Crush owners Rebecca Penner and Laura Macris have been nosing around the city for a few years, looking for the right location for a second store. They considered the Fenway area, the North End, the South End, even Wellesley, before landing on the almost 900-square-foot space at 264 Newbury Street (formerly Matsu).
The bright new store boasts a rustic, custom-built wood cash register surround and jewelry case, as well as more natural light than the duo’s subterranean Beacon Hill flagship; vintage suitcases overflowing with purses and shirts dot the shop and chandeliers sparkle overhead.
Both of Crush’s locations will carry pieces from Shoshanna, Alice & Olivia, and other lines, but each shop will have different designs. Labels exclusive to the Newbury outpost include Brandy Melville, Ladakh, Black Halo, Gold Hawk, and more.
The boutique opens to the public Tuesday, a.k.a. Valentine’s Day — may we suggest a pink or red frock for the bash that night?
Picturesque, cobble-stoned Charles Street is home to bakeries, boutiques, nail salons, and gift shops — the strip has something for almost everyone. Except, perhaps, for designer Sara Campbell, who’s closing her storefront there this month.
“There is no way to survive doing commerce in that neighborhood,” Campbell told Beacon Hill Patch, in an article that ran Monday. She cited “ruthless” parking enforcement officers and high rent among the causes of her Beacon Hill demise. (Campbell who owns shops in the South End, Wellesley, Concord, and Hingham, is also opening a location outside Chicago, according to the story.)
I’m a sales associate at a small boutique on the drag, and as someone who lives and works in the part of Beacon Hill in question, I disagree. Charles Street is roaring. And I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Campbell calls Charles Street a “rambling of assorted stuff” — but buyer and manager of Moxie, Kristen Caldon, says that’s just part of the charm. “Everything here is less mainstream. There are all different designers and brands that you can’t find in a department store.” And it’s true. Charles Street is Newbury without the commercialization.
Susan Corcoran, co-owner of gift shop Black Ink, has been on Charles Street for 18 years. Her business has grown and she says the high rent pays off in the long run. “People come here because these stores are idiosyncratic, they are owner-operated. It’s a good thing,” she adds.
The portrait painted by Cambpell is a mischaracterization. Of course we’re sad to see her store go, but with loads of exceptional boutiques in this neighborhood-shopping street, we’ll be back—and often.
Daniela Corte opened the doors to her Newbury boutique in November — shoppers can now browse her perfectly tailored pencil skirts, silk blouses, and flattering swimwear in a bright, garden-level setting.
Corte’s resort line is full of crisp whites and bright neons, and her playful swimwear collection is called “Fruit Salad” — think bold, fruit-covered suits. The white strapless splashed with pineapples is my favorite:
Spring will bring fresh new florals (“The explosion of colors makes me happy!” she says), soft pastel hues, and lots of shine. Look for color-blocking, prints, and sequins. Check out both collections — and the store, if you haven’t already — at three events next month:
• Friday, February 10: Guys Night
Grab a cocktail and take in pieces from Bodega and Miami-based designer J Urturbey’s spring/summer 2012 collection.
• Thursday, February 16: Fruit Cocktail Trunk Show
Launch of the resort collection, hosted by Paulina Neely and Heidi Price.
• Friday, February 24
Gretchen Monahan will give makeovers at the launch of Daniela Corte’s spring/summer 2012 collection.
That new brand Ivy Prepster is based in New England (Sudbury, to be exact) is no surprise — we practically invented preppy.
Founder John Tesoro’s ties come in an array of different styles, from square-bottomed to pointy, polka-dotted to striped. He says that Ivy Prepster’s aesthetic is influenced in part by T. Hayashida’s “Take Ivy,” the iconic book on preppy culture from the ‘60s. The brand also draws inspiration from contemporary Japanese style.
I recently caught up with Tesoro at the Project New York trade show in Manhattan (why we Bostonians met in New York is anyone’s guess). He said the response to the ties has been great, especially among the college crowd.
