Is your dog going to Brown or Dartmouth?

Available at www.petflys.com

If you're like me or even remotely like me about your dog then of course you want him or her pampered like someone who ends up at Brown or Dartmouth and since those aren't ever going to become realities for your pooch, then you've got expendable cash that doesn't have to be thrown into the University bin.  We treat our dog like our child. Some may find that strange, but he's the closest thing we have ever had to a child and we spoil him rotten.  However, when it comes to choosing a dog carrier for transatlantic flights it becomes almost difficult to spoil, be unique, and meet the requirements of the FAA or IATA!

Louis, our 18 month old Prague Ratter has been all over the world, dresses well, and has a demeanor like that of a stable and aristocratic Prince.

Louis. Collar by Coach,

Sweater by Juicy Couture,

Bag by Gucci.

Sometimes I think we should have even named him Prince or some god foresaken name like Paris Hilton would have dished him out like, "Prince Baby Louis Alexander Pumpkin Shizzle."  This year, after a flight to Paris, we noticed that the airlines were starting to crack down on requirements for carrying your pet on with you.  They are actually making you keep the dog in the bag the whole time you fly.  Well okay, recently I've tried to, as much as I can become part of the "If you can't beat them, join them" crew and therefore, I decided I would set out on a shopping journey for a pet carrier that was airline approved, stylish for the one carrying, yet at the same time comfortable for Louis!  I've shopped at dog boutiques in Paris, New York, Houston, London, Brussels, Bratislava, Prague, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Dubai and although all of these stores are great and carry a wide variety of items, a carrier is something special that can't be chosen from say  5 styles in a shop.  The internet comes in big time here and not only for variety, but also so you don't have to carry the thing around with you after you've made you're purchase.

Louis with shopintheknow author Jason Cahill

Searching high and low on the internet I came up with precious few options even still.  I'm not against the Louis Vuitton sac chien 40 or 50, or the traditional Gucci hard case carrier...but sometimes you just want to be different. We have the Gucci Basket Bag as I like to call it pictured on the left and available at www.gucci.com or in their stores if called in advance. It has many great features like the double zip front with leather tie down and brass button, the padded flooring for the dogs comfort, and an elegantly short Gucci signature webbing leash attached inside that keeps Louis restrained yet comfortable.  Its great on a day out in the city and can double as a shopping carrier even if L's in the bag.  However, the airlines are now tooting their horns about hard case only and so this bag doesn't cut it anymore for travel.  So, after shopping online for days we purchased the Sailor Bleu hard case bag as seen in above left corner available online at www.petflys.com  Petflys offers great service and they shipped from California to Prague, NO PROBLEM.  I give Tammy props at Petflys for her amazing customer service and also to Jamie who is keen on making sure all customer's and their dogs are happy.  We love our new dog carrier and so does Louis.

After countless hours of research I've made some recommendations below.  Some are traditional and oddly enough I only recommend anything from petflys or these these picks below:

Goochie Poochie Pet Bag
Available at www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com

Christian Audigier Safari Dog Carrier

Available at www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com

Christian Audigier Safari Dog Carrier

Louis Vuitton Sac du Chien
available at Louis Vuitton

Gucci Flight bag available at
Gucci

Not Airline Approved Sketch Bag by Louis Dog
available at Modern Tails

Where would we be without Bergdorf Goodmans?

Bergdorf Goodman's started in 1899 when Herman Bergdorf decided to open a tailor shop just near Union Square in New York City.  Very Soon after his opening, he was joined by Edwin Goodman as an apprentice and by 1901 Goodman earned enough cash to buy into the business creating the legendary Bergdorf Goodman that we all know and love.  They moved to the store's current location at 616 Fifth Avenue in 1928 and have been offering up the newest and finest fashion in both Men's and  Women's Wear since.

The store still holds its character and finesse and never fails to give us or the fashion world what we want, Good Shopping, Good Times, and Good Fashion.  When shopping at the store, be sure to have lunch in Goodman's Cafe, a Foodie's Favorite, located on the lower level, you'll be sure to be dining near the city's Ladies who Lunch crowd.  As with all stores and people in the know, Bergdorf Goodman also offers a great online shop.  If you can't make it to the store in the near future, perhaps you can be inspired by the video below in which Barbara Streisand sings "Second Hand Rose" and also tries on many of the wares offered at the store in that fabulous era. Go to their online shop and have some fun shopping today!

