Bloomingdales

Luxury textiles house Frette has opened a Frette shop-in-shop at Bloomingdale's 59th Street store in New York City. The boutique offers a place to pick up the popular Edmond Frette bedding, the more relaxed line targeted at the younger, aspirational customer with a lower price point (components for a standard bed are in the $400-$450 range). The sub-brand, which launched last year, pays homage to Italian style with black and white geometrics and exotic animal prints. The Bloomingdale's shop also features bedding from Frette's hotel collection. Frette currently has shop-in-shops in Bloomingdale's Dubai as well as Harrod's in London, Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, Printemps and Bon Marche in Paris. Check out more images from the Bloomingdale's shop in the gallery below.

Bloomingdale's is testing out a newer concept. Instead of massive department stores, the brand is building smaller stores. The next one is planned for Santa Monica, California. It will be part of the new Santa Monica Place and has a planned opening of August 6. The lure of department stores used to be the concept of endless choice but now after too much choice and surplus, the focus is on "well-edited" selections. BNET reports that the smaller store doesn't contain all the usual categories. Home goods, children's clothing and plus size merchandise have no place at the stores that is focused on moneymakers like accessories, shoes, and cosmetics.

Santa Monica Place is a 550,000-square-foot open-air mall which will have Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom as its anchor stores. Other tenants include CB2, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Disney and Nike. The mall's top level will have six "chef-driven" restaurants as well as other fast-casual restaurants. The top deck will also be home to a program on Friday nights during August and September called SunSets with a DJ from KCRW who will "spin tunes and provide a Happy Hour soundtrack."

For any active minded woman who likes a little attention, it is hard to admit you don't like this watch. Yes, it is true that blingy Casio watches are a hot item of choice among Hip Hop elite, but there is a certain charm and allure to them that is hard to explain. I feel as though it is the gilding of an object that you would easily wear without the gilding.

Here is a relatively inexpensive way to get a nice looking wintry watch from Casio with a little "extra" on it. In addition to the famous Baby-G line of watches, there is also the G-Shock Mini collection of watches for women (don't ask me the differences between the two, cause I don't rightly know). This G-Shock Mini Deco-G Watch is covered in a mask of hand-selected Swarovski crystals, against a white case and strap, with a metallic pink dial. The case design is much more refined and chic than many of the visually more complex women's G-Shock watches out there, but it still retains all the functions you'd expect.

Displayed right on the dial is the time and date, as well is indicators for things like day light saving, alarm, and more. Other functions include a 48 city world timer, stopwatch, countdown timer, 5 daily alarms, and an awesome backlight. The watch is also 100 meters water resistant, and highly shock resistant. If you want one, each will only cost you $200, but they are only available at Bloomingdale's in Manhattan. For more information visit gshockmini.com.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The Borghese cosmetics line is expanding in a new direction, with a line of bedding and accessories to be introduced under the Villa Di Borghese brand name. The Borghese tagline, "The Elements of Life" is the inspiration for the line. The bedding, created by United Feather & Down, will be packaged with samples of Borghese skin care products and is scheduled to launch nationwide through Bloomingdale's next month. The new line includes pillows, a comforter, spa body wrap and more in a 300-thread-count Italian Tile Dobby Cotton in either white or ivory and finished with a natural aloe vera treatment and embroidered with the Villa Di Borghese crest. Bloomingdale's has expanded their Borghese spa options and plans to use the Borghese textiles to pamper guests during treatments.

The Isabella Fiore Hot Studded Blossom Hobo is one of the most daring purses we've seen this season, when all the designers seem to be playing it safe.

The inventive shape of this bag makes it stand out immediately -- we love the tasseled drawstring gather with two belt-clasped pockets on the well-defined sides. On closer look, we noted the stud work. The studs are meticulously placed on tiny pleats, adding intricacy and luxury to the look of the bag.

This 15.5"W x 12.5"H x 5.5"D hobo comes in Aqua (shown) and Sun (a beige-y yellow), and has a lovely floral lining. The bag does not rely on the drawstring alone, there is a concealed magnetic snap at the top.

The Isabella Fiore Hot Studded Blossom Hobo is available from Bloomingdales for $695.

The Junior Drake Women's Giselle Heidi Medium Satchel is a well designed addition to any closet.

This classic looking bag is a perfect investment piece; it's likely to come back and back into style. The elegantly arched braiding make the bag feminine and pretty, even in soft brown leather.

The braided belt-like double straps are affixed to the bag with brushed brass hardware, giving it a somewhat country western feel. This bag would be great with your cowboy boots, and at 18"W x 9"H x 6.5"D will carry everything you need for a day at the ranch.

We also like the durable look it has; we wouldn't be afraid to get this bag a little dirty -- it would probably just add character.

The Junior Drake Women's Giselle Heidi Medium Satchel is available from Bloomingdales for $458.

The Cole Haan Phoebe Small Triple Zip Satchel takes its inspiration from a seashell, making it the perfect bag to carry with you on your spring vacation -- or to carry and pretend you're on a spring vacation.

The deep, widely-spaced pleats and generous leather double handles of this purse's design are luxurious yet modern. Its simple shape is enhanced by artisan braiding on the side edges, and decorated with a signature tassel pull. The goldtone hardware includes three zippers, making this bag functional and and stylish.

This 15"W x 9.5"H x 6.5"D natural grain leather satchel is large enough to be slung over the shoulder, but chic enough to go from day to night.

The Cole Haan Phoebe Small Triple Zip Satchel is available from Bloomingdales for $498.

