Winter Clearance Sale & Holiday Closures

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE STARTS

Thursday December 27th

HOLIDAY CLOSURES

DEC 24th  10:30am-3pm (Closing early)

DEC 25th & DEC 26th CLOSED

DEC 31st  10:30am-3pm (Closing early)

JAN 1st CLOSED

Holiday gifts may be returned through 

Wednesday January 9th

for in-store credit or exchange only

Shop Local: Pop-Up Boutique at Bevel Salon

Looking for gift giving inspiration and want to support local artisans?  

Our neighbor, Bevel Salon, is hosting a Pop-Up Boutique 

featuring local artisan women, including our own Terri Boyd-Boone.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

5 pm - 9 pm

Bevel Salon

1722 Solano Ave

Berkeley

Small Business Saturday 2012

It's that time again! Small business Saturday is coming soon.

Enroll your eligible American Express® Card to GET $25 BACK ONE TIME WHEN YOU SPEND $25 OR MORE at a qualifying small business location on
Saturday, November 24th. 

Enrollment is limited so act early before enrollments run out. 

Be sure to read the fine print and then register your card. 

Looking for more ways to support small businesses?
 Keep it local this holiday season. 

Buy Local Berkeley is a wonderful resource.

Did you miss the FDJ Fit Clinic?

We had a fabulous time at the FDJ Fit Clinic.  

A big thank you to all of you who came out in the rain 

and to the wonderful crew from French Dressing Jeans.   

Were you were unable to attend the French Dressing Jeans Fit Clinic?

You can still find your perfect fit.  FDJ has composed this video for you:

FDJ Fit Clinic: Friday, Nov 16th from 12pm-6pm

 FDJ Fit Clinic

Friday, November 16th

12 pm - 6 pm
By Hand

Offering sizes, styles, and lengths not currently available in-store.

Enjoy refreshments while you shop.

Come early for best selection!

Find Your Fit

FDJ's Fit Specialists will be at By Hand on Friday to help you find your best denim fit! By Hand regularly carries FDJ denim, twill, and corduroys in Olivia, but if you want to try FDJ's other styles, come on by! FDJ's fit specialists are bringing sizes and petite lengths not normally available at By Hand. 


Do you have ...

Straighter hips and less curve?

If you're a higher-rise gal, Suzanne may be your ideal fit. We'll have this straight leg jean in both regular and petite sizes in a dark wash.

If you're a mid-rise gal, start with the Olivia. The Fit Specialists are bringing an array of styles in Olivia - slim leg, two washes in straight leg, petite skinny leg, and petite straight.


More balanced proportions?  

Start with FDJ's Kylie. This lower rise fit will be available in straight and slim legs in regular lengths.


A defined waist and pronounced curves?

Peggy's higher rise and curvy fit will smooth your front and lift your back. We'll have the bootcut and petite bootcut styles available in a dark wash.



Can't wait for Friday?
Check out our current stock!

In Olivia:
-- Twill in wine berry, ivy brown, and black
-- Corduroys in navy, rose, black, and black jeggings
-- Denim in pure rinse and dark wash

We also have taupe twill in Suzanne!

See you Friday, noon - 6pm!

French Dressing Jeans Fit Clinic Coming to By Hand

Join us Friday, November 16th from 12pm - 6pm and be fit by a French Dressing Jeans Fit Specialist. In less than 5 minutes, an expert fit specialist will help you find the perfect jeans for your body type.

French Dressing is designed by real women for real women. Whether you are straight or curvy, French Dressing Jeans has a style for you.

Suzanne is the ideal fit for women with straighter hips & less curve. Designed to flatten your tummy and lift your behind. Suzanne sits at your natural waist.

Olivia is the ideal fit for women with straighter hips & less curve. Designed to flatten your tummy and lift your behind. A little bit lower than the Suzanne, Olivia sits just below the navel.

Peggy is the ideal fit for women with a defined waist and more pronounced curves. Designed to complement your curves, flatten your tummy and lift your behind. Peggy sits at your natural waist.

