By Dale R. Gardon
Photography by Dino Tonn

Who said that going to the office every day means being sentenced to architectural or aesthetic hell? I’m astonished when I consider how many people drag themselves into a vanilla-colored-wall environment, complete with standard-issue lay-in ceiling tiles and inoperable windows, and become acclimated to this environment for eight to ten hours a day—every day. Someone once decided that this is the way an office should be: sealed from the natural environment with work spaces neatly lined up like rabbit warrens housing prairie dogs bobbing up and down to see what’s happening across the sea of cubicles.

Imagine a place where you don’t have your nose prints smudging the glass. Imagine an office with operable windows and doors that allow you to hear the birds, smell the flowers, and feel the breeze. Imagine a space with interesting interior volume, natural daylight, and interior materials composed thoughtfully in an array of soothing hues and warmth, giving you a feeling of the comforts of home.

What if there were a place where informal meetings were held in a room or space with comfortable chairs instead of at a conference table over which you crouch and hover? A more relaxed setting may allow for flow and freedom of thought. Is all this really possible in an office environment?

I’m less concerned with office trends than sharing a personal crusade to change the places in which the majority of the workforce toils away. Anyone working in a home office knows the great appeal that lies beyond the ability to sit around in your underwear while engaging in a Web meeting. The mere thought of a more relaxed and pleasant environment gives awareness to how workers can focus better: being in the office seems more comfortable and enjoyable because the place in which we are conducting our business was designed creatively.

Of course, not all offices are as unpleasant as I’ve described, but after visiting and taking note of the majority of office environments, I suggest that if some of us have to spend most of our daylight hours in a place called “the office,” then maybe we deserve to have at least some of the comforts of home. The office’s kitchen should be the social heart of the office and a place to gather and socialize with coworkers, not just a wet bar counter with a water cooler and a coffeemaker that all serve as a good behavior escape from your sentence.

Beyond the exterior walls of my office building lie multiple courtyards to explore and a fountain for audio and microenvironment comfort. We are also fortunate in having chosen to build our office building in a community where the Path and Trail system lie right outside our door so that health and wellness can be enhanced by taking walks or riding bikes during a lunch hour or immediately before or after work. The bathroom has a shower available for freshening up after a long walk. It is also uncommon to find office sites where you can actually walk—yes, I said walk—to a restaurant or shopping environment without firing up all those cylinders in the car just to get a bite to eat.

Consider, too, utilizing more green and sustainable materials. We have a natural integrally colored concrete floor in most of the office, a cork floor in the conference room, and recyclable rubber flooring made from recycled tire scraps for the mail/print room, as well as TimberStrand steps, Paralam steps and posts, and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) for ceilings and flooring, all made from excess wood chips. All of this contributes to the dematerializing of the material composition of our building—basically, the core structural and mechanical products left exposed and dressed up with stain or a clear sealer in the case of the remanufactured wood products. This means less carpet, drywall, or other ceiling products.

If we can be aware of the visual, inspirational, and emotional benefits that this type of office design can provide for workers, the building owners and developers, and the environment, and if the public at large is more demanding of them, then maybe we can make a significant change for the next generation of worker bees, who would then continue to pollinate these ideas to nourish future generations.

CAPTIONS:

Photo 1
This office lobby exhibits the warmth and charm of a residence, demonstrating sustainable design principals that utilize a broad shaded overhang, recycled materials like the glass chips in the terrazzo floor, the use of Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) for the roof, and the exposure of the Oriented strand Board (OSB), stained in a warm, light cherry tone.

Photo 2
The outdoor environment welcomes the user or visitor to the office complex in an inviting way that celebrates the landscaped environment—so contradictory from offices that experience garage parking, waiting for elevators, and wandering down endless non-day-lit hallways to find the office entry door you are hunting for.

Photo 3
The main office studio space exhibits the natural integrally colored concrete floor, the OSB ceilings, and the structural trusses exposed for the artful composition seen in the volume space. The daylight adds benefits from clerestory windows, operable windows, and sliding glass doors.

By Diane Maier

Ecofriendly interior design is not only good for the environment, but is also good for you and your family. It’s all about designing, lighting, and decorating your home in ways that are friendly to the environment and nontoxic to people. Air quality is very important to green design. If someone in your family suffers from allergies or headaches, your home may not be as healthy as you think. You can reduce your potential exposure to gases, dust, and other pollutants by emphasizing a green interior design approach.