The Juicy Couture Leather Crown Button Key Purse is proof that sometimes good things come in small packages.

This adorable key purse is 5.25"W x 3.25"H x 0.5"D, just large enough for your ID, a credit card, and your house key -- and maybe your car key, but don't push it, and don't you go trying to get your whole keyring in there, you'll stretch out the gorgeous soft blue leather.

The amount of detail on this tiny purse is impressive, but not overwhelming. The distressed gold tone hardware brings out the warmth in the blue.

We recommend this purse for a night out with your significant other (it's likely to fit in their pocket when you get tired of holding it) or for doubling as your wallet in one of your larger bags.

The tiny Juicy Couture Leather Crown Button Key Purse is available from Bloomingdales for $68.

The Isabella Fiore Russian to Woodstock Hannah Satchel has wooden handles and exquisite floral embroidery. The shamelessly springy feel of the bag is only enhanced by its vintage look.

This satchel's shape is a classic made modern by interior zippers and a cell phone pocket. The bag is made from soft, buttery lambskin, and features a magnetic closure at the top. Its generous 17"W x 9.75"H x 3"D size makes it bolder -- it's not just floral, it's a lot of floral.

For this and other reasons, we recommend keeping it casual with this bag -- wooden details are almost always a great match with denim. Wear what you would've worn to Woodstock (or what you did wear) with this satchel.

The Isabella Fiore Russian to Woodstock Hannah Satchel is available from Bloomingdales for $595.

The Kate Spade Women's Charlottesville Malea Tote is an elegant, refreshingly basic tote for spring.

You might call this a "safe" tote, which makes it an excellent investment piece. Made from smooth, shiny cowhide (or so they say, but have you ever seen a green cow? I didn't think so.)(Yes, I'm kidding.), the bag has simple lines, charming tassels, and gold-toned hardware.

The perforated details and subtle Kate Spade namestamp keep this functional bag feminine. The 13.75"W x 10.25"H x 5.25"D bag also has a floral lining, complementing the grassy shade of the luxurious cowhide.

The Kate Spade Women's Charlottesville Malea Tote is available from Bloomingdales for $395.

The 7 For All Mankind Women's Canberra Hobo is a demure, unexpectedly roomy, unusual bag.

It's larger than you might think -- 18.5"W x 13"H x 6.5"D with an 8" drop. This shape is versatile and deceptively spacious; 6.5" deep is very deep for a bag of this caliber.

Even the distressed leather of this bag is unusual, in this dark, dusty teal shade. We love the gathers at the sides, accentuated by the shiny nickel zippers and studs. There is a concealed magnetic closure at the top of the bag, and naturally, interior pockets to help you keep all that space organized.

The 7 For All Mankind Women's Canberra Hobo is available from Bloomingdales for $495.

The BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Bedford Large Shoulder Bag comes in three colors: Oyster (whitish), Raspberry (reddish), and Blue Surf (at right), but our favorite is unanimously this bright teal! "Blue Surf" is not a bad name for this bold shade, which has the eye-catching allure of a deep lagoon.

We love the asymmetrical rectangular front pocket, and the elegantly trimmed cloth strap. The dark metal details add distinction to the simple, 17"W x 12.75"H x 6"D shape.

Teal, or "Blue Surf," goes beautifully with white and black ensembles, and would be an excellent match for this spring's greys, as well.

The BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Bedford Large Shoulder Bag is available from Bloomingdales for $398.00.

We aren't at all sure about the Cynthia Rowley Jodie Tote. It looks rather like something you might somehow affix to your saddle before riding off into the sunset in the desert. Still, it's so unusual, we wanted to talk about it, so we made it Handbag of the Day.

This 12"W x 14"H x 7.5"D bag has a decidedly Southwestern feel, with its angled stitching and the straps evoking images of a horse's bridle. We can envision this working well with an unabashedly hippie-western look, complete with turquoise jewelry and lots of fringe. The color is a lovely, warm brown. Match it to your cowboy hat and God bless.

The Cynthia Rowley Jodie Tote is available from Bloomingdales for $395.

The Badgley Mischka Platinum Label Kara Drawstring Tote is a beautiful bag with a number of exquisite details.

The cream colored leather is accentuated by contrasting, wide stitching and yellow gold tone hardware. We love the dramatic tassels, laced through porthole-like loopholes which cinch the tote into a casually gathered shape.

This is an excellent bag to pair with denim, and at 14.5"W x 13"H x 7.75"D it's large enough for a full Saturday of brunch, shopping, and even sight-seeing abroad. The detachable shoulder strap would be a perfect for when you're on the go. The purse is flirty and youthful, but the cream color keeps it elegant enough for a well-accoutered lady of any age.

The Badgley Mischka Platinum Label Kara Drawstring Tote is available from Bloomingdales for $575.

The Marc Jacobs Women's Palais Royal Asa Crossbody is a springy edition to any wardrobe.

Pink is practically a neutral in springtime, and this warm pink leather purse with its long, devil-may-care strap can dangle from your shoulder with jeans or a daytime dress -- it's even small and thin enough, at 11.5"W x 10"H x 1.5"D, to complement a well-chosen cocktail number.

While the color would be too brash with black for this season, it would be elegant and soft-looking with a fuzzy gray sweater or pale gray dress. We love the subtlety of the nameplate and the artful pleat in the front.

The Marc Jacobs Palais Royal Asa Crossbody is available from Bloomingdales for $650.