Kylie is the ideal fit for women with balanced proportions. Straighter through hips and thighs, eliminates bulking at the front rise. Sits 1.5" below the navel.

Find your fit for life with French Dressing Jeans.

More Christoper Blue Cords!

You read that right.

Christopher Blue cords were so popular, we made a second order.

Same colors as before: Navy, Turquoise, Olive, Vermilion, and Black.

Stop in or call us at 510-526-3212 for our updated availability.

Spandex: The Untold Story

Have you ever had the "Those pants fit this morning!" experience? 

Lycra (a.k.a. spandex) is the culprit.

Spandex warms up to your body heat and relaxes throughout the day, so your normal pant size might be too big. We suggest folks try a size down when buying pants with more than 3% spandex - a snug fit in the store will stay on your hips after the pants relax.

For history buffs out there, spandex (an anagram* of “expands”) was invented by Dupont chemists in 1959 and languished in the athletic world before catapulting to popularity during the Disco era. (Leg warmers and jumpsuits anyone?) 

Like me, spandex grew up a little over the last three decades and is now hailed as the miracle fiber that stretches, breaths, and feels like a second skin. NPR notes over 80% of women's clothing has some spandex, and most men's and women's pants have the miracle fiber. 

Despite spandex wriggling into America’s wardrobe, there’s not much information on how to take care of the fiber. Dryers break down spandex and give you stretched-out messes after a couple tumbles. Cold air or water is what really shrinks spandex. Follow the guidelines below to make the most of this miracle fiber!

Buying Clothes with Lycra

• Buy pants snug. Try a size down to get the best fit.
• Buying pull-on pants? Definitely go a size down! No belt loops means you can't salvage a pair that's too big. 

Caring for Lycra

• Wash cold
• Air dry or set dryer to "air fluff"
• Avoid fabric softener - some websites say it breaks down Lycra

Next time you’re at By Hand, check the label of the socks or jacket that catches your eye. The materials might surprise you.

UP NEXT: Fair Practices - Why We Offer Fair Trade

* according to Wikipedia. Internalize tidbit at your own risk. (Sorry, Liberal Arts School!)

Annual Fall Sale This Weekend!

What are you doing this weekend?
Visiting us for our Annual Fall Sale, of course!

Friday, 10/12 * Saturday, 10/13 * Sunday, 10/14

F, Sat 10:30am-6pm. Sun 12-5pm.

20% Off Storewide
(Yes, including all accessories, jewelry, and already-reduced items!)


Can't wait to see you this weekend!

Corduroy Season Begins!

If this were the Midwest, I'd write about how the changing leaves bring an itch for all items warm and comfy. It would be the perfect lead-in to talk about one of your favorite fall staples.

Too bad the Bay isn't cooperating and recently threw some summer weather at us. When the rest of the country revels in how colored cords are the "it" item for everyone this fall, you'll have to stock up for when our real winter begins.

No matter. Just because our weather patterns are different doesn't mean we can't ogle and yearn for beautiful jewel-toned cords*. Buy them once, enjoy them almost year-round! The joke's on the rest of the country.

We're excited to introduce Christopher Blue** cords for women - they're a brand new company for us and we already love their colors. This mid-rise stretchy wonder will see you through the year in comfort. Check out our colors below!

As always, feel free to ring us at  510-526-3212 to check availability.

Navy

Turquoise

Olive

Vermilion

Coming up: a post on the ins and outs of Lycra***. If you love cords or stretchy jeans, you'll want to know how to treat them right.

* Our other companies with cords include Miracle Body, Tribal, Jag, and FDJ. 
** Black is also available, but it didn't like being photographed.
*** a brand name for spandex. The post will really be about spandex and its counter-intuitive nature.

Win a $1200 Shopping Spree!

We're doing it again . . .

Enter to win a $1,200 Shopping Spree at By Hand!

 Winner gets a monthly $100 gift card for a year. 