So, what does it really mean to be “green”? Using low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products is an important first step. VOCs are gaseous chemicals from paint, carpeting, and furniture. These chemicals play a big part in indoor air pollution. Most traditional paints are heavy in VOCs. Look for nontoxic, natural paints or paints with a low VOC classification.

Fabrics made of natural fibers that are renewable and biodegradable are greener alternatives to synthetic materials when it comes to custom bedding, decorative pillows, upholstery, and draperies. Good choices include silk, wool, linen, and cotton without synthetic dyes.

Furnishings made from reclaimed materials add interest and preserve resources. Reclaimed wood from historic buildings and bridges is being used by furniture manufacturers to create new treasures for your home.

Your choice of flooring will also have a big impact on the healthiness of your home. Wall-to-wall carpeting traps dust and allergens and can be high in VOC emissions. Wood floors in ecofriendly materials such as bamboo, which is actually a grass but is installed by wood flooring contractors, are beautiful and easy to care for. Reclaimed wood and cork are also good options. Use all-natural area rugs made from wool, hemp, or organic cotton to add color, softness, and warmth. Area rugs are also easier to clean than wall-to-wall carpeting.

Consider concrete flooring. Concrete is an easy-to-maintain sustainable material that supports a healthy interior environment. Concrete floors can be finished in a variety of decorative treatments that add character and depth to a space. They can also be stained and finished to look like wood planks.

Decorating with plants livens up your interior space and keeps indoor air clean at the same time. Incorporating natural elements into your home décor is key to creating a beautiful, healthy space. Add natural touches to your décor with interesting rocks or stones and fresh flowers. You can also find a number of ecofriendly decorative objects. Candles are a good example: Soy candles with cotton wicks are made with all-natural materials and burn cleaner than their metal-wicked antecedents. The clean-burning Low Country Luxe line of 100 percent soy botanical candles is an Oprah.com favorite. The manufacturer donates a percentage of its sales to benefit charities and environmental causes.

Interior design is intuitive in many ways. Follow your instincts. Choose what looks good and makes you feel good. And remember, you can have rich, abundant style and still be ecofriendly. Green does not have to be lean!

By Diane Maier

It’s time to banish tired, old energy from your home and clear the way for a positive and productive year. Feng shui is the art of balancing and harmonizing the flow of natural energies through a space in order to maximize positive energy and create an environment that promotes health, happiness, and success. Creating a harmonious environment is an essential part of living your best life, ever.

Clutter is an obstacle to the smooth flow of energy in your home. Typical clutter includes items that are no longer wanted or loved and are not ongoing sources of joy, inspiration, or practical benefit. Clutter drains your energy and creates a sense of stagnation in your home, where energy should always flow freely.

You must clear the clutter before you can put feng shui principles to work in your home. This is not an article about organizing your closets and drawers. Organizing should only be concerned with the items you decide to keep after the clutter has been cleared from your home.

Bedrooms, bookcases, and storage areas are likely to require the most attention. Stuffed bedroom closets and bulging bookshelves are obvious problem areas, but what about the space under your bed? Keep your under-bed areas clear and clutter-free to enjoy peaceful, undisrupted sleep at night.

Closets are notorious for harboring old, dead energy. Get rid of clothing that doesn’t fit or is out of style. Get rid of all but your best-loved books to make way for new reading adventures in the future.

In Arizona especially, we often see garages that are packed to the rafters with boxes. Your garage was designed for vehicles, not storage. Discard or donate the contents of any boxes that you have not opened in more than twelve months unless, of course, they contain heirlooms or other keepsakes. Why are you saving (and living around) unused items? It’s also time to get rid of any keepsakes you may have from an old relationship. These elements drain your energy and emotions every time you see them. You’ve moved on, and it’s time for the items to follow suit.

The start of a new year is also a good time to update your address book. If you can’t put a face with a name or remember the last time that you spoke with that contact, let him or her go. This clears the way for all of the fabulous new friends that you are going to meet in the months ahead!

Energy flows where your attention goes. Place plants, artwork, and small pieces of furniture in corners to keep energy flowing throughout the room. Add seasonal elements throughout your home to bring in fresh new energy on a regular basis. There are unseen causes of clutter that you should also address, such as rooms that have been the site of fights or other unhappiness. Add items to these spaces that create flowing energy, such as chimes or living plants. Both attract positive energy to an area.