I took these photos of their booth at the show — the Fair Isle-esque blue ties (above) are my favorite. I also love the pocket squares stitched with adorable little labels:
It’s been two weeks since I returned from holiday break and I’m just now unpacking my car and shlepping loads of clean laundry and newly acquired Christmas loot into my teensy apartment. This year, I was gifted an unusually high number of beauty products—some stellar, some … not. Let’s take a look:
Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Collection: Featuring two lip colors (“Savvy” and “Confidence”) and two lip glosses (“Sass” and “Oomph”), this collection is ideal for transitioning from day to night. The glosses are a bit thinner and shimmery, where the colors have a thicker texture, reminiscent of oil paint. I use the more neutral “Savvy” by day, but for my evening endeavors I perk up with a little “Confidence” followed by a sweep of “Oomph.” Covet factor: 5
Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizer: This citrusy, vitamin-enriched formula has a pungent aroma (think Tang), and frankly is just too greasy for everyday use. A quick douse feels refreshing, but this lotion’s inability to seep in is a major flaw. Clammy hands and a slimy keyboard aren’t providing much “relief” right now. Covet factor: 0
MAC Iced Delights Eye Bag: This prize pack comes with a Graphblack Technakohl eye-liner, a Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara, a slightly mini, slanted shadow brush, and a brilliant eyeshadow duo featuring “Silverwear” (an iridescent silver lilac) and “Blue Spruce” (a smoky teal with copper shimmer specs). This baguette is a stellar deal at $45 — yes, in the name of journalism, I looked up how much my grandmother spent — and makes creating a high-drama, smokey-eye look (in seconds, no less) a breeze. Covet factor: 10 Sephora Rhinestone Tweezers: These dazzling slanted tweezers jazz up my cosmetics cabinet and grab hard-to-reach hairs, while the rhinestones make the grip slip-free. Win-win. Covet factor: 10
Michael O’Rourke’s Leave It In Weightless Tangle Tamer: So the packaging alone is enough to turn heads, but it’s what inside that truly impresses. Loaded with soy, wheat, and oat proteins, Tangle Tamer stays true to its word: After a shower, just a spritz or two leaves hair soft, supple, and smelling like a day spa — all day long. Covet factor: 7
We’re so doggone proud of Polka Dog. Target picked the homegrown pet bakery, which has locations in the South End and Jamaica Plain, to be part of its new Shops at Target — basically, mini stores-within-a-store — program.
Polka Dog and four other boutiques have created collections (about 400 items in all, ranging in price from $1 for a nail file to $159.99 for a pouf from Greenwich, Conn.-based Privet Drive) that will debut in the retail giant’s stores nationwide and on Target.com in early May.
Polka Dog's collection for Target includes preppy collars. (Photo: Target)
Here’s a video introducing the collaboration, featuring Rob Van Sickle and Deb Gregg from Polka Dog:
Tam Lai was a tired medical assistant, sick of the morning commute and fed up with relying on child-care. Then, a stroll into A.C. Moore in Dedham changed her life: “As I passed through the jewelry and bead section, I thought, wow,” she says. “I started buying all this stuff.” Some trial-and-error, experimentation, and a few how-to books later, she was on her way to becoming the designer behind Etsy’s Dangling Jewelry, a shop offering delicate, nature-inspired pieces.
How did you get into jewelry design? I’m a very crafty person. I was a florist until I became allergic to flowers. After four or five years, I couldn’t do it anymore. That’s when I became a medical assistant, and eventually made jewelry on the side.
What gave you the push to quit your day job? I had my first baby in 2009. Traveling from Brockton to work [at Newton-Wellesley Hospital] was awful. I had to sit in traffic for two or three hours each way. My husband and I were like, we have to find a better way. One day I was looking online for jewelry stuff and I found Etsy. . . I started listing stuff on the site, and people started buying. From there, I made and sold more. Just last October I quit my job. Everyone was like, “Are you sure? Are you sure?” But I thought if I don’t try, I will never find out.
