Me in Melange

New Arrivals from Eileen Fisher (and a jazzy scarf tutorial at the end!)

 

 

What a treat!! Brand new beautiful colors and soft knits from Eileen Fisher to dress up every day! There is nothing so luxurious as an Eileen Fisher cardigan like this one! A perfect layer this season over a sleek tank like these from Tees by Tina and some sassy jeans! 

 We absolutely adore these video tutorials from Eileen Fisher! There are so many great ways to wear all of the scarves we love. Plus, we get to learn and be inspired while listening to great jazz!

The Perfect Valentine

 

Velvet does it again! Fashioning a sleek jersey into new silhoeuttes, in new colors that knock our socks off! One instant crush: this absolutely charming pink flutter-sleeve dress! Simple, chic lines with a delicate flutter at the neck in the most lush aloha pink that warms our hearts. Not only is this perfect little dress beautiful, it's comfortable, AND washable! A valentine straight from the heart. Be mine!

 

 

The New Denim

We are living in a great time for fashion. You can wear any piece from any decade in any modern combination! Classics like jeans are constantly reinvented, and jeans of all styles and fit are in. With their very polished 70's vibe, dark wash wide leg jeans are my new  favorite fashion choice! The modern wide-leg jean is an endlessly flattering and versatile look year-round.

  Although I do love a bootcut, and own several pair of skinny jeans to wear with ballet flats and tall boots, for my size 10 self the wideleg trouser jean is my new best friend! The trouser slims my hips and thighs by providing a sort of ballast at the hem. The volume of the leg deemphisizes the width of my hips!  A higher waist in stretch denim  hugs me and holds me in, while the five-pocket styling (no back flap pockets!) looks really smooth. No muffin top, ever! I love to wear dark wash wide leg jeans with siliky blouses, tucked in, and heeled boots. They also look great with tees or tunic-length tops with sandals. Very chic, very bohemian -- but totally updated. I'm wearing mine now with a grey dolman tee, a gold tassle necklace and mocassins. Fun!  

The Spring Anorak -- Fashion Trend 2012

Oh hello, perfect spring jacket! A fashion trend we LOVE in 2012 is  the Anorak which has been redesigned and reenergized in sumptuous fabrics, bringing easy polish to women's sportswear! Keep your eyes peeled this season for signs of spring with these chic, flattering jackets in everything from lightweight, water-resistant nylon to evening silks and rayons. A versatile piece that is remeniscent of the 70's, but is also very modern. We're in love! Seen here Jason Wu, Edun, and Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2012.

Fresh color for a fresh New Year!

Ahhh, Eileen Fisher does it again. She knows exactly what we need and when we need it! Just in time to beat back the longest part of winter we get these beautiful tops in bright pops of fresh color! Lemon-peel, Sea, Teal and Dark Pearl are some of the names of beautiful colors (and cool stripes!) we get to incorporate into our wardrobe of neutrals. Eileen's signature smooth knits and fine linens are so comfortable, and washable! The perfect layering pieces under our cardigans and winter jackets. Fresh as ocean breezes and beams of spring sunshine, this is a great way to start the New Year! Stop by the boutique to see what else is new, and A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Pretty, Polished, Playful!

Like a breath of fresh air! A breezy, modern dolman top in jaunty chevron stripes has us totally smitten! Velvet continues to melt our hearts with their gorgeous tee shirt design for every season. Here is a perfectly fresh look to start off the new year, with a sexy slouch that also hides our holiday tummy! A crisp, but relaxed look with straight legs and ballet flats, or we could give it a hot 70's vibe with wide-leg trouser jeans and sandals. Wear it in the spring and summer with faded, distressed denim and comfy sneaks! A beautiful piece to go with nearly any accessory. (We love it with this super-cool Ada bracelet!)

In the Navy

I'm an absolute fool for navy blue. It works as hard as black to slim and add sophistication, but it's an actual COLOR! No one can say you're wearing too much black! Navy is at once elegant, preppy, slouchy, polished and relaxed. You get a lot of fashion for your franc. This little number captured my heart instantly with its simple perfection. The rich uniformity of the color palette allows the sweet, modern silhouette to do the talking. Love her hair and her little red shoes, too. Also, no make-up, or really natural make-up is key. Absolutey gorgeous!