CONTEST OPENS: Saturday, 9/1/2012 at 10:30am 

CONTEST ENDS:  Saturday, 9/8/2012 at 6:00pm

Stop in By Hand during regular store hours to fill out your entry form!  No purchase required to enter.

M-Sat 10:30am-6pm. Sun 12-5pm.

"It felt like getting a birthday present every month of the year...

Thank you By Hand for all the beautiful gifts that I sometimes shared with my family!"

--Jane H., 2011 shopping spree winner

   

We are closed Labor Day Monday, September 3.  

The By Hand crew intends to enjoy the Stroll festivities this year,  so our store is also closed on Stroll Sunday, September 9. 

  

Good luck and happy strolling!

Designer Spotlight: Nally & Mille

Nally & Millie first appeals to the eye, but it's purpose is greater than allure. The brand's painterly prints act like vibrant flower petals – you’re invited to engage. When you do, you’re rewarded by the softest, silkiest fabric that whispers of an endlessly flattering, wrinkle-free experience.

Started in 1999 by wife and husband team Nally and James Park, the brand benefits from both partners’ years in retail, management, and merchandising that refined Nally’s eye for women’s contemporary design and James’s operations know-how. (Millie is Nally’s sister who offered her namesake but is otherwise uninvolved.) The brand’s history transcends fashion and is one of many rich immigration narratives to take root in LA.

Made exclusively in LA by a “close group of committed people including relatives and close friends,” the brand designs its own prints for their specialty rayon-cotton, poly-cotton, rayon-spandex, and nylon-spandex fabric blends. Nally & Millie’s designs aim for the middle ground between dressy and casual. Frequent travelers take note - many of their skirts are reversible to black and all their items are wrinkle-free and pack well.

Check out select current stock below!

•  Cardigans

• Scoop and v-necks with dolman sleeves

• Tunic length knits (petite folks - left one works as a short dress!)

 

• Cowl neck dolman sleeve poncho

BOTTOMS

• Black and Grey sweater leggings
   
• Reversible skirts

A Place for Every Pen - Baggallini

Pockets are my Achilles’ heel. Show me a bag with hidden zippers and divided compartments and the possibility of order seduces me. There are many ways to interpret this love for nooks and order (therapists, I hear what you’re thinking), but this attraction stems from my travels. When I was three, I had to prevent my crayons from attacking my stuffed bunny. At thirteen, my Harry Potter book and copycat story needed to marinate in my backpack.

Years of travel taught me what I need (snacks; water; book; notebook; iPod; sweater) and what I don’t (4 books; 48 colored pencils; sewing kit) while traveling.

My needs were clear; my bag of choice wasn’t.

Many women get to this point. They’ve figured out their travel needs but can’t find a bag that will organize their credit cards, provide space for sunglasses, and sit comfortably on their shoulders. That’s where Baggallini comes in.

Two flight attendants began the company in 1995 and set out to design bags that appealed to the woman jet-setter. Given our countless customers that have called Baggallini “the perfect travel bag” over the years, I think they’ve succeeded.  

Baggallini recently expanded beyond its travel-friendly Classic lines to include the high-function, high-style Quilt, Leather Trim, International, and Travel Accessories Collections. Our current stock includes a great selection of Classic bags (see below for specifics!), but we’re most excited about the new Audrey Satchel and Maria Crossbody from the Leather Trim Collection. 

 Made of lightweight, water-resistant, durable satin nylon fabric and trimmed in leather, both styles come in Garnet, Amber, Emerald, and Onyx. These styles will appeal to the non-traveler, but the focus remains the same: functional beauty.

Countless customers come through our doors with their own Baggallini story. For me, the ability to organize one small piece of my universe gives me peace of mind.

After all, isn’t life about the stories we tell? 

