This weekend, September 17th-19th, local shoppers can look forward to great deals and steals at the Midtown Sidewalk Sale. The Midtown Boutique District in conjunction with the Midtown Business Association are sponsoring the semi-annual event that will feature 28 stores and terrific savings. So grab your comfy walking shoes and be sure not to miss this exciting shopping opportunity that begins at 10am on Friday morning and lasts until 8pm on Sunday night. Whether you are a shopaholic or a just out to find a bargain, you will be sure to come across something that meets your fancy. If you are looking to fill your closet with new fashion items for the fall, Bows & Arrows (1712 L Street) is d

Contributed by Jenn Walker At age 19 and 20, Sacramento City College students Diana Byrd and Elena Gallegos are discovering the business world firsthand with the growth of their online business Meshugga Chic. Meshugga Chic, casually referred to as just Meshugga (not to be confused with the Swedish death metal band Meshuggah), is the duo's online vintage clothing store, catering to men and women with a unique fashion sense around the world. Their merchandise is an array of color, fun and the unusual. Items like high-waist purple parachute pants, a billowy bright pink and purple windbreaker or an acid wash jumper scream '80s. Anything funky goes. The two launched their site around a year

Just a few short years ago, Sacramento and fashion were rarely put in the same sentence. Before trendy boutiques and salons dotted the streets of the downtown grid, Sacramento was lacking in the fashion department to say the least. It seems that in the past few years, Sacramento has stepped it up. While there’s definitely still room for improvement, the majority of local stylists, boutique associates and residents asked seem to agree that their beloved city has potential and is (slowly) moving on up. Victoria Archulet, a sales associate at Franco Ferrini who previously worked at Madame Butterfly, said, “The Sacramento fashion scene is huge despite what many people think…[It’s] anything

Have you ever just been living your life, like you do every day, when, out of nowhere, someone living her dreams just rockets past you at the speed of a blistering, heavy-metal guitar riff? Yesterday I talked to Jen Ayres, co-owner of Thunderhorse Vintage, and that was exactly how it felt. There are a lot of little clothing boutiques around Sacramento, so you'd be right to ask what makes this one more worth visiting than any other. Thunderhorse has serious quantities of vintage for women and men, tons of belts, boots and bags, and enough toys and kitsch to satisfy the most nostalgic child of the 80s. But so do a lot of other stores. So why should you visit Thunderhorse? Two words: the hel

Over the past fall, the nationwide economic downturn has definitely been felt in Sacramento's small boutiques. While some have gone out of business completely, and others have been forced to close some locations, many shops are adapting to leaner economic times by diversifying and changing their businesses. Recently, the Sacramento Press talked to Liz Liles, owner of 21st street's Buffcastle boutique, asking her about the recession's effect on her business and others.   Was it hard opening in this economic climate? Well, we opened in about July, during the summer, so all the kids were out and about. It wasn't bad when we opened at all, actually suprisingly good. So we were excited about

Buffcastle, one of midtown's newest boutiques, is hosting an evening of speed dating, live music and unlimited wine for everyone who finds themselves sans sweetheart this Valentine's day. Says owner Liz Liles, "everyone's gonna be in love." Festivities will take place in the courtyard behind the Buffcastle shop. The normally empty courtyard will be filled with tables, and the dates will be timed and limited to three minutes each. Liles has also dedicated an unused area of her shop as a "kissing corner." New couples can take advantage of a photobooth to document their first date. Dating will commence at six in the evening, this saturday. Live music will begin at eight. Buffcastle is locat