So what’s your favorite thing about being your own boss? I can wake up anytime I want! I used to wake up at 5:30 or 6 a.m., to drag my kids out of bed. Now I can get up and do anything, any time.
What inspires your designs? I take custom orders and I do a lot of bridesmaids jewelry in the summer. Much of it’s personalized, so a customer can request anything—but I always have designs with flowers. Sometimes in the middle of night I come up with these things, or I look in magazines.
What materials do you use? Sterling silver, gold fill, and gem stones. I have more than 50 kinds of gem stones — it’s very addictive because they’re so beautiful.
Are your designs sold anywhere locally, or just online? I sell my jewelry at Sisters We Three in Newburyport . . . they offer local artist designs. I deliver worldwide. I get orders from Thailand, Hungary, France—I must have shipped to more than 40 or 50 countries since I started my shop.
And, what’s your busiest time of year? Christmas, especially this Christmas. I had someone come stay at my house to help with packaging and everything, which takes a lot of work, especially if I do 30 or 40 orders a day.
I love eyeshadow. I rarely wear it. Why? For all their shimmery, tempting loveliness, the shadows never seem to last (it could be my oily skin, but still). I’ve amassed an impressive collection of pretty colors that, for the most part, sit unused. And, while Blinc’s Phase One primer is a fabulous shadow-extending product in my arsenal, I’m not always motivated to add an extra step to my morning routine.
Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Cream shadows, however, have changed the game. They’re waterproof, fadeproof, and last, as the name implies, damn near forever. I’ve gone from the office to dinner to dancing and still have perfect lids when I get home. The best part? The shadow washes off easily with soap and water — no harsh scrubbing and/or heavy duty makeup remover required.
While Aqua Cream isn’t exactly cheap, the good news is that a little goes a long way. I use Warm Beige (a champagne shimmer) every day as a brow highlighter and I bet the same .21 ounce jar will last until I’m 64, or until I flit to a new favorite shade, whichever comes first.
Some say they love the thrill of the hunt. But I’m of the opposite persuasion — I couldn’t be happier that the search for a long-lasting eyeshadow is officially over.
The holidays aren’t all about presents. But … they do play a big part. Here’s my wish list of what I’d like to see under the proverbial tree* come Christmas morning. (*There’s no actual tannenbaum gracing my living room, as I don’t have a car, axe, or the motivation to make that happen at this point in my life.)
Ibex Shak Freestar Zip Up
I’m a carless commuter, which means that there are times during the winter when I have to just hop on the trusty, old bike and suck it up. So, having good gear is a must. This (soft!) wool zip-up from Vermont-based Ibex is a perfect mid layer: it’s thin, warm, has thumb holes, and is machine washable. I want it! $155, Ibex, 303 Newbury St., Boston, 857-277-1932, ibexwear.com. READ MORE
Arts at the Armory will be hosting SnowMall this Sunday, a holiday marketplace filled with unique holiday gifts from local vendors. Get a preview on the Facebook page, where organizers have gathered profiles and pics from some of the craftsy folk who will be selling their goods. And in case you need a little more motivation to brave the winter weather, we’ve put together a list of five of our favorite vendors, whose covetable items will be available for purchase this weekend.
Image via Albertine Press
Flowerfolk
The herbal-based body products are made from natural ingredients and come in crafty packaging.
Abby Berkson
Abby’s handmade ceramics incorporate whimsical designs that are reminiscent of children’s book illustrations and vintage textiles.
Camla Jewelry
These nature-inspired, silver and gold baubles are feminine and elegant.
Albertine Press
Snap up eco-friendly holiday cards, note sets, and greeting cards from this Somerville letterpress company.
Well Suited Design
Try on one of these scarves made from old suit material for an urban, mix-matchy feel that works for both men and women.
12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville
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