SOME CURRENT SELECTIONS

Classic Collection

-- Wallet Bag

-- Criss-Cross Bag

-- Teenee Baggallini

International Collection

-- Dublin

-- Sicily

Quilt Collection

-- Geneva

-- Wanderer

-- Explorer Backpack

Leather Trim Collection  

-- Audrey Satchel

-- Maria Crossbody

Designer Spotlight: Loco Lindo

Now that it’s the 21^st century, 50’s styles are back in fashion. Loco Lindo, one of By Hand’s mainstay brands for almost 15 years, is one designer that captures the retro spirit with a modern flair.

A far cry from “vintage” of the faded sort, Loco Lindo’s founder Linda Marrone built the brand on an aesthetic that is “easy western style + California casual chic.”  Designed and sewn in L.A. since 1992, Loco Lindo has a core group of signature styles with ever-changing exclusive prints each season. Their eco-friendly, pre-washed rayon viscose crepes are great for travel and breathe easily when soaking up sun or swing dancing.

For fall, the shaped shirt or mandarin top will look great with a circle skirt you have, and the Enchanted Forest, Birds Nest, or Graphite Saffron fabrics will be a hit at any party. Of course, check out the Petals and Vines, Tippi Birds, Spruce Dots, and Flutter prints while you’re at it! When spring 2013 rolls around, make a mental note to stop in By Hand for camp shirts and teatime tops to greet the new season.

Fall Loco Lindo styles will start arriving in late August! 

Are You Vacation-Ready? Summer Sale Starting July 14!

Independence Day is usually the beginning of summer vacation galore. You look around for breathable fabrics to take to the sweltering Southeast (or, really, any part of the country outside the Bay), a hat that’s SPF 50, and comfy pants that won’t wrinkle as you destination hop. Maybe you come up empty-handed. Maybe you don’t even know what fabrics you should bring, only that your favorite cotton t-shirt has lost so much shape the crew neck is now a revealing number.

If this feels like you (and even if it doesn’t!), stop in By Hand starting Saturday, July 14 to make our Annual Summer Sale work for your vacation needs.

In search of good travel fabrics? Be on the lookout for natural fiber fabrics like linen, rayon, cotton, and sometimes silk – they breathe easier than synthetics and will be a boon in weather that begs for sweet iced tea. Spritz linen with a spray bottle and shake – the wrinkles will fall out easily. Hang rayon fabrics (such as Tencel) in a steamy bathroom as you shower to make your clothes look fresh again. Anything with a bit of spandex or Lycra will be comfortable to wear and will release wrinkles with ease.

Knitted fabrics will be your best friend as you travel. You can always tell a knit with three tests: first, the fabric will look like tiny rows of braids (as if someone actually knit it!); second, the fabric will easily stretch width-wise and a little lengthwise; and third, after balling up a knit fabric, it will spring back to its original shape with few wrinkles. (The only woven fabric that travels well is linen – it breathes like a dream and de-wrinkles with water.)

We have all the above fabrics in an abundance of tops and bottoms, and we’re more than happy to help you meet your travel-wear needs. After you find your perfect rayon pants, linen shirt, and floppy hat, you can buy a reusable EnviroSak for your haul. When you get home, roll up the EnviroSak, button it, and toss it in your suitcase.

Happy vacationing!

Summer Sale: Starts July 14.   Lasts until …

Closed on 4th of July....Spring & Summer Clearance Sale Starting Soon

We will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th

Hope your Independence Day is filled with fun, friends, family, food and fireworks

See you on Saturday July 14th for the beginning of our

Spring & Summer Clearance Sale

25% off spring and summer clothing

(sorry, no price adjustments)

Designer Spotlight: Cut Loose, a San Franciscan Staple

Cut Loose has been a staple brand at By Hand for over 20 years, with their t-shirts, blouses, and pants making up a sizable portion of our women’s casual inventory. Our customers return every year to stock up on the brand’s washable, wearable, and travel-friendly items that exemplify “reliable simplicity”.

The Cut Loose lore begins in the late 70’s when items were actually “cut loose”, or one size fits all, and vended at Fisherman’s Wharf. Lackluster t-shirt colors prompted the company to create their own dyes, a tradition that Cut Loose continues today. The company extensively tests each fabric to see how it takes to dyes, how it holds shape, and how it feels. If you want to learn more about their manufacturing process, check out their website for a mini-tour!