By Andrew Z

Everyone wants good value when making a purchase, so here are six things for you to think about before you head out on your next jewelry-seeking adventure. Before I reveal the six secrets, let’s remember that the lowest price is not necessarily the best value unless product, service, and terms are identical. You know the old saying: Always compare apples to apples.

1.    If a store advertises “50 percent off everything!” you may want to turn around and run out as fast as you can! Be leery of what may be deceptive pricing. If an item was priced at double its normal price on Monday and then advertised as 50 percent off on Tuesday, this is not a discount. It’s a come-on as old as when the first jewelry peddler polished a diamond and put it into his cart. You may wonder how far they’re willing to stretch whatever passes for the truth just to make a sale.
2.    A small local jeweler has access to the same wholesale prices that a large chain store or large online seller might have.
3.    As far as diamond quality goes, a little knowledge—and a little education—is a good thing. If you are in the market for a new diamond, try to spend a little time learning about the four Cs of diamond quality (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat Weight). This information is readily available in the library, online, or in most jewelry stores. Try to find an unbiased source such as the Gemological Institution of America so that you avoid biased marketing information that might be questionable. Once you have some understanding of the four Cs, you can make a better decision on which diamond characteristics—clarity for example—are worth paying more for and which are not as important to you.
4.    How often will you wear a particular piece? Will it give you the mpc (miles per carat) that you want? Paying more for something that you might wear every weekend may be a better value than paying less for something only worn twice a year. Look for versatility. Are jackets available for those earrings, or maybe an enhancer for a pendant? These are add-ons that can bring about multiple looks for the same core piece of jewelry.
5.    Don’t skimp on quality of manufacture. By this, I’m referring to everything other than gemstone or diamond quality. Look for a secure clasp such as a “lobster claw” on a chain or bracelet. Is the shank of a ring heavy enough to your eye? Look closely at prongs. Are they equally spaced and equal in size? Is the style durable enough for your lifestyle?
6.    Always ask what guarantees and service policies are offered. Also, ask if the retailer offers a diamond trade-up policy on purchased diamonds and if there are any minimum upgrade requirements.

Well, there you have them: Six secrets that really aren’t secrets at all, but just common-sense considerations. The best jewelry values aren’t usually a secret or some type of fantastic deal. They are found when you work with jewelers of integrity who respect you and appreciate your business. So now, all you have to do is go out and find a jeweler whom you trust and feel comfortable with, use a little old-fashioned common sense, and have fun finding a beautiful piece of jewelry—with value !

By Diane Maier

Set the mood in your home this holiday season with a decorating plan that celebrates the real you.

Embrace your year-round personal decorating style. Keep in mind that you are dressing your home for the holidays and not redecorating it. Integrating a theme can create interior harmony that flows from room to room. Your choice may feature a personal collection that is packed away during other seasons or a holiday tree with a special theme. Place smaller themed trees in bedrooms, the guest room, and even the kitchen to add a holiday spark to every area of your home.

Your fireplace should be a focus of your holiday decorating style, second only to your tree. Hang a large wreath on or over the fireplace, position candleholders of different heights on the mantle, and add containers of foliage to the mix. Add personal items such as a cherished vase, a child’s sled, or some other unique accessory. Branches and garland tie the theme together nicely.

Not sure what colors to use? Take your inspiration from your dining room chairs for ribbons, garland, flowers, candles, and place settings. Choose complementary colors that create a seasonal feeling. Perhaps you’ve seen a piece of fabric that would make an elegant runner or spied a festive ribbon with a charming color scheme. Color is a very personal decision and a true reflection of you. Select hues that complement your existing choices. Match warm with warm and icy cools with whites and silvers. Jewel tones lend themselves to fancy beaded fruits, rich fabrics, and embellished candles. Earth tones and deep reds bring out the rustic feel of a truly Tuscan holiday. For the greatest impact, use only one color of candle—and then use them everywhere!

Placing greenery or a garland adorned with ribbons and ornaments on your chandeliers adds character, impact, and charm. Staircases can also be very dramatic when decorated for the holidays. Use this architectural detail of your home to tie your plan together.

Holiday wreaths also create unity of design wherever they appear. A wreath on the powder room mirror is a festive, unexpected touch. Even the wreath on the inside of your front door can become extraordinary by attaching two long lengths of ribbon to its bottom. As your holiday cards arrive, use straight pins to affix the back of the card to the ribbon. Be careful not to pin the cards closed so that friends and family can enjoy the good tidings and the photos inside.

