Me in Melange

Fit for all.

With all the new jeans this week, there is no reason a gal can't find the perfect fit.   There are the Citizens of Humanity Riley Selvage Boyfriend Jean, with an easy, more relaxed fit through the hips and thighs.  They have a classic "boyish" fit, but with the updated sexy fit thru the hips.   For those of us looking for a straight leg jean, we have the choice between the Citizens of Humanity Elson  jean, and the  Seven for all Mankind Straight Leg jean.  The Elson  has a higher rise, and the Sevens are more of a classic low rise fit.   And of course...if we happen to be short, we can happily embrace the Seven for all Mankind Lexie Petite "A" Pocket jean--our favorite classic bootcut "A" pocket jean from Seven- but specially proportioned for the shorter woman!

Despite the fact that the skinny and straight leg jean has been "du jour", the flared leg jean still reigns as a classic silhouette.  The new Citizens of Humanity Ingrid Flare (in Dark Paris with crystals), is a super flattering, clean wash with just the right amount of bling on the bum. 

There is no good reason you shouldn't have the perfect pair of jeans with all the wonderful options, styles, and special fits.  Make sure your wardrobe has a nice stack of jeans that actually fit...if you lost weight, gained weight, were badly fit to begin with, or just haven't taken the plunge, now is the time. Great jeans are a must-have in your wardrobe.   They can make you look skinnier, younger, and give you "street cred".   Need help?  Just ask us...we will help you re-invent yourself with the perfect pair! Signed, ME {lv} 

Melange turns 9!

Thought I would give you a sneak peek at my design for tomorrow's sale at the shop...  Amanda and I went to the top of Skinner's butte, lucked out on some sunlight, and got a cute shot despite the wind whipping the balloons around in Amanda's face.  :)  All of us at Melange want to thank YOU for being such great customers, you make everything possible!  Enjoy the discount!!  And if you're in Eugene we hope to see you this weekend!  signed, me {CA}

 

It is official, I'm a tomboy!

I'm sitting here in my Adriano Goldschmied Tomboy Boyfriend Jeans and I have to say, I'm completely obsessed with them.  I wore them yesterday, so they are stretch out, and roomy now--totally comfortable.  I didn't bother to hem them, I think they look pretty cute with a super wide cuff at the bottom, and I think they are the first jeans I've owned that I never feel uncomfortable in even for a few minutes.  Most of my jeans are pretty darn fitted, and when they come out of the dryer--eegads, they can be hard to get on.  I spend the first 10 minutes doing squats so that I can walk properly.  30 minutes later they are perfect, and I love them....but can I say they are perfect the moment I put them on??  NO.  These jeans feel comfortable the moment I put them on....and then as the day progresses they get a little more loose and a little more slouchy.  Shockingly though, they are still flattering...they still nip in enough at the hip and upper thigh that you have shape.  I just love that way AG has mastered this "aged" denim...the pair that I have on are the  "10 year wash", and they really do feel like your favorite pair from 10 years ago.   These jeans with my Carson Frye boots are my uniform right now :-).

I HIGHLY recommend these jeans!!  Signed, ME {lv} 

hello holidays!

We decorated the store yesterday, I always think it's such a fun way to kick off the holiday season.  All the girls were in the shop to help out and I think this year the decor turned out darling!  Thought I would share a few pics...

     
It's so cute in person, if you are in the Eugene area, be sure to come by and visit!  Hope everyone has a happy weekend!!  signed, me {CA}
 
 
  
 

I want it Nau!

Speaking of rain... a fantastic new-to-us line just arrived today.  Nau is eco-friendly, waterproof, windproof and absolutely stylish!  I'm in love with this new jacket and considering my lack of rain gear and the forecast which is months of downpour ahead, I'm thinking that it might be a necessity!

 

Check nau's blog here.  very cool.  signed, me {CA}

WWYW?

It is RAINING here in the pacific northwest... and although it always starts raining (and continues to rain for the next 6 months) this time of year, I'm never really prepared for it.  No umbrella, no rain jacket... nothing.  They say it's a sign that you're a native here in Oregon, if you do without such things, but I'm not a native, I have a baby now and I feel that it's time to get some protection from the elements.  The base of the outfit is taken care of... straight leg jeans tucked into boots (wish I had these cuties that LV scored, the yellow is just the right amount of color for a dreary day like today) a Michael Stars or Rag Doll tee layered under a cute hoodie such as this.  But it's the umbrella that I'm on the hunt for... I love the style of this one

but considering I will inevitably loose or destroy it, it may be a little too pricey.  I've always thought these were super cute...