The label is sewn and dyed to order, so each boutique’s selection is hand-picked. Our current summer stock includes women’s cotton t-shirts, basic linen blouses, and tencel/linen blend pants in an array of fresh colors like tarragon, grapemist, and chili. Fall will see a brand-new fabric hitting the shelves, so check back in the coming months for stock updates and photos!

Fair-Trade and Made in USA

“Made in USA” and “Fair Trade” labels have been lauded as the way to be more conscientious consumers over the last decade, both internationally and locally. Here at By Hand, we strive to stock merchandise with both labels because we believe consumer dollars should have a positive impact on all people in the production process, and not just a company’s bottom line.

For those of you who have heard these words but aren’t sure what they mean, here are some definitions!

No universally accepted definition of “Fair Trade” exists, but FINE*, an informal association of four international Fair Trade organizations, defines it as “a trading partnership [… that] contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South.”

“Made in USA” essentially means what it says and is a label regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. The label is broadly defined as “all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin.” All clothing must have a label sewn in which indicates the country of origin.

We’ll be profiling some of our major labels in the coming months to give you the story behind the merchandise. In the meantime, check out a few of the Made in USA and Fair Trade labels we carry in-store. If you have questions about stock, give us a call at 510-526-3212!

Made in USA

Women

Chalet – cotton and rayon travel-friendly pieces

Click – print t-shirts, print and solid blouses, relaxed-fit bottoms

Cut Loose – casual blouses and pants, striped and solid t-shirts

Elliot Lauren – business dress pieces

Loco Lindo – rayon crepe button-up blouses

Miracle Body – stretch jeans and casual tops

Salaam – printed knit tops

Men

Agave – luxury knit tees and polos made of Supima cotton, grown in USA

Click – casual shirts (a new direction for Click)

Remo Tulliani - socks

Fair Trade

Scarves

Marquet Fair Trade – 100% cotton scarves hand-crafted by collectives in Vietnam and Thailand

Woven Promises – high quality cotton and silk hand crafted scarves from Ethiopia

Jewelry

Aid Through Trade – roll-on beaded bracelets and beaded necklaces made in Nepal

Bead for Life – recycled paper earrings and necklaces handmade in Uganda

Encanto – Tagua seed earrings and necklaces

Nuna – Tagua seed earrings and necklaces

… plus lots of jewelry made in Berkeley by local designers!

*F = Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO)

  I = International Federation of Alternative Trade (IFAT)

  N = Network of European World Shops (NEWS!)

  E = European Fair Trade Association (EFTA)

Father's Day Sale June 8 - 10

Fathers’ Day Sale!

It’s Father’s Day, 1976. Looking for something decidedly original, you stop in the 2-year old By Hand on Walnut Street looking for a gift without the aura of mass production. A magnificent shirt catches your eye – a solid-colored cowboy shirt with flowered yokes, piping trim, and pearlescent snaps down the front. Bingo!

By Hand has changed since the cowboy shirt’s heyday through the early 80’s, but offering quality menswear with style that says, ‘I’m no corporate schlub*” remains.

Stop by this weekend, June 8-10, for our annual Father’s Day Sale with 20% off all menswear. Our excellent stock of basic tees, long- and short-sleeve casual shirts, relaxed jackets, pants, jeans, hats, socks, belts, and wallets will please any father, father-figure, or menswear lover in your life.

WHAT: Father’s Day 20% off menswear sale

WHEN: Friday June 8 through Sunday, June 10

* Thanks to a customer for this line!

With just over two years at our current location, we’re excited to expand our presence in the digital world to better serve you - our customers. We want to give you information relevant to your apparel and accessory decision-making processes. Check back here every couple weeks for new posts on merchandise offerings, designer stories, events, style ideas and more!

STAY TUNED - Check back next week for an exciting event announcement celebrating all fathers!