Add store-bought or homemade gingerbread figures to wreaths and garlands, and hang them from lengths of ribbon in the windows of your kitchen for a truly “hearth-warming” touch. Display others among plates in your china cabinet or plate rack.

Candy canes added to simple arrangements of red roses create a simple and incredibly elegant holiday bouquet. Small wrapped gifts piled in an urn or basket by the front door make it easy to say “Thank You!” when neighbors and friends drop by with an unexpected treat for you.

Your best holiday ever begins with a decorating plan that reflects the real you!

By Cassaundra Brooks

Let’s tackle that unruly or bland backyard and transform it into a lively, user-friendly place for you and your family—or the next family who’ll reward your efforts by meeting or exceeding your asking price! Creating a luxury yard that maximizes space and functionality and maintains balance doesn’t always require a huge budget—just knowledge of the needs and general interests of families. You’d be surprised at the versatility your yard possesses. With a little planning and work, it could be that extra room for your house that you’ve always wanted!

SHOT 1
Before shot

SHOT 2
A spa is a luxurious, space-efficient way to relax with family or friends year-round. The six-seater Gulf Coast Spa LX 8000 (approximately $10,200) fits well into the average-sized backyard. The Better Homes and Gardens Westhaven canopy ($148 at WalMart) provides the much-needed shade and protection from the hot Arizona sun.

The bistro table with chairs benefits from the canopy’s shade ($100), and are well-positioned for viewing children playing in the pool or chatting with your spa-loving companions. A synthetic lawn is a great way to get the look of grass and conserve water during the blistering heat of the Arizona summer ($8 per square foot at Echelon).

This custom-made pool by DreamScapes Custom Pools and Spas fits this smaller yard like a glove and is suitable for a relaxing dip, a splashfest with your kids, swimming laps, or entertaining a small group of friends. Its streamlined rectangular shape maximizes available space. It’s gas-heated, uses an in-floor cleaning system and saltwater chlorination, and sports a pebble-sheen interior and hand-painted tiles from Italy. This size pool starts in the high $20,000s; the tiles cost anywhere from $16 to $20 apiece. A basketball sleeve and volleyball sleeves make even better use of the space and make for fun athletic activities regardless of season.

SHOT 3
These wok-pot fountains are aesthetically pleasing and ecologically conservative as they circulate the water already in use. The columns are made with real stacked stone. The fountain and columns run about $1,100 each. They are available through DreamScapes. River rocks add the final touch.

Rather than spending a fortune and a headache on planting full-grown trees to create a natural privacy screen from the two-storey neighbors, invest in the baby version, like these Italian Cypress trees from Home Depot.

SHOT 4
A combo of faux Saltillo tile and acrylic lace was custom created by DreamScapes to match the existing patio. These river rocks, available at Home Depot, are relatively inexpensive and not only provide an aesthetic finishing touch but solve the problem of cracks between the newly laid and existing patios.

SHOT 5
A Baja step is ideal for small children and for enjoying the refreshing water without submerging oneself under water. The umbrellas, available at JC Penny, are a solid investment at $170 each, providing shade and protecting your skin from the sun.

A convenient way to find fitting furniture is to check out amazon.com, which is where these Strathwood chaise lounges ($189.99 each) and Strathwood Talbot hardwood double sun lounger ($540) were located. The eggshell Strathwood Talbot double sun lounger cushion is $280; the single chaise lounge cushions by Delahey are from WalMart ($49.99 each). Striped chaise lounge towel covers are $25 apiece, protecting the cushions from fading and providing useful pockets for storing sunscreen and poolside snacks. Fun, striped cushions from Kohl’s complete the look and the comfort.

What backyard would be complete without a barbecue? This three-burner gas grill by Uniflame is a complete yet compact necessity for entertaining friends and family with a proper backyard barbecue feast. $399 at WalMart

SHOT 6
This fun, attractive putting green, ideal for all members of the family, utilizes the “dead” space at the side of the house. A custom putting green from Echelon runs $11 per square foot.