 

ever since SJP had one in sex & the city.  But, I have my doubts about being able to juggle baby and not-so-broad umbrella and still stay dry.  So I think I will have to go with something like this...

 

very classic (albeit a little boring) and affordable gem.  'What would you wear' in a wintery-rainforest-like environment??  signed, me {CA}

homework...

Friday is my first official day of 'working from home'... Lila is 4 and a half months now, and although she has been a trooper tagging along with me to work everyday, it is time for her (and momma) to slow down a bit. I set up my at-home-office, which makes me laugh a little, since Ryan and I refuse to move out of our very small but very awesome apartment... the 'office' is between the kitchen and the living room, which really is just one big room. But it's perfect, I can watch Lila on her playmat, she likes to bat at the wooden arch- it's one of her favorite games right now... and I can still be in touch with with everyone at the shop and get my work done.  I consider myself one super lucky gal!!  And I think it's going to make my roly-poly babygirl happy too.  Isn't she the sweetest...

I am a little worried about clothing-withdrawl though... that may be a problem.  ;)  signed, me {CA}

Glamour Rodents

When I tell my friends that I bought the kids two gerbils, the first response I usually get is, "what were you smokin'?"  No one, and I mean no one, has said "hey, that is so cool, I can't wait to meet them!"  Kind of sad for the little critters.

That is right,  gerbils are pretty low on the totem pole of pets.  BUT...they are small, don't smell that bad, and don't bite (unlike their brothers the hamsters).   The girls wanted a puppy, but since that involves considerably more of my energy, gerbils it was. 

The real clincher however, was that when I went to scope them out at the pet store, they had a pretty pink cage.  That is right, a totally pink cage complete with pink paper for their bedding.  Cool right?  I had to get them when I saw that...I mean, they MATCH the playroom, how cute is that?  Signed, {lv}

Meet Rascal and Sneaker....

Best Jeans Ever!!

 So I was washing my jeans this morning, and I hung them all up to dry in the living room and it looked like some underground, corner dry cleaner shop, because you know, being a clothes horse, I have a few pairs! And I realized as I looked around that I have like ten pair of denim that really don't fit me at all. I mean, the back pockets kind of hung down below my behind, and the fabric gathered under my belt strap because they were too big, and you get that bubble in the back where it gathers. Yup, generally just not attractive at all! Insert unhappy icon here.

Well, I guess I just got used to never finding the perfect pair, and I stopped dreaming about feeling like a million dollars in just my jeans. Until... I found the AG Angel Jean-10 Yr Wash  bootcut jeans. They are the most flattering pants I have ever had on! In fact, I love them so much, today I bought my second pair of the exact same wash, same style, and I am going to go home tonight and give those saggy old jeans to the Goodwill and wear my new pair to Portland this weekend! There is a God!

-BAG

   

Biting off more than I could chew...

We are getting ready to change the decor in the store to prepare for the festive holidays ahead.  This year we decided to do something a bit "non-traditional".  We ordered red and white parasols which we are going to hang upside down from the ceiling with lights trailed down the handles.  So we also thought it would be really pretty to hang origami cranes from the ceiling in a "mobile" sort of pattern near each of the parasols.  So, as we are talking this out (Cara & I), I'm thinking to myself...."o.k., got to figure out how to fold a crane, and then I've got to do it quickly because we are going to need a lot of them...." within moments in my brain I had figured out when I could fit it in, and how they were going to look.  Never mind that I have no time, and in my free time the last thing I feel like doing is folding origamil.  So, a couple of days later I decide to "test run" folding an origami crane.  Turns out it isn't that easy (well, that coupled with the fact that I'm a little dim and it was pretty late at night and post-glass of wine).  30 minutes after watching the video on YouTube, I still didn't have the crane completed.

Then I get a wild hair to just check and make sure that I can't somehow buy these little cranes and save myself hours and hours of frustration and paper cuts.  Turns out you CAN buy them, and for $15 I got 100 perfectly folded cranes.  How is that even possible?  And to think, I almost sat up night after night trying to do it all myself.  Moral of the story...SEEK HELP whenever possible! :-)  Don't be a chronic "biter of more than you can chew."

If anyone out there ever needs to buy an abundance of origami cranes I highly recommend this Ebay seller (Avanatgarde789).  Besides being very, VERY affordable, she was the sweetest woman, and even sent a baggy of extra cranes in a variety of beautiful colors (which my girls absolutely LOVE).   I haven't figured out when else I'll need cranes (maybe if someone has a wedding I'll buy 1000 of them for good luck which I think is the tradition right?...at least i won't try to make them)  Signed, ME {lv}