  See more wonderful street chic from all over the world at my favorite fashion blog:

The Sartorialist

I am so inspired knowing there are people all over the world that so fearlessly and comfortably rock their unique looks in the streets every day! Expressing and celebrating our individuality in this way feels so good, is so fun and beautiful to look at! It's wearable, walkable, liveable art, and we're all designers who can create our own "collections" simply by assembling our wardrobes!

Tees by Tina

I can't lie....the name is NOT my favorite.  In fact, when the rep said she had a new line called "Tees by Tina" I completely ignored her and wasn't interested.  Couldn't get over the name.  BUT...I did get over it, and here's why.  These tanks, camis and leggings are like the Margaret O'Leary Magic Cami that we all adore.  The difference is the length....they are longer, don't ride up, and work really well for layering.  They are one size fits all, and that really does seem to be true, they fit most people just fine.  They are a great "smoother" of bra lines, and they give you a feeling of coverage which is nice.  I've gotten so use to wearing a layering cami or tank, I feel positively naked without one, and I'm definitely colder!

Anyway, check them out...don't let the name scare you.  I guess at least the name is simple, and to the point.  They are tees, and they are by Tina :-).  Signed, ME {lv}

{smooth tank, in black and cream}

A small business THANK YOU.

If you are reading this blog, you already get it, and we just want to say THANK YOU.  You already get that buying from and supporting small businesses is exceptionally important, and goes to the heart and soul of this country.  When I want to enjoy shopping, it is always the small businesses that make that possible....the originality, the personal touches, the character.  No matter what city, or country for that matter, strolling along a boulevard filled with unique shops, some that I love, some that maybe I don't, but all that are kept alive by the blood and sweat of their owners and the network of co-workers that surrounds them--that is what makes shopping enjoyable.   All of them put my dollars at once to work supporting their families, and those of their employees.   Do I shop at Target?  Do I buy from Amazon?  Sure, of course...I'm busy like everyone else and convenience is a hugely motivating factor.  But would you ever visit a Target, Walmart, or a strip mall on vacation in some cool city?  Nope, not likely, they don't contribute much.   That is the reason that I commit to, and really ask myself each time I shop, can I buy this from a small business?  Because I WANT small businesses to succeed and continue contributing character and charm.  Big business rules now, the Walmarts, Targets in the strip malls, and the Amazon megastore on the web (which oddly enough, is comprised of quite a few small businesses, they are just eclipsed by the big box stores, just like they are in the real world).  These monopoly businesses have gained in size and importance as more and more small businesses close from the difficult economy, both in the brick and mortar venues, AND the online presence. 

So THANK YOU again, for being the type of person who contributes to the success of small businesses.   Because I for one, don't want to live in a country where my only options are strip malls, big box stores, and internet purchases that leave me feeling void....where I amount to a dollar sign in the huge machinary of big business.   The  internet is filled with places to shop, and just like the physical location counterparts, there are mega-stores, and there are small businesses like us, where we know each order, we make an effort to know each customer, and we truly appreciate the art of the entire shopping experience.    

Signed, ME {LV}

Homemade Holiday Lights!

One of the best things about the holidays are the beautiful lights that decorate our homes and our streets! If the days have to be shorter, at least we can warm up the dark with glowing candles and strings of colorful bulbs. This year I took the plunge and headed into my local craft store with a list of materials needed for these wonderful Copper Candle Lanterns. Before I got started I worried they would be difficult to make, but I'm sharing them today because they are sooo easy!!!

You'll need these things to make them:

a few sheets of copper foil: which can be challenging to find. I found mine at Joanne's Fabrics, in the etching section. Ask at the counter where that is. They had copper and silver foil. I prefer the copper because it creates such a warm, rosy light.

an awl: or a sharp punching too. Every craft box should have an awl, sometimes it's the only tool that will do!

a hole punch

a box of brads (or those brass paper fasteners)

a ruler

a pencil

scissors

to make: lay out your copper foil and using the ruler and pencil, lightly mark out the size of the candle lantern you want. I made small ones, medium sized and one large. Using the scissors cut out the shape of the lanterns and spread flat on the table. Using pencil and ruler again mark out the designs you would like to punch out of the copper. Basic designs are best, I tried to make a punched-out impression of a castle, and it was too busy to work well. 

With your awl (and a little cardboard backing) simply punch small holes in the shape of your design. Using the hole punch at the top and bottom of the lantern allows for more light to escape and adds to the sparkle factor. Very pretty!

To close and fasten: simply roll piece into a tube for lantern, punch two holes on edges with hole punch, insert brads into each hole and fasten. Voila! Put over tea lights and enjoy!!!!