Echelon Synthetic Lawns and Putting Greens: (602) 615-0328 or echelongreens.com

DreamScapes Custom Pools and Spas: (623) 587-7665 or dreamscapecustompools.com

Home Depot: homedepot.com

WalMart: walmart.com

Kohls: kohls.com

Gulf Coast Spas: gulfcoastspas.com

JC Penny: jcpenny.com

By Diane Maier

Living your best life begins by designing an environment in your home that is conducive to creating happiness, success, and joy. Harmony, energy, and intention each play a role in creating a home that is a true reflection of the life that you want to create. When you “live by design,” you set the stage to bring abundance into every part of your life. Living your best life always begins at home.

The space you surround yourself with has a huge impact on your life. If you are feeling unmotivated or restless, it could be from negative energy that is lingering in your home. You may be holding onto items that you simply don’t care about any longer. Your surroundings should nurture and feed your senses, always.

Clearing the clutter will help you create harmonious spaces that work for the way that you and your family want to live. Start by carving out a space that will be uniquely your own—a place to retreat to when you are feeling stressed or tired. Your retreat could be a luxurious tub dressed with candles and thirsty towels. It could be a cushioned seat by the fireplace on a chilly day or a poolside table to enjoy your coffee while listening to morning bird songs. When you design a space that reflects your needs and intentions, you create an environment that will nurture your creativity and energy. All things become possible.

Here are five ways to design your life, one room at a time:

- Visualize a setting that you enjoy visiting, one that has a special ambience and is a place in which you feel completely comfortable and at home. Is it a lake house? A festive holiday setting? A room in a friend’s home where everyone loves to linger? The elements that are clearest in your mind will help you create your own design.

- Too often, we wait for company to visit to make the spaces in our home special. Don’t wait for visitors to put the good towels out in the guest bath or the flowers in the spare room. It’s your home. Enjoy it every day.

- Tackle your home one room at a time. Your master bath should be a sanctuary, the guest room a retreat, and the spare bathroom always ready for company. It’s your life. Take time to develop it.

- Pay special attention to your bedroom. The view from the bed is much more important than the view from the doorway. Does the sun come in and wake you each morning? Does your mattress need to be upgraded? Your bedroom should be comfortable and conducive to getting a good night’s sleep. It is where each day begins.

- Everyone who lives in your home should have a space in which he or she feels comfortable. A tall man and a short woman are not going to be comfortable on the same piece of furniture. Look at your life and what it needs, rather than decorating to mimic what others are doing.

Good design doesn’t just happen by accident. Your home should be a reflection of who you are and the way that you want to live. Make yourself the center of your universe, and your house will feel like a home.

By Andrew Z

I was really surprised when I read the results of a poll asking women about their marriage proposals. The results indicated that around 80 percent felt that theirs were not memorable and, even though they were very happy to be engaged, the event itself was not exciting. In an effort to help change this, here are six different familiar but classic proposal ideas with a twist. You don’t necessarily need to follow them verbatim, but rather use them to stimulate your own creativity. Whatever you decide to do, personalize it and make it memorable in a loving way. Be considerate in your plans and be careful not to embarrass anyone. And the final and most important suggestion: Be prepared with a nice diamond engagement ring.

Dinner Dates:
1. Prepare a nice candlelight dinner for the two of you, with her favorite foods. Bring her a glass of champagne with the engagement ring not at the bottom of the glass, but tied to the stem with a ribbon.

2. Take her to dinner at a nice Chinese restaurant. When dinner is over, give her a fortune cookie that has a message prepared in advance by you. The message could read, “Diamonds are in your near future,” or “Will you marry me?” Of course, the next step is to hand her the ring. Special-message fortune cookies can be ordered online if the restaurant cannot prepare them.

Sweet Nothin’s for Sports:
1. Take her to a high school or college basketball game. Forget the message on the marquee; instead, in advance, arrange with the school and sports announcer to call the two of you to center court for a special announcement, perhaps calling your seat numbers as “winners” of a “great prize.”) Offer a donation to the team in return. Once on center court, get down on one knee and take your best shot! A variation to the school sports proposal is to buy an ad in the program booklet, if the school has one, and include your proposal in it. Hand it to her and wait for her reaction.

2. Watching a game from home? Place the ring box at the bottom of her Cracker Jacks box. Pull the little prize out of your box and then ask her what prize is inside.

Romancing the Reader:
1. Buy a book by one of her favorite romance authors. With a razor blade, neatly cut out a pocket through the center of the pages—just like they do in spy movies to create a secret hiding place for valuables. Place the ring in this secret pocket. Make sure that there are a few uncut pages above the ring pocket. When the two of you are alone in a quiet place, give her the book and ask her to read a couple pages. If there is a great line or paragraph about love in the beginning, highlight it. Once she turns the page to the ring…well, you know the rest of this love story.

