, and Anne Taintor luggage tag.4. Gift for the quirky sister'n law: Anne Taintor apron and pot holder.5. Gift for the stylish businessman in your life: J.Fold laptop bag.

Happy Holidays to everyone, and I invite you to stop in and take advantage of our holiday, one stop shop sale.

Cheers,

Candice