Shopping Spree

Fashion > Forward

by Monica Weymouth

In celebration of the gocco — a small-scale Japanese screen-printing system — VIX owners Emily Conroy and Sean Dorn are hosting this evening of shopping, crafting and music. Check out the creative couple's collection of gocco-made stationery, including the "It's A New Day" City Hall sunshine card (pictured), which they sent to Mayor Nutter as an officewarming gift. Screen-printing enthusiasts and local artists Amy Walsh and Kate Duncan will be on hand to perform gocco demos, and harpist Melissa Santangelo of the Oubliette Ensemble will provide the baroque music. West Philly, we really need to shop in you more often.

Bus Stop is clearly block party captain of Fabric Row's Fourth Friday. This month, the upscale shoe boutique is hosting a reception for Girls Talk, an exhibit of drawings and paintings by local artist Maiko Sembokuya. Owner Elena Brennan will also be introducing new spring styles including shoes, handbags and tights by Faryl Robin, Irregular Choice, Corso Como, DAUTORE and London Hosiery. What should you be on the lookout for? "There are these peep-toe, 1940s dance shoes," says Brennan of her warm-weather styles. "I could imagine doing the cha-cha-cha in them."

If we've learned one thing between rum truffles and cocktails, it's that sailors know how to party. Designer Adriane Errera of Long Beach, Calif., will introduce her cheeky new collection of hand-detailed bags, Lucky Girl. With tattoo-inspired graphics, they're a little edgier than we'd usually go for spring, but it's high time to give the straw tote a break. Triumph brews and Sailor Jerry rum sips are complimentary, but forgetting to tip warrants a walk on the plank, matey.

You'll have to wait until May 31 to shop Art Star's two-day retail show, but it's time for vendors to apply. If you have original work to sell, visit the Web site to submit your application and registration fee. Haven't crafted anything since that gimp key chain at Girl Scout camp? You don't need any skills to score 20 percent off all of their clothing, both in the store and online through March 31. Just a warning: Buy up all those Tymbal T-shirt dresses, and you'll get no more shopping tips from me.