2. For your beloved bookworm, take her to the library or her favorite bookstore. Ask her to find a specific book for you while you “look” for something else. Prearrange to have the ring or ring box in the book’s place, perhaps along with a special card or note with her name and “Will you marry me?” When she’s gaping at the “book,” rejoin her and write the happy ending!

If you are still unsure or a little uncomfortable about these suggestions, show these ideas to a female friend and get her opinion. If she’s anything like the 80 percent that responded to the poll I mentioned, she’ll be nodding a firm yes to the idea.

It’s time to get off the fence and start setting the stage for a moment that she will never want to forget. Get your thoughts together and put this event in motion. Good luck!

By Ma Picard

Water fountains in private homes have become increasingly popular in recent years. Modern technology has introduced fountains in every price range, making them affordable for any interested homeowner.

With an endless array of styles of indoor and outdoor decorative water fountains, there is a style to match every home décor. Both indoor and outdoor fountains are produced as stand-alones, tabletop models, or wall-mounted decorations. Compact fountains provide beautiful accents without taking up much space. Conversely, larger, more elaborate fountains may incorporate statues, decorative rocks, or plant life into the design and serve more as a focal point rather than an integrated decoration.

Fountains are made from many different materials. Homeowners can choose from metal, wood, stone, glass, and acrylic, or any combination of these materials. Caution should be taken when deciding on the size, style, and material composition of a fountain. Fountains should enhance a home, not overwhelm it. Designs are extremely varied: extravagant stone fountains and wall-length waterfalls complement a large home, while they would look foolish in a humble neighborhood yard or a modestly decorated living room. A fountain of pottery pieces may be at home in or near a stucco house, and a typical frame dwelling could be enhanced by the addition of a modest fountain incorporating plants and flowers.

Indoor fountains are intended to blend with the room, not overwhelm its inhabitants. A large indoor conservatory would be enhanced by a multitiered stand-alone fountain, whereas a small study would best be served by a compact tabletop fountain.

There are many aesthetic benefits to installing a water fountain at your house. Outdoor water fountains enhance a home by projecting an image of extravagance or creating a themed atmosphere. These may be designed, for example, to imitate a tropical facade or to replicate a favorite vacation location. And for the environmentally conscious, some outdoor fountains are solar-powered. Studies have shown that indoor fountains cleanse the air naturally, providing a healthier living environment. For the waste-conscious—and that should be all of us—most fountains have pumps that continuously circulate the water. In our dry climate, the supply may need to be replenished every so often.

While some homeowners choose to install water fountains as status symbols, most choose fountains for the relaxing atmosphere they provide—many find the sound of flowing water soothing and moving water gently hypnotic. Living rooms, family rooms, and bedrooms are the most common settings for fountains, as these are the rooms that are used the most and therefore provide optimal opportunity for enjoying the fountain. Placing a fountain in the bedroom may calm and relax a person so that he or she can drift peacefully off to sleep. Fountains also produce “white noise,” which helps to mask distracting sounds and encourage a sounder rest.

The fountain you decide on depends on the size and style of your home, as well as the size of your bank account. Small, simple tabletop fountains can be found for as little as $19.99, while extravagant outdoor fountains incorporating granite sculptures might set back a homeowner more than $5,000.
Installing a water fountain is a great way to enhance a home. With numerous sizes, styles, and materials to choose from, the perfect fountain can be found for any location, regardless of budget.

By Caroline Gutierrez

The Valley may not be home to Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive, but our residents step out in style every day wearing creations from both local and international designers. Turn back any collar and you’ll see a label that you may have hanging in your own closet, or one you’ve never heard of. Regardless, Valley women know how to dress and stay fashionably cool in the rising heat.

Misty Lee
Dress: Croll Blue
Jewelry: Local designer Carol Lee

Jerin Harvey
Dress: Wet Seal
Shoes: Bandolino

Melayna Lokosky
Dress: James Perse for Heidi Boutique
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Jewelry: Ethan Arpell
Bag: Chanel
Sunglasses: Chrome Hearts

Vicky Namihas
Pants: Nordstrom
Top: Old Navy
Shoes: Banana Republic
Bag: Nordstrom