On offer this week is Jason Wu's Fall 2010 Collection. Check it out.

It's all about Smythson of Bond Street!

The Holiday Travel season really kicks off at the end of June and the beginning of July.  Whether your touring with family, friends, lovers, colleagues, or just your Bestie, you need to make sure to have all the right travel accesories for your summer holiday.  Of course, organization, style, and functionality were traits that received close attention when considering these items.

Below, find a brief description about "must have" items when venturing out on holiday wherever it may take you.  All items below just happen to be my pick, but do link through, the Smythson of Bond Street Online Shop meets the needs of most on many leather good and stationery.

First off, your handbag wouldn't be complete without the following items from

Smythson of Bond Street

This essential travel wallet keeps you organized and offers an air of sophistication, traveler longevity, and just plain, "I'm SO very!"  The Marshall Travel Wallet also does what it says on the box, keeps boarding passes, tickets, airline membership cards, as well as your passport, and multiple currencies organized to key organizational status. 

The Marshall Travel Wallet is available at
Smythson of Bond Street
place your order

While you are at it don't forget to order stationary too, it's always nice to send letters on beautiful paper while traveling abroad.  For Summer 2010 I can recommend the "Life is Beautiful" ready-to-write note cards.



"Life is Beautiful" note cards are available at
Smythson of Bond Street
place your order




Furthermore, what's travel without keeping at least a diary of lists or places of note with references and tips for friends who may travel where you are now in the future.  Karen Hartley gave me my first Smythson Diary for Christmas 2007. I still have it and from time to time read through the random notes taken throughout that year.  Like with all things Smythson, detail is taken to the next level, and diaries are available imprinted for most cities.  Featured below, Smythson's L.A. Notes Travel Diary.

Smythson's L.A. Notes Travel Diary  is available at

Smythson of Bond Street

place your order

Heaven's Gone Bankrupt!

For several years now when people ask me, "What's your idea of Heaven?" My immediate answer is, and will always be Takashimaya at 693 5th Avenue, NY, NY. What didn't Takashimaya offer? Actually Takashimaya New York was where most of my "happy place" answers referenced. The mere thought that this remarkable man
made paradise on Earth would actually shut its doors is enough to make me want to spend the next two weeks in bed! Its almost as if the death of Takashimaya is exactly as quoted on their website as "The End of an Era." Before the new merchandise set up on the ground floor was introduced a few years back, under the red canopy and through the doors one walked into a very large fantastically arranged flower bouquet, otherwise known as the florist shop, this evoked immediately the notion of walking into a sanctuary, a feeling that probably exists only at the Hempel Hotelat 31-35 , Craven Hill Gardens W2 3EA, London. After walking through the most amazingly scented foyers you could possibly enter you had options, choices, or freedom as I like to call it. You could press the elevator button signaling for up or down. I actually usually went down, easing into my shopping experience. Going down. Doors open and as you look ahead you've now arrived in a full blown Japanese tea house. I mean hell, you might as well have been laserbeamed to Kyoto. This was always a great place to buy small gifts for moments when you need a host or hostess gift, or a birthday gift on the go, you get the drift....your gift stock. At any rate, it's gone now so if you weren't there you won't get to see it. Tea's now purchased and perfectly packaged, you go back to the elevator which is at your beck and call and just random press for all I'm concerned. This ride ain't taking you any place other than a world of retail therapy seen none other than at this Empire of Retail. On every floor, buyers took amazing attention to
detail and finding the best fit for their clients whether it be closet sachets, fine crystal, beautifully hand sewn lingerie or men's ties. Every single floor was worth strolling, Every single thing was interesting, Every single arrangement was interesting and merchandised to sell and be touched and once you touched it, YOU MY FRIEND, WERE IN LOVE and despite the cost, you paid it and walked out happily with your new found LOVE in a pale pink geometrically shaped bag or bags with tattered tassle cording and whether you walked out from under that canopy on a blistering cold or extremely hot New York City Day...Life was Good!